All Blog Posts (8)

I read in my journal that this time last year I planted peas along the warm side of our house. There's still snow there this year but i put the glass over my cold frames today and noticed some green catnip starting its yearly renewal. The soil is cold but not frozen. As soon as the glass melts the remaining snow in the cold frames i'll seed it with cold hardy spinach, arugula and its perennial cousin sylvetta. Along the house here i also made my first harvest of the y… Continue

http://www.mofga.org/Default.aspx?tabid=700 The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association is the oldest in the USA, this is a great article on forest and garden/farm soil fertility. http://www.mofga.org/Default.aspx?tabid=709 Here is a good article on the same website about Selenium, which is apparently a mineral we are low on here in the Boundary. Continue

We hopefully have a few years yet to get the kinks ironed out of a LOCAL food supply. http://www.truthout.org/022209Z Continue

This blog will compile a list of all the people who are part of the solution of living simply, reducing their ecological/carbon footprint, and growing their own food. They are examples to inspire us. As Ghandi said "be the change that you want to see" (thanks to Brian Foy for showing me this one) and "We need less mass production and more production from the masses." I would appreciate anyone adding to this list, kind thanks. http://www.pathtofreedom.com/ family of 4 in Los Angeles growing all… Continue

OK all you 100 mile dieters. One 4'x50' garden bed can reap 10lbs of grain. If you are after flour you might have to lease an acre or two, but if you want to eat a grain in its most healful state, try eating it like rice. Dan Jason is a farmer extraordinaire on SaltSpring Island. He is famous for his garlic varietals and beans and now tomatoes, but he also has over 66 different cultivars of wheat, barley and oats for this very purpose. He says just as grain cultivars were selected over the years… Continue

Wow! Our neighbors to the east have compiled a tomb of podcasted radio-shows revolving around food security, farmers markets, market gardening and the like. Check it our and get inspired and get involved! What I like about these podcasts is you can listen to them while you browse other websites, very cool! http://kootenaycoopradio.com/deconstructingdinner/recent.htm Continue

I planted several Stevia plugs that I bought from Richters last spring. I potted a couple in fall and one has survived the winter in our shady bathroom ledge. I am attempting to take cuttings from it now (March). Here is some info I've found on how to: By David Richard Propagation and Container Growing Stevia stem cuttings root easily without hormones, but only under long day conditions. A fluorescent shop or plant growth light both work well. Leave the light on 14 to 16 hours per day, 5 to 9 i… Continue

I would like to learn what indicates a healthy river and what indicates an unhealthy river. I think this is a good starting place for me and my children to learn about our home here in the beautiful Kettle valley. I will expand on this blog as I learn more. Please feel free to help educate. What do you like or dislike about our beautiful river? What is a sign of health? Should we be fishing in this river? Should there be fish in this river? Is there fish in this river? I need to go prune the apr… Continue