It's that time of Year

[yugogypsy]

Time to get started in the garden (at least where I am on Vanc. Island in B.C.)

We are going to have a HUGE garden this year, sell some and preserve lots.

We've got landscaping to do as well and a gazebo to be built.

I'm not a winter person and I can't wait until those clocks go ahead. I'm hoping to get edible flowers growing this year in pots (no room in the main garden!)

I need more chickens, I want a milk goat, a meat goat and a fibre goat (angora)

So come on everyone.

Lets hear about your properties and garden plans, even if you're gardening on the balcony of your flat or apartment.

Lois

[Unkle_John]

Well, for me, we are going to get our house "weatherized" from a government grant. We are hoping to get insulation blown into the exterior walls of the house and attic, and get all of the old storm windows replaced. With those storm windows, assuming I get to keep them, I plan on making a green house in the backyard.

I have doing research all winter on a design, and interior layouts. I have alot of saved pieces I'm going to incorporate inside, an old sink, a collapsible fish pond (to help with humidity), and a few odds and ends. I'm also planning on getting a solar light kit (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90599) for experimenting with, a gutter system and rain collector. I plan on making those from recycled material as well. But like I said, it all hinges on us being able to keep the windows.

[Pedata]

I follow proper crop rotations to stay ahead of the diseases and whatnot, so this year is grasses. I'm going with corn and millet. The corn is for the chickens because our teeth will not let us chew corn anymore (getting old) and the millet will be for the parakeets. Although I might boil up some millet and try it, it was quite popular in feudal Japan.

Peas will go in a container in the front yard.

I've got a lot of filled pots and they'll be marigolds, to hopefully run off the mosquitoes.

I'm hoping to get a decent amount of dewberries this summer to make jelly.

I think that's it, no big projects, I consider them all done years ago, lol.

-Cass

[yugogypsy]

We're going to put in a second greenhouse and plan to have our rainwater collector in the middle of it on one side as that wall will be against the house and put an overflow hose to outside.

We're going to be insulating too, but its DIY around here, no grants available here.

And painting inside and out. But that's another thread I'll have to start!

In the garden, LOTS, we have to make some money as well as putting up for ourselves.

No water features like ponds here, but the gazebo will be great to sit in and admire the gardens.

Right now we're still doing clean up. Another load for the scrap yard to go this week!:)

The cleaner it gets here, the better I like it.

Starting seedlings within a day or two, cabbages and whatever other members of the cabbage family I can find when I sort the seeds.

Take Care.
Lois

[Pedata]

Broccoli, collards, cauliflower, all members of the cabbage family.

[yugogypsy]

Yes, all of those, I have to get more collard seeds though.

And put in Marigolds to keep away the cabbage moths we have in abundance.

Had purple cauliflower last year. It got warm too quick and most of them sprouted.

Had some good feeds of broccoli though.

We collected a lot of big pots last year so I can grow lettuce and such in them and leave space in the garden for other cash crops. And pots are mobile, I can keep them in shade by shuffling them around.

Happy Gardening
Lois:)

[yugogypsy]

Unfortunately the best laid plans of mice and men- or women, sometimes get messed up.

I was sick April 23-May 12th with a VILE something that gave me fevers, sweats, chills and no appetite for most of that time. LOL I was living on juices and potassium pills and vitamin water.

Okay now, but the garden has suffered accordingly and its too late to start some things so I hope we get our second grenhouse up and have it ready for next year.

Hope all your gardens are doing well-Pedata,Libra, anything to report? Unkle_John, what about you?

Lois

[LIBRA]

My broccoli had been eaten by cabbage worms and the stress of that sent them to flower before they headed, so no broccoli :( I will plant some in the fall though..

Everything else is doing great! Lots of spinach and lettuce, romaine..