Re: Fourth Year SFG in Canada

**trolleydriver** 4/29/2018, 4:13 pm

I should do some more potting up. This week I need to start hardening off a few things that I started indoors and that are nearly ready for planting out.

**trolleydriver** 4/30/2018, 8:21 pm

Potted up tomatoes and peppers along with leek and bunching onion seedlings have made their way to the living room window. Plenty of other seedlings are waiting under the lights in the basement workshop.

Fourth Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 Img_2185

Fourth Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 Img_2185

**sanderson** 4/30/2018, 8:28 pm

Productive day. Fourth Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 3170584802

**trolleydriver** 5/1/2018, 10:06 am

In previous years I purchased straw bales at a garden centre located a fair distance from my house. Yesterday I found a farm that is only about a 10 minute drive (not in rush hour) from my place. I went there today and got 4 bales of straw for $24 Canadian (about $18.50 USD) with no sales tax. At the garden centre I paid $10 CDA + sales tax so this is a good deal. I also found out that the farm sells well composted manure at a very good price. I will be going back for some of that.

Sadly, this farm had a major set back last September when a fire destroyed their barn and wiped out 80 head of dairy cattle. They have cleared the area and have plans in place to rebuild and put in modern dairy equipment. Good for them I say.

Here is an article about the fire:

https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/no-i-can-t-save-them-owner-of-black-rapids-farm-recalls-fire-thanks-community-1.3588006

**Kelejan** 5/1/2018, 10:30 am

He certainly grateful for the help he received; it is good that you to will continue to support him.

**trolleydriver** 5/1/2018, 11:07 am

Straw bales waiting to be used. I will use some for an experiment in straw bale gardening. Please don't tell Sanderson I said that.
Fourth Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 Img_2186

Fourth Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 Img_2186

countrynaturals 5/1/2018, 11:45 am

TD wrote:Please don't tell Sanderson I said that.

Your secret is safe with us. Rolling Eyes

**AtlantaMarie** 5/1/2018, 3:03 pm

I'm SURE she won't see it, TD....

**Kelejan** 5/3/2018, 2:57 am

Scaredy-cat. Smile

**trolleydriver** 5/3/2018, 2:01 pm

Rainy day so I took a drive for gardening purposes and I ...

Bought fish to restock the garden pond.
Stopped at a chip wagon and asked the owner if he had any food grade buckets to give away. He gave me four of them and said I can pick up more at anytime I see them at the back of the wagon.
Bought several bags of cedar mulch on sale at 33% off. This will be used on garden paths and Mrs TDs flower beds. Got the same deal the day before plus an additional 25% off for broken bags.
Stopped for a coffee at the local coffee shop and they agreed to save coffee grounds for me.
At the same coffee shop I picked up some discarded cardboard boxes to use under new beds and under wood chips on paths. This required some dumpster diving to get the cardboard. Mrs TD would have been so embarrassed but it's all for a good cause.
Bought a couple of gardening related things at the dollar store.

Overall a good morning.

My bad knee is acting up. Maybe it doesn't like the rain.

countrynaturals 5/3/2018, 2:11 pm

trolleydriver wrote:

Bought fish to restock the garden pond.
Stopped at a chip wagon and asked the owner if he had any food grade buckets to give away. He gave me four of them and said I can pick up more at anytime I see them at the back of the wagon.
Bought several bags of cedar mulch on sale at 33% off. This will be used on garden paths and Mrs TDs flower beds. Got the same deal the day before plus an additional 25% off for broken bags.
Stopped for a coffee at the local coffee shop and they agreed to save coffee grounds for me.
At the same coffee shop I picked up some discarded cardboard boxes to use under new beds and under wood chips on paths. This required some dumpster diving to get the cardboard. Mrs TD would have been so embarrassed but it's all for a good cause.
Bought a couple of gardening related things at the dollar store.

LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR!

**trolleydriver** 5/4/2018, 8:47 am

trolleydriver wrote:Straw bales waiting to be used. I will use some for an experiment in straw bale gardening. Please don't tell Sanderson I said that.

One of our grandsons saw the photo of the straw bales and said, " Grandpa now lives at a farm."

**trolleydriver** 5/4/2018, 11:22 am

Playing with paper cutouts of my beds. The 3x6 on the left is actually an experimental lasagna garden. The experimental straw bale garden will go in the space below the 4x4 beds. Not shown are the soil based areas for raspberries, ruhbarb and blueberries. Everything else is SFG, mostly ANSFG and about 30% old style. Fourth Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 Img_2188

Fourth Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 Img_2188

The aisles between the beds are not to scale.

**sanderson** 5/5/2018, 4:41 am

No secret is safe on this Forum!! I see your straw bales, TD. Just for that, I'm going to tell Mrs. TD that you went dumpster diving!

Great score on local straw bales (I know you are actually going to use them for mulch, right?) and source for aged manure. I couldn't bear to open the link as it would break my heart.

**trolleydriver** 5/5/2018, 8:13 am

sanderson wrote:No secret is safe on this Forum!! I see your straw bales, TD. Just for that, I'm going to tell Mrs. TD that you went dumpster diving!

Great score on local straw bales (I know you are actually going to use them for mulch, right?) and source for aged manure. I couldn't bear to open the link as it would break my heart.

My thinking on the straw bales is as follows: I will try planting in them this year using the straw bale gardening technique. BUT my real goal is to get them to turn into compost which is what is supposed to happen over a one or two year period. That compost will be used in my SFG beds. That is my story and I am sticking to it. Laughing

**sanderson** 5/5/2018, 2:06 pm

Oh, okay. Future compost. Razz

**trolleydriver** 5/11/2018, 12:44 pm

Felt like winter last night and early this morning with temperature down around freezing.

The indoor starts are thriving and some are outside for hardening off.
Fourth Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 Img_2189

Fourth Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 Img_2189

Fourth Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 Img_2190

The Winter Sowing has worked out well for most things with 33 of 42 containers showing signs of life. The ones that have done nothing are mainly perennial flowers.
Fourth Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 Img_2191

Fourth Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 Img_2191

Fourth Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 Img_2195

Fourth Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 Img_2193

Fourth Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 Img_2192

The ANSFG strawberry and garlic squares are doing very well.
Fourth Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 Img_2198

Fourth Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 Img_2197

Fourth Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 Img_2196

CapeCoddess 5/11/2018, 4:59 pm

You did winter sowing in a rectangle clam pack??? Or was that one done inside?
CC

**trolleydriver** 5/11/2018, 5:04 pm

CapeCoddess wrote:You did winter sowing in a rectangle clam pack??? Or was that one done inside?
CC

I used clam packs, 2 litre juice constainers and 4 litre ice cream containers.

farmersgranddaughter 5/11/2018, 9:23 pm

TD, how's that Canada Crookneck Squash that was growing by the window?

**trolleydriver** 5/11/2018, 9:39 pm

farmersgranddaughter wrote:TD, how's that Canada Crookneck Squash that was growing by the window?

Thanks for asking. There are two squash plants in the large pot and they continue to do well. They have exceeded the height of the stake in the pot and have started to turn down. Sorry for the bad photo.
Fourth Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 Img_2199

Fourth Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 Img_2199

farmersgranddaughter 5/11/2018, 10:03 pm

**sanderson** 5/12/2018, 12:11 am

I'm surprised Mrs. TD hasn't given you the ultimatum, "Me or those squash. Only one can stay in the house." Any female flowers yet?

CapeCoddess 5/12/2018, 6:58 am

TD, did you put holes in the clampacks lids? If so, how many, where and what size?

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