MID-SUMMER UPDATE 2013

Photo Gallery index > Mid Summer Update 2013

  • We've been wanting to share some sights from our summer for a while now, so here goes. We have a 1.8 m x 9 m (6' x 30') wall of scarlet runner beans on a trellis that is a humming bird magnet, and were lucky enough to get this shot. We also see hummers visiting our delphiniums, as well as flowering arugula and onions.
  • We expanded our pea plantings this year, and they are impressing us. Here is Homesteader, loaded with pods, next to a row of Dragon's Tongue beans. We are experimenting with this pairing for a legume rotation.
  • We decided to try a new calendula this year, and we're glad we did. With mainly yellow flowers - though with some variations - and streaks of dark red on the backs of the petals, Sunshine Flashback has a distinctive look. We have been drying petals and making calendula oil. We like the leaves in salads, and they look good in a vase too.
  • Our first tomato was ripe on July 23rd this year, a Stupice, with Glacier very close behind. They both have good flavour this year, less watery than last year's fruit - a good omen! We started our first seed saving ferments on August 3rd and have had a few good soups and salsas.
  • With abundant moisture this year the weeds have taken a lot of attention. At least it's good exercise!
  • We really enjoyed going to the Alberta Herb Gathering, July 26 - 28 at Rundle Mission on Pigeon Lake. Kathleen organized the volunteers for this event, we met friends old and new, learned lots about plants and health, and came home with a renewed appreciation for fermentation and the microbes in our lives. And the drum circle was a good time.
  • We love summer for all the great fresh food to eat. Here are mixed beans, Beurre de Rocquencourt (yellow) and Royal Burgandy (green when cooked), with bean flowers and dill pollen.
  • Organic Alberta had a Field Day on August 7th in the Barrhead area. Around 25 farmers and industry representatives braved the wet weather to talk about oats. We toured five fields on two farms in the area, gaining insights into weed control strategies, the strengths and weakness of various oat varieties, as well as the development of new varieties from the perspective of a federal oat breeder.
  • Direct seeded broccoli? We've never tried before, so were pleasantly surprised with Purple Peacock, which does have some Red Russian kale in its lineage. Tasty and productive, we were eating broccoli on August 6th. Stay tuned for more updates featuring our favorite new selections, like celeriac, chard, endive....
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