Adventures in growing edibles veganically in a small townhouse backyard in Ottawa, Canada. (veganic since ~2021)
Sunday, November 28, 2021
Chickadee! (Finally a bird has returned)
Friday, November 19, 2021
Tuesday, November 16, 2021
Harvested some of the fall-sown potted kale and lettuce
With a low of -9 or something like that forecasted for tonight, figured I'd better take a harvest of the fall-sown potted kale and lettuce before it goes kaput. Clipped off the kale and one pot of lettuce, leaving the rest to grow if they dare, and for the second pot of lettuce I didn't harvest any and instead just brought it inside on the kitchen table to live there for a while.
Saturday, November 13, 2021
Hollyhocks -- year 1 update
Wow, they seemed very happy out front, lots of leaves. However, they're infested with what I think must be rust. Anyway, trimmed them back to stubs today for the winter, will see if they flower next year.
The ones I had put in the yard along the north wall I pulled a few weeks ago due to the yard reno -- they were much smaller due to all the shade with the compost bin etc.
Cedar board, coating it with raw linseed oil
Bought a cedar board (1" by 8" by 8 feet) to use as an east edge for the northwest bed ($27 + tax at HD).
Today applied a first coat of raw linseed oil (~$21 + tax at HH for one tiny liter). Applied it with a rag, board supported by plant pots, newspaper underneath. Used a fresh rag to wipe off excess after 30-40 minutes.
Now to wait a week or so for it to dry, then apply a second coat... then wait again, before finally putting into the garden.
Bought 6 x 2-foot rebar stakes (~$5 each + tax at HD) to use to support it in place.
Thursday, November 11, 2021
Grass sowed along new lowered paths
Tuesday, November 9, 2021
Neighbourhood apple tree = best apples ever
Whoa!! Amazing! Huge, juicy, tasty, and so apple-smelling. Pretty sure these are the best apples I have ever had!
Final chard and green onion harvest due to yard makeover
Needed to pull out the chard and green onions to complete phase 1 of the yard makeover. The chard was still going strong, and the roots were 1 foot long. Makes me a wee nervous about next year when the central bed depth of good stuff is going to be like half that, but, we'll see.
Thursday, November 4, 2021
FIRST FROST in my yard was last night -- tenderest plants kaput
Bluejay visits twice/day, but no sign of anyone else yet
As of the day after I put the feeders back, the bluejay reliably has two visits per day, around 08:30am and 9am or so! Eats a tiny bit (once swallowed a whole shell/peanut!), then flies away with a peanut/shell.