The future is organic: But it's more than organic! | Energy Bulletin

The future is organic: But it's more than organic! | Energy Bulletin

Success in Spreading the seeds!

Two weeks ago, I packed up 140 packs of my own saved organic seeds, decorated the packages, made some signage, and off I went to Brescia University College's: More Than Just a Book Sale. I didn't know what kind of a response I would get, but shortly after 10am, people stopped at my booth, and well.... the conversations I had with dozens of fellow gardeners! I sold 100 packs of seeds - everything ranging from herbs, flowers, beans, tomatoes, and squash. One lady even rushed by and asked me to put together $20 worth, my choice.

I donated 15 packs of seeds for one of the raffles, and surprisingly, the bucket was full of ballots; people hoping to win a garden in a bag. One lucky winner next spring will have a nice backyard veggie garden! I was happy to help The Circle raise some money.

The big news here in London, of course, is the snow. We had over 100 centimetres in our backyard, which was typical throughout the city. Somewhere underneath all the beautiful white stuff, sleeps my garden. Even the kale was buried. Our friendly woodpecker has been hanging around the bird feeder, and has been watching the last of the sunflower heads that are still poking through the snow.

Merlin and Smokey, our cats, had been looking forlorn out the windows during the snowstorm, but both were really happy when we finally shoveled them a pathway to the composter - 'cause that's where the mice are.

If anyone asks what I'd like for Christmas.... time! Share with me a gift of your time come the spring, because I'll have a newborn baby around May 1st, and come hell or high water, a garden is going in!

Garden put to bed....haha

Another season has passed. Everything is drying out, even the tough oregano. The sunflowers are still tempting the juncos who are hanging around, eating the leftover catnip seeds. I've saved all the morning glory seeds and ripped down the vines to compost in the garden. I've stored all the cedar posts in the shed to keep them dry for the spring, and cleaned all my tools.
The exciting news is that I've registered to be a seed seller at this year's Brescia's: The Circle, More Than Just A Book Sale. I've packaged up over 100 packs of seed and hopefully, I will make a little money. I would like to convert two large squares of my front yard into flower garden in the spring, and this would need some borders and a load of topsoil. By reducing the area I need to cut, is welcome news. And I really think nasturiums and marigolds are more beautiful than just grass.
Wish me luck at the sale!

300 YEARS OF FOSSIL-FUELED ADDICTION IN 5 MINUTES

Mutual Aid | Derrick Jensen | Orion Magazine

Mutual Aid | Derrick Jensen | Orion Magazine

Stories of belonging | Energy Bulletin

Stories of belonging | Energy Bulletin

Fall spinach, squash, and seeds

This photo reminds me of Bob Marley's song about three little birds beside his doorstep. These beautiful creatures are yellow finches and they've been hanging around my Italian white sunflowers, my Hopi red dye amaranth, and the cosmos flowers. All the flowers are heavy with seed and it is comical to watch the birds hang on to the stems while dangling to eat the seeds. My cats watch from under the picnic table for a chance to grab a non-mindful birdie.

The fall spinach I planted, Galilee and Long Standing Bloomdale, are about 4 inches high and I will likely be able to start picking in a week. The kale are doing really well too. The squash plants are busy trying to finish growing a few more squash. I planted a single pepper squash this year and it has yielded 6 large squash so far. I let one of the yellow zucchine grow 20 inches long in the hopes of saving some great seed for next year. I'll make yellow zucchini bread with what is left over.

Yesterday, I visited the Farmer's Market in Dorchester Ontario with my Dad, to check out what was offered. And what an amazing surprise! Ten pound bags of onions, carrots and beets for $2. For that price, I stocked up. I have a fairly cool basement, with a potato bin for onions, squash and potatoes, of course!

Lastly, I did use my dehydrator last week for my cherry tomatoes. I cut them in half and it took about 12 hours. I rotated the trays so they'd all dry out evenly. Five pounds of cherry toms became a single bag of tomato raisins. I am storing them in the freezer for good measure. I can toss them in soups and stews over the winter. My bottling efforts have yielded 18 quart-sized bottles of stewed tomatoes and herb sauce. I didn't do any salsa yet, as I figured sauce was more important.

This new photo on this blog was taken in my backyard with a zoomed in look at some of my zebra cherry tomatoes and onion bulbs. Thanks for reading!