Scenes from the Rooftop Garden

Several butternut squash vines "volunteered" in the garden. This is likely because our vermicompost bins didn't generate enough heat to destroy the germination potential of composted seeds. Volunteer plants can be lovely surprises, but can also overwhelm the garden...undesired volunteers make great gifts or sale items at fundraisers.



Dear Readers,

The irrigation system is fixed and the garden is still thriving, thanks in huge part to our great team of dedicated volunteers! Due to a moth infestation in the storage area, we had to throw away many of the seeds we were saving for next year, so will be doing lots of seed saving activities through the fall.

Planting of winter crops is underway, and you should definitely contact us if you would like to join in. New gardeners of all skill levels are always welcome.

We're also gearing up for the annual Harvest Fair, part of the Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival.

This year, the Harvest Fair is also partnering with SUSTENANCE: Feasting on Art & Culture Festival, a unique celebration that culminates on World Food Day (October 16th).

Other SUSTENANCE community partners include our friends at the Grandview Woodlands Food Connections and the Trout Lake Cedar Cottage Food Security Network.

To learn more about Sustenance, take a look here. Big thanks to the folks at The Roundhouse for bringing us all together for a common cause.

We hope you enjoy these snapshots from the garden.


Grape vines bearing in their second year. We may not have many grapes this year, but we will have lovely dolmades at an upcoming community kitchen.


Assorted heirloom carrots planted by the Families Branching Out group are ready for eating.


These spicy oregano flowers have been extremely popular with honeybees throughout the summer.


We have two kinds of eggplant growing on the roof this year, "ichiban" and "lavender."




Yellow brandywine tomatoes as big as softballs. These are a late-maturing variety but well worth the wait. Yellow tomatoes have a lower acid content than red and black tomatoes, and can be a good solution for people who get upset stomachs from eating acidic red tomatoes. Acidity content in common garden vegetables will be addressed in an upcoming post on fall canning techniques.




Japanese black trifele tomatoes leaves have a "potato leaf" shape. Due to differences in flower shape, potato leaf varieties are more likely to cross-pollinate with other kinds of tomatoes.


Speckled roman tomatoes at two stages of ripeness:




Jerusalem artichokes (or Sunchokes) are not related to artichokes and are not from Jerusalem! They are a kind of sunflower grown specifically for tasty, edible roots. They are very easy to grow.


These sunchoke roots look a bit like ginger rhizomes. They can be cooked and eaten like other root vegetables. Try substituting sunchokes for potatoes in roasted vegetables or a root vegetable mash.


As always, the Garden is an oasis from the buzz of the city below. Here, young community kitchen participants dig into a Salvadorian-themed meal.