Thanks to some sage advice and the willingness to try again, my worm population has again become the thriving environment it once was. I still add coffee grounds to the mix, but as just a small part of the overall blend, making sure, just like humans, they eat a well rounded diet full of fruits, vegetables, and the occasional coffee to boost their early morning productivity!
I hate the thought of cooling nights and fall rains. I want summer to stay on a tiny bit longer. But the truth is it was almost too hot this summer to grow great greens. They perished in dry soil, intense heat and sloppy management (I always seemed to be away when they needed attention.)
And then, as I was looking around I saw the really big gaps in my fence and I knew right away what the problem was. The bunnies, suddenly so plentiful had simply climbed through the lovely open design fence and helped themselves to the fresh new crops.
Dean Kreutzer helped me out big time. I wanted to grow Strawberries (okay – who doesn’t?) but this farmer from “Over the Hill Orchards” in Lumsden, Saskatchewan helped me see it all in a new way. The result? I started growing/farming strawberries off the ground. And with his help I set up a little mini-model of what he is doing in Saskatchewan and i am already eating fresh fruit!
Eventually it was my turn (to speak). I went early to get a feel for the room. I started chatting with people in the front row as they arrived and sat down. Janet Endsley, the manager of the NWFG show, gave me a brilliant introduction. I opened my eyes, yes really opened them and looked out into a room….
So the moral of the story? Tell your plants how you feel and use worm castings to make it all better….. I am heading outside right now to tell my greenhouse plants how much I love them. I have also got seedlings growing indoors as micro greens for salads.
