tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23243154695102105002024-03-13T00:17:36.483-07:00Turned Leaf GardeningGreener Gardening at work and at home.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324315469510210500.post-4752428778266135052010-03-22T15:59:00.000-07:002010-03-22T16:01:34.290-07:00We Have MovedWelcome. <div><br /></div><div>I have moved my blog, to find it go to <a href="http://turnedleaf.wordpress.com/">www.turnedleaf.wordpress.com</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for stopping by.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324315469510210500.post-84871528656510685672010-03-20T10:15:00.001-07:002010-03-20T10:15:37.877-07:00<br /><br /><center><a href='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/03/20/829.jpg'><img src='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/03/20/s_829.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='209' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />It's spring out there<br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324315469510210500.post-59930579354667790462010-03-19T08:02:00.001-07:002010-03-19T08:04:05.533-07:00Transplanting the KaleThis is my first attempt at blogging from my phone. Let's see how it goes.<br /><br />Back in January I planted <a href="http://turnedleafgardening.blogspot.com/2010/01/spring-kale.html">Kale</a> directly in my three recycled blender pots. I spaced four or five seeds about an inch apart in each.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/03/19/440.jpg"><img src="http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/03/19/s_440.jpg" border="0" width="281" height="186" style="margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; " /></a></center>On average each pot sprouted four baby Kale. I have already tranplanted four of these to share a home with freshly planted <a href="http://turnedleafgardening.blogspot.com/2010/02/watch-your-peas-and-cs.html">carrots and peas,</a> but on this day I transplanted the rest so each has it's own pot.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/03/19/441.jpg"><img src="http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/03/19/s_441.jpg" border="0" width="281" height="186" style="margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; " /></a></center>I found five pots at a local thrift store for under $20.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/03/19/442.jpg"><img src="http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/03/19/s_442.jpg" border="0" width="281" height="186" style="margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; " /></a></center>One of them is a cookie jar missing it's lid.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/03/19/443.jpg"><img src="http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/03/19/s_443.jpg" border="0" width="281" height="186" style="margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; " /></a></center>I started with a few rocks in the bottom to save a little soil. This space will also hold water that the soil can soak up as needed.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/03/19/444.jpg"><img src="http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/03/19/s_444.jpg" border="0" width="281" height="186" style="margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; " /></a></center>I mixed the last of my used soil left from our last planting adventure with the <a href="http://www.keeferfarms.com/pages/soils/index.html">Keefers</a> container mix...<br /><br /><center><a href="http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/03/19/445.jpg"><img src="http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/03/19/s_445.jpg" border="0" width="281" height="210" style="margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; " /></a></center>and filled the pots.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/03/19/446.jpg"><img src="http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/03/19/s_446.jpg" border="0" width="281" height="210" style="margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; " /></a></center>Because the Kale is still so small I used a tablespoon to remove them from their original home...<br /><br /><center><a href="http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/03/19/447.jpg"><img src="http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/03/19/s_447.jpg" border="0" width="281" height="210" style="margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; " /></a></center>and then placed them in the centre of the new pot, gentlely using soil to prop them up. I also move the Kale into the centre of thier orginal pots.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/03/19/448.jpg"><img src="http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/03/19/s_448.jpg" border="0" width="281" height="210" style="margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px; " /></a></center>I lined them all up along the railing on the east deck. I find that the plants get plenty of water here when it rains. If anything is getting too much water I simply move it away from the edge until it stops raining or the soil begins to dry out.<div><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324315469510210500.post-10312202413917958112010-03-10T09:26:00.000-08:002010-03-10T09:35:36.486-08:001st Wordless Wednesday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUJvB6gwq1r2fJgDFKkfXmh4N2Irxyyv-3Y5yPsz58JTjcpy61wjMB70mSusVZ833t5HP9sdZ-ZgNfoLBwU0CU1gAe7Ud8lR4Qv9XmH6_ojf2Dcmy-iw5VmjJXrquJTk19awoTAyd4oM/s1600-h/DSC_0038.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUJvB6gwq1r2fJgDFKkfXmh4N2Irxyyv-3Y5yPsz58JTjcpy61wjMB70mSusVZ833t5HP9sdZ-ZgNfoLBwU0CU1gAe7Ud8lR4Qv9XmH6_ojf2Dcmy-iw5VmjJXrquJTk19awoTAyd4oM/s320/DSC_0038.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447059947757489682" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQ_FUo1wW7N8RbTTZWxyrug8CRpJENUuhm4i-FcyQb_jmXUz0dv2WcAfsVqvuU2S56E_dkQvdr86oiCGmrFUlzIlXYbhRwP_NLSXyq_9l4I0K_NiXLVZH_aig2LLE7SRi0pvidL2IAKk/s1600-h/DSC_0040.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQ_FUo1wW7N8RbTTZWxyrug8CRpJENUuhm4i-FcyQb_jmXUz0dv2WcAfsVqvuU2S56E_dkQvdr86oiCGmrFUlzIlXYbhRwP_NLSXyq_9l4I0K_NiXLVZH_aig2LLE7SRi0pvidL2IAKk/s320/DSC_0040.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447059470572570962" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4K4w02DbUCaOc6q3Gk7xHNul63lc_b8xMWPnEguzUWBQiPv73VrqA3NP_qn8O3H6T8exLu3HXFqqHlKernNpNTXFQbb5RUwSxO4qzMuB4WX3iHh8_kXdBPQZfRF9ga_dUZF65D3NWTM/s1600-h/DSC_0032.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4K4w02DbUCaOc6q3Gk7xHNul63lc_b8xMWPnEguzUWBQiPv73VrqA3NP_qn8O3H6T8exLu3HXFqqHlKernNpNTXFQbb5RUwSxO4qzMuB4WX3iHh8_kXdBPQZfRF9ga_dUZF65D3NWTM/s320/DSC_0032.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447059451911717538" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhangCIOeP7WPDsKe0LA0R3UVQmt9yGdTgLQkwV_z_kCLIvzzS5SMenLjpraXaeI7hCYxzhyMACbDFMaw1ix_YKnC4O3eg9zxbsTc09cayL8aCaPqqalufJW9e8lsK5syC8XyVirIrxEq4/s1600-h/DSC_0029.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhangCIOeP7WPDsKe0LA0R3UVQmt9yGdTgLQkwV_z_kCLIvzzS5SMenLjpraXaeI7hCYxzhyMACbDFMaw1ix_YKnC4O3eg9zxbsTc09cayL8aCaPqqalufJW9e8lsK5syC8XyVirIrxEq4/s320/DSC_0029.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447059440621085554" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMezYuB2eefktzM7UdMETLV0ACM5Mr2j-DklrI7qVv0SATv4lWC2EzC4drov05BJd3t2xZFWDK17omfKhiTk9S5XBCT_upkghj8wPxkyA8rrRP-HbBcuKbIyy4gtrqxW8cdFe8dggCGig/s1600-h/DSC_0028.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMezYuB2eefktzM7UdMETLV0ACM5Mr2j-DklrI7qVv0SATv4lWC2EzC4drov05BJd3t2xZFWDK17omfKhiTk9S5XBCT_upkghj8wPxkyA8rrRP-HbBcuKbIyy4gtrqxW8cdFe8dggCGig/s320/DSC_0028.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447059423019926370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8B-gMTcM5mME57EsEHCSSXF37bvOSQMzkuyNXm-5CltVIx2BejcWjxeqVVj5nF9BxfEjcTcfUH8_gzligcigNR2i7_94NsrOk1XvPqS3TRbNnydqsVB02IxQFUaqVDZhJv9uT1Eeg_Go/s1600-h/DSC_0026.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8B-gMTcM5mME57EsEHCSSXF37bvOSQMzkuyNXm-5CltVIx2BejcWjxeqVVj5nF9BxfEjcTcfUH8_gzligcigNR2i7_94NsrOk1XvPqS3TRbNnydqsVB02IxQFUaqVDZhJv9uT1Eeg_Go/s320/DSC_0026.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447059415527318658" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324315469510210500.post-31135316928833388162010-02-20T21:09:00.000-08:002010-02-20T21:13:58.361-08:00Watch your Peas and Cs<div style="text-align: center; ">In my quest to dominate container gardening I have drawn out a bit of design. I know what I want to grow and what I'm going to grow it in, and where and on which deck. I seldom follow any of these plans verbatim and this project was no exception. The plan was to find a long container and plant two rows of carrots in one and a row of peas and carrots in the other. This is what happened.</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsUvBIuo8-XlsWG2s9fzVFvwCd0Pzi__caZN6JWmfuYWcsdw043z7v-cKap30f80gsnivpJhkYmHvFcFBz5gRxdiFsVff1FnskEIum2yozuvTjeekudnRmQCWJsWapjGGbEWbjVHh77o/s1600-h/DSC_0001.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsUvBIuo8-XlsWG2s9fzVFvwCd0Pzi__caZN6JWmfuYWcsdw043z7v-cKap30f80gsnivpJhkYmHvFcFBz5gRxdiFsVff1FnskEIum2yozuvTjeekudnRmQCWJsWapjGGbEWbjVHh77o/s320/DSC_0001.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439400471068218658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">First the container. I had a hard time finding a container long and deep enough for what I wanted, (without building one which I may do later.) This is the best I could do. Not very long but pretty deep. This came from Canadian Tire and is actually meant to fit over the railing. I knew that it would not fit over my railing when I purchased the container, but thats okay. The added depth of the trough will be perfect for the carrots.</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6DVLpixHf1M2C_jjWIJJw-dWIXJj_09LCjFBqgSm8-sujnTdaYeoEZDOowS0-tQCU9a-DSDKRCm90PW7kK3KAuUd_dCinyIG-wsiWMEMtPMAWVaOoDsGJk4qvYahikZgAuyEihKE4T04/s1600-h/DSC_0004.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6DVLpixHf1M2C_jjWIJJw-dWIXJj_09LCjFBqgSm8-sujnTdaYeoEZDOowS0-tQCU9a-DSDKRCm90PW7kK3KAuUd_dCinyIG-wsiWMEMtPMAWVaOoDsGJk4qvYahikZgAuyEihKE4T04/s320/DSC_0004.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439400459482299858" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">Next I had to address the growing medium. Soil. I am currently Laid Off during the Olympics and although I have a job to go back to, finances are tight, so we have put ourselves on a very strict No Spending Budgets. Bills and Groceries only. So I could not purchase any soil specific to this project and had to make do with what I had, which was a partial bag of <a href="http://www.keeferfarms.com/pages/soils/index.html">Keefer's West Coast Container Mix</a>, a hodgepodge bucket of reused potting mixes, left over "garden mix," composted soil from the District of North Vancouver, and a bucket of "junk" soil I tried unsuccessfully to us as a patio sandbox material for Cillian.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwc_7rYwXuVoU9iMZjvzQL1Fc4l4cZaubHtmhWwGHoLB-7OJo00ikyruwWaWmGMofkIiuq9IR8XAw5PBvb0ARgBoaqnfBesaD25TQfAZpxNt7SwI2LB1CY3EEmTUkLNeYOaHZq6oUrnU/s1600-h/DSC_0007.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwc_7rYwXuVoU9iMZjvzQL1Fc4l4cZaubHtmhWwGHoLB-7OJo00ikyruwWaWmGMofkIiuq9IR8XAw5PBvb0ARgBoaqnfBesaD25TQfAZpxNt7SwI2LB1CY3EEmTUkLNeYOaHZq6oUrnU/s320/DSC_0007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439400454703057170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">For the first pot I combined the "Garden Mix," the reused, and the junk soil and mostly filled the container, then topped it off with the Keefer's Container Mix.</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; ">The second pot was a comprised of the Keefer's and garden mix with a little of the reused mix.</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBYc85yvgyTuggqefSh0gtYSrNG6CR2Ja1qO3Mgwb4LJjT-lv1Y-Tn-com5tIXEFYqQgxAFMOYu9-KlZ3hUCOMyTn5yKCbh65km7DIuGvPhCBgsYmt85clq6exWdc3ze1Xo25aOC-mEU/s1600-h/DSC_0011.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBYc85yvgyTuggqefSh0gtYSrNG6CR2Ja1qO3Mgwb4LJjT-lv1Y-Tn-com5tIXEFYqQgxAFMOYu9-KlZ3hUCOMyTn5yKCbh65km7DIuGvPhCBgsYmt85clq6exWdc3ze1Xo25aOC-mEU/s320/DSC_0011.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439400441951437986" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">This is where I first deviated from the original design. My <a href="http://turnedleafgardening.blogspot.com/2010/01/spring-kale.html">Kale seedling</a> are still young but knowing that I will need to transplant them soon and having nowhere to put them at this point I decided to plant one on either end of the carrot- peas container.</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDUo5XXapNrqB0xF3X2amlfaoe9D27XlAUYhssMVH0AEFwOBASmTb8q-ayI8LXAT8GKL3cvZKfwQbBXnT_SJ_-ZGY7EtENYBRgvPGRcecqdeUOrnCNGwpN6Jcf7xJM0J8bRawiygIkQE/s1600-h/DSC_0012.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMDUo5XXapNrqB0xF3X2amlfaoe9D27XlAUYhssMVH0AEFwOBASmTb8q-ayI8LXAT8GKL3cvZKfwQbBXnT_SJ_-ZGY7EtENYBRgvPGRcecqdeUOrnCNGwpN6Jcf7xJM0J8bRawiygIkQE/s320/DSC_0012.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439400431575409666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">Using a table spoon I carefully removed 4 seedlings from the fullest Kale pots...</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_DbmlKUf9pgeUQgzdrGT_lPe-v8pcOcQ4VnHki2HqRzWn7Wq5lTD8FG3X5UUVbWWrpFAljN89dLYNFuIRbxpCpt4nhyqCi5m5zXUy9iczo0pgwsdok1oBYOJmqLUCXUr8QG5NkSFLyM/s1600-h/DSC_0014.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_DbmlKUf9pgeUQgzdrGT_lPe-v8pcOcQ4VnHki2HqRzWn7Wq5lTD8FG3X5UUVbWWrpFAljN89dLYNFuIRbxpCpt4nhyqCi5m5zXUy9iczo0pgwsdok1oBYOJmqLUCXUr8QG5NkSFLyM/s320/DSC_0014.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439394880496362002" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">and planted one on each end of the new containers.</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcLwpvmJIhqWwGlWxfWIfttVk5jQBNOemvHm7bHafpxsT6-duknTIYgn8IzRJwWBZ0-6eJb9JtGz8dn40wdDeZEJzgBH0rU16tIywE6RbRLxKK9_YUYxopT_MNpzhUbyID-RqUUWy70g/s1600-h/DSC_0016.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcLwpvmJIhqWwGlWxfWIfttVk5jQBNOemvHm7bHafpxsT6-duknTIYgn8IzRJwWBZ0-6eJb9JtGz8dn40wdDeZEJzgBH0rU16tIywE6RbRLxKK9_YUYxopT_MNpzhUbyID-RqUUWy70g/s320/DSC_0016.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439394873640637506" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">Then I made a 1/2" trough along the front of the container for the Carrots.</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Leuzl1LKRiDoIEWw9s50aSogPC4Bc-62IOGfl3NwM_RfGjI6j5MKlFjtn_HSSs9T-d45Nh9r64rT0trsHEwyxxnN7IHHLpCCYrX88F5YR0OWMT08DkxhI_lwSdYEhtILYMYm7mAURrE/s1600-h/DSC_0017.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Leuzl1LKRiDoIEWw9s50aSogPC4Bc-62IOGfl3NwM_RfGjI6j5MKlFjtn_HSSs9T-d45Nh9r64rT0trsHEwyxxnN7IHHLpCCYrX88F5YR0OWMT08DkxhI_lwSdYEhtILYMYm7mAURrE/s320/DSC_0017.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439394862590830482" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">I poured some seeds from the <a href="http://www.johnnyseeds.com/">Johnny's Selected Seeds</a> Pouch into the spoon and began planting dropping them into the trough. I left about six inches from the Kale, so the Kale won't shadow the carrots too much.</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzyp2jDpVmwWr56sD6obu1jmhP3IiSS5kMKQmiY-n_f5iNKNZE_9yw0VLtbHTHr1w5EhlbXLicpyi-d978-U73ydiXAtOsxX2uC86xCkWNggBkAk2vkw0L8_F3kggYJ7JY-gi9RE2v4ZE/s1600-h/DSC_0018.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzyp2jDpVmwWr56sD6obu1jmhP3IiSS5kMKQmiY-n_f5iNKNZE_9yw0VLtbHTHr1w5EhlbXLicpyi-d978-U73ydiXAtOsxX2uC86xCkWNggBkAk2vkw0L8_F3kggYJ7JY-gi9RE2v4ZE/s320/DSC_0018.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439394850093273042" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">You can plant the seeds 3/4-1" apart and then thin the seedling to 2" later. Not wanting to have to toss the unwanted seedlings, I spaced them about 2" apart now.</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OGJOi58E8Ht6RxE_21ss9tb186gN3XIM2Ts3UWt37drgyy_wlNoyeyfmkkgZbhignBd16D2SS9P2WSoPvzojOYzgY4-iuqQT4MzL8qaIDQn-FzWMg1Ft0fzKqY9n2daolm44TwWcSps/s1600-h/DSC_0020.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OGJOi58E8Ht6RxE_21ss9tb186gN3XIM2Ts3UWt37drgyy_wlNoyeyfmkkgZbhignBd16D2SS9P2WSoPvzojOYzgY4-iuqQT4MzL8qaIDQn-FzWMg1Ft0fzKqY9n2daolm44TwWcSps/s320/DSC_0020.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439394841789617122" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">Then I dug another trough along the back and plant the peas about an inch apart.</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqksVM6RkVB2eYnODgTx_x-yOH4anQbu2nuOF08qKv27I7mgQuiM4vzpJWv3kHxQ8zGpXiNwboXkUt9SJXitYVEGqyoni7kDOAiWIX88kpnfV9sZMi_ErFn6QEFiw6_4f5cM2UMx5qnw/s1600-h/DSC_0021.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqksVM6RkVB2eYnODgTx_x-yOH4anQbu2nuOF08qKv27I7mgQuiM4vzpJWv3kHxQ8zGpXiNwboXkUt9SJXitYVEGqyoni7kDOAiWIX88kpnfV9sZMi_ErFn6QEFiw6_4f5cM2UMx5qnw/s320/DSC_0021.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439392901226572450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">I'm not as worried about the peas being dominated by the Kale as the peas are a vine and will grow higher then the Kale and they should live in harmony.</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6FP5SvMO9Yj7CN82MzgnXRngXc8Pu8XxOdvsEjIfbXwuHeWrEEZ6P9sZyBRojNpJfE9yZLvowqLO5_Sj-UaQv0eyNZjM07RprMwgfEHIJgXJ-q4AMUcqataDgc-YopRkHXWs23DoLVI/s1600-h/DSC_0035.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6FP5SvMO9Yj7CN82MzgnXRngXc8Pu8XxOdvsEjIfbXwuHeWrEEZ6P9sZyBRojNpJfE9yZLvowqLO5_Sj-UaQv0eyNZjM07RprMwgfEHIJgXJ-q4AMUcqataDgc-YopRkHXWs23DoLVI/s320/DSC_0035.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439392892592721138" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">I placed on container on the East deck. I will either move this pot back against the railing or build a small trellis for the peas later.</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9c2jx_z-AL-D0gbS2wWYMDKV6evzm0bh4Vxs7aieI2ZYyQmipfxAS3LL9i0pnH3f7FGRKVrWnRQOXFYii8hSu7ncwYLajBGyPWbaCkNLvpG6LJLtV3Nsi1B4WaeRSgP7HCLgxbEBGQjE/s1600-h/DSC_0027.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9c2jx_z-AL-D0gbS2wWYMDKV6evzm0bh4Vxs7aieI2ZYyQmipfxAS3LL9i0pnH3f7FGRKVrWnRQOXFYii8hSu7ncwYLajBGyPWbaCkNLvpG6LJLtV3Nsi1B4WaeRSgP7HCLgxbEBGQjE/s320/DSC_0027.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439392884170013106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">The second container I put on the North Side against the railing so the pea vines can grow up them. I shuffled the other pots and containers around to accommodate.</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpOka8NvXhe2pwwt_8Ds9TpbLzLADBB6q3Ov2S-fXTwvb91QivoITyEpRmd9UPrpQm3FCcaiDAJ-Py9lRDXbDiK42mNOHWWzogrLfnm8CnSt6_BKOJHQ7L-lQExaIKIjkz8a_ZbA2kFw/s1600-h/DSC_0022.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpOka8NvXhe2pwwt_8Ds9TpbLzLADBB6q3Ov2S-fXTwvb91QivoITyEpRmd9UPrpQm3FCcaiDAJ-Py9lRDXbDiK42mNOHWWzogrLfnm8CnSt6_BKOJHQ7L-lQExaIKIjkz8a_ZbA2kFw/s320/DSC_0022.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439392872098060242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">The last thing is to water. While at the store I found organic fertilizer from <a href="http://rubiconorganic.com/">Rubicon</a> made from concentrated seaweed. As per the directions I added 1/2 teaspoon to my watering can which is about one liter.</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcg1LPAafRwP6YJJz0LPG9tcLpmceqNTsvf6v0mlKY8Cyl7_JTPBhiGY6yy-TIQ0AEhacccVDZuvVUxPV7beeM3iTV2Zsn_eJGvD7iFOeGbPcOEaEsR25QPIEcFa2ko9Br_UsuXizqYYM/s1600-h/DSC_0024.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcg1LPAafRwP6YJJz0LPG9tcLpmceqNTsvf6v0mlKY8Cyl7_JTPBhiGY6yy-TIQ0AEhacccVDZuvVUxPV7beeM3iTV2Zsn_eJGvD7iFOeGbPcOEaEsR25QPIEcFa2ko9Br_UsuXizqYYM/s320/DSC_0024.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439392862846518754" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">I watered the contain enough to penetrate the soil and repeated a couple days later. The idea is to keep the soil moist but not swampy or over saturated.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324315469510210500.post-41036976407335905342010-02-17T18:18:00.000-08:002010-02-17T19:45:32.089-08:00It's Twins!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7H6kpR1ys-nGYiLaQzWOUkqaSyY4G2MKJhNnqFIJr42maAxXs1RfNi6zf91ex3ymqWJsALWNL5MCsHhzk9PTqUvSm7aFFKUfwxui2o7c4HBau3yT5ui8kMXwtu6DfK0ldhCtcF68J3E/s1600-h/DSC_0030.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7H6kpR1ys-nGYiLaQzWOUkqaSyY4G2MKJhNnqFIJr42maAxXs1RfNi6zf91ex3ymqWJsALWNL5MCsHhzk9PTqUvSm7aFFKUfwxui2o7c4HBau3yT5ui8kMXwtu6DfK0ldhCtcF68J3E/s320/DSC_0030.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439403601686020002" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Twin leaves that is. Three days ago I planted <a href="http://turnedleafgardening.blogspot.com/2010/02/biodegradable-pellets.html">Marigold seeds</a> (among others) into a seeding kit using fiber pellets and we already have several seedlings emerging.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawJHuYxyJPR_QYlj-Z1SLvEabyFUlgOo1e3DKOhqdrnJZiTuBlnAjxXpvaNaF2vFcrQS27PlKxZHVOuFzKYvInCEBSgNAuKkg75vZCGZs2ckM-ZMJTNsudN9i9HpS5vd2tM6yKMGnW34/s1600-h/DSC_0033.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawJHuYxyJPR_QYlj-Z1SLvEabyFUlgOo1e3DKOhqdrnJZiTuBlnAjxXpvaNaF2vFcrQS27PlKxZHVOuFzKYvInCEBSgNAuKkg75vZCGZs2ckM-ZMJTNsudN9i9HpS5vd2tM6yKMGnW34/s320/DSC_0033.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439403593536375538" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The pellets are still damp and haven't needed any further watering.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayc2qVtDQg3IqLEmS_1okhP_lhWJ5nmw4QjKcmx-u8q_9xanxf-n8AAA8o3ZUjjIzBkaUxHK5C9RElNrlgxTECtdowBV6EA2c0VU4VbkKb5ot_5sgUalH7UIwOp0liQkc6usOZhNec1U/s1600-h/DSC_0031.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayc2qVtDQg3IqLEmS_1okhP_lhWJ5nmw4QjKcmx-u8q_9xanxf-n8AAA8o3ZUjjIzBkaUxHK5C9RElNrlgxTECtdowBV6EA2c0VU4VbkKb5ot_5sgUalH7UIwOp0liQkc6usOZhNec1U/s320/DSC_0031.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439403585097982226" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I'm sure that the extra sunning days and the addition heat created by have the clear cover over the seeds has been a contributing factor to this early success.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8_-uqq6oT1ALbQUOuXpPAG5Ln-MnoDJl9DvRey2AjXjd7dRvakDNPc7Vs-q0We0bfCj4sLasi4qjt_qQf3E0q9sDPhDbFnskeVjKahRxELW4TvJHq527efaGcMjxJ6fUyjz6mjwb5kM/s1600-h/DSC_0032.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8_-uqq6oT1ALbQUOuXpPAG5Ln-MnoDJl9DvRey2AjXjd7dRvakDNPc7Vs-q0We0bfCj4sLasi4qjt_qQf3E0q9sDPhDbFnskeVjKahRxELW4TvJHq527efaGcMjxJ6fUyjz6mjwb5kM/s320/DSC_0032.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439403573519736418" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Of the 50 pellets 16 were planted marigolds and of the 16 there are 8 seedlings 1" or taller and I can see 4 more breaking ground. That is about 75% success rate so far! I will leave the seedlings and their pellets in the tray until they are getting close to touching the lid, then I will transplant.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have also had some success with the <a href="http://turnedleafgardening.blogspot.com/2010/01/spring-kale.html">Kale I planted a month ago</a>. There will be some pictures and further mention in my next blog which could be out as early as tomorrow or Friday. I'm laid off during the Olympics so I have some time on my hands.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324315469510210500.post-34832414559196181832010-02-15T10:29:00.000-08:002010-02-15T20:18:56.143-08:00biodegradable Pellets<div style="text-align: center;">Today was my day to plant some seeds. I have been looking for a seeding kit for some time, and came across a product from <a href="http://planterspride.ca/en/index.php">Planters' Pride</a>. They are these little thin pallets with a seeding mix inside a fiber membrane. Instead of making biodegradable pots out of Peat moss, Planters' Pride uses fibers like coconut coir. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Peat moss is a great growing medium and widely used, but for the most part it is mined. This rich soil takes generation to create and we are using it faster then it is being made. Peat bogs are disappearing, find out more <a href="http://www.saveourpeatbogs.com/Pages/peatbogs/peatbogs.htm">here</a>.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovnCFHX6l0KY0J-K9IoLNsXQP5-4h1DRFaOJxJ4yn1kjDIJy_-5PHGuNO28DnWRdFHyfNHF1p7cTjzUVHmSXqGPyj6WRhPsT1EilU5TKNEzyJgKzqF-i-CetNvjB-IOrlIL6v4Q77Vo0/s1600-h/IMG_0041.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovnCFHX6l0KY0J-K9IoLNsXQP5-4h1DRFaOJxJ4yn1kjDIJy_-5PHGuNO28DnWRdFHyfNHF1p7cTjzUVHmSXqGPyj6WRhPsT1EilU5TKNEzyJgKzqF-i-CetNvjB-IOrlIL6v4Q77Vo0/s320/IMG_0041.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438665673989258882" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I found this particular kit, reasonably priced, at <a href="http://www.canadiantire.ca/home.jsp?site=WebStore">Canadian Tire</a>, I'm sure that other retailer also carry this or something similar. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8IVPZcGT6TJCsGLMocjEGKlm01yMsuf2CwvDgYHnqUR0hobE9v-oo8rcTtxCFyjza4gnOQzy8RfTAKvOzEynYm2QAAiEl-R6tc-_ih9F9MH2wjiEKdngaEqpVNwJyFGdHscYV-oWWM0c/s1600-h/IMG_0045.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8IVPZcGT6TJCsGLMocjEGKlm01yMsuf2CwvDgYHnqUR0hobE9v-oo8rcTtxCFyjza4gnOQzy8RfTAKvOzEynYm2QAAiEl-R6tc-_ih9F9MH2wjiEKdngaEqpVNwJyFGdHscYV-oWWM0c/s320/IMG_0045.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438665664034466978" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The first step is to add water....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzvvqPVMQG4IOF2rlaTLA4ZM7Hayy8QAI8kFoFkL-1ysU1x8nVAPjMF7GaOxSC65BX3pT4s1DJwhFb7xGwhJytr7UiGR6KZ6QGXjsM73C1DMeGF6B2_HDhAbSowgdYThbBGoS95S4Bm8/s1600-h/DSC_0006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzvvqPVMQG4IOF2rlaTLA4ZM7Hayy8QAI8kFoFkL-1ysU1x8nVAPjMF7GaOxSC65BX3pT4s1DJwhFb7xGwhJytr7UiGR6KZ6QGXjsM73C1DMeGF6B2_HDhAbSowgdYThbBGoS95S4Bm8/s320/DSC_0006.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438665656144483186" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The pellet will expand to 3 - 4 cms tall.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcUzb6fkKrRc4vfGUVhCNxgDeQpMSD7RbgJju4QLrUOvSZFrVfODrea18BM1f6OSTDWP1qdxG14zkG23plCQVouB8_95a-ZslS1v2exDb-NU2QHIEI05s4DIbz8QY8KCF0lvQgGynrB0/s1600-h/DSC_0031.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcUzb6fkKrRc4vfGUVhCNxgDeQpMSD7RbgJju4QLrUOvSZFrVfODrea18BM1f6OSTDWP1qdxG14zkG23plCQVouB8_95a-ZslS1v2exDb-NU2QHIEI05s4DIbz8QY8KCF0lvQgGynrB0/s320/DSC_0031.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438540915226693266" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Next is the seeds. Today I planted Marigolds, Cherry Tomatoes, Cockscomb Celosia Bombay Wine and Lavender all from my last <a href="http://www.johnnyseeds.com/default.aspx?source=google_johnny_s_seeds&gclid=CIyy5ML19Z8CFQtfagod-ROeXg">Johnny's Selected Seeds</a> and Lupins that I had left over from Pacific Northwest Seeds in Vernon BC. They don't have a website that I can find, but their seeds are available at <a href="http://www.davidhuntergardencenters.com/">David Hunter Garden Centres</a>. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm growing Marigolds and Lavender for specific reasons. Marigolds help to keep small animals, (like squirrels) and some non beneficial insects away from the garden and Lavender will attract Ladybugs that are a beneficial insect to the garden, they eat aphids.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Bombay Wine is a bit of an experiment. This is not the environment they were intended for. I think it will be warm enough during the summer that they will do fine and probably be Ok threw the winter, but will unlikely survive the winter so I am growing them as an annual.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBztpuYuCMuto_NRL2o9QbPaOOEKnynxaYcHWlkF_w-fNlkw8dJWeaIrmxO-ZdBupF64VqlbDKp6aMRuVuyzo0JhFY0dhPRdGFH78gS2-C_FbpblJRzCEhwvp-T7tfw_IWUFeI95rSvhM/s1600-h/DSC_0017.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBztpuYuCMuto_NRL2o9QbPaOOEKnynxaYcHWlkF_w-fNlkw8dJWeaIrmxO-ZdBupF64VqlbDKp6aMRuVuyzo0JhFY0dhPRdGFH78gS2-C_FbpblJRzCEhwvp-T7tfw_IWUFeI95rSvhM/s320/DSC_0017.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438540897542108434" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I proceeded to place 1 or 2 seeds per pellet, gently pushing each one in. I planted them in rows. The Lupins, Lavender, and Cherry Tomatoes each got one row, the Bombay Cockscomb got three rows, and four rows or Marigolds.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeU8CfgzXUYXVS2i7fauxjEF27giPCX9v8_JFmtmbhYwTzgQwhGW2nlO4pioA8T2eTLzAplctR5RlcKds6fltfBY2scIdUWdrfk6gV6zqHzD98U__4xy_rnhOsBaR9-GZS8jJViTgwSpY/s1600-h/DSC_0029.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeU8CfgzXUYXVS2i7fauxjEF27giPCX9v8_JFmtmbhYwTzgQwhGW2nlO4pioA8T2eTLzAplctR5RlcKds6fltfBY2scIdUWdrfk6gV6zqHzD98U__4xy_rnhOsBaR9-GZS8jJViTgwSpY/s320/DSC_0029.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438540888903751138" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Some seeds are very small and difficult to handle. I used a common butter knife to move the seeds into the pallets.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2o7RXTp6CLM1LFdH-PJR5FiWrCMNNddaBTE-yEViNswFThb8ThrXEFplkV3WnGRlA5UaMUyv1cG7AAslZXULMk9iESwpf4duQMwILWnSZ_ecrMi9Thzh9NxwAVdLRPcdpu1-hW_AAmnU/s1600-h/DSC_0040.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2o7RXTp6CLM1LFdH-PJR5FiWrCMNNddaBTE-yEViNswFThb8ThrXEFplkV3WnGRlA5UaMUyv1cG7AAslZXULMk9iESwpf4duQMwILWnSZ_ecrMi9Thzh9NxwAVdLRPcdpu1-hW_AAmnU/s320/DSC_0040.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438540881243235874" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Last step was to place the clear cover over the top and sit the "greenhouse," in the front window. Are apartment stays pretty warm and lots of light comes through this front window. Now I will let the seeds do their thing. Once the plants start to grow to big for the green house I will put the whole plug into a container and the roots will simply penetrate the membrane.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Soon I will be planting carrots and peas directly into their pots. I will likely also be doing some gardening for my building as we haven't yet hired anyone to do anything. This is part of my plan to create our own community garden. I think that if I start doing the work then it gives me the opportunity to meet some of the people in the building who are interested in helping out with the garden. Step one!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324315469510210500.post-29792184732857094292010-02-07T18:52:00.000-08:002010-02-07T18:55:50.930-08:00AfterI did get started with my container garden clean up yesterday, but found there wasn't really much to do. I trimmed away anything dead and moved everything to the south deck for now, with the exception of the Bamboo and Aloe. Thats it, no picture for now. Next week is the deadline to purchase a seed starter and the weekend after I will be planting some seeds, so stay tuned.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324315469510210500.post-31387963589530527902010-02-06T14:23:00.000-08:002010-02-06T16:06:56.632-08:00Before<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Sis751NDw0c9WGz7YPHEKqlAV63lVw6YWGIKkE9A-khW4YUH6so0_eGeYr_IfZhKrS_Z93KcZYRTCbzvMPDkvEzhI8GQ7LYqmnLSeHC08VHQUu6mMKWKC7p8Xu7BDEWmia8eEF-g6nI/s1600-h/DSC_0050.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Sis751NDw0c9WGz7YPHEKqlAV63lVw6YWGIKkE9A-khW4YUH6so0_eGeYr_IfZhKrS_Z93KcZYRTCbzvMPDkvEzhI8GQ7LYqmnLSeHC08VHQUu6mMKWKC7p8Xu7BDEWmia8eEF-g6nI/s320/DSC_0050.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435271004061564002" /></a>Todays post is a before, as I am hoping to get some clean up down this afternoon. If all goes as planned, I will post the after tomorrow.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3yqttCAoAbExlebK56UQCO96oEL3EkUwNc7FcwTnyEBTZ6xj6wlTo7mTV9-YTw_9VIA0HUVxVhV5An1u55W8nurMwkPW5hCK178-DdxJi44JYi8l6jygJ1eW8paSdYyr4xko78bvv_8/s1600-h/DSC_0053.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3yqttCAoAbExlebK56UQCO96oEL3EkUwNc7FcwTnyEBTZ6xj6wlTo7mTV9-YTw_9VIA0HUVxVhV5An1u55W8nurMwkPW5hCK178-DdxJi44JYi8l6jygJ1eW8paSdYyr4xko78bvv_8/s320/DSC_0053.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435270995578950002" /></a>A few weeks ago I posted about <a href="http://turnedleafgardening.blogspot.com/2010/01/spring-kale.html">planting some Kale</a> seeds that I forgot about last season. 18 days later most of the seeds have grown into young seedlings.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2nb5nfKen5oADg2JrrP45meI3G4K8eHyzDW57Cd0mEdHTwqx5TelAmjaJ_Fnsiu1gFAesJVcOn0Goj4nEmI_uoC1KFO9YtivpZhQggeYbZAieHwXoHfgciNEejOL0FYWYR4jNlObvNYE/s1600-h/DSC_0051.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2nb5nfKen5oADg2JrrP45meI3G4K8eHyzDW57Cd0mEdHTwqx5TelAmjaJ_Fnsiu1gFAesJVcOn0Goj4nEmI_uoC1KFO9YtivpZhQggeYbZAieHwXoHfgciNEejOL0FYWYR4jNlObvNYE/s320/DSC_0051.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435270988821283490" /></a>I won't be doing anything with these just yet, but in a couple weeks if all the seedling survive I will be doing some thinning and transplanting.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi229BeQwYhwe9Kn5C5dwjFcR5QRoUsNEMElSqaCFafpdZk1RfRAQ_Xs3vzIQCoah-E97zyZT7K5YMG5cP3quhTDX3f64Ic6IFL7A1LLVglqX7e9z8KLHv8WK9UYVsqaVo0gnME5rrN3lY/s1600-h/DSC_0059.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi229BeQwYhwe9Kn5C5dwjFcR5QRoUsNEMElSqaCFafpdZk1RfRAQ_Xs3vzIQCoah-E97zyZT7K5YMG5cP3quhTDX3f64Ic6IFL7A1LLVglqX7e9z8KLHv8WK9UYVsqaVo0gnME5rrN3lY/s320/DSC_0059.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435270980082488018" /></a>On the east deck, these three are the only current residence. The first is a Sedum that I rescued from a yard waste container of a client. I had taken three trimming samples, stuck them in some soil and two took root and grew. They were transplanted into a garden then this one was potted when we moved. Next to it is a Black Mondo Grass and a Hosta I purchased at last years Van Dusen Plant Sale. This years <a href="http://vancouver.ca/PARKS/parks/vandusen/website/events/calendar.htm">Plant Sale</a> is April 25 by the way.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15uQdfJMHQK2bTvs5WTtOIoNaDo4T8ZefGaSi_WczJ1KI7SdPhOm_e7WPpN0YRRUllH58bYyvanPuL0Nn5Z-GzoD9mgEj_s9RuQxjf7JxoGKwUmwH23uYTxE7IDCD8gpDqPWfYKcWlmA/s1600-h/DSC_0060.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15uQdfJMHQK2bTvs5WTtOIoNaDo4T8ZefGaSi_WczJ1KI7SdPhOm_e7WPpN0YRRUllH58bYyvanPuL0Nn5Z-GzoD9mgEj_s9RuQxjf7JxoGKwUmwH23uYTxE7IDCD8gpDqPWfYKcWlmA/s320/DSC_0060.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435265078643861890" /></a>Inside is on the Piano where they got as much light as the Vancouver winter can offer I have an Aloe that I brought home from my dads cactus garden in Delia Alberta. I will have to do a post on it next we are out that way. He has been collect cacti since I was in High School. Behind that is a Sassafras I purchased at <a href="http://www.eatlocal.org/">Kits Farmers Market</a> last year and potted to bring with us. In the big pot we have a combination that I put together. I don't remember what the main plant is called, but I think it is some kind of Fuscia. I divided a Chinese Lantern I got at the <a href="http://www.northshorefarmersmarkets.com/">Ambleside Farmers Market</a> last year after we moved to the North Shore. I also added the offspring of the Black Mondo Grass I mentioned earlier to this pot as well.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFypdnyAedWvumHwDNgU73nBG4_5BN1hXoNR3-TC6PeHg-upeYWL1rwuZzj3iJ-0uC13sbqpCWTar0Lrpr0oFRTfs0uqwIe2CrO1D1lws_dz0YKfgW519AB0TWfFX-ObrgkL_Mq3TRU0/s1600-h/DSC_0061.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFypdnyAedWvumHwDNgU73nBG4_5BN1hXoNR3-TC6PeHg-upeYWL1rwuZzj3iJ-0uC13sbqpCWTar0Lrpr0oFRTfs0uqwIe2CrO1D1lws_dz0YKfgW519AB0TWfFX-ObrgkL_Mq3TRU0/s320/DSC_0061.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435265067681160994" /></a>In front of the window are some failed seeds. Sometimes seeds and a three year old do not go well together. There is also the previously mentioned Chinese Lantern and a Money Tree that was a house warming gift when we first moved to Kits almost 3 years ago. It has had a rough time. It has Almost died twice and was well on the road to recovery when Cillian pulled it out of the put a week or so ago. It still has some green and hopefully, like our finances will pull through!<br /><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAl-wlycB9wjm9-C4vt6G2IKOdVaDYemAeuydXnEkS3oUtpZ6aab34w1O0sFCmir7q8yMkkmNf8rEbsI0xkgkwNZDQqtiiqfMFR5q52JvTKMVoOuTWkIPaAF2nNkfUqb8WGwV2WsZW4H8/s320/DSC_0063.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435280793143975330" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Sis751NDw0c9WGz7YPHEKqlAV63lVw6YWGIKkE9A-khW4YUH6so0_eGeYr_IfZhKrS_Z93KcZYRTCbzvMPDkvEzhI8GQ7LYqmnLSeHC08VHQUu6mMKWKC7p8Xu7BDEWmia8eEF-g6nI/s1600-h/DSC_0050.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Sis751NDw0c9WGz7YPHEKqlAV63lVw6YWGIKkE9A-khW4YUH6so0_eGeYr_IfZhKrS_Z93KcZYRTCbzvMPDkvEzhI8GQ7LYqmnLSeHC08VHQUu6mMKWKC7p8Xu7BDEWmia8eEF-g6nI/s1600-h/DSC_0050.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Sis751NDw0c9WGz7YPHEKqlAV63lVw6YWGIKkE9A-khW4YUH6so0_eGeYr_IfZhKrS_Z93KcZYRTCbzvMPDkvEzhI8GQ7LYqmnLSeHC08VHQUu6mMKWKC7p8Xu7BDEWmia8eEF-g6nI/s1600-h/DSC_0050.JPG"></a>On the south deck I have a random collection of pots. The green cooking put out from is a Passion Flower I rescued and stuck in some soil. It started to grow until the temperature started to drop, I expect it will start where it finished off this spring. There are also the two roses I rescues from an abandoned house, Cillians mini rose, two Azeleas, Strawberry bush, and our Norfork Pine we used as a Christmas tree that dried out while we were away.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw22WB-IFVyhi6eimXYahhli4enzjTx7fdHTuRuFR5-zq0pPMWEKKO3AvXnXXJpnYijp3wKtPcRB_o9Q5LnVJR7un8-0Kl9rBfVhE6mxsp20Qx9v38SzUpmYz_4A0cuTf4vGbtw6T54ag/s1600-h/DSC_0065.JPG"></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw22WB-IFVyhi6eimXYahhli4enzjTx7fdHTuRuFR5-zq0pPMWEKKO3AvXnXXJpnYijp3wKtPcRB_o9Q5LnVJR7un8-0Kl9rBfVhE6mxsp20Qx9v38SzUpmYz_4A0cuTf4vGbtw6T54ag/s1600-h/DSC_0065.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw22WB-IFVyhi6eimXYahhli4enzjTx7fdHTuRuFR5-zq0pPMWEKKO3AvXnXXJpnYijp3wKtPcRB_o9Q5LnVJR7un8-0Kl9rBfVhE6mxsp20Qx9v38SzUpmYz_4A0cuTf4vGbtw6T54ag/s320/DSC_0065.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435265058910567106" /></a>Cillians Mini Rose is off to a good start.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5k7P-jChCZ5VF0QJv30ySxWHk1NQqJ8LLBhWTbUaztxRVm_rfS9JcLe3xXcBEE0HpgVFIQOfhU2naDoVLjn7iLOrJmzQaIaZpv9SodeQXHIdwlNWqyb_u-W7_56nkPWAuINToo8zmlA/s1600-h/DSC_0068.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5k7P-jChCZ5VF0QJv30ySxWHk1NQqJ8LLBhWTbUaztxRVm_rfS9JcLe3xXcBEE0HpgVFIQOfhU2naDoVLjn7iLOrJmzQaIaZpv9SodeQXHIdwlNWqyb_u-W7_56nkPWAuINToo8zmlA/s320/DSC_0068.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435265050519495058" /></a>Across the street from my previous place was an empty home that the realtors where looking for a developer to buy and take down. The yard was wildly over grown include several roses huge rose bushes. I had told Suzanne that I wanted to go over there and dig up the roses and she insisted that I couldn't do that. I gave up the idea of stealing these beautiful roses as technically it was stealing. Within 2 weeks of that conversation the city of Vancouver came in an leveled the yard. The grass, roses and everything else cut to ground and trucked away to the dump. I was instantly sorry I had not help myself, obviously no one would have carried. Months later I was walking past the yard and realized that three of the rose bushes had sprung back and, although awkwardly, began to reach for the sky. That night I ran over with my shovel and liberated them. They bloomed nicely that summer and in the fall I dug them up two of them and brought them with me.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmVIdYNN0ClYur952W1fHxRe2SZT9YlIFMhrjgQWx1MzenebJbc4gRQtu5Jn_x0q_WIKMZXqlGd_R3d_hS4m3k5ugbGLODUHKLbYoGwM7TKGNbjKpBe4dBPyjz3BXUQSt6CCUhwCr_wU/s1600-h/DSC_0071.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmVIdYNN0ClYur952W1fHxRe2SZT9YlIFMhrjgQWx1MzenebJbc4gRQtu5Jn_x0q_WIKMZXqlGd_R3d_hS4m3k5ugbGLODUHKLbYoGwM7TKGNbjKpBe4dBPyjz3BXUQSt6CCUhwCr_wU/s320/DSC_0071.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435265039769775330" /></a>This one has some Hens and Chicks sharing the pot with it and the other has another Mondo Grass. I am looking forward to seeing them bloom again this year.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324315469510210500.post-91288954663488942622010-01-30T08:59:00.000-08:002010-01-30T18:14:12.897-08:00Urban Farm<div style="text-align: center;">From <a href="http://magazine-directory.com/Fancy-Publications.htm">Fancy Publications</a>, the people who are known for <a href="http://www.hobbyfarms.com/">Hobby Farm Magazine</a>, comes a new publication. Its called, "Urban Farm, Sustainable City Living," and as the title and tag line suggest it is all about the city farmer. There have only been two issues published to date with three more planned for 2010.</div><div><br /><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuHo6ZJUEyrsk-89qxmhDzJ1-Pyfnmv4crRlLOrVi5wQhdQtRUNzFKmSHDNJKWEWrBAoPdZha5moJsiVj5W-wyhDgOubIGuu0uQSeWKrzvyvPnZQ3makN20u4ynTQBQBJn6w5CY2562I/s320/ufcover1001_300.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432720707599841138" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I came across the premier issue late last fall while scanning the gardening section of the News stand in the <a href="http://www.lonsdalequay.com/">Lonesdale Quay Market</a> in North Vancouver. I have been keeping an eye out for the next issue and have finally found it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Each issue so far has been jam packed with stories and editorials about many different aspects of Urban farming from produce and livestock to container and community gardens. Advice for any urban gardening in any situation. Following is a review of some from the Spring 2010 installment.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In "Pushing City Limits," fellow garden blogger <a href="http://www.homegrownevolution.com/">Erik Knutzen</a> takes us along as some Urban Farmer share the tribulations with city bylaws, including Tara Kalla of <a href="http://www.silverlakefarms.com/">Silver Lake Farms</a> in Los Angeles, California. She grows organic cut flowers to sell at farmers markets. Sometimes I can understand why people might have issues with someone having chickens in their yard, or even a large produce garden in the front yard. But you would think a large flower garden in your neighborhood wouldn't ruffle too many feathers. This is not the case with Tara Kalla and others. Learn how see and others have over come outdated laws.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Debbie Moors introduces us to Will Allen and <a href="http://www.growingpower.org/">Growing Power</a> in the article, "P is for Prosper." The once professional basketball player turned gardener created the ultimate community gardening experience in Milwaukee 17 years ago. I won't get into much description, the article says it all.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In "Power to the People," <a href="http://www.carolekarius.com/">Carol Ekarius</a> gives an overview of the many different options for "greening" up and lowering your electric bill with options ranging from on and off grid. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">These as well as articles about Gardening on a rental property, square foot gardening from its creator Mel Bartholomew, or how to use grey water from your washing machine to water your garden, make this issue a must read.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Subscriptions are not yet available so search the shelves of your favourite magazine rack, or check out their <a href="http://www.hobbyfarms.com/urban-farm/home.aspx">website</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324315469510210500.post-3560503742275145392010-01-19T13:27:00.000-08:002010-01-19T15:49:53.496-08:00Spring Kale<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDl022Z8uZEfHllAcuhmsQ1i3ZVDlAbIcq1btDezIie9cZChT49Y3BNo8KGI_J6QnU3YH5BWTMZGKJ6gU562_HQSTNMMDcEbePMUJ5W_qXVikemmLnNdDU20QedCNGWT8yvv1swK56CoU/s1600-h/IMG_0028.JPG"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPlRJ8SgyorevK1-qyIWFhP3Oj9WZ98DGYxeUM_Xu6xO7CB_mdKWvJrIcm6xwQFIhqx1jjGXJ_LSgPJXU3nP3_5A8-Ovp2wsFcy0AM3o9NxAFgunhjBHyd02gcFwBRThEyVlrjZwAvks/s1600-h/IMG_0009.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPlRJ8SgyorevK1-qyIWFhP3Oj9WZ98DGYxeUM_Xu6xO7CB_mdKWvJrIcm6xwQFIhqx1jjGXJ_LSgPJXU3nP3_5A8-Ovp2wsFcy0AM3o9NxAFgunhjBHyd02gcFwBRThEyVlrjZwAvks/s320/IMG_0009.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428565934493200162" /></a>I managed to use my surprise day off to get some gardening done. Months ago I purchased seeds from <a href="http://www.johnnyseeds.com/">Johnny's Seed Company,</a> and put them into a drawer until last week when after eating my found treat and flipping through the new <a href="http://www.johnnyseeds.com/Catalog.aspx?source=HomePromoCatRequest1209">Johnny Catalog</a> I decided it was time to pull out these packets of new life and make a plan for this years exploration of container gardening. Among the paper envelopes I found Winter Kale, something I bought with the intent of planting in the fall, but forgot about and now I am faced with a decision. Do I risk planting now in January and harvest before it get it gets to warm, potentially not harvesting a decent crop and wasting the seeds? Or do I save the seeds until next fall, potentially not having any of them sprout from being too old thereby wasting the seeds? I feel there is really only one thing to do at this stage, and that is to do both options. In the name of Garden Sciences I will attempt both and document the out come.<div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmHfLrI1siT9NuBZBjaXN6lCbbbp9jvMZp6wpqg-HnCslxBzP-r0j3dpzUnUJ18ovh3aCmpBHmwxQ4swrQvJy2bWVZvVfh9UHOfUfnin1_FoXMlrapZG2nKcMF4MEic5dBvMfBL0G3tb4/s320/IMG_0008.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428568813557207954" /><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The first step I need was to find something to plant the Kale into and to give some organization to the East deck. Believe it or not this is an improvement. Two boxes went down into storage and some cardboard trays left over from berry picking last fall finally made the voyage to the recycling.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_jzVDpR2isyCmT-1ne8yT2QIyNDXzI5zh2oeYJiDRq_3X_BdvRjxQ13AD8s3vs7aeUwQlLYmN8jEiALkYH8fzEd7oLhHdP1OCCcxIPnHyCPaPXEadRrZ1PBWCZvrvUxiTEywAP8dxlA/s320/IMG_0010.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428572846287063442" />I decided to use the old Blender Pots to start with. These blender have burnt out motors. Instead of spending more money then they are worth to fix or throw them away, I have recycled them. Loosing the cord I made them into pots. The soil in them had dried out and compacted so much that I need to dump it into a pail, then mix some other soils from smaller pots to loosen up and improve soil quality. This will allow water to penetrate the soil, and for the soil to hold on to the water molecules better. This will ensure in part that enough water is available for the seeds in germinate and later for the roots to soak up to feed the plants.</div><div><br /><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLeMFV9ymGRzr1zsUS_lI4NMhiLQ8h74imEODy-7fCZD3fEj-gq8YPmEDNkoUOBIsgFSteFqRyvXuL88i9ZDcwefhrJvCMI29t7bvBzuE6j-LL0ZS04Q37FIbGlz_FBQfQgUSxffclg8Y/s320/IMG_0015.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428573924603482610" /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This mixture was put back into the the Blender Pot and topped it off with <a href="http://www.keeferfarms.com/pages/3021/Soils.htm?PHPSESSID=dc2240d57ab0fa06608c3f2ebf1c9e44">Keefer's West Coast Planter Box/Container Soil Mix</a>. I have used a lot of Keefer products in the past because they are local. <a href="http://www.keeferfarms.com/index.html?PHPSESSID=dc2240d57ab0fa06608c3f2ebf1c9e44">Keefer Farm and Greenhouses</a> has been family owned and operated in Richmond BC for more than 50 years. That means that these soils are extracted and treated right here in the lower mainland. Why is that important? The environmental impact of buying soil shipped from the other end of the country or from the US, or even overseas is enormous. I try to consider local products whenever possible. I even choose local over organic. Once the point of organic if it has travel 1500 Kms to get here right. I suggest finding a local source for all your soil needs. If you are in the lower mainland Keefer's products are available at <a href="http://www.gardenworks.ca/">Garden Works</a>, <a href="http://www.davidhuntergardencenters.com/">David Hunter</a>, and <a href="http://www.mapleleafgardencentre.ca/">Maple Leaf Garden Centres</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjssyINLRCkXj5uZKlLBxDljTS3G0_LWLMEMMnTmEZ0EN7MaiH0dVclUSvy8flDR6rDA2pn0DyPlmrR1Kdk8x7KDAu69zuBw6qcf2QaknSL__0chloqFaRVGOAXpUr2h1Opz9_KyMSNan4/s320/IMG_0017.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428589206625521682" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">With the new and improved soil in the pot I placed 3- 5 </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimHMEbtJaXCcKJ-TJcBUJCP09GvMRbvSjZTrcZBFsME8e3zb4o1oOBzq0H1KocdV7e5aQjVCdctUwy6_pz2jBGu4JHZmJlpOcNylzv0zNtsijfuI2z8maCMoVCI2kaThbySAODxV7dsus/s320/IMG_0018.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428590444158619890" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">seeds on the top, then pushed them about 1/2 inch into the soil. After 4 weeks I will thin out the plants if necessary as they will crowd each other too much this close together. If this happens none will do very well and will likely be sick, which will attract unwanted insects like aphids. Health plants will not attract unwanted pests and act as a natural insect repellant. When I thin them I will transplant the unwanted Kale into other pots.</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I repeated this process with two other Blender Pots and two other unused pots.<br /></div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNZ1UJxK2kAQgM7IicWniCj3f5_VXaa0ctkEsTaFOAirY1i2oEm1Xk2C_1n13k2g4og9fqHjMA-sBeRMc0i4mIaqdsw9j6pVVKx3jea-1DTRzcnBCazfD35pqeFC2i6YMx40E3-tEZdVg/s320/IMG_0024.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428595600761308834" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Cillian was eager to help out as much as possible. At my last home we had a portion of garden that he could play in. That is something we will have to work out in this unique gardening situation. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "> </span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDl022Z8uZEfHllAcuhmsQ1i3ZVDlAbIcq1btDezIie9cZChT49Y3BNo8KGI_J6QnU3YH5BWTMZGKJ6gU562_HQSTNMMDcEbePMUJ5W_qXVikemmLnNdDU20QedCNGWT8yvv1swK56CoU/s320/IMG_0028.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428596365754311410" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span><br />Once all five pots where plants with Kale seeds we water them using my new watering can from my father and mother in-law. Thank you very much!</div><div><br /></div><div>Once these start to sprout I may plant a couple more pots, this way they can be harvested at different times.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324315469510210500.post-45685640574630903302010-01-18T21:11:00.000-08:002010-01-18T21:25:50.196-08:00Weekend come weekend goI had great plans this last weekend for my balcony gardening. Life had other ideas. First the show I work on decided Saturday night would be the perfect time to catch up on some unfinished episodes. So thats a right off. <div><br /></div><div>I used to have a fancy touch screen cell phone. A month or so ago I cracked said touch screen rendering it unusable. The phone still worked, just not the screen, limiting the functions. Not willing to pay for a new phone I decided to continue to use the phone as is. Until Wednesday of last week.</div><div><br /></div><div>Working late in the pouring rain, the phone received enough moisture that worked into the cracks on the screen and into the phone... and then there was no longer a cell phone. </div><div><br /></div><div>We have become one of those families that do not have a home phone. Suzanne and I both have our own cell phones and that is what we use. So with a broken cell phone I started to feel cut off from the world. </div><div><br /></div><div>So instead of gardening I spent my Sunday shopping for a new cell phone and cell phone company. Not going to get into that, because I don't write this blog to promote anyone, but that is what happened to my weekend. I have a surprise day off tomorrow so maybe I will have some time for then.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324315469510210500.post-43399572363515479322010-01-13T09:53:00.000-08:002010-01-13T12:53:49.730-08:00RestartIts a new year and time to decide what to do with the blog. Its always tough with this kind of thing when you have let it go for awhile.<div><br /></div><div>Much had changed in 2009. When I started this blog I was renting a house in Kitsilano with a nice big yard open to all kinds of gardening possibilities. I was a husband and father of a two year old. I had a full time job as a Generator Operator in the film industry but was attempting to start a Organic Landscaping Company. I had some garden successes and some mishaps, but was having a great time.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am still a husband and father, only now my son is 3. We have bought an apartment in North Vancouver's Lower Lonsdale area. We have traded our double lot on the flats, blocks from the beaches of the English Bay for double 2nd floor decks and the side of a mountain, blocks from the piers of the Burrard Inlet's North Shore.</div><div><br /></div><div>In my last <a href="http://turnedleafgardening.blogspot.com/2009/09/new-community-garden.html">post</a> I spoke of address my council about transforming our grounds into community gardens to be enjoyed by the tenants. My letter to council was not received until months later and was only addressed at the General Meeting, where the idea was in part rejected, but was agreed to pole for interest in the Minutes that was later distributed to the all the tenants. So far, no one has contacted me.</div><div><br /></div><div>So what do I have if I do not have land. I am fortunate for a gardener without land. I have a south facing deck with lots of sun and an east facing deck mostly shaded by a Acorn tree. These two different environments create two different gardening opportunities. Best of both worlds really.</div><div><br /></div><div>I still have my full time film job, but when we moved to a new area I had to make some decisions regarding my landscaping company. My original business plan was to find jobs close to home so as to reduce my carbon footprint by not driving all over the lower mainland from job to job. When I moved I had to decide whether or not to keep the limited clients I already had and still try to work in that area, or move the operation to North Vancouver completely. At that time I was contacted to bid on two other potential jobs, both very large and both interested in my different outlook. In the end Turned Leaf was not chosen for those jobs and I decided to drop my other clients in Kits. As far as the company goes, I have decided to stay where I am for the time being, we will see what the future holds.</div><div><br /></div><div>So now what do I do with the blog. Do I start a new one, as this blog is named after my now closed landscape company? Or do I stay under this heading as I move into a new arena of gardening know as container gardening? It would be easy to start again as I only have the one follower and I haven't posted anything in months.</div><div><br /></div><div>I still like the term, "Turned Leaf." As in a new leaf has already turned, and now it has turned again. What is gardening if not adjusting to new environmental needs and constantly turning new leaves again and again. So I will continue to blog under this heading.</div><div><br /></div><div>I ask this of you. If you are reading this blog, let me know you are there. I dare not be so bold as to ask that you follow me, but I would love to hear your thoughts, questions, comments, advice or maybe even a little encouragement. </div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for stopping by and hopefully we can grow our gardens and selves together.</div><div><br /></div><div>J</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324315469510210500.post-21968659729262176562009-09-20T19:01:00.000-07:002009-09-20T19:21:09.017-07:00A new Community GardenNow that I live in an apartment my love of Gardening is facing a new challenge, no land. We have put our names in for plots at two nearby Community Gardens, though I am sure the list is long and not many people are giving up the plots they have. <div><br /></div><div>In the meantime I am dabbling with container gardening, so far with just a few plots and some of the plants I did not want to part with. There will be more on that in the future.</div><div><br /></div><div>Recently my new Strata Council had hired some people to clean up the garden. The gardens here were pretty full but balanced. Just in need of a little weeding. The first step the gardener took was to level the garden with a weed waker. I mean the entire garden, gone to the ground. blooms, stocks, even a rose. And man was it left a mess. It was a little shocking. Then a week or so later a small backhoe showed up. I had read in the council minutes that a backhoe was coming in to fix up the retaining wall. Well when he was gone so was almost all the plant life in the garden. The garden is now bare except three heather, which have dried up and died, and a couple other bushes. They did spread a soil amender, I think it is most likely from the District of North Vancouver dump, a good product using green waste to compost and sell back at a good rate as soil amender.</div><div><br /></div><div>I believe that the work to the gardens was not only totally unnecessary but also a complete waste of money. It has opened an opportunity however. I have written a letter to the Strata Council about turning the murdered garden into a community garden for the residence of the building. If approved and there is enough interest I am offering my time and service to create a committee to outline the guidelines and such a garden and then get it underway. I am hoping that this can become one of the main themes of my blog and help landless gardeners to do the same thing.</div><div><br /></div><div>I will print off the letter and deliver it to the council tonight. Wish me luck.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324315469510210500.post-60248203291046322072009-08-30T21:19:00.000-07:002009-08-30T21:20:53.367-07:00Old Man Cherry<div>When we first moved into our last home it was Sept 2006. In the back corner of our yard stood a great old cherry cherry. In a neighborhood where cherry trees line the streets, this was the grand daddy of the all, spending his retirement creating the cool shade of my back yard. He must stand 25 - 30 feet tall with a wide reach. This tree may not live much longer and the year we moved in there did not appear to have been much of a crop. There were no pits or stems on the ground or in the alley way under his stretched out limbs. The next year was much the same, no crop. In the summer of 07 I added some composted top soil underneath to start a small garden, and started a compost bin underneath as well. (Side note, a compost bin under a tree is not usually a good idea, but with the age of this cherry I don't expect its roots to grow up into the bin.)</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAPbcb5QzH_FsjCZd-H8T4owJhSdBrtOq3ZIkNvwZi4joIEgjyyQYiluwhoN6o-xuZOSj9Bk2kkZjp2cYxQ6qIu6mZG_kWQz5n8OzKiThntDSXOqfZ0b3pTjOpU3juD0180qUBZblMOg/s1600-h/IMG_5390.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCAPbcb5QzH_FsjCZd-H8T4owJhSdBrtOq3ZIkNvwZi4joIEgjyyQYiluwhoN6o-xuZOSj9Bk2kkZjp2cYxQ6qIu6mZG_kWQz5n8OzKiThntDSXOqfZ0b3pTjOpU3juD0180qUBZblMOg/s400/IMG_5390.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375933425456335202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a>I think that with those two steps combined with the dry spring and early summer, which allowed for more pollen to float around and find its way into the cherry blossoms, this year we got a bumper crop of delicious dark red cherries.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhsgthKiKdFaQ4iozRh9srdQe058TlHLtRulmkHwjc3MU1MgpoF4cbkhL4zYWJulA8IU-4gmhDDjCzxNaMH6jjiTKTQ2I9-CaW7xh44iKgZBN7F214xLC_wvOSiJR0lWoov8D1OHPiH8/s1600-h/IMG_5391.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhsgthKiKdFaQ4iozRh9srdQe058TlHLtRulmkHwjc3MU1MgpoF4cbkhL4zYWJulA8IU-4gmhDDjCzxNaMH6jjiTKTQ2I9-CaW7xh44iKgZBN7F214xLC_wvOSiJR0lWoov8D1OHPiH8/s400/IMG_5391.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373318120611752690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a>The challenge of harvesting a cherry tree this age is the height. There are no branches low enough to reach the ground and I do not own a step ladder. I started on the roof of our carport the first day. The second day I tried to get a ladder in the alley before the neighboring produce store's multitude of delivery trucks started their daily pilgrimage of keeping the store stocked with fresh produce and clogging my alleyway. When the first truck did arrive I was up an extension ladder resting on an old tired arm that swayed with my every movement, with my wife holding the base and trying to maintain control over our 2 year old running around the hood in a diaper. The drivers offer their assistance.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXbmg88yApoeYJseEJ3NvSJMZmNkCLf_Z1pt23b3FiWtgzdxIbd3CBMl2R9l60pv0Fd2yqvVeOdMT9ATVsf82aQ-ef87qrPpqpCfBqPMY7m4d1IV5lJVAQIB90XR2Q-N3mzjVxjdn9Lo/s1600-h/IMG_5393.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXbmg88yApoeYJseEJ3NvSJMZmNkCLf_Z1pt23b3FiWtgzdxIbd3CBMl2R9l60pv0Fd2yqvVeOdMT9ATVsf82aQ-ef87qrPpqpCfBqPMY7m4d1IV5lJVAQIB90XR2Q-N3mzjVxjdn9Lo/s400/IMG_5393.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373318108910468418" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a>Being able to get up on the truck gave me access to many branches with have to move a ladder around and I was able to fill two containers within 30 minutes.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6VaOR_JgCP7HppAvHCEGbET2Q5mQ-CnTFfj0U334AH1KjKpRFfKplbbjkTLcJOGqMlMJAWJcUbQH7yfpC8cXLmY4iNx8OACXpUKYYXKl7plr5ZsiYVsu6Mj4wT_ywbcqsCpt8c06OAg/s1600-h/IMG_5394.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm6VaOR_JgCP7HppAvHCEGbET2Q5mQ-CnTFfj0U334AH1KjKpRFfKplbbjkTLcJOGqMlMJAWJcUbQH7yfpC8cXLmY4iNx8OACXpUKYYXKl7plr5ZsiYVsu6Mj4wT_ywbcqsCpt8c06OAg/s400/IMG_5394.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373318093456398738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a>We snacked on some, a pie was made and the rest went into the freezer to be enjoyed in the winter.<div><br /></div><div>Our new home, an apartment you will learn more about in future posts, does not present the opportunity to pick cherries right in the back yard, but it did come with a deep freeze, so we have been making more trips to the farmers markets and u-pick berry farms and filling the freezer for winter. The next few years will bring a chance to learn many new things, like the art of freezing and container gardening. We are also gearing up to learn more about canning and preserving.</div><div><br /></div><div>I hope you will continue to read and learn along with us.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324315469510210500.post-76069498120719344192009-08-24T18:59:00.000-07:002009-08-30T18:11:58.628-07:00Here today<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Times;"><div style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; width: auto; font: normal normal normal 100%/normal Georgia, serif; text-align: left; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoapKNq03njgkrfaCuHo5pfEGD0nVogXnTrUp9zGPrAV7iTQ-XOl4GvyzBsVhq5WP_VrDBJbsYVj5zJ7h7bpApJcTb2jiOIaGaNVvLZxgK1IUPbkCbYqUAvK2PQIhh_Ywkm42LFq-o2xU/s1600-h/IMG_4950.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoapKNq03njgkrfaCuHo5pfEGD0nVogXnTrUp9zGPrAV7iTQ-XOl4GvyzBsVhq5WP_VrDBJbsYVj5zJ7h7bpApJcTb2jiOIaGaNVvLZxgK1IUPbkCbYqUAvK2PQIhh_Ywkm42LFq-o2xU/s400/IMG_4950.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373276925019095106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div><div style="text-align: center; ">Look at the size of this Cherry Laurel Hedge, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; ">Prunus laurocerasus. </span>She stands proudly at about 12-ft and provides privacy and protection from the busy alley way behind this house. </div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizClJ3z5oDi30xX7CB3pHsldu_0Ye_HgdFexAnzhZBPuftk9dDez8GD_ZK85kPseTsCYFXcyqDpmdUhw4CNP_cWmiI8sF9DK-2M2Sr31yPzli2qVCc9LOze7UbP9FPZlUJrE0TGfvVRQ0/s1600-h/IMG_4952.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizClJ3z5oDi30xX7CB3pHsldu_0Ye_HgdFexAnzhZBPuftk9dDez8GD_ZK85kPseTsCYFXcyqDpmdUhw4CNP_cWmiI8sF9DK-2M2Sr31yPzli2qVCc9LOze7UbP9FPZlUJrE0TGfvVRQ0/s400/IMG_4952.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373276918604192482" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">Here it is from the alley. Other than needing a little trimming on the top nothing wrong with this old girl right?</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_eEiG0NPI-JRj7mxeLwfVqm_t0q4VpMrpy2IfPz8knEi2evNtMuKJLgG9jKSINb-_xGucF-VO8M4TSsEEVsTIQRwKR5MJ9XYGuEoRuuEstlwq3MVXki8i7KTykF-QMHSVVzGx68SxD7E/s1600-h/IMG_4953.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_eEiG0NPI-JRj7mxeLwfVqm_t0q4VpMrpy2IfPz8knEi2evNtMuKJLgG9jKSINb-_xGucF-VO8M4TSsEEVsTIQRwKR5MJ9XYGuEoRuuEstlwq3MVXki8i7KTykF-QMHSVVzGx68SxD7E/s400/IMG_4953.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373276911258500098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">Have a look at the side view. Nice and full, lush, think. A good sound barrier. Do you see the post of the carport on the right side? That represents the property line and here in lies the problem. The city has ordered it to be removed! I hated to do it, but when asked to quote the job I jumped right in. Most conventional companies would have brought in a backhoe and some chain saws and had that sucker down in a matter of a couple hours. Is this really the most cost efficient way. For the company yes, they can have the job done and move on to the next, completing 4 or 5 small jobs like this in a day.</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; ">But what about the cost on the environment. Those small little two stroke chainsaw motors give off more emissions then a mid sized car. Most backhoes are not much better.</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; ">Besides that, the equipment and operator could cost you between $1500 and $2000. The manual labour doesn't cost that much.</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfAqZWIt-AB4-K1LTsublSJO406PXK5kfB7-FY9gq5oBhLHTlalcnnwarZo9_vudIQcBL6jBj0IPfzRqoL7WXImg6RVaG7WDRJrSSobe0auHanUMAVYDg-KBg3qVBGkncfGHP7pvOIsw/s1600-h/IMG_4961.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfAqZWIt-AB4-K1LTsublSJO406PXK5kfB7-FY9gq5oBhLHTlalcnnwarZo9_vudIQcBL6jBj0IPfzRqoL7WXImg6RVaG7WDRJrSSobe0auHanUMAVYDg-KBg3qVBGkncfGHP7pvOIsw/s400/IMG_4961.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373276316834005026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">With those facts in mind, these are the tools that I brought to the job site. Saws, pruners, loppers, shovels, picks, and brooms.</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30Fmx4PC2bS-grPk0kgSllBmouXDGeiLhcL-1pWaLVPKTVaEjicBvRJMz8hb411jnbNa7qbSGjQiBIGYxEV_a1NQh3Wq0IfHIc3zLMA7DRfoa-KcOQXaTNdvxQzVPZ7JV4WZo2Drvtys/s1600-h/IMG_4968.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30Fmx4PC2bS-grPk0kgSllBmouXDGeiLhcL-1pWaLVPKTVaEjicBvRJMz8hb411jnbNa7qbSGjQiBIGYxEV_a1NQh3Wq0IfHIc3zLMA7DRfoa-KcOQXaTNdvxQzVPZ7JV4WZo2Drvtys/s400/IMG_4968.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373276308506376514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">No time to waste. We got right to it cutting back the branches and dragging them away.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZTQTNijlO6W5CsDyG2QiEaRGBERUHlwDHP0UadIOS7kE_zRtLKasBgdfzIz5XSCsxxR6FeRft7VAG1C25qkuXDlwldxYBhqlTM03u_KSDk5uG2VydDBLo7pJAKdOYeh2X62IX_QMzUk/s1600-h/IMG_4982.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWZTQTNijlO6W5CsDyG2QiEaRGBERUHlwDHP0UadIOS7kE_zRtLKasBgdfzIz5XSCsxxR6FeRft7VAG1C25qkuXDlwldxYBhqlTM03u_KSDk5uG2VydDBLo7pJAKdOYeh2X62IX_QMzUk/s400/IMG_4982.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373276305471063474" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">We left a couple feet of trunk so we could have the leverage to remove the stumps. If most of the root ball is not removed the hedge will grow back, and very quickly.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEAhUNutfSGqr0ZNRZVU38UGsLlERib3PIeX3b7x5LE0FQoyYaRV8lpXKEk9EN3qicjMio76t5vrhdWkbg3oGz-y-O_Oi2HurXU7fF7BSO4y9HCMtKFco76o-B8kpmypMPfc2YpmYZ4E/s1600-h/IMG_4983.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEAhUNutfSGqr0ZNRZVU38UGsLlERib3PIeX3b7x5LE0FQoyYaRV8lpXKEk9EN3qicjMio76t5vrhdWkbg3oGz-y-O_Oi2HurXU7fF7BSO4y9HCMtKFco76o-B8kpmypMPfc2YpmYZ4E/s400/IMG_4983.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373276298199920194" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">After seeing this gnarly, twisted trunk one has to wonder if the hedge had been cut to the ground once before and this is shoot. That could be why the hedge itself is growing off the property.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20Z42tTOXDoSt4DfvLnfDr3WthCf5sB0q7e0QTbMcu_3mUXTY8XkY_qpQTGE-OULTSXDD_Rf5AZkB6111hxwjXFwm7tqAgXjiQCIaKinmNXtY4PZ2lto1mDFlM4hJ4LBmNiO4DGpoJDs/s1600-h/IMG_4985.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20Z42tTOXDoSt4DfvLnfDr3WthCf5sB0q7e0QTbMcu_3mUXTY8XkY_qpQTGE-OULTSXDD_Rf5AZkB6111hxwjXFwm7tqAgXjiQCIaKinmNXtY4PZ2lto1mDFlM4hJ4LBmNiO4DGpoJDs/s400/IMG_4985.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373275133155022786" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">The extensive roots made this job very challenging. One can certainly see the draw to use heavy equipment. But this is a choice of what's better for everyone, not just one person.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFP3dSLIGeFFaghPfeaJ1YIai65iQyCoFcy45EQU_KAUmSiGLZbMJvU4-JetOllUHlUaO5a1IBLzQJkDflDqEhCM16PkioVGtoqPVJszt5B1GhMV8UtT2E-5nR9J7vAwgM9eQG4qTPZKM/s1600-h/IMG_5017.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFP3dSLIGeFFaghPfeaJ1YIai65iQyCoFcy45EQU_KAUmSiGLZbMJvU4-JetOllUHlUaO5a1IBLzQJkDflDqEhCM16PkioVGtoqPVJszt5B1GhMV8UtT2E-5nR9J7vAwgM9eQG4qTPZKM/s400/IMG_5017.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373275124997282482" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">Besides reducing the carbon footprint that could have been made to remove this hedge, we wanted to make a difference another way as well. We wanted to reduce the impact this job would have on the local landfill. The city have Vancouver does have a good green waste program where materials are chipped and/or composted and used in local parks. But there is still a great burden put on the system not to mention the carbon foot print of the process. Trimmings are delivered to the transfer station, then pushed into a tractor trailer by a large loader, haul to the facility, chipped, loaded again, and hauled into the parks. The more material that we can keep on the property for reuse the better. We removed as many leaves as was possible in the time allotted. We filled this wheelbarrow and container as well as a black garbage can. These leaves can be saved and distributed into the compost through the year. We also cut any stocks that were straight enough and thick enough to be burnt in the fireplace for winter warmth. The ashes can then be mixed into the garden in the spring as a good source of potassium in the form of pot ash. These methods of reusing materials is the essence of sustainability.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjA7PRqj3wZWFjDVZO8uQcwank6TmV7U3f250DiM8_banKeFouK0AJkMuKmxMWCoK6h27w6TbJpClI6a2e1-NUKtsy8V9skVYH8w6pIkfpVLhilyx52kdnC-Ce7RdzNOVeK43PjJEk8Y/s1600-h/IMG_5019.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjA7PRqj3wZWFjDVZO8uQcwank6TmV7U3f250DiM8_banKeFouK0AJkMuKmxMWCoK6h27w6TbJpClI6a2e1-NUKtsy8V9skVYH8w6pIkfpVLhilyx52kdnC-Ce7RdzNOVeK43PjJEk8Y/s400/IMG_5019.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373275113659664674" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">By doing this we managed to reduce that 12 ft by 10 ft long Cherry Laurel hedge enough to fit into this trailer. I use a uHaul trailer instead of buying my own for 2 reasons. First, I do not yet need a trailer and the additional cost that goes with it, storage, insurance, repair etc. Not to mention the waste of materials that goes into making a new trailer. And a uHaul trailer is very affordable, $20 per day flat rate. When the time comes I will buy a used trailer to reduce my impact.</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQ-dgTsRDfIvYySnqiJ59ARDejJiDrYVHMhOqaFHThDJTFXkd7fqJy55UK_kUPjITX-zj01BGus6BApZp5Rbx4pNgL532883qbiSEyV3UFzw13EE0NqN98UoyJyW5Ux9M-lex6PbCtJk/s1600-h/IMG_5372.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQ-dgTsRDfIvYySnqiJ59ARDejJiDrYVHMhOqaFHThDJTFXkd7fqJy55UK_kUPjITX-zj01BGus6BApZp5Rbx4pNgL532883qbiSEyV3UFzw13EE0NqN98UoyJyW5Ux9M-lex6PbCtJk/s400/IMG_5372.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373275109715605074" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">After a few weeks the owner decided to replace the Laurel with a Cedar Hedge, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; ">Thuja occidentalis, </span>but not add any soil. The existing soil is not to bad after removing the Laurel, except it is loose and doesn't hold water very well. </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4LWQ9wp9VxZ3HT670_E-BT1rXsm6R5iyyuUXFKPsSoFUYmKGTLXaeD7DhmJTc_ST8o-gAnESs81HAJ4BIccORWAsbi7HMtBwtw1Jzy4wPZHbpLtU0gmfcM62QHEu96jliZSxyh4_FxeQ/s1600-h/IMG_5370.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4LWQ9wp9VxZ3HT670_E-BT1rXsm6R5iyyuUXFKPsSoFUYmKGTLXaeD7DhmJTc_ST8o-gAnESs81HAJ4BIccORWAsbi7HMtBwtw1Jzy4wPZHbpLtU0gmfcM62QHEu96jliZSxyh4_FxeQ/s400/IMG_5370.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373275101761580098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center; ">We planted six Cedar about 2-ft apart stock to stock as the roots of the Cherry tree would allow. I then spread some of the leaves over the ground to protect from water evaporation in the soil and to add nutrients. We kept them wet for the first couple weeks, watering in the evening after the heat of the day. My son is seen here helping with the process.</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; ">A week or so after the Cedars where in the ground, Vancouver was hit with a heat wave and heavy water restrictions. I did my best to adhere to the restrictions and give the hedge ample water. I think two of them will need to be replaced but I will give them every chance to bounce back.</div></div></div></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324315469510210500.post-31661418562462940322009-08-23T07:03:00.000-07:002009-08-23T07:12:31.587-07:00Sneak peak<div>Now that the main computer has finally been put back into order after the keyboard met its match with a glass of water, I can get back into the blogging. Now some of the pictures I need are on the main and others on the laptop so I have some coordinating to do. But here is a sneak peak. </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisGE86ZTN1S6FxhwUz_9hMgvANCdKJCXe-uv_FHuKCpLPFpF7ILJkjMpTNZOaEq5wPF6VXXvKJgKdFA1xW-xgLQn8jkzFpQCsNv3QFv2ufLGiMOakqG1r_Mnyz31OLHO0670Gm0n8JUk/s1600-h/IMG_4950.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisGE86ZTN1S6FxhwUz_9hMgvANCdKJCXe-uv_FHuKCpLPFpF7ILJkjMpTNZOaEq5wPF6VXXvKJgKdFA1xW-xgLQn8jkzFpQCsNv3QFv2ufLGiMOakqG1r_Mnyz31OLHO0670Gm0n8JUk/s400/IMG_4950.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373160866872331746" /></a>This Hedge had to come down and it was tackled with only...<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3OyOFNB4b2rXZ-6JRkcglLNSO73YRiOgZ6EAHxFJC8MnH_SuMDHcUeShtzgvXjSdtADi1UR4V-ahZtdxEdlpMDjPVI5tJbn-wR0_5MwXie8iB3mT7fn9oE-71hnwOlMEYev8tA6rBFc/s1600-h/IMG_4959.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3OyOFNB4b2rXZ-6JRkcglLNSO73YRiOgZ6EAHxFJC8MnH_SuMDHcUeShtzgvXjSdtADi1UR4V-ahZtdxEdlpMDjPVI5tJbn-wR0_5MwXie8iB3mT7fn9oE-71hnwOlMEYev8tA6rBFc/s400/IMG_4959.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373160863340653778" /></a>These tools, and some brawl from their operators.</div><div><br /></div><div>Coming soon.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrcdWnLgdQaMdJpW75rrymXMdDXuyHT75_B_Tvx8WMw-lIl1P2tX9ifkpj530_LdH4un8KIQU8Xg8vGux8nZ1gjpgN-SgVKNXLq3S3Ym26JRimXbPggB8F8UgPS-WqUXeVvkMxVmFYmk/s1600-h/IMG_4960.JPG"><br /></a><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324315469510210500.post-25424204512593341422009-06-21T10:01:00.000-07:002009-06-21T10:02:36.491-07:00Main Computer DownAs the title indicates, my main computer is down. I am working on a couple different blogs but can't get at any of my pictures. I hope to having it going soon. <div><br /></div><div>Its nothing to serious, just an incident with a glass of water and the keyboard.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324315469510210500.post-16265507980237836382009-06-03T06:59:00.000-07:002009-06-03T17:26:48.483-07:00Container Food Gardening<div>Last weekend was a busy one, as has been the week so far hence I'm not getting to writing this blog until Wednesday.</div><div><br /></div><div>I had Friday off work, I have been working late hours so having the Friday off gave me a chance to catch up on sleep so I could spend Saturday with the family instead of taking up temporary residence in snoozeville.</div><div><br /></div><div>So Saturday morning we got up and headed out to the Trout Lake <a href="http://www.eatlocal.org/">Farmers Market</a>. Our Kits market doesn't open until this Sunday, but the Trout Lake Market is a great market and arguably the most popular in Metro Vancouver. Lots of Fruits and Veggies for Suzanne to pick from and plenty of flowers and other plants for me. One vendor was selling Corn and lettuce plants. I picked up 5 corn stocks, 3 red leaf lettuce and 3 green leaf lettuce for $4.</div><div><br /></div><div>Next it was off to 2 and half hours of house hunting. With the down turn in real estate in Vancouver and the low interest rates its a pretty good time to buy if you can manage it. We have been looking since January.</div><div><br /></div><div>Once back home it was time to get my corn and lettuce into the soil.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EHbezJYNyWzSh0UyQy1XQNb1iaNji8G-myzH5t7Xwb-O8jtBKUdTtf4dnuHPzcPzxWOd2qwlsGwXTcyh3o3iJwyshEteC6ERK4eIsL6htieieOYsyD_E5Nis25Ytz8T1PiaoB3JSqLg/s1600-h/IMG_4565.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EHbezJYNyWzSh0UyQy1XQNb1iaNji8G-myzH5t7Xwb-O8jtBKUdTtf4dnuHPzcPzxWOd2qwlsGwXTcyh3o3iJwyshEteC6ERK4eIsL6htieieOYsyD_E5Nis25Ytz8T1PiaoB3JSqLg/s400/IMG_4565.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343102218475095170" /></a>As we are hoping to move sooner than later I have taken up container gardening. I already have three <a href="http://turnedleafgardening.blogspot.com/2009/05/tlc-tomato-loving-care.html">tomatoes in containers</a>, the aphids are gone by the way, and as we are on a tight budget these days anything I can find to use as a container, is a container. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzf10l2MUhCqDA4UGgaSxiQzX5Hqy-t2I-JsFqgKd0XukYAx6WuzChJeJB7SEc6VtY73NKaJVppLls8HV1g8920UG-EB2RMW-igj_L57EWeAaCdOzGU26c74fxHJ3GkCZ2SmvfmM0n6g/s1600-h/IMG_4566.JPG"><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzf10l2MUhCqDA4UGgaSxiQzX5Hqy-t2I-JsFqgKd0XukYAx6WuzChJeJB7SEc6VtY73NKaJVppLls8HV1g8920UG-EB2RMW-igj_L57EWeAaCdOzGU26c74fxHJ3GkCZ2SmvfmM0n6g/s400/IMG_4566.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343102218956598482" /></a>I started with a trip to my favorite local garden center <a href="http://www.davidhuntergardencenters.com/">David Hunter.</a> I picked out a bag of stones and a bag of outdoor soil mix for under $10. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5hnorLUes1u5bqyLpwewKlXUUVEOoBGmobTdHfSmIrjZghvJ7-jSo1_j6Ar2SEzFtugdghQA83SCzBF2ppgO3Ijrh57POYS4wzJLtBj-8vjmaED5J3Qu-FK8SJUYiDm8QCD2zAJ3YkY/s1600-h/IMG_4576.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5hnorLUes1u5bqyLpwewKlXUUVEOoBGmobTdHfSmIrjZghvJ7-jSo1_j6Ar2SEzFtugdghQA83SCzBF2ppgO3Ijrh57POYS4wzJLtBj-8vjmaED5J3Qu-FK8SJUYiDm8QCD2zAJ3YkY/s400/IMG_4576.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343102212346080626" /></a>I started with a couple inches of stone at the bottom of the pot. This will weigh down the pots so they don't fall over from the weight of the top heavy corn. It also helps with drainage. The soil on top will hold moister until ever particle is wet. After that the soil becomes too saturated, like my tomato. The water will then filter into the stone and then out the bottom of the pot.<div><br /></div><div>Next I mixed the garden soil with some of <a href="http://www.keeferfarms.com/pages/3021/Soils.htm?PHPSESSID=f9ac6abc9d0f1e70d836664a5e2f7912">Keefer Soil Energizer</a> that I had left over. About 4 scoops of soil per scoop of Energizer. I planted each corn to its crown and the lettuces I just covered the roots.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWmtYf4uWDLABMyQMiYBekEsl8xH59R_Kkw8wkDnnfBiRWBbBKlH0okMRsCEu15p_H9ZnSS7NIJGitcMfzJLiUdYYdwVWI9Ek_lCVQ9h4Snm24iLcidmx1W4VguioZ4KmnBf-x9jjy80/s1600-h/IMG_4577.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWmtYf4uWDLABMyQMiYBekEsl8xH59R_Kkw8wkDnnfBiRWBbBKlH0okMRsCEu15p_H9ZnSS7NIJGitcMfzJLiUdYYdwVWI9Ek_lCVQ9h4Snm24iLcidmx1W4VguioZ4KmnBf-x9jjy80/s400/IMG_4577.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343101349978799170" /></a>I lined the corn up in a row and put the lettuce between to shade them a little. I moved the strawberry and tomatoes out front, the corn will protect the tomatoes from direct rainfall and the tomatoes will further shade the lettuce. I am happy to report that after only a couple days the lettuces have almost doubled in size and the corn has grown as well. A couple of the corn stocks starting to lean over so I added a stick into the soil to hold them up until the roots get a better footing.</div><div><br /></div><div>Once all this was done, my realtor called to let me know that we had bought a house! Soon these little guys will have a permanent home in the raised bed of my south facing back yard. Still getting the financing straight and we have an inspection tomorrow, but I am considering myself, a home owner!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324315469510210500.post-80597450929014825632009-05-18T06:41:00.000-07:002009-05-18T07:02:29.803-07:00Newest Innovative Technology in Renewable Resources<div>I know this is supposed to be a gardening blog, not some techie outpost where I compete with other Tech Nerds to be the most in tune with the latest version of the coolest software, or show off my knowledge of obscure gadgets that no one will actually need or be able to afford. But when I came across this, well I just had to share it. This new technology is so revolutionary, so innovative, so controversial I had to write about it. The world must know.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is the first time the great power of two renewable resources have been combined together to create an energy savings of such magnitude! This product utilizes both Wind and Solar energy, but the best part is, it doesn't need full exposure to either to work. It works best in full sun, but on a cloudy day, or in the shade it is still effective, and even just a small breeze is all that is needed.</div><div><br /></div><div>It is rumored that Hypo Manufacturing Inc bought the patent for this product in the 70s and has suppressed it over the years in order to maintain profits in its appliance division. But plans and details on how to build one yourself have been leaked over the years and have seen a resurgence as of late with the popularity of the internet. I built my own last year, and it works great, and it was easy!</div><div><br /></div><div>Without further ado, I give the latest and greatest, the one and only...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMx5dMFVtiGhTs7wyXi5rzn4zap6jj3UowBPT1NkmAukkfS5B5lKYkei6eWHR-dI-1uroiObu5bLfmn5PFHtAYM4_SzuhxtgD_WLT1UgvKhrEs7_nKqhkf4u9MVNomvBp6S9z4dnOTh9M/s1600-h/IMG_4363.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMx5dMFVtiGhTs7wyXi5rzn4zap6jj3UowBPT1NkmAukkfS5B5lKYkei6eWHR-dI-1uroiObu5bLfmn5PFHtAYM4_SzuhxtgD_WLT1UgvKhrEs7_nKqhkf4u9MVNomvBp6S9z4dnOTh9M/s400/IMG_4363.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337159114934379730" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Clothesline!</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Does not work in the rain!)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324315469510210500.post-29418634646095956482009-05-17T09:58:00.000-07:002009-05-17T14:54:54.573-07:00TLC Tomato Loving Care<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKSgjIy-U0P_DgBOJOPCpwKi-4aW6GoE4zGdw_5FrHA9VBKxrXSahRceJ7hT1xhTWH2454c57Sr4WzRp5OVpmbHG1Tfs11rbzXJ0sxWRj85PZQuL-dUWBmxVuS1l_v_1ar4ga0MCE_3w/s1600-h/IMG_3532.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKSgjIy-U0P_DgBOJOPCpwKi-4aW6GoE4zGdw_5FrHA9VBKxrXSahRceJ7hT1xhTWH2454c57Sr4WzRp5OVpmbHG1Tfs11rbzXJ0sxWRj85PZQuL-dUWBmxVuS1l_v_1ar4ga0MCE_3w/s400/IMG_3532.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336914023434762594" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Yesterday the boy and I got to spend a big chunk of time in the garden. It wasn't enough but there were jobs that needed doing ASAP. As mention in my <a href="http://turnedleafgardening.blogspot.com/2009/05/i-miss-my-garden.html">last Blog</a>, I bought 3 tomato plants from the <a href="http://vancouver.ca/parks/parks/vandusen/website/">VanDusen </a>Plant Sale a couple weeks ago and transplanted them into these pots. </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQ6rBvelvhkqHUPljw5aLRDOUUOwwjXqZCAO-lcyG3uTHMj3ECA68LAnlLeWF2_kA1Xnpk97an8OkFPT7qfqO7IFmkw5mgVLz_XT0jNIb8NyifWLjwpEF5Y10QnwIk5XAnvuWvW7j5GU/s1600-h/IMG_4256.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQ6rBvelvhkqHUPljw5aLRDOUUOwwjXqZCAO-lcyG3uTHMj3ECA68LAnlLeWF2_kA1Xnpk97an8OkFPT7qfqO7IFmkw5mgVLz_XT0jNIb8NyifWLjwpEF5Y10QnwIk5XAnvuWvW7j5GU/s400/IMG_4256.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336894116900324018" /></a>The cooking style pot was bought at the <a href="http://www.bcspca.com/help/DonateUsedItems.asp">SPCA Thrift</a> store for about a buck for this purpose. I couldn't find any other so the other two went into regular reused nursery pots.<br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYpMwdAboC1wuJ6vkPbzofUsmjbY62BwZSHlq9DwXg1gkfw9skKXEcKeHO1W3VzWV_EGzSXb3C4S4SUpYu3LHzjKUgi5aJ9oG4WC4rIy6de3ukPgFnNibHudFG4L8KbeFIYNGt8ScMPI/s1600-h/IMG_4259.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYpMwdAboC1wuJ6vkPbzofUsmjbY62BwZSHlq9DwXg1gkfw9skKXEcKeHO1W3VzWV_EGzSXb3C4S4SUpYu3LHzjKUgi5aJ9oG4WC4rIy6de3ukPgFnNibHudFG4L8KbeFIYNGt8ScMPI/s400/IMG_4259.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336894117453093922" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I didn't drill any holes in the new pot hoping that the sun would keep the soil from becoming too saturated, but I failed! I thought about it instead of doing it. I've been reading the<a href="http://TheOrganicSister.com/"> Organic Sister</a> blog and I am learning from her policy of Doing not Thinking! You can't see it in this photo the the poor tomato became very water logged, very quickly. And it became sick, which weakened its immune and made it prone to...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaQV9nf1a57fqZqa9VAyOctqmmGezGCOXWrfDkudJ662T29W0xFlHQF6t2Tf0WYtGovXSxvvhQDa6UJl8VvkCmz-vaHIRCxUh97hr33rvswD3k3p32DlF_AkV1cPUdP8hlL5oFPe2DyI/s1600-h/IMG_4354.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaQV9nf1a57fqZqa9VAyOctqmmGezGCOXWrfDkudJ662T29W0xFlHQF6t2Tf0WYtGovXSxvvhQDa6UJl8VvkCmz-vaHIRCxUh97hr33rvswD3k3p32DlF_AkV1cPUdP8hlL5oFPe2DyI/s400/IMG_4354.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336843642632924594" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center; ">APHIDS! </div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; ">Although these three plants are next to each other, only the one has been attacked! To me this is proof that better gardening methods are a better way to keep away pests then chemical spraying!</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTypiIB-h0YzcI-njLOu00aEdhA2i1ytjK0Y-_NH1ZSdSddIfnV8Q735dpjnIYr5sP7xUaikpfo8z2_Om6zHxm2zX9m3Z5mQ50RXPVFoSHeCmlvW_9hcC7GJ2FhthPHBCr8hPOTM27jYc/s1600-h/IMG_4357.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTypiIB-h0YzcI-njLOu00aEdhA2i1ytjK0Y-_NH1ZSdSddIfnV8Q735dpjnIYr5sP7xUaikpfo8z2_Om6zHxm2zX9m3Z5mQ50RXPVFoSHeCmlvW_9hcC7GJ2FhthPHBCr8hPOTM27jYc/s400/IMG_4357.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336843638562932130" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center; ">These little guys have been feasting, enjoying my tomatoes before I even had a chance.<br /></div><div><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPSSn76h4iZkS_uNf_rL4g5Om1bPAxBqg6E7fr5xTM1cjnbfjCjt7XT8bApF1tebGh0eaCZx2zEMk-PnSNQ8twohYjcl7ifLfuK8ylaKsMjU6OxkP5SqxAd4dORSCpPWP7oruH1t-xxg/s1600-h/IMG_4359.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPSSn76h4iZkS_uNf_rL4g5Om1bPAxBqg6E7fr5xTM1cjnbfjCjt7XT8bApF1tebGh0eaCZx2zEMk-PnSNQ8twohYjcl7ifLfuK8ylaKsMjU6OxkP5SqxAd4dORSCpPWP7oruH1t-xxg/s400/IMG_4359.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336843634836835570" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center; ">I drilled three holes into the bottom of the pot and let it drain.<br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFE31J-hOjVJiNaVRPPzUNhT3fnf7aJYLroWpXIroWG5UrYLgN6fyBFXyz7WPFkq2Bos-lPmejDFFU9b7xFAMfjxxcp_pSoGBxpdk_8dW7z1g_0j6C3ADzO7q2FnFJEMCw6TA1u1YSvUw/s1600-h/IMG_4356.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFE31J-hOjVJiNaVRPPzUNhT3fnf7aJYLroWpXIroWG5UrYLgN6fyBFXyz7WPFkq2Bos-lPmejDFFU9b7xFAMfjxxcp_pSoGBxpdk_8dW7z1g_0j6C3ADzO7q2FnFJEMCw6TA1u1YSvUw/s400/IMG_4356.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336843635520541970" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><div><div style="text-align: center; ">I then topped up the pot with <a href="http://www.keeferfarms.com/index.html?PHPSESSID=f9ac6abc9d0f1e70d836664a5e2f7912">Keefer's</a> <a href="http://www.keeferfarms.com/pages/soils/index.html?PHPSESSID=f9ac6abc9d0f1e70d836664a5e2f7912">Soil Energizer </a>to make up for the loss of soil through the holes, and to compensate for soil compaction cause from the flooding. </div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchXGCocDpCtJOfwH1OVIPwSk171PNINUSEscc3jRhxLmpgsfp3kfLnN3EDkoRLLtMHIs-IQB-uPIXJfEcESEYG4zwDyEByuvqw2GGUbxNqqzjzef1SW6Lq-FCNvQ_OOCWZ_kuzr-rnG8/s1600-h/IMG_4358.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchXGCocDpCtJOfwH1OVIPwSk171PNINUSEscc3jRhxLmpgsfp3kfLnN3EDkoRLLtMHIs-IQB-uPIXJfEcESEYG4zwDyEByuvqw2GGUbxNqqzjzef1SW6Lq-FCNvQ_OOCWZ_kuzr-rnG8/s400/IMG_4358.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336843626454052578" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I added a small layer of organic matter, dried leaves, to cover the soil so as to protect from further soil damage from rain, and to reduce evaporation. I maybe should have waited on this stage until the soil had dried out, but I'd hate to waste more water. <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I will add an organic layer to the other Tomatoes as well as the azalea's to protect the soil from the elements. This may be another good example of a time to use Organic Sister's Doing not Thinking.<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">I think that I read somewhere that Marigolds detract pests like Aphids. I know that cats don't like them but I will try and confirm that. So I bought a small 2X4" tray from <a href="http://www.choicesmarket.com/index.php">Choices</a> and placed it next to the Pot of Tomatoes. Until the plant is healthy again I am leaving it in isolation so that the aphids stay off the other tomatoes. Once they are gone I will return the little guy with his friends and repot the Marigolds into separate smaller pots and boarder the Tomatoes with them.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324315469510210500.post-77836073856418365912009-05-16T02:01:00.000-07:002009-05-16T03:03:27.846-07:00I miss my GardenI really do miss my garden. I have been giving it 10 - 15 minutes of attention at a time maybe 2 or 3 times a week. Not enough, but time well enjoyed. I was at the <a href="http://vancouver.ca/parks/parks/vandusen/website/">VanDusen</a> plant sale a couple weeks back. Just me and the boy, no pictures. Here is the plant sale in a nut shell. Terrible parking, HUGE lines, awesome selection, and great prices. <div><br /></div><div>Because I am planing on moving I am not doing anymore planting in the ground. I'm a container man for now. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRWhzZjcUKKau36KTBgHv7GuvcdzOCQiMoctEboJEW5BL8NQ69oOQChPZK-DzP26F7ybZLrzUb3aYh2GY6QGfREapgZOZ70Kd2EHQOq6PSRRpIcpZlZgF7NzCX748uLqX3cgQaLrk-cg/s1600-h/IMG_4255.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRWhzZjcUKKau36KTBgHv7GuvcdzOCQiMoctEboJEW5BL8NQ69oOQChPZK-DzP26F7ybZLrzUb3aYh2GY6QGfREapgZOZ70Kd2EHQOq6PSRRpIcpZlZgF7NzCX748uLqX3cgQaLrk-cg/s400/IMG_4255.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336345238324476322" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Two Azaleas on the rim of my fire pit. These are the pots I transplanted them into. Cheap!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJRRd9M5Oddor0zrA58DOreO4jmsffPE3ZjLww-benq0h8q2JuELy8Za2EnQwTycQXmsb1cG_w9Pqwml0nWb_h7sK9kTpKdXHvlkiu-S8XD59f_AJXxQJufxNZX0Uk_PsaJqmBWwD0fU/s1600-h/IMG_4260.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJRRd9M5Oddor0zrA58DOreO4jmsffPE3ZjLww-benq0h8q2JuELy8Za2EnQwTycQXmsb1cG_w9Pqwml0nWb_h7sK9kTpKdXHvlkiu-S8XD59f_AJXxQJufxNZX0Uk_PsaJqmBWwD0fU/s400/IMG_4260.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336345231794645106" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">When we moved to our present place in Sept 07 we brought this hanging Strawberry with us. I hung it from the north side of the carport roof to get it up and out of the way. There it sat and did next to nothing. I took 2 minutes on my way out the door to move it into the sun. That should help.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkw2AZjMgHT7tCHK7BUkDFHKHttVCvYkQyA-HUOda82vetbwZQMOXRdFvWGrLn4uQoWfh838LXU2fQTO1vF4ORWSWS1In6a5uc9d4aVLS4mg2IwwGl9XtrvjqgsViH3VTjShzQKvRdMU/s1600-h/IMG_4259.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkw2AZjMgHT7tCHK7BUkDFHKHttVCvYkQyA-HUOda82vetbwZQMOXRdFvWGrLn4uQoWfh838LXU2fQTO1vF4ORWSWS1In6a5uc9d4aVLS4mg2IwwGl9XtrvjqgsViH3VTjShzQKvRdMU/s400/IMG_4259.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336345231661891202" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">These three pots represent my food crop this year. Two Beefy and one striped Tomato. I received a recipe for catchup and was looking forward to trying it out this fall. I bought these at VanDusen at a moment when Cillian was attempting to run away from me. I asked the ladies for a couple Beefeaters and they handed them over. I got home, read the tag and thought to myself, "Taxi" is a funny name for a tomato... Opps, yellow catchup it is!</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324315469510210500.post-34621832667207779802009-05-03T11:27:00.000-07:002009-05-03T11:35:25.324-07:00The neglectful gardenerThis should be the title of my blog. My day job is eating up all my time right now. I'm at work right now, on a Sunday, as I write this blog.<div><br /></div><div>The garden is doing pretty good without though. When I leave for work on time and the sun is up I take a moment to look over the garden. It is my 20 seconds of relaxation and reflection. Most of the daffodils are up and my minds tendency to unknowingly organize thing amazes me again. I planted the daffodils randomly, but somehow they are mostly in a straight row like little yellow soldiers. I don't know how I do it. </div><div><br /></div><div>The blue bells are ready to burst open. The cherry and plum have blossomed and leaved and now dropping like a peddle snow storm. Everything is growing bigger everyday, even my son. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am due for some time off, and it is happening starting tomorrow. I am taking Monday and Tuesday off. Monday so I can do my late taxes, oops, and Tuesday so we can go house hunting. That counts as time off right?</div><div><br /></div><div>Sorry, no photos, no time.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324315469510210500.post-79501765281674813482009-04-26T07:51:00.000-07:002009-04-26T07:54:25.171-07:00What is this?<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8PNxwmAAx7q8rZ68haiZn_Sq5SgR_JmWXxSWw-bmXUaZ34q_sFgpqvyVKNcF0BQTXePu5Dpr6ZMnzuN4vDDAySwcysNLUxymB-XUm6XNWGJnagH_BpxDp4I84IuHh6cTKE8lA0ZxGOU/s1600-h/IMG_3765.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8PNxwmAAx7q8rZ68haiZn_Sq5SgR_JmWXxSWw-bmXUaZ34q_sFgpqvyVKNcF0BQTXePu5Dpr6ZMnzuN4vDDAySwcysNLUxymB-XUm6XNWGJnagH_BpxDp4I84IuHh6cTKE8lA0ZxGOU/s400/IMG_3765.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329012994543599362" /></a>Last year I stuck some cut-offs that I found on a couple different jobs I worked on in a pot and left them over the winter. This is the only one that grew this spring. I don't remember what it is. I know its a ground cover but thats it. Can anyone help me?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324315469510210500.post-87826142388350280082009-04-12T13:13:00.000-07:002009-04-12T14:41:29.903-07:00Alpine Garden Club of BC Spring Show<div>What?! Two Blog posts in one day? It must be all the free time I found by giving up on Facebook. Try it, it's very liberating. Anyway, I'll keep this short.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://vancouver.ca/parks/parks/vandusen/website/">VanDusen Gardens</a> holds many different events over the calendar year, and this weekend was the <a href="http://www.agc-bc.ca/">Alpine Garden Club of BC</a>'s Spring Show. I went on the second day at about noon and it was not too busy. I brought Cillian so I had to make it a quick visit, here are some of the highlights that caught my eye in the short time I was there.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEeA_5t15JfvU4-sc8I3a79sRh6lZ_3U4NaTbH1b8DIiTpQgcRvbdNb5M7eQxSvHzMj8NzblKhGs_DAU9QOUbkCv-jfEfNOedJ4lL2QurITT8sn1DD2bO5wA0URDqlstYIxgdXTwKohUw/s1600-h/IMG_3646.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEeA_5t15JfvU4-sc8I3a79sRh6lZ_3U4NaTbH1b8DIiTpQgcRvbdNb5M7eQxSvHzMj8NzblKhGs_DAU9QOUbkCv-jfEfNOedJ4lL2QurITT8sn1DD2bO5wA0URDqlstYIxgdXTwKohUw/s400/IMG_3646.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323903106986332610" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Floral Room and VanDusen Gardens</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDUG1gs0sxnx4owuc0Oyq2s4rafhMp39m6XiGDgI3fw9gfH2lExnczgaqfyef51GHqyfN4qzYmUEmyemYrTEYkXp491d1EH31bmqBDDrFnL14RCXEbQepB0vrj5BL1Yt_tCeCH55j_cM/s1600-h/IMG_3648.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDUG1gs0sxnx4owuc0Oyq2s4rafhMp39m6XiGDgI3fw9gfH2lExnczgaqfyef51GHqyfN4qzYmUEmyemYrTEYkXp491d1EH31bmqBDDrFnL14RCXEbQepB0vrj5BL1Yt_tCeCH55j_cM/s400/IMG_3648.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323903104092245490" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Primula Denticulata</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXjdDnUBacO6ZTCdM3cFgbMIqj0ajEePqFW0BI0VqemE8j9AQmCKFVGLbwMSGDNFe9uT3Lt0kA35hZMT8cy2EBl3yaFKd56J0mklVqOMlVHjvx34bsIRh9m5vbnlX9zH2NNtD-tVbPOU/s1600-h/IMG_3654.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlXjdDnUBacO6ZTCdM3cFgbMIqj0ajEePqFW0BI0VqemE8j9AQmCKFVGLbwMSGDNFe9uT3Lt0kA35hZMT8cy2EBl3yaFKd56J0mklVqOMlVHjvx34bsIRh9m5vbnlX9zH2NNtD-tVbPOU/s400/IMG_3654.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323903103211493250" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Some ribbon winners</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjos8NJPwRVgzSQ8B4h9x_DXLK2VwUh0DFrnGBK2yt20h4xk0pX6dt3VZLBMvSLwVs4O1SYfHxOInN8UKku6nvxyhPUE_yFx6CVQzvEoEoScz_HdZKpqbgG0m5HhTEHa7a2-K9rpcs1-D0/s1600-h/IMG_3658.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjos8NJPwRVgzSQ8B4h9x_DXLK2VwUh0DFrnGBK2yt20h4xk0pX6dt3VZLBMvSLwVs4O1SYfHxOInN8UKku6nvxyhPUE_yFx6CVQzvEoEoScz_HdZKpqbgG0m5HhTEHa7a2-K9rpcs1-D0/s400/IMG_3658.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323903101600228402" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Tulipa Turkestanico</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qnUmK03K0rjhY6wEyXZhC1sAgGSzu5XFdDC3Uml5rhE-W4VKBFPDGdTo6YTR8cPFrI3aEDZ4L8Qd9GYKOgS-yqZspuzBO5L2x2bn8-9ZODv0c-8nwmkjGA-oAW7uhKYa2NE1ow44FdM/s1600-h/IMG_3659.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qnUmK03K0rjhY6wEyXZhC1sAgGSzu5XFdDC3Uml5rhE-W4VKBFPDGdTo6YTR8cPFrI3aEDZ4L8Qd9GYKOgS-yqZspuzBO5L2x2bn8-9ZODv0c-8nwmkjGA-oAW7uhKYa2NE1ow44FdM/s400/IMG_3659.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323903100491323314" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Ribbon winner for best Deciduous Bonsai</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_H3_aPZfCSwxGdEWqMAiGotTIhgHd5WSiLNNL7C6HnFB_kZIu4gveJigjWW6s6-vCmzB8IpYy9K9hMHHSlvlIAldWk6ivzgVOsifydXfSNWQloGkGQaiV27FOyei-v2PZqTWn0osAWc/s1600-h/IMG_3664.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_H3_aPZfCSwxGdEWqMAiGotTIhgHd5WSiLNNL7C6HnFB_kZIu4gveJigjWW6s6-vCmzB8IpYy9K9hMHHSlvlIAldWk6ivzgVOsifydXfSNWQloGkGQaiV27FOyei-v2PZqTWn0osAWc/s400/IMG_3664.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323902182018809618" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Fritilaria Meleagris</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88jb8APoVpSHsGFjTs3bIikQ3-EH8cvaitcKJaKeupw__QcuolrePFgVlqVCsgonwTc4KPz9uxI1AUAWsEhRWtftX8LQEMWkDqp8UZSQU9ogt_sO6ABQbEE0qPJjD3fqAh9BsbjRZoVA/s1600-h/IMG_3667.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88jb8APoVpSHsGFjTs3bIikQ3-EH8cvaitcKJaKeupw__QcuolrePFgVlqVCsgonwTc4KPz9uxI1AUAWsEhRWtftX8LQEMWkDqp8UZSQU9ogt_sO6ABQbEE0qPJjD3fqAh9BsbjRZoVA/s400/IMG_3667.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323902179978703346" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Philip MacDougal's 1st place Rhododendron </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxDF4UOnmxXLunrxYmXwHxzpPygyj4TlziaOnx7AZsggGJc2B2Jo5audojddHz7389DesCbchAPzUdztzEORe3e6EfMo1znFug7ilk7VDxXIp0lnLg0wMSMjNtIgxYSwV0owZNZImgSs0/s1600-h/IMG_3669.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxDF4UOnmxXLunrxYmXwHxzpPygyj4TlziaOnx7AZsggGJc2B2Jo5audojddHz7389DesCbchAPzUdztzEORe3e6EfMo1znFug7ilk7VDxXIp0lnLg0wMSMjNtIgxYSwV0owZNZImgSs0/s400/IMG_3669.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323902175767658482" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Abutelon Suntense Hybrid</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAk8c21YVCdHzFsBH8iMa0EpXdzYsp-9QlRs80zkdcYhmHLmn5iBGD-fKYUefql4HHjXEJ-FYRgWdXI8dVp5BGuZE5JTP3ZnMHZA3v6-OIRbPa_N9657lFOI3P9sLG5poB8OVcm4RFvE/s1600-h/IMG_3674.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAk8c21YVCdHzFsBH8iMa0EpXdzYsp-9QlRs80zkdcYhmHLmn5iBGD-fKYUefql4HHjXEJ-FYRgWdXI8dVp5BGuZE5JTP3ZnMHZA3v6-OIRbPa_N9657lFOI3P9sLG5poB8OVcm4RFvE/s400/IMG_3674.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323902172842112050" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I forgot to get the info for this one, but it sure is beautiful.</div><br /><br /><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1