"Take a bite out of that," said Bob, "and tell me what you think. Is that not the best orange you have ever tasted?
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Scooped by Janis Cormier onto Common Sense Gardening |
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Dozens of gardens clubs all over B.C. are busy at the moment preparing for their annual plant sales. It’s a big deal. It’s how clubs raise money for their programs and charity activities and other community projects.
Janis Cormier's insight:
This is great info, for those who live on the lower mainland or are willing to part with a chunk of dough (that could otherwise be spent on plants) for the ferry trip. For those of us who live and garden on Vancouver Island check out the Victoria Horticultural Society's event details page at http://vichortsociety.org/event-details/ Plenty of Vancouver Island plant sales listed here, along with other 'hort-events'! Delete the scoop?
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Doug Whiteman is a subarctic potato farmer who battles permafrost year-round, lives about 140 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle, and over the past seven years has gone from coaxing 300 pounds to 30,000 pounds of potatoes out of his stubborn land.
Janis Cormier's insight:
These folks up north are working to address their issues with food security and the ridiculous cost of obtaining fresh food where they live. It's inspiring to see their efforts 'bear fruit' in such a hostile environment and begs the question; Why aren't people who live in more hospitable climates doing more to produce at least some of their own food?
Perhaps as the cost of food rises (as we are all warned it will continue to do) more people will be convinced of the benefits of vegetable gardening and small scale farming. These benefits go far beyond simply getting fresh, tasty food.
Caring for a garden, chickens and other livestock provides fresh air and excercise, the opportunity to teach your children life lessons and create and build communities that share with and care for each other.
The comments at the end of this article are interesting, I wonder how many of those spewing vitriol over the idea of gardening in the north know anything about gardening at all - it sure doesn't seem like they do. They seem to think that the north is a frozen wasteland and dark all year, when in fact their summer growing season, although short, can be very productive because of the long daylight hours.
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B.C. Greenhouse Builders offers the largest selection of greenhouses and is the leading manufacturer of quality built hobby greenhouse kits and custom greenhouses.
Janis Cormier's insight:
So excited to be on the verge of buying my dream greenhouse from BC Greenhouse Builders! My little 6' by 8' just isn't cutting it anymore so I'm moving up!
These sturdy, aluminum frame greenhouses come in array of configurations, sizes and materials. I'm choosing 12' by 16' twinwall polycarbonate and plan to build a 12' by 8' shed off of one end. I'll run a water line and electricity from the house and my family might never see me again! Just kidding... sort of!
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By properly cleaning and maintaining your garden tools, you'll add to their longevity and save money in the long run.
Janis Cormier's insight:
Every winter I resolve to do this, yet every spring I'm pulling out rusty tools, with clumps of last years muck cemented on blades, tines and handles! Maybe this winter I will find the time to treat my tools properly...
On the other hand, good quality tools do bear up well despite my shoddy treatment. I remember finding a pair of Felco pruners while sifting compost a few years back. They must have been in there at least a year and were caked in rust, but I managed to remove, well, most of it and today I'm still using those pruners!
Maintain your tools if you can, but at least spring for good quality implements - they last. Delete the scoop?
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I wrote this post about my Golden Catalpa tree in June of 2011. It's still one of my favourite trees and has grown astonishingly well. It seems to want to go sideways rather than up, and I have already had to prune it several times to keep it from burying the plants beside it. This year it began to encroach on the lawn with head-high branches. My husband got tired of being smacked in the head as he mowed so we've had to chop those off! Delete the scoop?
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I'd like to add another red primocane bearing raspberry to my garden next year. A little online research brought me to this review. Hmmmm, which one should I choose, and which ones will I be able to source? I already have Autumn Bliss and Anne. Anybody have an opinion? Delete the scoop?
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"Take a bite out of that," said Bob, "and tell me what you think. Is that not the best orange you have ever tasted? |
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Or pick up at Fanny Bay location.
Janis Cormier's insight:
It must be Spring... I've been cruising the classified ads, looking at chicks I don't need - or even have room for. But I want them, I want more chickens, it's an addiction. I need poultry anonymous!
Maybe I need a bigger coop... Delete the scoop?
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Janis Cormier's insight:
Yet they do produce flowers as well! I have several heuchera and heucherella in my garden but I should really add a few more, because they're bomb-proof and beautiful. The only drawback is that deer love them, one year they climbed the steps to devour some heuchera I was growing in a planter at my front door. Now they've been relocated to my fenced back yard! Delete the scoop?
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Shows such as Alan Titchmarsh's Love Your Garden are blamed for the increasing number of allotments left unkempt and decade-long waiting time for tenancies.
Janis Cormier's insight:
I'm sure there are many reasons why ones allotment garden goes to wrack and ruin, but I don't think you can lay blame at the feet of hosts or producers of television gardening shows. How about if the lazy people who neglect their plots take responsibility for the mess? If they can't keep the weeds down (to prevent them spreading to adjoining plots) and maintain basic garden hygiene, there should be a mechanism of warnings followed by the loss of the allotment - it's pretty simple! Just basic common sense...
I wonder if this is a problem on this side of the pond? Never having had an allotment garden, I've no experience with them. The ones I've passed by have all seemed to be fairly tidy! All I know about them is that demand has outstripped supply in many communities and I occasionally read about new allotments being established to try and answer the demand. They are certainly a boon for those with no access to a garden of their own. Delete the scoop?
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Steve has had trouble with his plumbago. Mine blooms well, in full sun and contained in a small ceramic pot. Delete the scoop?
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It sounds like a good idea, but taking photos of invasive plants and expecting someone to come and uproot them seems ridiculous! If you drive along the freeway near my home you'll see that there is more Scotch broom growing on the median and roadsides than anything else. There's no way that we could fund the amount of invasive plant removal that's required; better to take the matter into your own hands as the author describes doing herself.
Maybe I'll go and take a few (thousand) photos of invasive plants and see how long it takes for the cleanup crew to show...
Hmmm, when I follow the link to the Invasive Alien Plant Program site, it informs me that my 'alien plant report' will be sent to a provincial Invasive Plant Specialist for my area (wonder if they're hiring) who "may then share this information with the local Weed Committee Coordinator so that the agency/land owner responsible for the infestation can be notified".
I'm sure the agency or landowner will come rushing out to clean up the blackberries, broom or butterfly bush! Excuse my cynicism, but I think we would do better to organize local groups of citizens to combat invasive alien plants. There are folks in my community who host regular 'broom bashes'
I can't help but think that the funds directed to setting up Report-a-Weed could have been better spent supporting groups that are already doing this work.
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Why plant dozens of different varieties of narcissus this fall? Well, apart from the beauty they bring to the garden in spring, they give you the most fantastic indoor bouquets. Delete the scoop?
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Some plants won't survive outside once temperatures begin to drop, so here are some tips for keeping plants healthy as you move them indoors. Delete the scoop?
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