well .. we did have winter this year .. i say that comparitively speaking as i'm betting the rest of canada doesn't think we have winter at all out here .. they simply don't understand that pouring down rain .. like we're blessed with today .. is winter ..
besides all that .. i'm here to let you know the winter garden is not yet done .. once i can get back down there .. with no snow .. or pouring down rain .. i'll be trimming off purple sprouting broccolii .. (broccolies .. ?) .. and putting them out on anna's stand so you can take some home for a taste .. i'm pretty excited about these guys .. they've lived through a fair bit of variable winter weather this year .. and, although they're looking a bit leggy at the moment they've produced a few pounds of beautifull purple broccoli spears .. they might become one of our favourite winter crops .. wait until you taste them .. ! ..
this year's winter garden didn't really come close to the vision i have of abundant crops and a continual harvest .. from october through june .. nonetheless, i'm pretty happy with what i've learned this year .. it's been a relatively good first year .. and now, i'm full of excitement and determination to take the garden on to the next step in fulfilling that vision of abundance .. 2014/15 here we come .. !! ..
i say 'we' as i'm wondering if there's any out there who'd like join me in preparing the beds .. sowing the seeds .. tending and watering the plants .. and then harvesting this year's winter vegetables .. ? ..
and i mean 'any one' .. young .. older .. elder .. gardener .. non gardener .. master gardener .. experienced or not .. if you're someone who'd like to .. or already loves to grow vegetables .. please .. come into the garden and let's get at it .. i certainly don't have all the answers, but i do have one year of concentrated effort under my belt .. and i have great enthusiasm .. ask anyone .. ! ..
the seeds are all here .. and in fact, i started some leeks in the greenhouse inside the garden .. i've been researching and making notes .. i know which beds to be use .. and i'm about to draw up a picture of the planting ideas i have for them .. i'm going to follow some more intensive methods of planting .. like double rows .. and interplanting .. and successive planting .. and using garden made fertilizers .. and compost .. and companion plants ..
see how easy it is to get carried away ..
so .. as i say .. if you have even the slightest yen to grow veggies stop at the garden any time you see me there .. or email me at jtgrdnstff@gmail.com and let me know .. it will be so great to share this year's winter gardening experience ..
oh .. and before i forget .. thank you so much to all of you who contribute to the compost bin .. we're starting to create some beautifull garden-ready compost in those bins .. this year i'm hoping to work other methods into the composting area .. like making different garden teas such as compost, comfrey, and seaweed .. and we've got a plastic composter available that i'm happy to show you how to use .. if you're interested .. composting and all its magic and wonder is another huge area in the garden that i'm happy to grow into with others .. (excuse the pun .. ) ..
i think this community garden is such a great place for us to learn to grow food .. and flowers .. and herbs .. who knows what this wonderfull garden has in store for us .. ? ..
