Sunnier weather has all of us who are keen gardeners excited to dig in, and vegetable enthusiasts are all abuzz for farmer’s market season.
While we wait, there is a source of freshly grown vegetables and plants occasionally for sale at the UBC Greenhouse.
The UBC Greenhouse has two locations on campus – the main site at 6394 Stores Road, and a south campus location on Wesbrook Mall next adjacent to Botanical Garden nursery. You might have asked yourself “what is that big pink building”: that’s the greenhouse!
Both facilities provide research services for university students and faculty across a wide range of disciplines, from engineering and biology, to land and food systems, education and arts.
They also provide services for industry partners. According to Cobus Lim, the greenhouse technician, the greenhouse supports about 170 projects a year, with 50 or so projects running at any one time.
I asked Lim a tough question about his favourite projects. He highlighted two out of the many interesting projects they are working on.
“Our longest-running project is an ongoing sweet pepper trial in collaboration with Signify lighting company. We’re exploring whether we can grow peppers year-round in Canada using LEDs, instead of the typical seasonal cycle,” he says.
The other one, described as “one of the coolest projects we’ve had in the greenhouse”, was when a researcher brought in over 60 species of milkweeds to grow during the summer.
“The entire compartment turned into a burst of orange, pink, and red, with umbels of flowers cascading from the tops of the plants. On warmer days, the air perfumed with notes of lilac, vanilla, and honey. It also brought in so many cool pollinators,” Lim says.
In addition to bringing in cool pollinators, the research work of the greenhouse produces excess vegetables including a regular supply of tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers which are available for sale from the main greenhouse site on Mondays and Thursdays.
Lim has a delightful newsletter which lists the produce available, as well as interesting plant facts, and pictures of the greenhouse cats.
The three cats are senior cat Lola and a couple younger members of the team: two-year-olds Vesper and Raven.
The cats are important team members who assist with research work. Cobus explains, “A few years ago, during one of our pepper trials, we had rats chewing through our fruits, so having them around has been incredibly helpful in scaring away or catching rodents.”
The cats are also valued for their ability to boost team morale and encourage work/life balance, as well as their important photo contributions.
Proceeds from produce and plant sales go towards the cats’ food and care. Vegetable sales are ongoing, and the biggest regular plant sale event takes place in early September.
ROBYN STARKEY IS A WESBROOK PLACE RESIDENT AND A MEMBER OF THE CAMPUS RESIDENT NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL COMMITTEE.