At last...

The soil has been turned, the trees are in bloom, and plans for the season can begin to come to fruition!

In the coming week, I'll begin construction of a fence that will surround the garden beds (because dog-pee veggies are NOT on my menu!) and then 'operation no more grass' can commence! My objective is to be rid of a turf grass within the fence, which will reduce my mowing-maintenance significantly!

Oh... And I suppose I should probably start planting soon. That too!

Happy Seedy Saturday!

Seeds, glorious seeds!

I LOVE Seedy Saturday.  I missed this great event last year, as I was travelling in Germany for work. While that was a thrill, and an excellent opportunity, I sorely missed the bustle and fun of buying, trading and giving away seeds!  There's something magical about the promise of summer bounty held in tidy little packages... hundreds of varieties of fruits and vegetables, all boasting unique traits and qualities that make them special.

I'm bringing peas and beets for the exchange table, and if you happen to pick up one of these packages, I hope you'll say hello in the comments below!

If the whole thing is new to you, find out more about Seedy Saturday at Linda Crago's Tree and Twig Farm blog here.  Seedy Saturday wouldn't happen in Niagara if not for Linda's boundless energy and enthusiasm.  She'll be there, and when you see her, make sure to say hello!

 

2012: The Year That Wasn't

Planting seedlings LATE in May, 2012.

2012 didn't happen in my garden.  Not really.  My season began with an injury... I sprained my ankle while chasing my other passion, roller derby (more on that later), and was hobbled when it came time to turn soil, plant seedlings and generally start making things happen out there.  With a late start in May, I never really found my garden groove and ended up with a half-assed, sorry shadow of what Mo Farm was meant to be. Hey, it happens.

The weeds were atrocious, my peppers didn't pep, the lettuce bolted and went to seed, and the zucchini never even got sown.  What did I learn from this?  Not a damn thing!  (haha) I'm not dwelling on my failed season, or even lamenting it.  I frequented the farmer's market, I spent more time with friends, and now, with the 2013 growing season on the horizon, I'm approaching my garden plans with a renewed energy and a better vision of what I need out of my landscape.  First and foremost in my planning - LOWER MAINTENANCE!  My world isn't about to get any less hectic, and in order to make the most of my time in the garden and to get the most yield out of my space, I'm reducing the turf, increasing the mulch, and turning my little beds into raised beds this spring.  I'm also going to look seriously into simple drip irrigation systems, invest in rain barrels, and figure out a way to keep the damn dogs from running through my tomatoes!

So... sound good?  Do you forgive me for abandoning you?  I can't wait to start the adventure again in 2013.... Seedy Saturday is next weekend!  Are you in?


 

Getting Back to Sun & Soil

 
Is there any better feeling? 

It was a long, hard, bitter winter for my family and I. While the weather wasn't too harsh, our cicumstances were... we fought depression and boredom. We fought with eachother. We fought with our finances.  We fought cancer.

The ultimate reward for a season of hardship is the catharsis of dirt under nails and sun on shoulders as we get back to the soil.  The sweat and flex of muscles as we strip away the old, turning over the earth to plant a new beginning, is like a healing ritual that seems capable of fixing anything and everything.  This past long weekend was the 'official' start of the gardening season for many, and I dove into my garden for the first time this year with an intensity I had forgotten was possible.  With aching back and tired legs, I sat on the soft grass on Monday afternoon as the sprinkler watered my newly-sprouted pea seedlings and emerging mesclun greens with a smile on my face and a warmth in my heart that I had missed.  


It feels good to be back.


What are you growing this year?

Spring?

It must be, because my seeds are here!  It's been a loooong winter for my family and I, and I've been miserable at updating the Mo Farm blog.  But it's a new season, and a fresh start, and I cannot WAIT to be back in fresh air, sunshine and soil.

Looking back at last season, I'm already behind! I'll be sowing my first round of seeds this weekend, (a solid week behind last season's schedule) and you can start too!  Check out this post from last year for everything you need to sow & grow from seed!  And stay tuned... because Spring is here!

 

Homegrown Holidays

There are few things I love more than decorating for the Christmas season.  That said, it's been tough to get into the spirit so far, but last week I set my mind to creating a welcoming entrance.  Call it peer pressure, because my neighbours spare no expense or effort in offering a carnival of lights, glowing deer and garland!  I decided to skip the fanfare and focus on what I love most - the understated beauty of natural materials.

I built arrangements for my cast-iron urns using birch poles, banded willow branches, greens, some dried accents from the garden centre and cuts of dried 'Limelight' Hydrangea, plumes from my ornamental grasses and Sedum heads from the garden.  I'm truly thrilled with the result.

I searched high and low for a wreath that I liked enough to spend money on, but found nothing!  Instead, leftover greens from the arrangements, a few pine cones and a re-purposed ornament that I bought for my tree made a perfect alternative.  Tied together with some jute twine from the shed, it makes me smile every time I come home.

How are you decorating for the holidays?

Bountiful Fall

Farewell, Sweet Summer...

I kissed the summer goodbye with a hike in beautiful Shorthills Provincial Park last weekend. Sigh.

Bonus Berries

The surprise (and delight!) of my summer has been provided by a plant I didn't know I had.  When I moved into my house in January, the garden was a mystery.  Discovering perennials and shrubs as they emerged from winter's sleep was a horticultural treasure hunt!  So, when this cluster of hollow woody canes popped up beside the fence, I trimmed them and shaped them as I would any other plant.  Imagine my surprise when hundreds of berries began to form in June!  It took a while, but they've ripened into the most delicious blackberries I've ever had.  Bonus!

My Sisters (A Bit Corny)

High as an elephant's eye?

This season marked the first time I've ever tried growing corn.  With a wet, cool and muddy spring, I chose to hold off on planting until well into June, so I wasn't sure how successful I'd be. That said, like most of my gardening endeavours, for me it's more the experience of trying than the success of the harvest that matters most. With that in mind, my husband and I dug a 10' x 10' bed and plunked seeds into the soil.

More turf bites the dust - this yard's for growin!

Within two weeks of planting, corn was looking like corn. Sweet!

 Reading about how other people grow things inspires and empowers me.  This past winter and spring, I was really interested in learning more about companion planting, and I came across many mentions of the 'Three Sisters', a method of growing long used by the native Americans.  Corn, squash and beans grow symbiotically together, so that's what I decided to do. I interplanted corn with my 'Costata Romanesco' zucchini and golden hubbard squash, the theory being that the rough, spiky stems and leaves of the squash plants deter hungry critters like raccoons and squirrels from climbing or knocking over the corn stalks.

My 'Three Sisters' garden begins to take shape in July, as viewed from the deck.

Zucchini growing happily in the shade of the corn.

In the next phase of planting, pole beans are sown amid the corn.  Beans fix nitrogen from the air into the soil, supplying the hungry, rapidly-growing corn with nutrition.  In exchange, the corn provides structure for the beans to climb upon.  It's a pretty good arrangement!

The ornamental qualities of the corn at all stages of growth was a pleasant surprise. She's a looker!

 So, the big question... did it work?  Well, yes and no.  Nothing is perfect, as I'm always reminded by my garden.  The zucchini produced beautifully throughout late July, but then suffered in the heat and humidity, afflicted with terrible powdery mildew and all but halting flowering and fruiting.  The corn is still growing, and has in fact produced cobs.  

The first cobs of corn begin to form in late July - success?

 Success! (I think.) I'm unsure of when to pick them, as they're quite small, and I'm not confident they'll fully ripen.  The beans were planted very late, but are climbing happily and beginning to form flowers.  I think I'll get some before summers' end, which is approaching much more quickly than I'd prefer!  Overall, I'm proud of my Three Sisters experiment, and I'm looking forward to modifying and repeating the process next season.  Homegrown corn may not be in my kitchen as of yet this summer, but thankfully, there's plenty of local gold to enjoy, courtesy of Ontario farmers much more talented than I!

Corny.

Welcome Back, Tomatoes!

The first ripe tomato of my season!

They're finally back!  The very first ripe tomatoes of the season appeared in the gardens last night, opening the door to months of juicy, seedy, delicious goodness.  

A big, beautiful 'Black Krim' deepens in colour on the vine.

Oh how I missed you, my dearest Black Krim... never leave me again!

Of course they will leave, as all seasonal foods must.  So it's up to us to enjoy every little bite, and every slurp, and every beautifully glowing orb on the vine.  We shall can! And we shall freeze! And we shall celebrate!  Which reminds me... 

Tree & Twig Tomato Tour 2010. Wowsa!

Linda of Tree & Twig has announced the date for her annual Tomato Bash at the farm! I had such an amazing time last year, and if you missed it, I know that you regretted not coming when you saw the pictures. Don't make the same mistake this year - come on out to Tree & Twig on September 4th!  If you're in my neck of the woods, you're welcome to ride with me.

Until then, I'll be wrist-deep in tomato glory...  Yippee! 

A 'San Marzano' - won't be long now!

'Black Plum' ready for eating. It was so sweet!

Let's Grow Together: A Beet-Down!

Go babies, grow!

One of the many mistakes I made last season was failing to continually seed throughout the season.  It's so easy to be gung-ho in the spring, but it's also easy to forget to keep things rolling throughout the summer by simply plunking more seeds into the empty spaces left by early producers.  Thankfully, it's a lesson I learned, and this year I'm determined to keep my garden producing all season long... and I'm not the only one.

Linda Crago of Tree & Twig has laid down a challenge to gardeners... a 'beet-down', if you will.  The Late Beet Planting Challenge extends from coast to coast, with participants agreeing to plant and harvest a crops of Detroit Dark Red beets at (approximately) the same time.  It was a challenge that I couldn't resist, and though I was late to the game (I sowed my seeds about 48 hours AFTER everyone else because I'm a terrible procrastinator) I'm pleased to see my new beet crop poking up through the soil.  Will my beets outshine their competition? Will they get munched by mystery pests like my spring drop of Golden Detroits? Only time will tell!

It's too late to join this particular challenge, but it certainly serves as a reminder to keep on sowin'! Right now is the perfect time in Southern Ontario to think about planting fall crops like beets, carrots, parsnips, cabbage and kale, and as long as the sun keeps shining, there is always room for a little more lettuce!  Need some beet seeds? Linda was very gracious in sharing hers, I can certainly pass along the favour! If you'd like some FREE BEET SEEDS in the mail, just drop me an e-mail with your address and I'll send them your way... just promise to tell me how you made out with your late planting challenge!

The HEAT Goes On...

Thankfully, not all of my garden plants seem to mind.

The wave of heat and drought continues in Southern Ontario. I did a rain dance before bed last night, but to no avail...

In Case You've Been Under A Rock...

I feel I would be remiss if I didn't give a big ol' shout out to Julie Bass, the suburban resident of Oak Park, MI who is being charged by her city for the unspeakable crime of growing vegetables in raised garden beds (GASP!) in FRONT of her house. Imagine the horror!

Click on the video for the story, if perchance you've not yet heard it.  I don't think I need to tell you where I stand on the issue... frankly, I'm surprised that the city is maintaining such a strong stance in the face of the outrage they're receiving from people all over North America and as far as Australia. 

Truly noteworthy, however, is Julie herself.  I just spent the morning reading her entire blog, and I have to tell you that I'm utterly charmed.  Julie writes from a real and personal perspective, she answers comments (which at this point, I'm sure is close to impossible) and she conducts herself with incredible poise and dignity.  When crap like this goes viral, which it now has, the central figure suddenly becomes a public personality and is subjected to the opinions and comments of every jackass with an internet connection... it's a scary thing! Julie always takes the high road, and for that as much as her veggie-rights cause, she should be commended.

So, want to help her out?
Write to the city of Oak Park, MI 
Sign the petition 

Cheers to Julie Bass and her front-yard veggies!  

A Summer Pause

How has it happened?  Frankly, I've been a miserable blogger this season... but perhaps that's been to the benefit of my garden.  It's been easy to get frustrated this season, inheriting a giant space with a wonderful bounty to keep over, ambitiously expanding and experimenting, wanting everything to work out right here and now.  But, as usual, the garden teaches me patience. It slows and humbles me. It reminds me that sometimes, despite doing the right thing and planning carefully, harvests will fail. Trees will drop fruit. Flowers will wilt, and aphids will suck, and grass will brown and go dormant.  The high season of summer takes hold, and we give pause to bow to the heat and admit that at times, it's best to put down your arms and retreat, relenting in the shade and the cool respite of a hard-won mint tea on ice.

MO FARM in images as of the end of June follows. I truly can't wait to see what July will hold.

I promise to be better with sharing my fun.