August 2019 Farm Notes

FRIENDS OF THE CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM

Farm Notes - August 2019

Celebration Benches

A New Opportunity in the Arboretum

The Friends of the Farm have begun a donor bench program in the Farm's beautiful Arboretum. Three benches have been placed in select areas around the Arboretum and the public is invited to purchase dedication plaques that will be attached to the benches. The benches will benefit all who visit the Arboretum and wish to rest and appreciate the splendor of their surroundings. .

Further information may be found on the Friends' website or obtained from the Friends' office.

Art on the Farm

Saturday August 17

10am to 4pm in the Arboretum

Rain Date: Sunday Aug 18

Friends of the Farm's premier summer event Art on the Farm showcases local and regional artists. There isn't a more beautiful and peaceful setting in Ottawa than under the luxurious canopy of the Arboretum next to Building 72 on the Central Experimental Farm. A wide range of original media is featured including watercolour, acrylic and oil paintings, photography, glass fusion and jewelry, wire works and stained glass, wood and leather, pottery and scroll saw art, and much more. We will a lso feature a sale of art books/prints and light refreshments. Free admission to the public.

If this natural setting is the place for your artwork, please visit Art on the Farm for information and registration material or call 613-230-3276 or email [email protected].

Rare Trees and Shrubs of the Dominion Arboretum

Explore these rare gems

Sunday, August 11, 2019

10 am

This tour will show many "rare" trees and shrubs growing at the Arboretum. These are plants which are rare not only in Ottawa, but generally rare in eastern North America (e.g. rare native plants, and/or plants to-date rarely cultivated). Serving as an ambassador of such plants, your tour guide hopes to generate interest in rare plants generally, to promote a more varied and interesting cultivated landscape and also to foster conservation of rare trees/shrubs via awareness of their existence and familiarity from seeing them in person. Come join this tour with tour leader Owen Clarkin.

All tours start at Building 72 in the Arboretum. Although the tours are free and open to the public, please register in advance or call the office, 613-230-3276.

Master Gardener Lectures

The tradition continues

Every year the Friends partner with the Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton to offer timely and informative presentations. This fall's last Tuesday night lecture is:

September 10 Cooking with Edible Flowers and Herbs with Nancy McDonald

This illustrated talk, presented by Master Gardener Nancy McDonald, discusses easy ways to use both edible flowers and herbs in food preparation. She will have samples of some of her favorites resulting in ideas for participants to try.

Presentation is from 7pm to 9pm in Building 72 just east of the Prince of Wales roundabout with free parking. Lectures can be purchased individually $12 members and $15 non-members.

For more information email [email protected] or call 613-230-3276.

We are Recruiting!

Looking for a lover of technology

Do you have some time to offer? Do you have technical skills you'd like to share? The Friends of the Farm are looking for a volunteer tech person who is comfortable with minor hardware and software issues. We are not looking for an expert, but rather someone who could come into the office from time to time, or as needed, to trouble shoot any issue we might have. Website experience would be ideal but not crucial. Some experience with app creation would also be a bonus as we'd like to explore this area further, if guided by the right person. You would mainly work with our admin staff, and at times with the volunteer and membership directors.

Please contact the membership director by email, membership@ friendsofthefarm.ca for more information or if you believe you can help us out.

Volunteer Spotlight

Over 10,000 hours donated each year

Did you know that Friends' volunteers donate over 10,000 hours every year to support its mission and activities? Every month a different volunteer is highlighted on the Friends website. We invite you to read the stories of our volunteers such as Kathy McDougall , our Volunteer of the Month.

Previous spotlights are also listed. Each volunteer has an interesting story to tell and a unique connection and commitment to the Farm. Your efforts are greatly appreciated by the entire community! Thank you.