CANADIAN REGION - What are you doing January 2015

CANADA REGION – WHAT ARE YOU DOING JANUARY 2015
First of all I would like to introduce myself as the new Regional Host for Canada.

My forum name is Kelejan and I  have landed the job of Canadian Regional Host as from today, January 1, 2015 and I would like to wish all Canadians A Happy New Year.

 Now it is one day nearer to when we can start our new seasons gardening in February, March, April or whenever.  I for one am looking forward to putting into practice what I have been reading about this winter.  There are so many ways to improve the fertility of the soil that I never knew about before. Mulching, fungi, bacteria, microbes, compost , worms and worm castings etc.  I still consider myself a Newbie, so I hope you will teach me as I do my job of welcoming Newbies, whether really new or old-style gardeners, to the world of SQUARE FOOT GARDENING.

I started my first SFG bed in 2008 after reading the 1984 book by Mel and realised that with the soil that I had, which was only a thin layer over glacial rocks, that it was the way for me to go. That first year I was able to keep myself in salad greens for the summer months so that inspired me to do more.  Luckily for me after I read that book, the day before I was going to dig up my lawn, I went on the Internet and found that I was about 24 years out of date and that I would never have to dig another shovel of dirt again. I have a picture of that bed so when I find out how to input from my camera into my computer and then transfer that picture to this Forum, you will see it, and all the other progress I have made.

Reading Mel’s SFG Blog made me realise that there was a community out there so after a while I joined in. It took me a while saying nothing, until one day I found I was able to answer another Newbies’ question, knowing that I was giving the right answer.  So if you join us, read the posts, ask your questions,  be assured that there is no question that is considered “Dumb”, we have all been through it.

I think that is enough of an introduction of me.  Welcome to all Canadians to a wonderful way to garden The Square Foot Gardening way.

P.S. What I am doing right now is watching the snow blow off my roof onto the driveway in between shoveling the snow off my driveway, and Daydreaming.

PPS I am posting this a day early as I have a feeling I will not be in a position January 1st to be awake all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. It was my intention to start midnight, but. . .

Congratulations on becoming the new host for the Canadian Region.

Thank you, yolos. I will do my best for Canada. and of course, for everyone on this Forum.

Thank you so much for being the Regional Host of Canada.  I can't wait to see the photos of your garden as it unfolded!  We all started with that first no-dig box.  

Congratulations, Kelejan!!! 

Where are all the Canadians? Maybe sleeping off their hangovers? Having breakfast?
Happy New Year to all of us.

Just looked out my window. Yepp! The snow is still there and there is nothing I can do about it except go and talk to my worms in their Wiggler Hiltons and tell them to keep on doing their thing.

See you later.

Last year I bought some leek plants from the nursery and let them flower, with such beautiful purple balls of flowers. I let them go to seed and harvested the seeds. I got over 12 ounces of seeds. A few days ago i took thirty of them to do a viability test. Bumping this post reminds me that I have them on a dish and have forgotten all about them.

The dish is dry but there are some little white tails developing, so far about eight that I can see.  Have re-watered them to see if any more develop.  Perhaps I had better repeat the test and not forget to keep them moist?

I think I had better package some to give away. Would anyone in Canada like some for free? PM me your address.

I post this on the thread "Seeds = "Viability and Vigor" on December 30.

After re-watering the first thirty seeds I have 25 sprouting and waiting on the last 5 that have swelled but not yet broken through the seed casing.

The second thirty 19 have sprouted tails and the rest look plump.

According to my figures that make about 73% viable so far.

Can anyone make any suggestion what I can do with 12 ounces of leek seeds?

Kelejan,  Good to see your title as "Regional Host: Canada" posted under your name.

Thanks for pointing that out, sanderson. When was that inserted?
Now that is on every entry I have ever made since I joined?
Same as the number of posts I have made to date?

I think it was added today. And, yes, it shows up on your older posts.

Any Canadians around?  Please say Hi to us.

Anyone else is welcome as well, no discrimination here.

I've been to British Columbia 3 times, Prince Edward Island twice, and spent the night in Toronto near the airport. Does that count?

Sure it does, sanderson. Tranplants accepted.

I am trying my best for Canada, but so far little is happening except for a foot of snow where I am in British Columbia, temperatures hovering just below the freezing mark.

East across the country from BC, sub-zero temperatures, like -20, 30, 40C etc are making life miserable, and I can't bear to think what it must be like with the windchill factor. Then there is freezing rain to come. Then floods.

For myself I am following Turan's Western Mountains & High Plains region as I am situated just above Washington State, Idaho and Montana.  I am just not as good as planning as you are, Turan.

Shoveled  13 inches of snow early this morning making a pathway to the road and due to go out again to remove the 1 1/2 inches fallen since then and to move the enormous snow-berm deposited at the foot of the driveway that happens every time  the snow plow passes by. Meanwhile snow is still falling and another few inches still on the way, followed by freezing/thawing cycles as night follows day. Of course, like childbirth, we will forget about it in the summer.

This morning at 4, the view was pristine, so after clearing the pathway I went snow-shoeing along the road for about 200 yards.  Hard going, but nice on the return. Hope the school kids can make use of the downtrodden snow.

One good thought are the millions of bacteria, the coffee grounds, chicken manure, compost, leaves and wood chips that I laid down before winter, and the effect they will be having on the soil for this coming year.  I may not be a good planner but I am a good dreamer.

I was actually outside today, mending the grass that was torn up by the snowplows setting their blades far too low.  I have to do it every year, but never as bad as this.
I took several square yards of turf and laid them out on the edge of my driveway, ready to be put back in the spring.

The area of grass in front of my property is quite large as my house at the junction of a rather tricky corner and larger vehicles often come way over the grass to get round the  corner.  Very few drivers take the proper line, instead trying to cut the corner.

It takes me quite a time to get the holes filled in and the grass fed so that by the middle of summer it looks decent.

I reminds me of painting the Forth Bridge in Scotland.  You get to one end and then start all over again.

Nothing much seems to be happening in Canada. Still covered in snow here in British Columbia and about ten cm (2 1/2") promised later today.

Today I received my Johnnies' Seeds Soil Block makers, the 2" square and the 3/4" size as well.  I decided to spoil myself.  They look very well made, and I think I will be able to leave them in my will to some deserving gardener later on. Now I have to find some potting soil to practice on. 

I had a two-hour camera and computer session yesterday and thought I was getting on fairly well.  We had a 25 page instruction manual but ran out of time at page 17 before we got to the stage of emailing pictures so my dear readers will have to wait a little while longer until I can absorb all this knowledge that is being crammed in to my brain.

Today I decided to refresh what I had learned yesterday, got to page seven and found that my computer screen did not look anything like the laptops we were using at the class.   

At least I crossed my first hurdle which was downloading the pictures from my camera to my computer so I can play around with that.   I really need one-on-one instruction, there were too many people at the free class for us to get the attention we slow learners need.

I will persevere.

General view of my house before the trees were cut down.

Winter in full swing.

Your house looks so cozy and friendly in the snowy photo.

Yay, you mastered pictures to the forum.  

Kay

sanderson wrote:Your house looks so cozy and friendly in the snowy photo.

I love my crazy little house. It was built by my next door neighbour after he built his own house. He is long gone now.  Over the years the ground has settled and the floors are not quite level and the doors are not quite straight but it's my home and I never want to leave it.
If ever I had to sell it I have no doubt that it would be razed to the ground and a beautiful modern house  would be built just like everyone else's complete with all the latest gadgets.  If ever I had a lot of money I would insulate it and double glaze and paint it properly. install a new stove and fridge and kitchen cupboards and flooring  but I would not change its basic character.

Hello fellow Cdn(s)! I'm glad to have found the forums here.

This January while it's snowing and blowing, I'm dreaming and planning and nursing a cold. Had SFG at past houses and last summer was first summer here with a couple 2'x 6' boxes. Nice thing about moving is leaving past SFG mistakes behind! Will to get it right this time. 

This yard is tiny though so will have to do some thinking and re-organizing of landscaping. And need to source tubes for grow lights since moving company wouldn't take them. 

Hope this finds everyone well and I look forward to meeting my fellow Canadians.

Hi, Piratemum,  Welcome to the Forum from California!   I have a tiny city back yard and, yes, you have to do a lot of thinking about where to set the boxes!  I try to grow vertical where possible, and supplement the boxes by using large pots of Mel's Mix to tuck plants here and there in sunny spots. I even have a 3' x 3' x 3' compost bin tucked in a shady space between a high stem rose bush and a crepe myrtle tree!

piratemum! Glad you found the forums!

Kelejan, your house has a similar look to mine. Was it a kit house built in the 50's by chance?