Spring is grinding on here in Northern BC Canada, and my backyard garden is in fine form. Have a look around! First up is the sunflower seedlings coming up in the squash patch:
I gave my friend Bert Easterbrook some lettuce seeds to help him get started with gardening several years ago. He had success, and it helped him really break into the habit of growing his own food. Lettuce was simple enough that he could produce something for his family on the first try, and he kept at it from then on. Bert collected the seeds his lettuce plants made at the end of the season, and because I had used up all mine, he gave me a sandwich baggie full of them. I've been growing them every year since, and have plenty of seeds I've created myself.
Bert died a couple years back. I think about him whenever I plant or harvest this lettuce.
Garden upgrade! I added a couple feet to the near edge of my main garden bed. This new land will be used to grow a row of tomato plants, to be started this week.
Now for the latest yard update shots:
Here's where you can see the new addition:
And the latest apple updates...
I'm enjoying my little backyard oasis so far this year. It has rained a fair bit lately, which is great, as everything has really greened up.
Whenever I spend a few minutes among my plants, and the upgrades I've made to the yard so far, I get a feeling of accomplishment. It's not too impressive, but I did it myself. I didn't have any help, except from my wife, who has picked about a million dandelions, and helped care for the children while I'm working. I've had no budget to work with, no fancy tools or equipment, just a shovel and some seeds I collected from plants I grew in the past. Now I have a sprawling vegetable garden, a flower bed, a fire pit, a forest garden, blueberry bushes, an apple tree, reclaimed lawn from scrub, and more. I started this all under 14 months ago, struggling throughout with a debilitating nerve disorder, arrhythmia, and heart failure. I feel that I've done well.
If you're interested, my previous update was here.
Thank you for visiting!
Grow in peace.
DRutter
How do you keep the grass from coming up in the new addition?
Good question! A combination of trimming the edge with a spade (or other tool) twice a year... and just picking out any creeping clumps of grass by hand. It's a little bit of work, but not too bad. The alternative is some kind of infrastructure, which of course means a cost up front, and the need to be maintained over time. I choose to keep it simple. Thanks for the question : )
Ok cool that is what I thought it is a manageable space to do it by hand. Grass is one of the most difficult weeds as a lot of them have rhizome roots that keep coming back when disturbed. If you do not do any winter crops you could tarp it or even put scrap wood over it, or mulch it deep with leaves over the winter and that should do a good job at limiting what would come up in the spring. Best of luck with the garden and your health.
What type of apples are you expecting from your apple tree ?? Love my apples as they say an apple a day keeps the dentist away :-)
Apparently it's a "Regent"... drop by for a taste test next year : D
Would love to come back that way some day you never know in the future I may do.
So nice to see, lush green plants 🌱. Keep on growing!
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