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

Jack Frost

"Jack Frost is a fairy small; I'm sure he's out today.  He nipped my nose and pinched my toes when I went out to play."

Ever since the sun's arrival last week, we have awakened to a lovely coating of frost.  The temperature is zero or minus one but quickly warms up to 8 to 10 degrees celsius.  Right now I am watching the fog work its way back up the hill to Fernwood. 

Just spotted a rather large bald-headed eagle circling the large trees in Larry Gouthro Park, one block east of us.  He must be in search of breakfast (hopefully not the squirrels).  We noticed many piles of discarded Douglas Fir seed pods at the base of the trees in the park recently.  Now we know why we never see the red squirrel in our yard.  I miss them. 

While living in our Langley home, the red squirrels romped through the forested greenspace bordering the yard and visited regularly.  In this picture, 'mother' squirrel was showing her offspring where the "goods" could be found.  Initially we started feeding the black sunflower seeds to the birds but soon the word was out and we soon had other visitors - raccoons, grey squirrels (of course), pileated woodpeckers, stellar jays, and owls (although these last three were not there for the seeds). 

Here in Powell River, we mostly have nocturnal quests in the yard - mostly deer and raccoon, although they do not limit their visits to night (as you can see in this picture).  On a couple of occasions we had a hawk scout out the yard.  Oh, and there is a mess of pigeons, crows and stellar jays that hang in our neighbourhood. 

Well, I need to get back to work now.  Today, while we were at Springtime Nursery, I realized I had forgotten to allow space in the garden for potatoes so I need to reconfigure my plans.  While there, we purchased our onion sets - got 80 each of the white, yellow, red and spanish.  Hopefully, we will have a better onion harvest this year.  Last year we tried to buy onion sets once we had moved here, but alas all sources had sold out of them and we had none.  Trying to grow onion from seed in June is expecting a miracle.  We are fast learners though and this year we are ready!

From a plant's point of view

'My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes that I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view'...by H. Fred Dale

What a beautiful 14th day of February!  The mighty winds of the last couple of days have blown the clouds and rain away, replacing it with a robin's egg blue sky and a brilliant sun.  Our final high today was 11 degrees celsius.  The sun's rays warmed the earth.  I even shed my hat and vest. 

Barry rolled the new planters outside today.  Thank goodness for the dolly.  Even without the soil, they are heavy.  They are slightly larger than the original two he made for our deck in Langley.  They measure 5 feet by 16 inches.  We have to be patient to plant it up though, as we intend to grow our Purple Haze carrots in them.  We have set aside one of the large beds in the back to grow Royal Chantenay carrots for juicing (and eating if we have a craving for orange carrots).  I created a small bed at the end of the fence.  We haven't decided what will go in this new little bed but it probably with be one of the aromatic herbs.  If I put one of the lemon verbena there, I could brush by it frequently, releasing its awesome smell (best lemon smelling plant!). 

I am so excited.  Barry built a plant light center.  I have always yearned for one and now we have one!  I went a little crazy with the bright coloured paint but I love it. 

He who plants a garden, plants happiness - chinese proverb

Shall we compare our hearts to a garden
with beautiful blooms, straggling weeds,
with swooping birds, sunshine, and rain -
and most importantly, seeds ...Grey Livingston

Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching.  Love is in the air...and, if the wind here in Powell River doesn't die down, all that love will be heading over to Texada.  Chinese New Years also falls on February 14th this year.  More reason to celebrate! 

I have a beautiful book by Lillian Too, called The Complete Illustrated Guide to Feng Shui for Gardens.  It states, 'Fuchsias are deemed to be extremely auspicious as they look like red lanterns.  They are not regarded as weeping flowers, but are prized for their precious Yang energy.'

We were fortunate to have a few fushsia magellanica (bush fushsia) in the garden when we purchased the house and I immediately went to work propagating more.  These fushsia can be propagated by softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings.  To take a cutting, select a soft growing tip, 6-10 cm long, from a healthy plant.  Make a clean, sharp cut just below a node.  Remove the lowest leaves, leaving just enough at the top to continue the photosynthesis process.  To achieve maximum results, dip the cut stem into a rooting hormone (you can use a tincture of willow as a rooting stimulator) to assist in the development of roots before placing it into a good starter soil mixture.  Misting frequently is essential or create a miniature greenhouse by covering with a clear, plastic container or bag. 

We have been busy in the garden already.  Barry has added an addition to the 'nursery bed'...it just wasn't big enough.  We have decided to stay with the raised sod bed idea...seems to be working.  He also created a circular bed for growing a heritage pole bean called Brita's.  These bean plants reach a height of at least 6 feet so need plenty of support.  The actual bean is about 1 foot long and can be eaten as a fresh snap bean or dry bean.  I like the little circular bed so much I have put in a request for more.  They would be perfect for growing individual mints.  Mint can be very invasive if not controlled.    Last year I grew our mints (we currently have 4 different kinds) in old washtubs. 

We have established a drowning bucket for weeds, that way we can reclaim the nutrients they sucked out of the soil. 

The mild weather this winter has encouraged early growth.  We were compeled to move a floribunda rose, Livin' Easy, right away before it broke dormancy.  Why have such a lovely rose hidden at the back of the yard?   We have discovered hundreds of crocus growing in the yard.  Nice surprise!  We planted hundreds of bulbs in the fall and are eagerly awaiting their arrival.