Sunday, June 13, 2010
More on Winter Gardening
West Coast Gardens has a newsletter on winter gardening that is worth a peek if you're thinking about getting one going. (Yes, you need to start thinking about it now before summer has really arrived!)
Compost Workshop
Thinking you should compost, but weren't sure where to start? Here's a workshop, brought to Tofino and Ucluelet by the Raincoast Sustainable Living Program and the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District.
Here's the scoop:
WHEN & WHERE:
Tofino - Thursday, June 17th from 6pm - 7pm, Clayoquot Field Station (in the classroom), Located in the Tofino Botanical Gardens
Ucluelet - Wednesday June 23rd from 6pm - 7pm, in the The Ucluelet Community Centre
COST: Free!
Come and learn the basics of recycling and composting. Find out where our recycling is going and what it is being made into. In addition you will learn the correct ways to compost for both backyard (outdoor) composting and indoor vermi-composting (worm composting). Brenda Fortais, waste reduction coordinator from the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD) will be leading this workshop. Please bring all your questions both about recycling and composting to these events. Don't miss this opportunity for a great learning experience!
Here's the scoop:
WHEN & WHERE:
Tofino - Thursday, June 17th from 6pm - 7pm, Clayoquot Field Station (in the classroom), Located in the Tofino Botanical Gardens
Ucluelet - Wednesday June 23rd from 6pm - 7pm, in the The Ucluelet Community Centre
COST: Free!
Come and learn the basics of recycling and composting. Find out where our recycling is going and what it is being made into. In addition you will learn the correct ways to compost for both backyard (outdoor) composting and indoor vermi-composting (worm composting). Brenda Fortais, waste reduction coordinator from the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD) will be leading this workshop. Please bring all your questions both about recycling and composting to these events. Don't miss this opportunity for a great learning experience!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Bulb Planting 101 for Procrastinators
As a writer I can always find a million tasks to avoid the deadline at hand. (This blog, perhaps?) Surprisingly, planting bulbs at the right time of year never seems to be one of the distractions I get to at the right time — in this case, the fall.
The tendency toward procrastination means I often find myself with a bag full of unplanted bulbs in the spring. Gardening wisdom tells me it's too late and I'll have to wait until next year. This year I decided to ignore that advice and planted them in pots anyhow. Happily, it is very spring-like in my garden (and on the west coast!) at the moment with these pots of tete-a-tete daffodils in bloom. I believe some narcissus are about to open, too. These were planted in pots in March.
So there garden wisdom. It never hurts to play around. I'm off to find a lemon tree.
The tendency toward procrastination means I often find myself with a bag full of unplanted bulbs in the spring. Gardening wisdom tells me it's too late and I'll have to wait until next year. This year I decided to ignore that advice and planted them in pots anyhow. Happily, it is very spring-like in my garden (and on the west coast!) at the moment with these pots of tete-a-tete daffodils in bloom. I believe some narcissus are about to open, too. These were planted in pots in March.
So there garden wisdom. It never hurts to play around. I'm off to find a lemon tree.
Hanging Basket Workshop
For those of you in the Tofino-Ucluelet area, there is a hanging basket class with Trina at OCN on Monday, June 14 at 5-ish (Tofino Time and all). Please contact her at ocn [at] island [dot] net (or 250.725.4450) if you are keen. If this time doesn't work for you, let Trina know a time that will.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Building With Bamboo
Owee. What's that big yellow thing in the sky? Oh, right. The sun. What a glorious day yesterday. We had a big 'ole work bee in the yard and my hayfield finally got mowed. It's amazing how such simple pleasures mean so much to a gardener! We'll be in need of a serious massage after the weekend though as we're moving the greenhouse to our yard from our neighbours'. (Thank you Paula and Gibby!)
I've always wanted an arbour or two in our garden. One by Jan Janzen isn't in the budget yet — someday I hope — and I'm not wild about most of the ones I see in shops, so I just fashioned my own with bamboo. All for just a few bucks.
(Sorry, it's a bit lopsided. The photo, not the arbour.) Hopefully by the time of the tea, it will be covered in sweet peas and filet beans.
Here's another idea for building with bamboo — a pea trellis. What have you built with bamboo?
Don't hurt yourselves in the garden this weekend. Perhaps begin and end each day with this.
I've always wanted an arbour or two in our garden. One by Jan Janzen isn't in the budget yet — someday I hope — and I'm not wild about most of the ones I see in shops, so I just fashioned my own with bamboo. All for just a few bucks.
(Sorry, it's a bit lopsided. The photo, not the arbour.) Hopefully by the time of the tea, it will be covered in sweet peas and filet beans.
Here's another idea for building with bamboo — a pea trellis. What have you built with bamboo?
Don't hurt yourselves in the garden this weekend. Perhaps begin and end each day with this.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Field Trip!
When the weather improves (or maybe not, because we could be waiting a long time), we should plan a field trip to this remarkable spot in Clayoquot Sound.
What do you think? We could get a little flotilla together or perhaps charter a boat. Let me know if you're keen.
What do you think? We could get a little flotilla together or perhaps charter a boat. Let me know if you're keen.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Teas and Brews 2 - EM Tea
(Thanks to Leah for another great post on garden brews.)
I love fermenting up a good brew! No, I’m not talking beer, but a really beneficial brew for your garden called EM (Effective Micro-organisms). In the 70s, extensive research on the use of EM was done by Dr. Teruo Higa, a professor at the University of Ryukyu in Japan. Now, EM are used all over the world in many different ways!
Effective Micro-organisms occur naturally in the soil, oceans, animals and even us! These mirco-organisms include many species from three different groups — lactic acid bacteria, yeasts and photosynthetic bacteria. All of these microbes work cooperatively and produce hormones, vitamins, amino acids and enzymes that are all beneficial to plants. They also fix nitrogen and carbon and convert toxins to nutrients. In the compost they help to breakdown the material and prevent some of those nasty smells and flies.
EM is effective in any garden, farm or household. Not only can you use this as a spray in the garden to provide healthy benefits, this magic brew can be used around the house. EM can be sprayed onto your pet and their areas (beds, litter), in your laundry and to clean the house. Trina at OCN sprays it all over her chickens’ beds, eating areas, etc. It has even been used in septic systems to control the bad bacteria and smells.
Here are some links to learn more about EM and it’s magical qualities: Naturefarm, Ecorevolution (video), and EM (video).
Making EM Brew
EM brews can be purchased activated (ready to use) or, if you have time, you can brew a mother culture in your home. The latter saves money as the mother culture goes a long way! Both of these products are available from OCN Garden Centre or you can order it online from The Gardener's Pantry.
What you need:
800 ml of de-chlorinated, room temperature water
3 TBSP of unsulphured molasses
3 TBSP of EM mother culture
Clean, airtight container (1- or 2-litre pop bottle and cap) or I use a 1-gallon glass jug and a balloon with a tiny hole in it for a lid.
What to do
1. Mix the ingredients together in the container and place in a warm, but not hot place, out of the sun. I put mine on top of the fridge or on the mantle off to the side. The brew must be kept warm to multiply the microbes and be effective.
2. Give the brew a gentle shake every day and “burp” the bottle (if you haven’t used a balloon with a hole in it). Do this by releasing the cap to let the excess air escape.
3. In about 2 weeks or so (if the culture has been kept warm), the EM should be ready. To ensure that it is ready, pH paper can be used. A pH of 3.7 is best, but anywhere below 3.9 is fine.
EM can be stored for 6-24 months but is best to use within the month. Store it tightly sealed and out of direct sun at room temperature. I make a new batch about every month so I have a constant supply.
Using EM
Garden: EM is best used in the garden as a soil drench as it can burn the leaves of plants if not diluted properly. Use it in the early morning or late evening and preferably just before a rain. (Well, that could be anytime on the west coast!) I generally dilute 1:50 (EM to de-chlorinated water) for soil drench and use it 1-4 times per month on my garden.
Household: For household use (pets, compost, cleaning), I use a strong mix, equal parts of EM and de-chlorinated water with a splash more of EM. A spray bottle is an effective way to distribute all those healthy microbes. I keep a spray bottle handy in the pet areas, kitchen, bathrooms and laundry room.
I love fermenting up a good brew! No, I’m not talking beer, but a really beneficial brew for your garden called EM (Effective Micro-organisms). In the 70s, extensive research on the use of EM was done by Dr. Teruo Higa, a professor at the University of Ryukyu in Japan. Now, EM are used all over the world in many different ways!
Effective Micro-organisms occur naturally in the soil, oceans, animals and even us! These mirco-organisms include many species from three different groups — lactic acid bacteria, yeasts and photosynthetic bacteria. All of these microbes work cooperatively and produce hormones, vitamins, amino acids and enzymes that are all beneficial to plants. They also fix nitrogen and carbon and convert toxins to nutrients. In the compost they help to breakdown the material and prevent some of those nasty smells and flies.
EM is effective in any garden, farm or household. Not only can you use this as a spray in the garden to provide healthy benefits, this magic brew can be used around the house. EM can be sprayed onto your pet and their areas (beds, litter), in your laundry and to clean the house. Trina at OCN sprays it all over her chickens’ beds, eating areas, etc. It has even been used in septic systems to control the bad bacteria and smells.
Here are some links to learn more about EM and it’s magical qualities: Naturefarm, Ecorevolution (video), and EM (video).
Making EM Brew
EM brews can be purchased activated (ready to use) or, if you have time, you can brew a mother culture in your home. The latter saves money as the mother culture goes a long way! Both of these products are available from OCN Garden Centre or you can order it online from The Gardener's Pantry.
What you need:
800 ml of de-chlorinated, room temperature water
3 TBSP of unsulphured molasses
3 TBSP of EM mother culture
Clean, airtight container (1- or 2-litre pop bottle and cap) or I use a 1-gallon glass jug and a balloon with a tiny hole in it for a lid.
What to do
1. Mix the ingredients together in the container and place in a warm, but not hot place, out of the sun. I put mine on top of the fridge or on the mantle off to the side. The brew must be kept warm to multiply the microbes and be effective.
2. Give the brew a gentle shake every day and “burp” the bottle (if you haven’t used a balloon with a hole in it). Do this by releasing the cap to let the excess air escape.
3. In about 2 weeks or so (if the culture has been kept warm), the EM should be ready. To ensure that it is ready, pH paper can be used. A pH of 3.7 is best, but anywhere below 3.9 is fine.
EM can be stored for 6-24 months but is best to use within the month. Store it tightly sealed and out of direct sun at room temperature. I make a new batch about every month so I have a constant supply.
Using EM
Garden: EM is best used in the garden as a soil drench as it can burn the leaves of plants if not diluted properly. Use it in the early morning or late evening and preferably just before a rain. (Well, that could be anytime on the west coast!) I generally dilute 1:50 (EM to de-chlorinated water) for soil drench and use it 1-4 times per month on my garden.
Household: For household use (pets, compost, cleaning), I use a strong mix, equal parts of EM and de-chlorinated water with a splash more of EM. A spray bottle is an effective way to distribute all those healthy microbes. I keep a spray bottle handy in the pet areas, kitchen, bathrooms and laundry room.
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