Whittling is often considered an adult-only activity—after all, handing a sharp knife to a child might seem risky or even downright crazy. But historically, whittling is exactly how older generations safely introduced children to responsible knife handling and...
When we moved to the Okanagan four years ago I was very excited at the possibility of having a large garden. During our first winter here I dreamed of all the varieties of tomatoes and peppers I could grow and as soon as spring arrived we built four large raised...
For the past couple years I have started my tomato and pepper seeds indoors mid-March; it is usually this time of year that the gardening itch begins. But by the beginning of May the seedlings are too huge! So this year I delayed starting the seeds until the end of...
It is the beginning of March and a warm (17°C) sunshiny Saturday afternoon was the only invitation I needed to get my hands dirty and plant the first seeds in my garden. With the help of my youngest, we planted Super Sugar Snap peas and Mammoth Melting Sugar...
Fall has arrived with its cooler nights and crisp morning air. A few nights ago the temperature plummeted to near freezing, but not quite. We still have not had a frost and I hope it will hold off a little while longer. Almost everything in my garden is still green...
When I return home after a lengthy period of time the very first thing I do is check on my garden. Two-and-a-half weeks is a long time to be away from my summer garden and during that period of time plenty has changed. Right before leaving I cleared out a garden bed...
Summer is upon us! For the last couple weeks we have been experiencing steady mid-30°C (95°F) heat. Such intense and prolonged heat has acted as a catalyst for the many forest fires blazing across the province of British Columbia and for the last few days our blue...
After being away from my garden for almost three weeks I was starting to feel a little nervous. A lot can happen to plants in three weeks and I was not sure what I would find on my return. When we did eventually return home early last week the very first thing I did...
This week I worked hard weeding, tilling, digging and planting. Two of the raised beds were seeded in the last month and most of the seeds have sprouted. The peas and broad beans are healthy and vibrant. The carrots and beets are getting a bigger every day. However,...
It has been a dry spring. Our lawn, which I do not water, is terribly patchy and yellow and the soil in my garden is dusty and dry. Already we have set up our drip irrigation lines and started using them in the raised garden beds. This afternoon, however, we did have...
The thing about spring is that it is unpredictable. Warm sunny days tease you into thinking that winter is long past and that summer is fast approaching. Then, without much warning, clouds roll in and a cold wind blows and once again I am reminded that this season is...
This past week has been somewhat challenging and stressful. Everyone has times of stress; it is not a pleasant experience no matter how you look at it. However, I have found a wonderful stress combatant: planting onions. It was onion planting time on my friend's small...
Spring is a time of surprises. As the days warm we push seeds into moist soil and wait for them to germinate. There is always great anticipation when seeds are planted. In my impatience I have been known to dig up seeds just to make sure they are beginning to swell. I...
Spring is truly here. We've been enjoying the sight of beautiful flowers, preparing the gardens and getting our hand dirty planting seeds. I started my tomato and pepper seeds indoors on the twentieth of this month, along with a few cauliflower seeds. Last year I...
Welcome Fall! I have felt your steady approach, your gentle but firm embrace. We have yet to feel your frosty touch but the coolness that you carry along has slowed growth in my garden significantly. I have started to harvest more aggressively, trying to put away as...
Lately I have been visiting my garden right before the sun sets. Tomorrow will be different. There is definitely some harvesting and work to be done in the garden. I spotted some gigantic squash tonight, a large cucumber, many tomatoes and plenty of swiss chard and...