Organic Gardener Course - in Tofino and on-line!

This spring, Gaia College is again offering its Organic Master Gardener Course in Tofino. This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in gardening. Much as I'd love to go, I don't think I can swing two weeks off work, so I was excited to find - after snooping around Gaia's website - that you can also take the course on-line. Hmmmm, perhaps the beginnings of my birthday/Christmas gift?

Plant Your Garlic

I am probably about a month late for this, but I finally got my garlic in the garden two days ago during a brief respite in the storms that have been pummelling the coast. (Thanks to Josie O. for the fabulous Red Russian garlic bulbs!) I had added some well-rotted compost to the bed a couple of weeks ago and gave it a little fluff with the pitchfork. Even though the bed is in one of the lowest parts of the yard (read, wettest), the 12" high raised bed meant the soil had good texture and wasn't waterlogged. As per Ms. O's instructions, I planted the cloves about 3" deep, 8" apart and then covered the bed in a nice mulch quilt of alder leaves. In the back of my mind I had this niggling thought about New Moon and planting garlic. I was just updating my journal and, smarty-pants me, I planted on the New Moon!

Not so fast smarty-pants. It turns out you should not, actually plant on the New Moon, rather in the lead up to the New Moon. I've no idea why and whether it really does matter. I'm just glad I got the bulbs in the ground at all. (Small victories you know.)

Google New Moon + garlic and you'll find lots of posts. Here's one.

Seed Savers

It seemed like an unlikely day to get stoked about my garden again (and to get my butt in gear to rejuvenate the blog), but I putzed about in the sleet and freezing rain for quite a long time today. I was excited to finally install a new composter — take that, Mr. Rat — and then raked leaves and mulched my garden, watered my lemons (yes, 3 of them, still happy in the greenhouse) and cut out a Provencal haystack's worth of blackberry and honeysuckle vines. I even unearthed some Jerusalem artichokes that volunteered in the garden. Now, what to do with those babies. More on that later.

For now, here's a crafty idea if you are a seed saver.

Community Garden Tour (Revised)

The Tofino Garden Tour will be on September 4 from 3 to 7. Sorry for the confusion. Check the blog of the TCFI for updates and maps. Hope to see you there!

Showcase Your Garden!

The Tofino Community Food Initiative is having its 3rd Annual Edible Garden Tour on Sunday August 21st, from 3-7 pm. The purpose of the tour is to inspire locals with the abundance and variety of foods that people grow in Tofino plus highlight some of the special ways that people grow food on the west coast.

The TCFI is looking for folks who would be interested in showcasing their vegetable gardens and greenhouses on the tour. The hosts would be asked to be available to show their gardens from 3-7 pm on Sunday August 21.

Everyone is encouraged to participate, however large or small, new or old your garden may be!

If you or anyone you know would be interested in showcasing your garden, please email tofinolocalfood@yahoo.ca by Sunday August 14th to make sure we get your garden on the map. You can also send us a message via Facebook or simply reply to this posting!

We look forward to hearing from you!

Tips for West Coast Gardeners

Some good info. from longtime west coast gardeners.

Lessons from the Green Man

This blogger has been trying to eat something from his garden every day of the year. Here are some of his lessons learned. I broke a few yesterday, but it was finally so nice. I optimistically planted some seeds in the garden, but under glass. I've had greens in the greenhouse for about a month now, so I think it will be okay! As I was preparing one of the beds, I found three small lettuces growing! Little miracles to have survived the snow and freezing temps we had several times this year.

What do you have growing?