Friday, 03 July 2009

• Garden Update

  The garden is looking fantastic.  Cameron who's been helping us for the past three weeks has done a fantastic job! We are so grateful for his help and will miss him when he leaves.  We have one more week of his help before he's off to another farm. 
  
  I had Cameron make four small tipis for our cucumbers.  We are using hemlock branches from a dead  hemlock that was cut down last year.  We are also using the hay twine from the hay bales that we get each week to feed our critters.  As we work in our garden we try to think about the materials we need and make sure it's materials that we can re-use (like the hay twine and cardboard in the raised beds) or create from the property (like the hemlock branches or cedar poles).
   
   
  
  The tipi master,  Cameron Lovejoy
  
  
  
  Most of our tomato plants were planted along the fence line.  The fence will help to support the plants.  I had Cameron make some supports for the tomatoes that were not along the fence line using hay twine and hemlock branches.  I'll be using cut up pantyhose to tie the plants to the fence.  I have a drawer full of pantyhose from my corporate days when I used to wear suits and pantyhose.  Boy am I glad I don't have to wear pantyhose anymore!  I'm also glad I saved it versus filling up a landfill somewhere.
  
  
  
  
  
  Fence line with tomatoes.  We still have more to plant in the middle area of the bed. 
  
  We are having a few pest problems and I've been busy squashing bugs.  Particularly squash bugs and potato beetles but we also have quite a few snails this year.   I just made a spray that I hope will help deter these bugs.  I made if from Calendula flowers crushed and soaked in water for 24 hours. You strain the flowers,  add 1/4 teaspoon of castile soap and water.  I'll let you know if it works.
  
  
  
  Another lovely pest in our garden.  At least he is not laying on any plants in this photo.
  
  
  
  
  Cameron and Joshua checking out the Oswego tea in the medicine wheel.  Last evening while I was in the garden, I noticed  hummingbirds going to the Oswego tea.
  
  
  
  It really is beautiful.
  
  
  
  This bed is doing great.  It is gladiolus, chamomile, borage, calendula and basil.
  
  
  
  I can't wait until the borage blooms.  I think our honey girls are going to like it.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  We have quite a bit planted and I'm hopeful we have a good year despite  a little too much rain and the pests.
  
  So far,  we have planted:
  
  Patty pan squash                                                                       
  zucchini
  yellow crookneck squash
  Native American Hubbard Squash
  cheese pumpkins
  pie pumpkins
  giant pumpkins
  delicata squash
  spaghetti squash
  Mexican pumpkins
  watermelon
  sweet corn
  pop corn
  Mexican blue corn
  lentils
  black turtle beans
  kidney beans
  anasazi beans
  black-eye peas
  2 varieties of cucumbers
  three varieties of onions
  5 varieties of tomatoes (4 which are heirlooms)
  8 varieties of potatoes (4 heirlooms)
  nasturtiums
  broccoli
  cauliflower
  leeks
  kale
  collard greens
  eggplant
  3 varieties of peppers
  2 varieties of carrots
  red beets
  golden beets
  fodder beets
  dill
  cilantro
  spinach
  sweet peas
  garlic
  4 varieties of lettuce
  
  Everything is intensely planted in raised beds.  Each bed is co-planted with the intention of the plants benefitting from it's neighboring plant.  The beds were created with layers of  kitchen compost, manure from the barn, cardboard, leaves, straw and dirt.
  
  
  
  Purple finger potatoes that are part of the NOFANY potato trial.
  
  
  
  Chieftan and Eva potatoes also part of the NOFANY trial.
  
  I am looking forward to the milkweed pods again this year.  Last year,  I picked a few and made a brine for them to soak in.  WOW,  it was like eating capers.  We are looking forward to making more this year.  I like to leave the milkweed for the monarch butterfly caterpillars to eat.  Of course they are going to have to share those pods with us.
  
  
  
  Milkweed blooming
  
  Last year,  I noticed a very strange looking spider on one of our rose bushes.  He's back!
  
  
  
     
  
  I think he's so cool looking. 

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