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Digging a Garden the Easy Way
One of our neighbours is actually a cottage on the lake. They have recently done some winterizing so they can spend more time there. This year they decided to expand on the little garden that was in place but it was more work than a shovel could handle. They asked Jim to go over with the skidsteer and loosen things up for them. Here he is speeding down the road at a whopping 10 kms an hour. At this rate we should be there by tomorrow 🙂
Slow down -
Our yard this summer
While Jim is on the mend, I thought I would show you around our yard this summer.
colourful flowers in the garden -
Log Planter
On Saturday morning we built a log planter and it was free!!! That is the best kind of planter. It turned out great, follow along and see how we did it.
Log planter. -
Wild mushrooms
wild mushrooms At first glance I thought this was animal droppings but it looks like some sort of mushroom. Anyone know what it is?
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Wooden Rabbits
Tamarack Rabbits Some visitors today to the garden :).
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New dragonfly
Dragonfly A few visitors in the garden this afternoon and evening. This dragonfly is no more than 2 inches long. I had to hold up my hand as a backdrop in order to get the camera to focus.
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Planting fruit trees
This summer brings about the task of planting some fruit trees in front of the house. Something I’ve been wanting to do since moving here. Last year we planted two apple trees. So this year we set about purchasing nursery trees from Pleasant Valley Nursery in Antigonish.
We chose two pear trees, a D’Anjou and a Harrow Crisp. Pear trees need two different types in order to pollinate. Also, we chose self pollinating trees; a Tehranivee cherry, a Stanley plum and a Venture peach tree.
Here’s a before picture of the proposed planting area taken from the deck above.
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Gardening 2016
cherry tomato seedlings We thought we would try our hand at growing our own food. Last week we started seeds for lavender, bell peppers and cherry tomatoes. Its a week now covered under store bought seed trays. We bought two tray of Jiffy brand soil pellets that had to be rehydrated and then we planted bell peppers and lavender. We had a fe bell pepper seeds left so we started on a different type of tray, one where we had to add the soil. So we did that and added the 9 bell peppers and filled up the rest with cherry tomatoes. Then we had a few cherry tomato seeds left so I scrounged a few plastic bottles and made a few makeshift seed cups.
Overnight last night the tomatoes sprouted (above). The seedlings grow very quickly. During the week I had been rotating the trays and on Wednesday I stacked the tomato tray and the lavender tray. The tomatoes were on the bottom.
I don’t know if its the loose topsoil for the tomatoes, or the fact it was under the tray of lavender, or if its just the tomato seedlings sprout faster.
I can’t remember now if I am suppose to take off the lid, once the seeds have sprouted.
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Homemade Soil Screener
I’m in need of some rock to fill in some wet spots on the road that runs through our property. I also want some soil to mix into the compost pile of mulch we made earlier this year. And I want to make use of a lot of the topsoil that I am digging up from the forested area behind the garage.
A ready-made soil screener would be nice to have, but I don’t have $6,000 to spend on one. So after scrounging for a year I managed to get my hands on some used screens from a crusher plant. I have a few different sizes to use. This one I have on the rack is 5/8 x 5/8 so it will sort about anything smaller than 1/2 inch.
Its certainly is not a “production level” piece of equipment but it will serve the purpose. Best of all, it cost $0 to make.
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opportunities along the way
Sometimes a chore, like taking out the garbage to the road, can have its blessings. Today we retrieved a mitt full of wild raspberries! And of course, we shared with our feathered friends. They sure were curious about the red bump on the end of their perch!
wild raspberries
