Obsessed

Obsession #1

Okay, I thought I was obsessed about dogs, but I have to admit there is another obsession that seems to be growing stronger with the longer days and warmer sun…gardening.

Could it be the feel-good microbes in the soil? The need for frugality? The passion for being part of the global solution to climate change and destruction of biodiversity?

Maybe all of the above.

When I first read about the Dervaes family in Mother Earth News it started me thinking about our own piece of city property. Since then we have created raised beds, planted fruit trees, recycled building material for more vertical space and created a soil management program that includes chickens and straw.

Today a 2008 interview with the head of the family showed up on Facebook. I am re-inspired. I am adding a border of chives to my driveway, digging up more lawn and guilding my backyard to direct water flow for growing watercress.

When John and I met, almost 28 years ago both of us were interested in self sufficiency, each of us owning several how-to guides on getting off the grid.

We still hold true to that lofty goal. We may never attain it completely but my goodness, we’ll give a good try!

Enjoy….

Pictures of Cedar Market 2012

Opening day….what great atmosphere! I love this market and will probably be doing it regularly. Wide array of homemade and homegrown food and art. Music playing and old friends catching up.

Enjoy the pictures!

Cedar Market Singers

Cedar Market Opening Day

Ladies doing Tai Chi at Cedar Market

Cedar Market Opens

Tomorrow is the day for the Cedar Farmers’ Market to officially open for the season. And they aren’t alone!

Several of the markets around the mid island area are open for business. John and I are going to the Cedar market tomorrow…so excited. It was a toss up between the Mother’s Day garden tour and the market. The market won out.

Hope to see you there.

Educating the Lookie Loos

Willie Pining at Fence

I live on a schoolyard. A big soccer field and baseball diamond are feet from my chain link fence. Sometimes the noise of screaming kids gets to me, and in the spring the ping of metal bat on ball can be a little annoying.

But today at noon with the May sun streaming down on the garden I braved the cacophony and decided to create a new potato bed.

Let me share a bit of background. Willie the border collie, at recess and lunch, begs to go outside. Groups of girls and boys meet him at the fence and throw sticks for him…right in the garden sometimes. I don’t mind in the least. He has a job and his tail wags non-stop.

Today was no exception, a group of boys were playing baseball in the diamond and three 8-9 year old girls were at the fence petting Will and throwing sticks. The noise level was abnormally high, probably due to the clear blue sky, warm temps and smell of spring and the end of school.

I lay down the newspaper, not easy on a windy day. I got the sprinkler out and hosed them down but wet paper and fetching dog don’t mix. Willie made great swaths of holes in the paper letting the grass poke through. I finally got the papers laid using far more then I intended and then started cutting potatoes getting them ready to lay on the wet newspaper.

The whole time I’m waiting and waiting.

I almost gave up, mentally questioning the lack of curiosity in youth today. But finally a small voice piped up, “What are you doing?” she asked.

Great Question!

New Potato Bed

I answered….with a three minute lesson in growing potatoes and a sample of freshly picked lettuce.

Yes!

Okay, so the sound of kids screaming may get a little tiresome sometimes, but when they see food growing, and taste a freshly picked vegetable, a kernel is planted. A small seed of curiosity and knowledge is nestled in their fertile mental soil and perhaps, hopefully, it will blossom into an understanding and interest in growing food.

What’s a little noise compared to that?

Foraging Folly and Quick Fix

Foraging For Nettles

Picked more nettles this morning, at the same spot we harvested a week and a half ago. Proof of the wonder of nature! More had come up and the nettles we did pick had grown more leaves below where we cut.

Nature replenishes itself. It’s an evolved system that works and will continue to work when respected.

I got stung by one of the leaves but didn’t have to look far for the cure. Broad leaf plantain, fresh new leaves broken in half and rubbed on the welt and the itch is gone.

Balance!

Facts about Nettles: High in iron, great spring tonic for boosting sluggish system after winter. Grows in moist soil, like ditches. Dry and make tea, mix with pine nuts and parmesan for a delicious pesto, steam and add a hint of tamari, add to soup, make compost tea and use for fertilizing garden, give to chickens for a healthy feast that will boost egg production.

Real Yoghurt Anyone?

Lorraine just emailed me to say she’s discovered a local yoghurt artisan….using Island milk to make real cultured yoghurt.

We have sooo much to offer foodies right here, on Vancouver Island.

Gotta love it.

Road Trip

Kids are in a badminton tournament in Victoria so John and i and the dogs are going on a road trip…you gardening enthusiasts know why I’m so excited don’t you?

You know what just happens to be in View Royal on the way to Brentwood Bay where the tournament is being held!

Uhhuh …. you got it….Lee Valley!

And my order is in!

It’s serendipity really, going to Victoria. I wouldn’t be able to garden this weekend anyways and typing is serving up a challenge too. Last night John and I saw Clash of the Titans. I was holding my wrist so tightly I bruised the wrist ligament (as we get older we get a bit more tender I guess). Go figure.

Hurts like hell, can’t move it too much, so unfortunately, just Lee Valley, kids, badminton and dogs this weekend.

I’ll let you know what I get…(add a maniacal laugh here)

The Cafe in the Country

Winding and Wending Country Road

Imagine finding a café in the middle of the country! When you think about it, it makes perfect sense. Sloping hills, chickens scratching in a portable coup, cows grazing in a field below, and fresh produce grown not two minutes away. Makes you wonder why every restaurant doesn’t set up beside a farm.

Alderlea Farm in the Cowichan Valley serves up simple fair with seasonal or preserved products from their own backyard. John and Katy, owners of the enterprise make quite a team with Katy serving up culinary masterpieces and John bustling about making sure everything is in order, from the freshly picked lettuce to the tiny seedlings in the greenhouse across the street.

Their farm is unique and not just because they have a café attached. They

Barn on a Hill

follow the spiritual-ethical-ecological approach to agriculture first taught by educator and social activist Dr. Rudolf Steiner. This method of farming focuses on creating a balanced ecosystem that promotes sustainability.

They’ll be featured in our book Eat Local Live Longer on Vancouver Island with Katy sharing some of her kitchen artistry.

Roxanne and I had one of her chocolate chip cookies. We may be starting a tradition!

No Digging?

I love digging in dirt, the feel of the shovel sliding through the soft soil, my muscles straining as I lift the load of dirt and then fling it into a bed. It just feels good. It’s always been the best part of gardening and why, come springtime I create so many new beds!

So when I viewed this video even I got excited about a no dig garden. Tatties! Potatoes! Pomme de terre! Fruit of the Earth! Gotta love it.

Watch and see if you don’t get just as excited!

Dangers of Obsession!

The challenge with having two obsessions is that at any given time one gets neglected.

This weekend, though the sun came out briefly on Saturday and Sunday, I was busy watching dog agility, not working in the garden.

I am guilt ridden and torn. I enjoyed the trial tremendously, I even participated in a fun run at the end of the trial. But every time the sun glanced through the windows in the barn, I felt its warmth and its urgent call to go home and shovel chicken manure and straw in the new bed. Even over 15 miles away I could hear my garden sirens. I ignored them both!

When I did finally get home, John had already installed the Strawberry Stacks, my peas had grown an inch, the broad beans had finally poked through the snow, the lovage and fennel buds had started to unfurl and the chives had produced enough spears to add to the bean burgers I made for dinner.

My obsession for next week has to be the garden! Sorry Willie!