A slightly bigger harvest

Spinach

Romaine (eaten with dinner already)

Rosemary

Beet Greens

I also picked some lemon balm and mint all of which will be going to Betty this am.

Visiting with Stacey down at the waterfront and this guy drove right between us and the island, very close to shore. Tells of a very steep drop down there.

 

More garden planting

Friday was our friend Stacey's birthday, so I made a Lavender Salve for her and Brad picked up a chocolate cheesecake - he had them write 'Happy Birthday' on it too. She came by for a coffee and seemed quite surprised.

Stacey's b/day

Yesterday (Saturday), we spent the entire day in the garden. Everything we had left has now been planted. Including the Tomatoes and Peppers. We covered the new plants with bird netting to keep the Quail out of them until they are big enough. There is room for more so we will pick up 24 Spinach or Romaine, 12 Fennel and 6 Thyme while we're across in Nanaimo tomorrow. 

Some garlic which did not sprout was replaced with extra pepper plants since they are great companions to each other.

Basil, Oregano and more Pepper plants

Sage waiting to go in and a couple of zucchini down the end

Everything is looking great though under those row covers.

Had a bunch of extra Brussel Sprouts in the greenhouse in case the row covers didn't work, so they went in too.

We have 13 Tomatoe plants, 38 Pepper plants, about 120 Onions of varying colours, 75 Carrots, around 120 Garlic bulbs, 4 Zucchini and 4 Cucumber and a ton of herbs and other stuff that I can't recall at the moment but anyway, it's a big garden for 2 people, we will surely share with friends but Betty will be well fed come fall.

Saw this red and black floating top hat in the water

Turned out to be just another barge

 The local farmer's market is due to begin May 22nd so I am going through stock and ensuring that I have a good supply to start the season with. Hopefully Covid won't cause it to be shut down.

What's been planted?

 

Large cargo ship passing by

No blooms yet on the orchard but the buds are getting bigger

View of the house from the garden

Update on the garden... what's in?!

Peas

Garlic

Cherry tree in blossom

Chickpea

Dill

Parsley

Spinach

Carrots

Yellow Onion

Red Onion

Green Onion

Radish

Kale

I learned a trick to put a board over watered seeds until they sprout, this helps retain the moisture where you need it. So I'm trying it on the beets. I think they are taking longer because I planted them at required depth and then added rabbit manure on top so its taking longer for them to poke through -- this is certainly the case with the onions, so.... here's hoping. I have a lot of beets and radishes in the greenhouse if the direct sow doesn't take.

Beets

Brussels

The last supper.... the end of 2 super sized bags of feed - they will have to return to foraging again until Winter, we don't want them to become dependent on us.

Birthday, hike and yard work

It was Brad's Bday on the 29th, I'm sure he said he's 26 so I'll go with that.

Looking mighty FINE!

We have been anxiously prepping for our newest arrival, Yesterday (Friday) I received notice that it has shipped - finally.... and its coming from Kelowna so theoretically, that shouldn't take that long... early next week I'd bet.

Elder Cedar Hiking trail is beautiful - Stacey is cute too LOL

Big, old trees

Not sure which is older but here I am looking all the worse for wear.

Stacey in front of yet another tree

Our Pickleball group made the front page of the local paper on Wednesday and we all learned that Min (shown here in red, playing with Sue) turned 83 on Thursday. Well we play on Thursdays, so Matt generously went to the shop and picked up mini cupcakes for everyone and we had a little birthday celebration with her. I understand that Klaus (also a player) is older but he was not present when the reporter was there.

Interesting transport, technically a barge with something on it but I got a pic nonetheless.

Weeded the home gardens, front and side ready for winter.

Moved our chairs to sit in the sun and then the sun moved... typical.

Front yard is ready for winter, 

We sealed the 2 front doors which are homemade and have gaps in them with styrofoam insulation

I then draped a curtain over them (this one is upstairs) the downstairs door has a cream fabric.

I had sunflower seeds that were mailed to us years ago, for doing a survey or such and I finally planted them this summer (too late in the year apparently) but I didn't think they would take as the soil here is extremely rocky - yet they are growing, so.... we'll see. I'm sure they will either keep going all winter or regrow in spring.

Awoke this morning and my first thought was something was burning... but it is not smoke - just fog, very heavy fog.

Garden updates

Brad was puttering down the garden a few days ago and came home with:

Our 1st Cucumber

Dusk

Another bag (I made 3 of these)

This is the same Tshirt bag shown in a previous post

as is this

and the snowflake bag

Carry version

Shoulder version

Sailboat jealousy

Seal and pup (which went under the water as this pic snapped)

I bought this off a local FB page. Only to discover that although it is expandable... And in my mind this is my size.... turns out that is incorrect. Hoping it will still be useful at least for pics of the bags (as above) and as I don't make much without shoulders.... maybe I can still use it.

1st Onion

I've been picking blackberries

I spread them out on a tray and flash freeze them before putting them in a freezer bag, this ensures individual berries instead of a solid mass.

Haven't shown this before I don't think but if any bread (I make a small loaf each morning) goes stale I make croutons out of it with a bit of oil and seasoning.

The garden is filling in very well. Coffee is the trick for slugs!!!!!!!

Butternut squash has begun

Cucumbers, I cut another 3 biggies off yesterday. I slice, flash freeze and vacuum seal before putting in the freezer

Trimmed down my basil, slow baked, crumbled and put into a jar

Oregano too

Grapes are getting huge, although they look small against this hanging basket... you will see below the size of these hanging baskets.

Peaches are ready for picking (but we don't touch these as they are part of the 'orchard crop' and we have been provided some for us).

This red hanging basket was on deaths door a few weeks ago from being in too much shade. Now it is voluptuous once again.

Brad keeps these baskets and they are doing fabulous

There are 2 purple baskets on either side of the woodshed, hard to see in the evening shade

Red basket on left, purple on right of the orchard gate

Piece de la resistance. These beauties frame our front door.

Brad was spraying me with the garden hose

Almond. There is an almond tree in our front yard. Looking forward to trying these.

Dad & Ann have set their wedding date with the church finally (3rd week of August) but it doesn't appear that we will be able to make it. Dad understands though because its a very long way to go for a 15 min ceremony, and the risk with Covid especially for them and their friends as well is just not reasonable. They will try to arrange a Skype or such for us to watch on.