Sod this, I'm Preparing for Spring

The advantage to a cold winter is that Spring looks all the better. 

Happy New Year everyone, by the way.

I refuse to acknowledge this cold wave we're having (we get a reprieve today (Jan 1) and tomorrow then after another week of mid -20s (Celsius) those who never get it right are giving everyone hope by saying it will be in the range of 0C (32F) for about a week -- I'll believe it when I see it.

Good news for the chickens though, I will leave their coop door open today and tomorrow for some much needed fresh air. I've had to keep them cooped up (pun intended) due to the extreme -40C temps. (-40C is also -40F for anyone who doesn't know -- also known as 'Damn Cold')

We decided to start planning our garden...

So because we want to learn to save our own seeds, I ordered this book which comes highly recommended by numerous homesteading peeps.

We need this book because every veg/plant, etc has different times/ways to save the seeds, for some the seeds are saved early in the growth and for others you let a few of them grow long past picking before saving the seeds.

Seed to Seed

We have 1 of these standing storage racks but to ensure it is the same size as the other I have ordered 2 of them to snug side by side.

Storage rack for seed trays

(I noted the price increased $5 since I ordered them yesterday)

And a lesson learned from last year when I started all our starts but then had to buy a bunch of starts because they didn't get strong enough even with the greenhouse.... this year, grow lights!

Full spectrum LED grow lights

As for the seeds, as you may know - if you plan to save seeds you need heirloom seeds (ie non-gmo) as the gmo seeds are sprayed and processed in such a way that they do not propagate well. By buying only heirloom seeds we ensure the heritage of the seeds, 'Purebred' seeds if you will.

Here in Alberta, there are a few heirloom seed companies and I chose to order from Heirloom Seed Vault and Wildrose Heritage Seed Company.

It is also worth noting that when buying seeds, you should always try to buy locally because by way of example, tomatoe seeds sold in Alabama will not be as hearty as those sold in Alberta, not to mention the much shorter growing season here.

Everyone should try to grow something, even if its just a few small herbs in the kitchen window, or a single tomatoe plant on the veranda. It gives you a sense of something.... I can't quite put my finger on, but suffice to say it makes you feel warm and fuzzy. A huge garden like we tend to do is not necessary for everyone but having a plant growing somewhere just, well... feels right for us. And many typical house plants are edible too... multi purpose. Not to mention the many many that are just growing wild outside your door, yes YOUR door, every door, free for the taking, and often medicinal.

May your next salad be wild! 

What else is growing and why

*** There is Health Benefit information in this post for the purpose of shedding light on options, please do your own research before consuming and/or using any Medicinals/Edibles.

My Garden Helper

Potatoes are coming along nicely

Horseradish on the right but not on the left, instead something my app can't decide on so I'll leave it to grow a bit more.

Horseradish Benefits: 

Strengthens Immune System, Treats urinary tract infections, Helps to regulate blood pressure, Helps in digestions, Useful during pregnancy, Helps relieve pain, Helps prevent cancer, Treats sinus infections, Good for teeth, Helps metabolism.

Horseradish edibles: Aside from the obvious condiment... Roots can be sliced and roasted as with parsnip, Young leaves can be added to salads, pickles or cooked as a potherb. Sprouted seeds can be used to season salads.

Asparagus 1

Asparagus 2

Asparagus 3

Stevia (sugar substitute found at any health food store)

Stevia Benefits:

Weight control, Cancer prevention, Improves bone health, Regulates blood pressure, Skin care, Improves oral health, Cures allergies

Stevia Edibles: 150x sweeter than sugar. Dried leaves can be ground and used as a sweetener or soaked in water and the liquid used in making preserves. Powdered leaves can be added to herb teas.

The white flowers are (will be) Saskatoon Berries

Saskatoon Berries Benefits:

Immunity, Heart health, Inflammation, Fiber, Brain and Nerve, Energy, Stomach ailments, Mild laxative. Juice used to make eye and ear drops. 

Saskatoon Berries Edibles: Fruit used in soups, stews, meat dishes, pemmican and dried cakes.

St. John's Wort

St. John's Wort Benefits:

Smoking cessation, Menopausal mood swings, Reduces pregnancy pains, Anti-cancer effects, Cure hangovers, Cure Parkinson's Disease, Treats sinus congestions, Lowers blood pressure, Cures depression (not to be mixed with some depression meds - research required), Controls anxiety, Alleviates pain, Antiviral, Alleviates joint pain.

St. John's Wort Edibles: Leaves, flowers, seeds used in tea. Leaves and flowers can be tossed in salad.

Greenhouse planter box now includes Salsa tomatoes and jalapenos

This planter box is mostly for salsa. Tomatoes, Jalapenos, Bunching onions and Cilantro with a couple of Brussel Sprouts, Beets and Radishes thrown in.

Yesterday I started Corn...

... and POPcorn

Tomatoes, Peppers and Romaine are thriving in the greenhouse

Two tomatoe plants that were unlabeled as to which type of tomatoe, will go on the deck in these big pots. I soaked Pea seeds overnight and they will go in these hanging baskets - don't know if that will work but I don't see why not, so...

Carrots and Leeks

Lamb's Ear

Lamb's Ear Benefits:

Antibacterial bandage, Bee stings, Insect bites, Colds, Gum and throat infections, Asthma, Eyewash, Toilet paper, Absorbent pads

Lamb's ear edibles: Young leaves in salad, steamed as a green, battered, stir fried.

Side garden onions

When I planted onions in the large garden I had a few bulbs left over so I put them in the side garden in a patch that doesn't grow things well... never expecting that they would come to anything as the ground is so shallow here, but here they are in all their glory just the same as the ones in the garden.

Small garlic patch

We have a large garlic patch out by the main garden with 92 plants in it.

Some likely familiar medicinal plants

Robbie and I foraged enough for 4 Betty trays (1 full load)

2 of Purple dead nettle, 1 of plantain and 1 of plantain seeds

Purple Dead Nettle

Medicinal uses: Astringent, diuretic, diaphoretic and purgative. Anti-inflammatory, Anti-bacterial and Anti-fungal. Leaves used on wounds or cuts, poultice.

Edibles: Pesto, soup, salads, smoothies. Any way you would use any green leafy vegetable or herb.

Plantain

Medicinal uses: Cough, Wounds, Inflamed skin or dermatitis, Leaves crushed and applied topically for insect bites, stings, eczema and small wounds or cuts.

Edibles: Infections, Inflammation, Kidney, Bladder, stomach and intestinal problems, Breathing conditions.

Plantain seed head can be dried and ground to a flour

Medicinal Uses: GI (Gastro-Intestinal) therapy, Treat hyperlipidemia, Anti-cancer effects, Respiratory treatment, Chronic bronchitis, Asthma, Cough, Cold, Laxative, Insect repellant.

Edibles: Eat as insect repellant, Salad, Breads, Grind to use as flour.

I have found learning about our local weeds to be quite fascinating and I hope you are finding it interesting - if nothing else. If others are interested I will continue to add details here and there, otherwise I won't be discussing it again so please let me know your interest level in the comment section below. 

I have not been able to find anything which will replace my thyroid medications as they appear to be made from pig thyroid hormones which I guess explains the weight gain. LOL

Garden fixed. Medicinals

Back in the garden to fix the ground cover we went.....

A pigeon stopped by to check it out

He was thoroughly unimpressed that he couldn't eat through it.

Robbie in all his regal beauty waited patiently on the side for us.

After burning the holes where we needed them to be, I put rabbit manure down there then the onion bulbs, covered with dirt and a dose of more rabbit manure on top.

Yellow, Red and Green onions are in. Finally.

Mrs. Farmer Chick. Sexy right?! LOL

We had a bunch of garlic that was starting to sprout so I peeled them and Freeze Dried the lot, its super handy because you can just lay a knife flat on FD'd garlic and mince it instantly just by pushing down. Works super fantastic and the flavour is concentrated so you need less.

I've been waiting months to harvest Blackberry leaves and they are finally sprouting so off I went. This is a blend of blackberry and black raspberry leaves. They will be in the FD within the hour. 

These leaves have many medicinal properties and uses such as Cancer, Dysentery, Whooping cough, Mouth ulcer, Minor bleeding, Diarrhea, Toothache, Sore throat, Colitis, Anemia, Mouth wash, Psoriasis, Hemorrhoids. More information about this can be found here. Or for a simpler explanation just Google ' Medicinal benefits of Blackberry leaves'.

Brad's massage therapist has a small homestead and they just had some lambs born very recently. 

So cute.

'

The expected layout of our garden this year. Does not include the 11'x13' bed of garlic Brad planted in the fall.

We picked up some parts yesterday for a garden update which will be in an upcoming post.