Winters coming

Arriving back in Sointula I was pleased to see that the green manure of field peas and the broad beans that I planted early September were doing well.
In fact they were growing through the covering of netting that covered the beds, and there were signs that the deer were trimming them off as they poked through.

The fence we had planned to build around the garden this October was put on hold as through some misfortune our lumber provider couldn't provide.
So it was plan B for deer protection. A 2 x 4 temporary post in the far corners of the beds and netting stretched between is now forming a near invisible but I hope deer proof fence around the perimeter.
The dormant plants and herbs that I brought out from Ontario are now saftely in the ground. Next spring we'll see how they settled in.
I also planted a small bag of daffodils and crocus so that on our return in March we can experience the first spring flowers.

Winter appears to be on its way as we watch the snow on the far mountains creep lower and lower- just in time for the big winterfest they have here on the island.
We are off to Thailand in a few weeks so shouldn't experience too much of that.

Beds filled and planted

I now have 3 raised beds.
They have been filled with what looks like great top soil from down the road.

Lettuce seedlings, garlic, mache, broad beans and chives have been planted in the first bed along with some field peas for a green manure.

The other 2 beds have been planted in field peas as a green manure crop. The beds have been covered in netting to keep the deer away until we get some fences up.
The garden is being abandoned til Nov., so I'll see then how it all survived.

Building the new garden

We are making progress with the new garden here on Malcolm Island.

This is the area for the future garden. It is one of the sunnier corners. We are dealing with tall cedars along the south boundary and then the buildings. I think there will be little sun here mid winter, but now in Sept it gets sun almost all day. The first thing that needs to go is the sign!

I've been playing around with plans on paper. It'll all take a while but as you can see below we've made a start, and the sign has gone-yeah.

The tall posts at the north end of the bed will have wire attached for future vines.
The beds are 16' long and 4' wide and are made of 2" x 6" lumber two high to give 12" high beds.
The ground is sloping slightly to the west so we've had to dig in the top edge.

To avoid digging I am going to fork through the sod to loosen it then lay down cardboard then these beds will be 2/3rds filled with some screened top soil sourced on the island, and in the spring top dressed with 'sea soil'- a compost made locally from fines(leftovers) from the logging industry that are mixed with leftovers from the fishing industry. This mix is composted for 2 years and hopefully will grow wonderful veges.

September at the community gardens

Gardening in this environment here, in Sointula, is new to me. The cool but long days during the summer will be a whole new experience.
I was excited to visit the local community gardens and see what was happening. A lot as it turned out.

I am really looking forward to building some raised beds in my own garden here over the next few weeks and getting started growing my own stuff.

Salmon Days

We arrived on Malcolm Island just in time to celebrate Salmon days which is one of the 3 big celebrations during the year on this small island.
The weather wasn't great but the sun did come out while the parade wandered down the main street.

Later in the day the salmon was served. Bar-b-qued on a cedar plank and served with  delicious salads it was a meal to remember. All to the music of Valdi who was playing live for us.

Later in the evening there was lots of dancing with the help of a local band.
The next morning  the main street was closed and set up for a big pancake breakfast put on by Victor at the Upper Crust. All to the sounds of local musicians that entertained the breakfast crowd from an open stage.
It was an amazing event for a small community. I'm really looking forward to the next big celebration here in November-Winterfest.

Fences and deer

If I want to garden here on the island the first step will be to build a deer fence.
Fortunately there are a lot of gardeners here on Malcolm Island and a lot of deer fences. I have been taking notes and here are a few pics I have gathered for inspiration.
It all started with a trip to Wisterias garden. Yes that is her name and she does have this magnificent wisteria in full bloom.

I thought her fence was simple with an interesting touch.

Then this gate caught my eye and I thought that was a great idea for a gate.

This drift wood fence was a stunner. Given all the driftwood lining the beaches there are a lot of raw materials around.

This fence is simple and open. It wouldn't block the sun, but doesn't provide much privacy either.

Still simple but with more privacy.

Another example of making use of the materials available on the beach.

Another idea adding some colour into the mix.
There are still a lot more fences to check out. Hopefully I'll narrow down my ideas when it comes time to start building.

Sointula, B.C

It is pretty exciting to finally arrive in Sointula (Finnish meaning peace and harmony), Malcolm Island, Brtitish Columbia. Home of my next garden.

It's going to be a while before I get started. In a few weeks we head back to Ontario for the summer. But there is no reason why I can't dream right?

Here is the view from the front window. We are right on the sea with all those fresh breezes. I think I am going to need a small green house to help keep the tomatoes warm.

Above is a nice sunny spot where I'll be starting it all. There are many deer around, so one of the first jobs will be to erect some tall fences.

We have spent quite a few days exploring the village  on our bicycles.

I have discovered the community gardens. Lots going on there. Actually lots of gardening on the island. Lots of inspiration!

There will be a few new tricks to learn. The deer for one, and the cool summers and fresh ocean breezes. The bonus's are the really long summer days and the mild winters with almost no snow and hardly any frosts.

Now I am at the planning stage. Armed with tape measures and graph paper.Lots of dreaming going on.