Temptation - Restraint - Temptation - Restraint?

"I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it." Mae West

Since last Thursday we have been busy creating additional beds in the yard.  We just couldn't stop ourselves and it was nice outside.  We had no idea where we would grow this year's potatoes.  Initially we had considered not putting them into the ground...growing them in containers seemed a good idea.  We successfully grew a few potatoes in containers on our deck in Langley but the operative word is "few".  This year we ended up with 5 varieties of potatoes to grow - Satina, Burbank Russell, Blue Russian, Red Cranberry and Yukon Gold (there seems to be a theme of no restraint on our part).  So...Barry starting removing sod and digging again. 

Unfortunately, potatoes are root veggies and don't consider billions of rocks as good planting companions.  Barry has been 'sifting' through the 'soil' (thanks Al for lending us your soil sifter) and we have been finding innovative ways to use rocks.  As we only are borrowing the soil sifter, today Barry bought the materials to make us one.   We also created a smaller double bed just outside the big gate. 

Originally this bed was created to grow two varieties of corn; fortunately I checked the deer resistant crops list and now we are going to grow our onions in one section of this bed.  Another root crop so...I'm manually removing the rocks from here. 

Barry would like to grow the corn in the new, large, odd-shaped bed in the foreground.  (He won't have to dig and sift as much for this bed).  We added a circular bed behind the cherry tree and a rounded square bed near the fruit cocktail tree (left side of picture).  Barry used some of the sod to build up and level in behind the herb bed (1/2 circle bed near Buddy).  We wanted to improve the grass in this area so Barry seeded but within minutes the neighbourhood pidgeons were snacking on it. 

We have increased the width of the bed that backs onto Al's property and transplanted most of the flowering plants growing there.

With these additions, I believe we decided that we would stop creating further new beds this year.  We'll see!  Did I mention we hope to grow 13 types of beans, 7 types of tomatoes, 5-7 types of squashes - you get the picture.  I say it again, we have no self restraint!

SO MUCH FUN

"The fact that I can plant a seed and it becomes a flower, share a bit of knowledge and it becomes another's, smile at someone and receive a smile in return, are to me spiritual exercises."  by Leo F. Buscaglia

Yesterday was Powell River's fifth Seedy Saturday.  My first...and I liken it to 'a kid in a candy store.'  Once inside, we quickly figured out our strategy...Barry started on the far side (the end of the alphabet) of the seed table and I started at the beginning.  Once our initial scramble was over and sanity prevailed, we started examining the displays around the perimeter of the room.  The first to capture our attention was the Seed Savers of Powell River.  The Project has developed a list of veggies suitable to this region for seed saving and the group has chosen several varieties of seed from the main groups (squashes, beans, peas, beets/chard) to be produced locally for seed.  They encourage new and experienced gardeners to save seeds, thus increasing the number of contributors of seed to future Seedy Saturdays.  Sounds like a good plan...we signed up to grow Andy's Broad Beans and Odawa Beans for the Project.  Fava (or broad) beans are a cooler weather crop so we will try to get those seeded outside later in the week, when the meteorologist has predicted the return of drier, sunny weather (I do not consider the weather for the last week as gardening weather - more like arthritis weather).  As cross pollination can take place between the different cultivars of fava beans, we will be growing only the one type and all seed will be saved for the Project (and maybe a couple for us too).  Each of the Odawa Beans is a beautiful masterpiece of creamy white and earthtones.  I hope they taste as good as they look!  After this growing season, we will have quite a variety of colourful dried beans.  In late December we purchased the Heritage Bean Mix from Salt Spring Seeds, which included Six Nations (red and tan), Nez Perce (golden yellow), Red Hawk Kidney, Black Turtle Soup, Ruckle (white), and Tanya Pink Pod (cream and tan).  In addition to those, we could not resist the Neabel's Pole Bean, Jade Bean, Ireland Creek Annie, and Orca Bean at Seedy Saturday.  In fact, I think we may have gone a little crazy on the beans this year.  Now I recall how Vanessa had reined herself in on getting any more bean varieties...I really admire her will power.  Oh, well, we have a lot more garden space to fill, right?!

Oh yeah, back to Seedy Saturday...We also spoke to a very pleasant young woman, who was at Seedy Saturday on behave of the Vancouver Island University Powell River.  An interesting course, entitled Small Farm Development, is being offered through the University on Thursday, November 18th and Friday, November 19th, 2010.  Topics include goal setting, production, marketing, financial planning, rules and regulations that affect farmers, enviromental issues and concerns and trends that will affect farmers in the future.  Apparently many people took advantage of the course in 2009, so early registration was advised.   

We also spoke with Don Boese about starting our own hive of mason bees.  Our neighbour, Tony, enjoys working with his mason bees and we have been fortunate that his bees find our garden to their liking too.  With help from these two well-informed gentlemen, I think we should be able to offer up our garden as home to these hard working little creatures.  (I nominate Barry for this job.) 

Further along, a kind lady offered me some gently used gardening pots, trays, etc., kindly donated by other gardeners.  As I was starting to realize just how many seedlings I had started indoors, I gladly took a few items.  We stopped at the Powell River Gardening Club's table long enough to offer our assistance in the upcoming plant sale in early May.   I am hoping the plant sale is as much fun as Seedy Saturday.  As we were leaving Seedy Saturday, we stopped to enter the Self Advocates 14th Annual Spring Garden Raffle.  Boy, what loot and for such a good cause!!  The Draw will be made on May 28th at Rona Building Supplies and I would love to win all those great goodies.  Cross your fingers for me (you know I can't).  Well, that's it for today.  Bring on the sun!!!

PS:  Also enjoyed talking to the folks from the Kelly Creek Community Gardens (they are formerly from Langley too)

"If you can laugh together, you can work together" by Robert Orben

An article, written by Laura Walz in The Powell River Peak this week, entitled "Groups Battle Over Open Air Market" left me quite disheartened.  Upon moving to Powell River last May, we were keen to support the Open Air Market until our newly planted garden started supplying us with our own produce.  As we were considering becoming a vendor for the 2010 season, we were interested to hear the opinions of the vendors.  Weekly, we engaged in conversations with various vendors and patrons.  Most people were like us, they wanted to show their support but I sensed some hesitation, some underlying problem.  After reading Laura Walz' article I better understand why.  In the past, I have been on a Board of Directors for a non-profit organization that was troubled and the experience was very stressful.  I hope those involved in this troubling situation are able to bring a positive resolution to the problem...I'm cheering for you! 

What crazy weather we are having today!  We have sun shining brightly in the front of the house and grey, threatening clouds in the back, and pounding rain.  Earlier today, we had similar situations but replace the rain with snow.  There was a brief period where we experienced no inclement weather at all...that's when we took the boys out for their walk.  (We have had a request for a picture of the 'boys' so...here's one from a hot July 31st, last year - Tashi is in the forefront and Buddy in behind.) 


Barry was the lucky winner of a $25 gift certificate from Mother Nature at the February 23rd meeting of the Garden Club.  Yesterday we turned that gift certificate into 'seed' for the garden.  We used the gift certificate to purchase three varieties of potato seed - Satina, Burbank Russett, and Yukon Gold - and three seed packets from West Coast Seed - Atomic Red Carrot, Sorrento Raab Broccoli, and Brocade Corn.  We repeatedly say we are not going to get any more seeds, but we have absolutely no will power....and tomorrow is Seedy Saturday here in Powell River and we will be there!  It will be our first (and I doubt our last)!  We have heard much about it at the Garden Club meetings. 

Each morning, I continue to spend a couple of hours downstairs with my 'babies.'  I really enjoy propagation.  I have had good success so far - only 'killed' a couple of seedlings.  If all goes well, when you come to visit this year, you will know that those flowers and veggies you are eating were nurtured from 'birth' by me!

"The sound of birds stops the noise in my mind" (Carly Simon)

I did not plan to go out into the garden today.  The weather promised to be cloudy with showers.  Although I am skeptical about the accuracy of weather predictions forecasted well into the future, I tend to believe the forecast of the 'morning of'.  Indeed, it is cloudy and cooler today than it has been but the showers have not started...yet. 

At six o'clock each morning, I head downstairs to tend to my 'babies'.  Since February 6th, the lights from the plant lighting center Barry built are on for 12 hours daily.  I have been thinking recycle and reuse.  For seedlings or cuttings, so far I have used cardboard egg cartons, a variety of leftover paper cups, leftover craft glass and clay pots, plastic vitamin bottles cut in half, and the plastic containers suet comes in.  I must confess that I have used peat pellets (although I am very conscious of the declining peat bogs and would not normally use peat) but my arthritic hands do not allow fine motor skills anymore and the pellets are easier for me to handle when it comes time to transplant. 

We have a wonderful view of the back garden from our eating area in the kitchen.  As I was sweeping the floor this morning, I spotted a red throated northern flicker hanging from the suet feeder in front of the kitchen window and I ran for the camera.  Unfortunately the flicker also spotted me and flew away...wait, that's not the end of the story.  He and a buddy returned many times to feed and I was able to get a couple of decent photos.  The robins also have been bustling around the garden.  I wonder when the hummingbirds will return? 

If you are interested in learning more about the northern flicker, please check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology