Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Around the Garden






Most of the work in the garden this week has been the hard stuff, shoveling, moving, and dumping compost and soil. I am thinking close to 35 loads were moved on the weekend, and with that last load, all the beds are now topped up. Soon they will get a layer of leaves, and then they will be ready for winter.

The tunnel covers were suppose to go up this week, but whenever I planned to do it, it was raining, too windy, or Justin wasn't here to help. So, with a forecast of sunnier and warmer days this weekend we will get them up and secured, ready for winter.

The strawberries are still producing, the raspberries are ripening, carrots are being harvested by little hands, and the first harvest from the fall/winter garden was brought in, just a few baby greens to make a salad...kale, chard and romaine.

We have been discussing some plans for next year, where and how to plant the potatoes and squashes, how many berry bushes to order, what kinds of things we want to grow, and what new things we want to try. These discussions will go on and on over the winter, often times with much excitement as we dream about the possibilities. Usually during the winter, all we have are the dreams, but this year will be a little different with the winter garden. These are exciting times around here, with lots of good food to carry us through those dark, cold days of winter.

How are things around your garden?

22 comments:

  1. your garden is looking wonderful. I can't wait to see your winter produce. have a great day !!!

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    1. Thanks! I am looking forward to that too, of course, as long as all goes well :) You too!

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  2. I can see the progress of you putting your beds to sleep. Our tomatoes are winding down and the peppers are still going strong until the first frost!

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    1. Slowly, but surely, as they say. Enjoy those last tomatoes and peppers :)

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  3. My garden is wet wet wet this week. We are in the direct path of the tropical storm coming in from the Baja of California and it's been raining on and off all week. Today the storm cell should pass right over Tucson. So if all goes well and my swale (the big ditch) holds enough water the garden won't get flooded. They are thinking 3-5 inches of rain today!

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    1. Oh no. Hope you stayed safe in the storm KC. I have my fingers crossed the swale holds the water. Can't wait to hear how it all worked out.

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    2. Turns out the storm skirted the edge of city. We got only a drizzle!

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    3. Well that is good news, glad you stayed safe. I guess though you really wanted to know if those swales worked? Next time.

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  4. One look at your photos and you can see all the hard work you've been doing, it looks fantastic.
    Strawberries in September? Wow!

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    1. Thank you Tracey. Definitely lots of work, but I truly loved every minute of it.

      I love my everbearing strawberries :)

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  5. I remember slugging it out with my mom when we were growing up... the hoeing and weeding were my least favourite parts, but wintering the beds was tough too. I admire your work! Are you able to put by enough for the whole year?

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    1. Thank you Alexa. It is hard to say. This summer was the first summer we were still eating some of last year's harvest as we began to enjoy this summers harvest, and that was pretty darn awesome. Based on how much we have put by, I am thinking we are good to get us through. We definitely don't have as many tomatoes as last year, but we have more berries, beans, and beets. So I am sure it will all work out.

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  6. I can imagine all the hard work that must go into the up keep of such an amazing garden, but you sound like you enjoy it so very much. Love hearing how you work as a family too. My husband likes to eat the veg but doesn't want any part in growing it!!!
    We're still getting kale, chard and green beans but our strawberries were over a long time ago.
    We are thinking of closing in our place (my youngest wants a goat and a duck for his birthday next month and I'm afraid they might get attacked - we recently lost a chicken to a dog) so I think I'll show my hubby your fence - it's so unusual looking, I like it a lot.

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    1. Thank you.

      Haha, about your hubby, too funny. Justin is a big help with a lot of it. The growing part though is all me. He will jump in and help with the moving of soil and compost, with the getting of logs for raised beds, with making fences, with the clean up, with the mowing and keeping of the lawn, even harvesting...but the planting, the caring for the beds during the season is not something he is interested in. And that is alright, because I love that part, and so does Reece. We all have our jobs, the things we enjoy, and it works for our little team :)

      Yes, our fence was to keep the dog and the chickens out, and it worked! I think we will fence in the other beds next spring.

      A goat and a duck...how fun!

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  7. You're such diligent gardeners, I always think this time of year is the most tempting for even keen gardeners to slack off a little, and not bother about putting their garden to bed properly, and yet you seem to be working as hard at it as in the early Spring. I'm sure it must pay dividends in your returns.

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    1. Some days it is a little tempting to put it off til spring, especially when it is wet and damp out there. But like you said, we know how much it will pay off, and honestly, it feels so good to get it done :)

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  8. Your first fall crops look wonderful. I'll be harvesting a few baby greens today as well. Not much, they are very slow growing and I fear running out too quickly. But we will still be receiving our CSA baskets for 9 weeks, well into fall. So whatever they give us will be a great addition to our little cold crop gardens.

    Planning has already started here as well. One thing we did do this year, which is already growing really well, is cover crops in the empty beds. There is a light green 1/4 inch soft blanket now, it's almost like spring. :-)

    I can't wait to order 2015 seed catalogs... that is like Christmas to me!

    Have a lovely week. xo

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    1. Thanks Yanic. I will be interested to hear how your cover crops go, I have been reading a lot about them, and I think we are going to try it out next year.

      I am so with you on the seed catalogs, always much excitement on my part when they start arriving.

      xo

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  9. MMmm, strawberries, chard, kale... three of my favorites.

    Sounds like you all are ready for this shift of seasons... (we are, too!) ;)

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    1. If those are your favourites, I think you and I would get along very well my friend :)

      We are ready, glad to hear you are too! Happy weekend.

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  10. Can't wait to see how your cold frame works out Kim! Your garden will be thanking you for all the work you are doing on it now, when it comes time for planting again.

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    1. I will be sure to share the progress. I will be thanking me too :)

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