Another day on the wet coast

Snow on Easter weekend. Guess that’s what you get with an early Easter and climate change.

Built the base for the cold frame and set it up during a break in the weather. Mesclun Salad Mix, Broccoli and Delphinium seedlings are hardening off in them. It’s probably a little premature particularly since the weather decided to cool off … the hardy will survive though.

The basil and tomatoes are still cozy beneath the light.

Cold Frame or Sun Box*

Under the full moon a light dusting of snow fell on the Malahat. I’m on Vancouver Island, right?

I’ve purchased the lumber, L brackets and screws. Now for the construction. The snow has slowed production. Not a problem … with a table full of seedlings flourishing under the florescent light in our south facing kitchen window, there is plenty to do indoors.

I’m hopeful that this year I will manage to be more successful with the basil – so, far it’s looking promising with the second and third set of leaves appearing. Broccoli, Tomato ‘Stupice’ and ‘Sweet Millions’, and the white delphinium seed from Christine Pollard are all doing well.

And then there is always a good book. I came across an interesting twist to the cold frame, warm propogating frame, cloche … a *Sun Box, referenced in Square Foot Gardening originally appeared in Avant Gardener, Vol 10, No. 11, March 15, 1978. 
More about the Sun Box

Getting a cold frame

Yea-yah! A friend is moving to Australia and I’m inheriting her cold frame.

Last year – cloches, this year – cold frame … Gardening under Cover, William Head is proving itself again as a great resource for Pacfic Northwest under cover gardening. Easy to read and full of simple instructions and recipes for success.

Mesclun Mix, Salad Green seed have been started and join the basil sprouts in the southern window. The desk sits over a heater which helps it serve as a perfect starter bench. I’m adding more light this year in hopes of improving my odds with the ‘Red Rubin’ basil. Genovese is never a problem, but the purple basil is a little more challenging.

The hostas are just popping through the surface – so, I’ve moved the bamboo pyramid trellis to cover the ones outside of the main fenced garden. Hostas are slug and deer candy – they need protection even more so here on the Malahat where the deer trails can be clearly viewed from the house.

A Recycling Island

While ‘going green’ is all the rage. Living green has been the way of those of us who’ve grown up on the Islands of the West Coast of Canada.

When there’s no garbage pickup you deal with what you create … recycling, reusing and generally finding ways to reduce the amount of rubbish. Backyard composts and burners dealt with most things, well until plastic came along.

Born and raised on Vancouver Island, with stints on Gabriola and Mudge, one learns lots about being self-sufficient.