Home, Beautiful Home

While I was away, Sprinkle made me a deck for outside my greenhouse (out of recycled fir flooring I found earlier this year on Craigslist) as well as planted beans and peas. I am so delighted!! It's simply beautiful. The finishing touches are happening around here and it is almost complete, after about six months of revamping what was a dreary eye-sore in the backyard (pictures on the left are before; pictures on the right are now).









Upon my return this week the following were planted in the remaining garden beds at home: quinoa (which sprouted after four days!), turnips, beets, kale, brussel sprouts, swiss chard, eggplant, sunburst squash and cucumbers. That makes for a very full garden and much excitement to come.

Headed out to garden A, which we call "the farm", and I was so happy to see this:






potatoes......................................broccoli

The potatoes and broccoli are all sprouting - YES! We worked five more rows and put all the seedlings in the ground including: cucumbers, sunburst squash, cantalope, four or five different kinds of peppers (some were labelled and some [sheepishly] were not), and tomatillos. It looks pretty green right now and like something is happening, which is starting to feel good. I am bit concerned because I haven't seen any bees around, so I am going to take out some flowers to plant to lure them over. Within a few weeks I'll have a picture up of the development, which I am certain will be lush, green, flowering veggie plants! Grow little plants grow...we're counting on you.

could this be it?

So, Sprinkle and I embarked on an exciting journey today to look at a piece of land that might be a possibility for my first year farming. When we were there I wasn't sure if what I was looking at in this pic was part of the land available but I have been told it is. Just to the right of this picture is a few acres that have already been cleared and farmed last year by friendly and enthusiastic second year farmers. It feels hopeful, exciting, and extremely scary. The scary part for me is the bear...yup...bear...possibly bears! You probably can't see it but I am looking over a large area of berries...yummy for the tummy of the resident bear! Hmmmm...how not to let this fear steer me away from this lovely little place. One of the farmers already on the land made a comment that "there's nothing there, that's why I wanted you to see it before you make any decisions". My reply, "well, it's kind of reflective where I'm at right now...basically starting from nothing." By nothing I mean nothing tangible...no money, no land, no equipment, little knowledge. I hope I make up for the lack with my supportive and loving people (and hopefully free farmhands!), tenacity, passion, belief, spirit and a strong ability to problem-solve! My horoscope today mentioned land...so it's in the stars, I can feel it!

everything leads back to farming....

...and I know this isn't sustainable. It's hard not to be overzealous, obsessed and constantly planning in my head. I have tried not to talk about it as much as I am thinking about it (although people around me may be surprised by this statement as it may feel this is all I am talking about!) I just finished reading the book On the Farm by Jimmy Doherty. He's a bloke in England; a friend of the famous chef, Jamie Oliver. It was fun, inspiring and got me thinking about raising pigs. PIGS!

There is a good chance that I could get a small parcel of land to farm this year. Yes, true! I am currently working with a local agency that helps new farmers find land to lease. I will be papering the city with posters looking for any landowners/farmers who would like to participate. Keep your fingers crossed for me that the perfect parcel will appear soon. Can you believe it...farming this year...oh goodness. See why I might be obsessed?

My seed order has not been put in yet. It will be. I am just a bit stuck about how much to order. I am not exactly sure how to figure this out, and so this will be my task for this week. Sprinkle kindly dragged one of the shelves from the shed to the greenhouse. My plan is to plant some left over seeds from last year and see what happens. Some will be in a seedling tray out in the greenhouse and some will be in a seedling tray kept in the house. I want to compare the outcomes of both and see if I can deduce any good tips/strategies for glorious veggies. I will keep you posted!

By the way, thanks for visiting. Thanks for following.