Sunday, March 30, 2008

More seeds started

So, I started another 4 seed types. I am pretty excited about these ones. Here they are:

2 x Honeywort (Cerinthe major purpurescens) from Florabunda Seeds












2 x Golden California Wonder Pepper (Capsicum annuum) - Organic from McKenzie Seeds










2 x Sweet Cherry Hybrid Tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum) from McKenzie Seeds













2 x Big Beef Hybrid Tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum) from McKenzie Seeds


I am a bit worried that the pepper seeds that I started last weekend won't do very well. We have been keeping the thermostat in our house a bit low and it might have been a bit too cool for them. The weather is warming up though and I have turned it up, so I also started a couple more of the jalapeno and chile pepper seeds that I started last weekend, just in case.

I have had one of my Nasturtium seeds peek through today.....but only one so far out of the six that I planted.

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Slow Food Movement

So, in my internet exploration for articles and information about growing your own food, I came across the Slow Food Movement. This is a relatively young organization that was started in Italy in 1986. Here is an excerpt from their philosophy:

" Slow Food is good, clean and fair food. We believe that the food we eat should taste good; that it should be produced in a clean way that does not harm the environment, animal welfare or our health; and that food producers should receive fair compensation for their work."

The members of this organization call themselves "co-producers" instead of "consumers". They believe that by being informed of the food production process and actively supporting producers, they become part of the process. It is now an international organization with over 80,000 members in 850 local chapters. As of now, there is not a Canadian chapter, but the slow food idealism has started.

The Walrus just published an article by Murray White about Vancouver Island's slow food rebirth. In his article, he discusses how
Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island is seeing some economic hope with the slow food movement since the faltering of the forestry industry, once the island's lifeblood.

The movement has been criticized for being "elitist" and discouraging
nominally cheaper alternative methods of growing or preparing food. Slow Food proponents respond by claiming to be working towards local production and consumption which will exploit "best practices" of science and professions worldwide but ultimately prove cheaper due to less reliance on transport and energy and chemical and technology intensive methods.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Seeds started


So, I went ahead and started some seeds this weekend. The packages say 8-10 weeks, so I start seeds in 10 peat pots. I am planning on starting some more this weekend, to stagger them. Here is what I started:

2x Chile Pepper Cayenne Blend (Capsicum annuum)
2x Chile Pepper Early Jalapeno (Capsicum annum)

These two seed types I bought at a Garden Show in Stratford, Ontario from Botanical Interests.

I also started:

6x Nasturtium 'Golden King' (Tropaeolum nanum) (pictured above)

These were also purchased from the Garden Show, but these were from Florabunda Seeds.

I planted them all last Friday...it has now been 3 days and I am antsy to see them come up. In two weeks I am planning on starting the rest of my seeds.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Starting seeds in Canada

So, in my eagerness to start my garden, I thought that I might start some of my seeds indoors this weekend. After realizing that it is a bit too soon to start, I have decided to postpone my seed-starting until next weekend. There are a lot of resources out there, on the web as well as books and magazines. Newer Canadian gardeners need to realize that most information out there is for warmer climates, usually in the US. Most Canadian gardeners that I have talked to usually aim for planting after the May long weekend. That is 9 weeks away, and while some of my seed packets say "plant indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost", I think that I am going to wait until next weekend to start these seeds.

I have found a couple resources on the web that have given helpful hints to starting seeds indoors. Of them all, the most important seem to be:

1. Use sterile soil (or another sterile medium). To make your own, you can take your own soil, sift out clumps and stones and then bake it. I bought a bag of soil.

2. Fill pots or flats (I am using peat pots) to within 1/4 inch of the top with your potting mixture and level the surface. It's a good idea to water the soil and allow it to drain thoroughly before sowing the seeds. Make a hole for each seed with your finger. Keep in mind that most seeds need to be planted four times as deep as the seed is wide. If your seeds are very fine, cover them with a fine layer of soil.

3. Soil should be kept evenly moist but not soaking wet. Too much moisture will cause the seeds to rot. Use a fine sprayer to water newly planted seeds and tiny seedlings or, if possible, water from the bottom. If you can, slip your pots and flats into plastic bags to keep the humidity and moisture even and reduce the frequency of watering.

4. The care you give your seedlings in the weeks following germination is critical. Keep it moist, but not dripping. Small pots and flats dry out quickly, so check it often. If your seedlings are growing in a windowsill, turn often to encourage straight stems.

5. It is important not to start seeds indoors too early. If they outgrow your flats or small pots you might try thinning them and transplanting the largest to bigger pots, but for the most part you want to plant them outside just as they become large enough to survive transplanting.

So, with all these points in mind, I will be waiting until next weekend.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Food and Peak Oil

So, one of the reasons I have taken such an interest in gardening is to be able to grow my own food. As a kid, I loved helping my mom in the garden, and I have missed that since leaving home, going to school and basically just getting busier with other things in my life. I have been doing a lot of research and I am starting to realize that modern life is causing me (and most people) to lose my connection with nature and the outdoors. We lead such "busy" lives, and it leaves us no time to even prepare food.

There is another reason why I want to grow my own food. The current "buy local food" trend has made me really think about this issue. In a recent article posted on kitchengarden.org, the author discusses the association between oil and food supply. While most people are coming to accept that the era of cheap oil is coming to an end, many do not fully grasp what impact this is going to have on the world's food supply. The North American food system is completely dependent on oil (farm machinery, synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, food processing equipment and of course, transportation). As oil gets more expensive, logically, so will food.

So, with these issues in mind, I am planning on taking the "buy local" lifestyle even further....buy eating food grown in my yard. I want to depend less on manufactured food, so I am also starting to bake my own bread. I have been asked if I will have enough time to do all of these things. Well, I believe we make time for things that are important to us. Also, I sometimes think about how fast society has changed and about our ancestors (not even that long ago) didn't have the luxury of running to a supermarket for every last little thing. We may think we're too busy, but are we really?

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Under snow



So, my last post had pictures of our front and back yard in May 2007. Check out the snow we have now...

I am planning on starting some seeds indoors this weekend. It's hard to be motivated with snowbanks that are 4-5 feet tall.

Monday, March 10, 2008

In the beginning...



One of the important features that I was looking for in the house that we bought was the gardening potential. We moved into our house in May 2007 and while I was motivated...I wasn't ready to take the gardening plunge last year for a variety of reasons. One, I wasn't sure what plants were already in the yard and secondly, I just wasn't committed yet. I grew up with a mother who has the greenest thumb that I know, and I was slightly intimidated. My mother used to give me plants to spruce up my apartments when I was in university and inevitably, they would always die. So, I wasn't sure that I had it in me. But, as I have grown up, my indoor plants have started surviving and some are even thriving.

So, when we first toured through the house that we decided to buy, I was thrilled to see that there was only one patch of grass in the front yard, and none in the back. The previous owner had spent a lot of time and money on trees, shrubs and perennials, but due to illness, wasn't able to continue with the upkeep needed for such a property. He seemed very happy to hear my interest in the beautiful yellow magnolia tree, pink peonies, lilacs, grape vines etc, etc.

One thing that I wasn't thrilled about...the two ponds. Unfortunately, they were not well constructed and the lack of care had left them rather sorry-looking.

So, the first summer was dedicated to pruning, pruning and more pruning. Our lot is not very big, and I was amazed at how much vegetation was growing on it. We have multiple cedar trees of varying heights, a maple tree, lilac trees, a magnolia tree, shrubs and a couple unknown trees. I did plant a few annuals in planters and grew some tomatoes in pots, but that was about the extent of it.

So, here I am, mid-March getting set for my first full gardening season in our new house. I have lots of plans and I hope I am not getting in over my head. Now to tame the wild jungle....