Saturday, June 12, 2010

More Gifts

All I get o do lately is weed... very... very boring. But Mr. Selinger always makes things better! He went out to some shops and found me 5 1L milk bottles, one of which still has the cardboard topper. After that, he found me a little cow bell! He wanted to get me an antique one complete with the leather collar, but it was $25, so a bit too pricey! The one he bought is brand new, and smaller, perfect for a mini moo later in life!

Here's a picture of a milk bottle and the cow bell next to some cut flowers from my rose bushes!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Pickles in the Future

The love of my life knows me all too well. He came home yesterday with baskets of new plants for us. He bought himself more herbs to plant in containers, since I'm not interested in herbs, I leave them to him. He bought Sage, Rosemary, Oregano, Basil, and the oddity named Pineapple Sage, which does smell really sweet. As well, he bought me high yielding Pickling Cucumbers... Three to be exact. As an extra special treat he bought me a rose bush, a Gerber Daisy, and a Cala Lilly! There they are, pictured below! So pretty in person!

I planted the Cucumbers outside on little hills next to the Long English Cucumber I bought Sunday at the flea market, where I also bought a little Roma Tomato plant. Since I am more interested in results then in the art of gardening this year, I consider this a good practice.

With all the rain we have been getting lately (between 15-30 mm a day), the weeds have really been taking over, and the plants are exploding in growth! The corn I replanted have started to shoot up, and the lettuce looks big enough to eat soon! Very exciting. The big things that need to be done at the moment are staking the peas, buying netting to protect the harvests, and planting my third rows of lettuce, carrots, and spinach. All for another day!

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Replanting... Again!

First off, remember that big, plump strawberry posted last week? Well, its gone. Went out the day after the post, and it was gone. Something stole our first harvest and didn't share. Thinking of getting some netting to throw over top the crops so no more get stolen. There are a great number of birds in our area, so I'm sure my lettuce is going to look tasty soon!

Speaking of lettuce, some are a few centimeters tall now! And the second row of spinach planted 11 days ago have already sprung up in great numbers! Even more exciting is a few corn stalks have poked out of the ground.

Today I went out and poked some more corn kernels into the soil in hopes they will germinate better in this high heat, and I planted some cucumbers in their mound (which seems to be winged-insect free), and I pushed a few tomatoes into a pot in hopes these will grow as well!

I've also started to stir up the soil everyday around the rows. I've been weeding almost everyday to try and keep up with what needs to be done, and while doing so, I've noticed the ground is getting a bit hard on top. Under the hard top, the soil is soft and unpacked, so I'm hoping that by stirring up the top layer, I'll not only help with water evaporation, but stir up the weeds and make it harder for them to grow, while (hopefully) giving my seeds a head start! That's the plan anyways...


My peas are getting tall! 5-8 cm for some of them! These are the sugar snap peas.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Surprises in the Garden

So, I went out today to weed the overgrown beds and to replant the cucumbers since its been 3 weeks and they are still no shows. I pulled out dozens upon dozens of day lilies the are infesting the raised beds. I was pleasantly surprised to see that my carrots were actually coming up, slowly... so slowly.

Afterwards, I made my way over to the cucumber mound to turn over the soil and replant my little cucumber seeds. I used my little trowel and turned over a little dirt. A few bugs crawled out. Nothing odd about that. So I turned over more and more, and was quick to realize that the insects emerging were not only numerous, but winged. They were all black, a bit of white, and they resembled wasps.

Mr. Selinger thinks they might be black hornets, a very aggressive species, so I left gardening for the day and will go back tomorrow. However, I have looked up ground-nesting species, and it seems to me that they may be the juveniles of a bee colony. From he sites I've looked at, it seems like a single female has started a colony in the mound and I just dug up her babies! I can't be certain, but I'll defiantly ask around to see if anyone else has a better clue!

So, for the time being, how about we admire the fruit of my labor?



(Dear Santa, I want a better camera!)

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Second Plantings Done!

Nothing interesting to report, I did planted my second rows of lettuce, carrots, and spinach. Its really exciting to see my little plants growing away and doing well! When they get big enough to harvest, I'm going to throw a salad party! Everyone can come and enjoy my first home grown veggies!

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Spring has Sprung!

Went out yesterday to show off the garden to a good friend, and to my surprise there were veggies growing in neat little rows! I have lettuce, a couple of carrots, spinach, and rows and rows of peas! No tomatoes, cucumber, or corn though. I'll give them till Friday, and if they don't sprout, then I'll stick to my original plan and replant them. I don't think they liked the cold spurts we had!

Here is the only decent picture of the garden, and its of the sugar snap peas, growing like weeds!

Friday, April 30, 2010

No News is Good News?

I've been checking my garden every sunny chance I get...



Nothing new. Dirt and a few weeds, and the three, thriving strawberry plants. Its day 11, and still nothing. I'm planting my second rows of salad, spinach and carrots on Monday (if I have time). If I don't see anything sprouting by next Friday, I'm replanting. I think I may have planted too early. The mornings have been a bit chilly so I wouldn't be surprised if they were struck by a frost.

One thing I am grateful for is no cats in the garden, or crows for that matter. And I do love that fence Mr. Selinger built for me a few years ago. The ground is so hard I had to dig holes for the posts. Boy it was a pain, and I don't think Sisko appreciates it either...

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Slow Changes!

There was a pleasant break in the rain today, so I wandered out back to my garden to see what was going on. And I found nothing new. I pulled out what I assume were a couple of weeds. I think its still early for any growth.

Even though there was no growth, I was struck by the amount of change that has happened so far this year. The back corner has gone from a wild jungle of new growth on the blackberries and short, winter grass. The ground was uneven and bare, the beginnings of weeds just starting to poke out of the hard ground.

Now, I have a productive corner behind a curtain of tall grass. Sure, nothing is growing, but I hope in a few weeks there will be little sprouts, steadily storing nutrition until the day I pluck and eat them! How exciting!

For comparison, February 21, 2010:



Today:

Friday, April 23, 2010

Book review 2

Sorry, nothing new or interesting to post, so you get filler!!

I finished "Small-Scale Livestock Farming" by Carol Ekarius. It is a must have for me. It covers everything from financing to livestock management. It is a bit older, published in 1992 (close enough), so some thing, like the prices and trends, are a bit out of date, but it really doesn't matter.

I learned a lot about how may animals the land can hold, how to overwinter effectively, and how to read the land, so to speak. It teaches how to enrich the land so that every year it is improving and adding value and growth, and not deteriorating.

The key thing for me was when the book dissected the change from small scale farming into industrialized farms after World War 2. It explains how the number of animals in the US have remained relatively the same, but the number of farms have drastically decreased, and those farms are now owned by just a few, large corporations instead of by the farmer alone. Very interesting stuff to me!

Another thing I found really interesting and useful were the equations! There are equations for everything, from how many acres you need to some many heads of cows, to how many pastures you needs, how long to graze, how much to feed, and they all complement each other. Its really helpful, and as a math lover, extremely satisfying!

Overall, I will be buying it, and will be happy to add it to my growing collection!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Leavening Action!



Usually, when I try something new in baking, I fail miserably! So you can imagine my distinct surprise when I made a behemoth of a loaf! Generally, I make two little loaves a week, but stashed under all my other pans, I found a large loaf pan that Mr. Selinger brought home for me many months ago! So I decided to give it a try!



The leavening! Never have I gotten such a rise from a loaf! I must have done something right this time... I'm had the sneaky suspicion that I've been killing my yeast with too much heat, so I think I finally got it right! I squished all that dough into the pan and left it for a second rise!



Loe and behold! It doubled in size again! So exciting! Its about the same size as a store loaf, but I'm sure it will be much denser, which is just fine by me!



The finished loaf! It took 20 minutes longer to bake, and even then, its very pale. I like my loaves a bit darker all around. I want my crust to be chewy! The finished loaf weighed in at almost 3 pounds! Very tasty loaf. I will also report that the next morning, a good chunk of the loaf had been cut off and eaten already... I think someone has midnight snacks of my bread...

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

A Hard Day's Work!

Had a blast with Jenelle yesterday!



She came over early yesterday morning and we planted the summer crops! She helped turn over the beds, pick out the rocks, weeds, and roots and got her hands filthy! Mine, I assure you, were spotless as a result! We planted carrots, lettuce, spinach, corn, two kinds of peas, cucumbers and Mr. Selinger's favorite, strawberries!



We were done in a couple of hours thanks to her! That, and the beds are nice and small! I also figure that I need row markers... I used chop sticks. I think they will work just fine... I also need a better method of spreading those small seeds. We used our fingers and sprinkled them in. I'm sure there are better ways!



But before we go, one last picture of Jenelle and her dirty hands!

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Changes all Around...

It seems like overnight my tiny little green pineapple got fat and yellow! So fat and yellow, that I harvested it!



I chopped up the poor little thing, and boy did it smell good! Unfortunately (but not surprisingly), I was overzealous and picked it too soon so it was crazy bitter!



That's ok though, in two more years I'll have another little pineapple to sweeten up and eat! I can't wait until then!

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Things are Happening!

Long time no type-y! Finally have a working computer again (Thanks Konie!)! How great it feels!

A while ago, on a bright, sunny day (March 20th to be exact), the raised beds were put in!

Mr. Selinger cut up all the pieces for me...



...Then marked where they went...



...Then hammered them into the ground...



...And presto! All done!



Whew... That was hard work... Don't know how I got through it! Next up, I need to fill those beds and get a move on! End of April is coming fast!

Friday, March 19, 2010

Pineapples

I have to gush about my man for a moment! On Monday (very delayed post) he had his first day of school, so he got off early. He decided to be sweet and stopped by at the nursery to get me a present. He looked at the cut flowers, and decided that they were a lost cause since I can kill any plant he gives me anyways. So he moved on to the live plants.

He looked at the lemon and lime trees, but they were small, and very expensive. That, and they couldn't tell him if they would grow outside, if they needed transplanting, etc etc. He's so thorough! He wandered around the nursery and up on the top shelf, he found... PINEAPPLES! My favorite!

Its so tiny, the whole plant is the size of my Sisko! AND! It had a baby pineapple on it!

I read up about them, and they need temps between 68-70 degrees Fahrenheit, so inside works, but they need full, direct sunlight, so during the day, Mr. Prickles goes outside. We are still getting frosts at night, so I have to bring him in at night. I also learned that it takes two years before they fruit, then it takes 6 months for the fruit to mature, and then they skip a year. My goodness they are a lot of work!

Also, I transplanted it that night. It was in a 6 inch pot, and everything I read said it needed a minimum of 8 inches, and I just so happened to have a pot! So far, its looking good, except for the yellow spots it had when it arrived.

Well, fingers crossed that it lives!


Such a bad picture.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Book Review

I finished "How to Build Animal Housing..." by Carol Ekarius last week. It was a really good reference that dug deep into the nuts and bolts, so to speak, of how to go about building different style of buildings such as pole barns, lean-to's, and portable shelters, to name but a few.

The book covers everything from pouring concrete to shingling roofs. It covers the best way to finish off buildings and gave many drawing on features you can add, such as brooders for pigs, calves, and foals, and even a milking stand for goats. It stressed safety on every page and really emphasized the importance of planning.

Unfortunately, it is an American publication, so all the regulations are not Canadian, but still the thought is there. As well, I found the drawings and the more technical portions were difficult to understand at times, but my Mr. Selinger had no problem translating them to me.

Overall, I found the book to be valuable and will definitely purchase it, but I wouldn't consider my collection lacking if I didn't.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Dogs in the Street

Luckily, my computer is up and running again!

Nothing has really happened, but on Thursday, while on route to take the dogs to the park, I almost hit a Jack Russel terrier who was just standing in the center of my lane as I rolled down the hill. The dog was terrified and wouldn't budge when I agave her a little honk, and when she did decide to move, it was towards more traffic.

Me, along with another woman, got out of our cars and convinced the dog to come to the side of the road, and onto the sidewalk. She was very nervous, but after a short while, I was able to coax her to my side, where she let me scratch behind her ear and hook my fingers through her collar. She was comfortable with me picking her up, so it was decided I would take her to the SPCA to see if she had a tattoo or microchip.

However, just as I was hopping into the car (much to the delight of my two), I heard a woman screaming at the top of the hill behind me. The woman was running down the hill, yelling for my attention, in her very cute bathrobe. I ran up and met her halfway, and the tears started. She gave me the biggest bear hug, her little Bella squished between us. The woman thanked me repeatedly and gave me an open invitation for coffee anytime! It was a great feeling as I drove off!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

The Grind

Things have come to a screeching halt at the "Farm". I'm desperately searching for a job, so my thoughts have strayed and I don't think I could concentrate on anything else. Its frustrating looking for a job I know I won't stay with long term, and hopefully enjoy to some degree, while I build my future over the next several years. The ideal choice would be to go back to school, but financially, I can't. Also, I would go to school for so many years, then while just starting out in my career, I would eventually leave it for my farm. Its a sticky situation I'm in, and the only thing keeping me going is the support I get from my family!

Monday, March 8, 2010

New books!

Well, not really.

Today, on the way to the park, I stopped at the library. I picked up two books I've been interested in.



I got "How to Build Animal housing: 60 Plans for Coops, Hutches, Barns, Sheds, Pens, Nest Boxes, Feeders, Stanchions, and Much More" and "Small-Scale Livestock Farming: A Grass-Based Approach for Health, Sustainability, and Profit", both by Carol Ekarius. I haven't been able to read much of "How to Build...", but so far, I like it. When I'm finished, I will update on how it was!

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Soggy Puppies


Today I finished leveling the area where I will put the raised beds. I measured the plot, and wasn't surprised to see one side was about 2 feet narrower than the other. Still, I measured out how much room I had, and how much I wanted for the beds. They are much smaller than I had originally planned for, but when I consider the fact that I'm only going to grow a few different vegetables, I think it will all even out in the end.

I am, however, sharply aware that I am falling behind in my planting schedule. I'm not overly concerned since I don't have a green house to get my plants started in, and we are still experiencing frosty nights. I just hope the delay won't be too detrimental or cause too much frustration.

Oh, and are you wondering about the title? It was bath day.

Buddy...










... and Sisko.

Friday, March 5, 2010

A Day of Roses



Today is so bright and sunny. I took advantage of not having to wear a bulky jacket, and brought the dogs to the park and enjoyed the warmth. Spring feels early this year!

After a pleasant walk and a few pictures, I headed home to try and prune the roses. I was told it would be ok to prune them in the spring, so I looked up some information, but it was vague. All it said was to remove suckers, dead portions, anything thinner than a pencil, and to thin the inside so light could reach all parts of the plants.

So, with a huge lack of information, I went out and I will admit, I was overwhelmed. I have 6 rose plants in the front, and they haven't been touched in years. The beds they sit in are overrun with weeds and some sort of lily, I think. That's not including the garbage thrown on our lawn everyday.

I didn't end up removing much off most the plants since they were budding. I did remove large portions if it looked like it was struggling, and one plant was so weighted down, I ended up removing a whole, heavily budded branch. The rest of the plant sprang up and smacked me in the face. Not very thankful!

Here is one before and after of my favorite bush under the kitchen window.

Before.
















After.






Not bad in my mind. I love the red growth on this one! I'll try again in the fall, which is the right time to do it. I'm hoping to do some weeding after the raised beds are put in, and plant out some flowers. We'll see if time permits!

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Farm Girl

Since putting my plans into action by creating my own little farm in the back, I have had to do some backbreaking work. Even though I don't work in the rain (yet) I have had to work in muggy weather and moderatly hot sun, and I must say, it is very unpleasant! Generally, after an hour of hard work on the weekends, I drag my feet very dramatically over to Mr. Selinger, put on my best pout, and complain that my hand hurts, or its hot, or any thing else I can think of at the time to get sympathy.

His response is to laugh, put his hand on my head, and say, "Its tough being a farm girl, isn't it?"

Even though I don't get the response I want, it does leave me with no excuse. And a small feeling of happiness, especailly when I find out that at work, when some one tells him he needs to find a 'nice girl', his reponse is, "I did even better. I found me a nice farm girl." Its kinda nice knowing that even at work, he describes me as his farm girl.

Hopfully before long, I can be a real farm girl!

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

(Limited) Tools of the Trade

Didn't do anything exciting today, so I thought I would post the tools I get to use while digging my plot.




Starting from the very bottom left are my little shears resting on my pruning shears, which prove useful for the large stalks that you find in the middle of the blackberry growth, then my ads, a double sided blunt ax used to tear up earth and chop stubborn roots up. The actual head of the ads is old, the original handle having splintered long ago. My spade is next then my rake.

That's all I've got! And really, that's all I need right now. As time goes on, I might collect more, but for the time being, they serve my purpose well!

Monday, March 1, 2010

Slow Progress

Yesterday turned into a work day. Well, between periods of the mens hockey game, Canada vs USA. The Olympics closed last night with Canada winning more golds than any conuntry ever has in any Olympic Winter Game! Congrats to our athletes!

....

Pride aside...

This was the view of backyard last Monday. This is looking South-North (ish), with the compost in the back corner.








This was the after math of a full day of work. I cleared out most of the blackberries over the area I want my beds. There are plenty more to the right, in the sun, and I'm standing next to massive pile of the fallen. Its hard to see, but I have used the ads to break up the soil, and then raked it somewhat level. This view is looking South-North.



Yesterday, not much happened. I continued to clear out, then used the ads to break up more soil, then raked it level again. Still, I think its mighty impressive!


This is looking East-West. There are more of those thorny devils off camera, but its still looking mighty nice! Well worth the blood, sweat, and tears! But I assure you, the tears where from the hockey game...

Sisko enjoyed his new hideout behind the compost... He's trying to get into the neighbours yard... He's not too bright considering he keeps hitting his head on the barbed wire. Oh Sisko... At least mommy loves you.

You might be wondering what was so exciting that he would purposefully (and eventually successfully) try to barge through sharp, rusty barbed wire?

Mew.

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Innis & Gunn

Shortly after suiting up yesterday, I had be beat a soggy retreat. The rain won out and I barely made a dent in my work. Oh well. The day was not lost!

I join Mr. Selinger around the Valley, dropped off the copper at a salvage warehouse and made $380. I enjoyed watching the hydrolic arm with its biting end break up the sheets of metal. When Mr. Selinger asked what I was looking at, all I could say was "nom nom nom", and shockingly, he understood.

We then headed back home to get a key off his forman, then back for 45 minute drive to pick up the red bricks for the front of the house. That was an ordeal! It was raining cats and dogs and mice (You see, the mice are the small drops, then the cats follow, then the dogs... It makes sense in my mind...)! We loaded up as much as the '78 Corolla could hold, and headed back home to unload in even heavier rain!

Although the day was wet and dreary, the night was not! I have finally found I beer I can drink without getting sick of the bitter aftertaste. It's Innis & Gunn. Its a Scottish beer that's been aged in an oak barrel that used to hold bourbon. As a result, the beer is heavy, but has almost no bitter aftertaste of the hops, but as I drank it, I thought I might be tasting some of the vanilla for caramel flavours they advertised! Definatly a treat to end the day with!

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Oh, the carnage!

This morning is a sad affair in the household! My new dwarf puffer has killed my large snail overnight, and my beta in his bowl has died as well! My two favorites are gone! May they be remembered always as the two that brightened my day.

Moving on! Today is very muggy out, very grey and overcast. I might not get another chance to get outside to continue with the blackberry massacre, so I'm suiting up to take on those spiky punks! Hopefully I get something done while my man is away.

Mr. Selinger (my man), is off all over the Fraser Valley today, taking copper in to get a cheque, and picking up red bricks to make my front lawn even more unattactive, but more friendly to those who like to drive across it and have thus turned it into a large mudhole. I guess its a compromise?

Friday, February 26, 2010

In the Beginning...

The idea to live self-sufficently was not fueled by global warming or media induced paranoia. I have had the idea for as long as I can remember. I want to promote proper care of animals and organic gardening. To grow my own food would be an accoplishment worthy of a great effort.

My first memories were of living in a small town nestled in mountians. We lived in a log house surrounded by grass and bordered by tall trees. We stood on the porch and watched thunderstorms in the summer, and stood in hail storms in spring. My mother cooked on a wood stove and a duck lived in our greenhouse.

I want to return a land like that. I want to raise my own food and better the land I work.

As it stands, I'm far from my dream. I rent a small house in a large town with my two dogs and man. This post will chronicle the adventures I have and the steps I take to acheive my goals of an organic lifestlye.

I hope you can join along and maybe we can all learn something together!