by Donna | Feb 2, 2017 | GARDENING, Soil
After seeing a photo of Barry Furneaux in the Qualicum Beach newspaper I had to visit him. He had raised a 14 pound cabbage (one of many) and it was featured prominently in the news in late October. So of course I had to visit and find out the secret to Barry’s success. I found out secret #1 – Steve Solomon’s Book (The Intelligent Gardener, New Society Press) and secret #2, his homemade compost. After making a fatal mistake with his compost one year, Barry now makes compost in the fall in a very strategic way following advice from Steve Soloman.
by Donna | Jan 30, 2017 | Bugs & Buggers, GARDENING
So I’m in the greenhouse this morning looking at my plants and of course admiring them and smiling and then I see two slugs curled up together. On a leaf. A broccoli leaf. So of course I run for my camera and here is the evidence of slugs at work: mating.
by Donna | Jan 26, 2017 | GARDENING, Soil, Trees & Shrubs
What kind of nutrients do falling leaves really have? Are they just drained out empty shells of their former selves? Answers vary.
Some older studies show commercially collected fallen leaves in urban centers contained nasty elements such as lead and cadmium because the tree leaves were swept up by machine along with portions of lead-contaminated soil.
by Donna | Jan 24, 2017 | Bugs & Buggers, Food, VIDEOS
Dear Donna
To-day we noted a dense infestation of red bugs on one of our ‘pseudo sunflower plants’ – with a ‘pseudo-ant-like’ appearance.
The picture shows the poor growth with the ’enemy’.
by Donna Balzer | Jan 18, 2017 | Bugs & Buggers, Food, GARDENING, Soil
If you have rich good soil packed with microbes ready to break down shredded leaves then add the leaves right away. The leaves will disappear quickly. If you are not sure if you have a microbe packed soil, then add a small layer (1/4 inch) of high quality worm castings on top of the shredded leaves so you are inoculating your leaves and soil. Worm castings are like pro-biotics for your garden.
by Donna Balzer | Jan 15, 2017 | Food, GARDENING, Greenhouse
I guess it’s the hobbyist thing. If you are growing outdoors, particularly here, you start in the spring and you are ending – by now. With indoor growing you can grow whatever you want whenever you want 365 days of the year. That’s what modern homesteading is about.
