successively planting salad stuff ..

beds numbered 1 and 3 are this year's salad beds .. for the most part, these beds hold lettuces .. bed 3 has the broad beans at the back and a colourfull array of different lettuces growing in the rest of the bed .. spacing of plants in this bed is based on the square foot gardener's method of planting .. lettuces are four to a square foot .. bed 3 is growing 'heads' of lettuce that are and will continue to be picked at their peak through the coming seasons .. as the heads are picked more lettuces are planted, either by transplant, or by seed, thereby ensuring there will always be fresh lettuces coming .. we hope to plant lettuces and other greens right on through the winter ..

bed 1 has been divided in half .. the back half, near the gate to the compost, is planted in a cut and come method .. the lettuces in this bed are planted about two inches apart in a row just less than ten feet long .. as these lettuces grow they blend into long colourfull lines of lovely lettuces .. to harvest, the largest leaves of these lettuces are picked .. i think i've had more than a dozen pickings since mid may .. however, as the plants grow and mature they become bitter at which point they will be relegated to the compost and new lettuces, or other greens, will be planted .. again, the idea is to continue picking and planting right through the winter season and into spring ..

the second half of bed 1 is planted with a few more lettuces that will grow into heads .. there are also two cherry tomatoes .. a patch of soybeans for edamame .. an our scallopini squash .. scallopinis are a summer squash, and they're already beginning to produce tiny squashes .. again, as the produce matures and is picked from this bed, other hardier greens and plants will be planted to last through the winter .. that is the hope, at least .. as gardening always carries with it a strong element of hope ..

i have been, and will continue to harvest the salad beds two or three times a week, and i also encourage you to come into the garden and harvest .. go to bed 1 and/or bed 3 and take yourselves home some fresh lettuces for salads ..if you'd like to, but are uncomfortable or unsure how to harvest the lettuces and other greens, just come and ask me .. better for us to get these little beauties before the slugs get to them ..

E at Your Fruits and Vegetables

A Guide to Fruits and Vegetables 

Double click on the pictures to enlarge.

The nutrients found in plants offer a lot of help in decreasing the risk of severe health issues like cancer or heart disease. Unfortunately, most people don't consume enough of these vital substances. This infographic will show you how to incorporate more crucial nutrients into your diet. There is a rainbow of foods to eat, and this color-coded chart will help you select the best produce for improving and maintaining good health. Whether you're looking for a specific nutrient or want to know more about creating a proper diet for you and your family, read through this, some of the information may surprise you!   Click Here or on the photo to see the information in full size!

a bit about broad beans ..

i have to admit something before i get started here .. i don't honestly have much experience with growing, harvesting or eating broad beans .. also known as fava beans or horse beans .. i've grown them the past couple of years at the garden .. not because people rave about them but because my friend, phil, introduced them to me years ago as one of his favourite beans .. so when i saw the opportunity to grow some at the community garden, i took it .. now, i like growing them for a few different reasons .. for one, they're a beautifull plant .. tall and somewhat stately, they stand upright on their own until june's westerlies whip through the garden and knock them over .. secondly, although i didn't do it this year, they can be planted as late as october for a late winter early spring crop as their preference is for the cooler weather .. (i planted them in february this year) .. and, thirdly, they are one of those remarkable plants that add nitrogen to the soil ..

i was down checking on them today, and i've just returned home .. i had to give my makeshift broad bean cage one more wrap .. bringing in the fallen and bent stalks that were knocked over by the wind we had last night .. interestingly, the stalks of these beans are hollow, making them somewhat fragile .. but, only two or three smaller stalks broke when they fell against the string .. other than that they're fine .. and the beans are beautifull right now .. bright green, about three inches long, and lookin' good enough to eat .. according to broad bean lovers ..

broad beans grow three to five feet tall, with flowers similar to other bean flowers in shape .. a bit like a tight sweet pea flower .. in the case of broad beans the flowers are black and white .. they don't seem to keep their blooms for long before little beans start forming where the base of the flower joins the stalk .. and the beans grow relatively quickly from that initial point .. sometimes it seems inches in a day .. the beans are a bit unusual in that they grow pointing upwards along the stalk .. some say that when the beans begin to fall from their vertical position, that they are ready to be picked .. and that they can be picked from three or four inches to eight or ten .. the smaller beans can be eaten pod and all .. as they grow and mature, the pod gets tough and so is discarded, while the beans inside are deliciously sweet .. then later, when the beans reach their maturity, the relatively large beans are taken from the pod, steamed, and then peeled, revealing a delightfully brilliant limey green sweet bean .. the fava beans can also be dried and used in soups and stews .. 

as far as harvesting goes there are different ideas out there from broad bean lovers .. one site .. (gardenbetty.com .. search for fava beans) .. gives a down to earth description of broad beans .. a bit of history .. and good information on when to harvest and how to cook them .. one other site i've taken note of is harvesttotable.com .. good information there, too, about broad beans .. and i also happen to know of at least one broad bean lover on the island ..

now, armed with the information i've gathered so far, i'll be starting the broad beans harvest at the community garden in the next day or two .. i'll pick beans of varying maturity and size .. and i'll take some home and cook them up for myself and frank .. i have eaten broad beans at the later stage .. when you pop them out of the skin that encases them, and sauté them with butter and garlic and a bit of salt or soy sauce .. delicious ..

but not to everyone's taste .. do you like eating broad beans .. ? .. what's your preferred bean size and how do you like to cook them .. ? .. and if you've never tried eating a broad bean here is your opportunity .. give them a try .. let me know what you think ..

jane

Little Diggers Lessons Change to Sunday

Little Diggers have been busy getting their hands dirty at their lessons on Saturday mornings at the community garden. Please note that April 25 will be the last lesson on Saturday Starting May 3 their lessons will take place on Sunday's from 10 - 12.

Spring is Here

DIGS AGM

The 2015 DIGS Annual General Meeting takes place this Sat. Feb. 21  1:30- 3:00 at the Beacon House. In addition to the formal meeting there will be a discussion of watering, our organic code and composting toilets. Refreshments will be served. Memberships for 2015 available. $10 for a single  $15 for a family. This money not only helps to maintain the garden but your membership card entitles you to a 10% discount at most local garden centres and the option of joining our garden supply delivery project.

COMMUNITY GARDEN NEWS 2015

COMMUNITY GARDEN NEWS 2015

If you enjoy gardening the community garden in Smuggler’s Park is the place for you. Every Saturday during the fall and winter and every Sunday from May to September islanders meet (10am – noon) to talk about gardening, to plant and harvest our crops and to socialize over coffee. The garden is run by D.I.G.S. You can become a member ($10 single or $15 family) and help support the garden. The membership card can be used for discounts at most garden centres.

There is a program for younger gardeners called “Little Diggers” which starts in April and runs every Sunday from 10:30 – 12 noon until the fall. Lessons this year the theme is “Peas, Peas and More Peas”. Cost is $5.00 for the year for each Little Digger.

DIGS plans several fundraising events throughout the year. These include: 1) a Plant and Bake Sale at the garden on May 17^th,  2) a Dessert Auction on June 20 at the Beacon House,  3) a Fall Fair on September 15 at the community hall.

The garden is for everyone to enjoy. Please drop in anytime and see what’s happening. Lend a hand, if you wish, share gardening experiences, ask questions, offer advice, take some produce from the Harvest Table at the entrance to the garden (a small donation is appreciated) or just sit and enjoy the ambience.

For more information visit www.digsgarden.blogspot.com or contact Jim Harris: 250-740-0317  or  meharris@telus.net.

FALL FAIR UPDATE
Just a few weeks left before our "DIGS" Island’s third Fall Fair –  Saturday, September 14th.

If you think you bake a pretty mean pie (special men only category) or loaf of bread or make a spectacular  jam or jelly or produce  anything else you can fit into one of the 16 categories, now is the time to get your entry ready for our fall fair. Brochures are on all the island bulletin boards with details.

The lighthouse community center will be open to the general public to view all the entries at 12:00 noon (after the judges have finished evaluating the entries). Also, at 12:00 several island vendors will be  selling their wares on the back deck. There will be harp music, and the librarians are selling books.
Jim will be pressing apples and making juice on the back lawn as well. Bring a container  and you can take home some fresh apple juice. On the lower field Veronica will be organizing different races for the kids – sack race, egg and spoon race and three legged race.

Saturday evening (7:30  pm) the fall fair wraps up with a dance in the Beacon House with Trish and Geoff and Rick entertaining islanders with their musical talents. The bar will be open and nibblies served. Tickets for the dance

Tickets are $5.00 each (kids get in free) and must be bought in advance.
Contact info. on email group for island.
Marg

Plant and Bake Sale May 18

DIGS PLANT AND BAKE SALE, SUNDAY, MAY 18 FROM 10 - 12

Come one and all to the annual DIGS plant and bake sale Sunday, May 18 at the Community Garden. Gate opens at 10:00 sharp. There will be lots of variety of plants for sale. Vegetables include tomatoes, peppers, herbs, rhubarb and  artichokes. Flowers for sale include a variety of hanging baskets for shade and sun, geraniums, pansies, nirene, lobelia, mums and dahlias. Many yummy goodies will also be available for sale at the bakery table. Bring bags in which to carry your purchases home.

the winter garden .. and a call for gardeners ..

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 .. ? ..

here's a link that i was given this morning for a very well done and informative magazine .. not from this part of the world, but nonetheless, full of good advice and inspiration ..

http://www.fromscratchmag.com/