Backwoods MamaGardening

Garden Journal (vol. 8)

Garden Journal (vol. 8)

A great deal of change happens in a garden over the span of two weeks. Thanks to my husband's attentiveness while I was away the gardens are in good shape. With the hot weather that we're having some of the crops are spent. I had to pull out the remaining spinach and...

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Garden Journal (vol. 7) – Guest Post

Garden Journal (vol. 7) – Guest Post

As my wife is enjoying the lovely weather in Prince George, I'm stuck here in the South Okanagan where we've had a particularly long stretch of overcast rainy weather. On the plus side this means the gardens tend to take care of themselves a bit more since they...

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Garden Journal (vol. 6)

Garden Journal (vol. 6)

The garden is growing and that is a good thing. Some plants are growing better than others. The potatoes and tomatoes and doing wonderfully. My pepper plants and getting a little yellow which means they might be getting too much water. I replanted my peas and beans...

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Garden Journal (vol. 5)

Garden Journal (vol. 5)

In the last few weeks I've learned about the importance of water when growing plants. I know that seeds and plants need water to thrive but I didn't realize how much. Before planting the tomatoes and peppers I pre-soaked the raised garden bed. This was such a good...

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Are GMOs Unethical?

Are GMOs Unethical?

In light of the recent March Against Monsanto I have spent a lot of time reflecting on the issues surrounding genetically modified organisms. It is an issue surrounded by complexity and further muddied by misinformation, lack of transparency and greed. To get a better...

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March Against Monsanto in the South Okanagan

March Against Monsanto in the South Okanagan

All I wanted to do was attend a local March Against Monsanto but since there was none I took a risk and started organizing one. At the prompting of some friends I started a Facebook March Against Monsanto event page a couple weeks ago. I wasn't sure how things would...

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Garden Journal (vol. 4)

Garden Journal (vol. 4)

It's the beginning of May and we are experiencing the fullness of spring. It feels more like summer with temperatures reaching close to 30C (86F) during the day. I have been meandering around my yard in Thai fishermen pants and bare feet willing my recently...

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Garden Journal (vol. 3)

Garden Journal (vol. 3)

The tomatoes and peppers have been transplanted into four inch pots and seem much happier. We finished building and installing the raised garden beds. It has taken us a lot of time and effort to get to this point but I am enjoying the process. We filled one...

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Saturday Garden Journal (vol. 2)

Saturday Garden Journal (vol. 2)

TomatoesZucchiniRhubarbI wanted to do a garden update on the weekend but it would seem that the weekend is already over. I haven't planted anything outside because we are still in the process of making the garden beds. It's a good thing too because we had a wicked...

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Saturday Garden Journal (vol.1)

Saturday Garden Journal (vol.1)

The seeds are germinating! One week after planting the seeds into little paper pots most of the tomatoes, basil and zucchini have germinated. About half the peppers are sprouting and only one rhubarb seed. I should have waited to plant the zucchini until April, they...

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Starting Seeds Indoors – Part 1

Starting Seeds Indoors – Part 1

I'll admit that I'm nervous about planting a garden this year. No longer can I blame poor weather if my plants don't grow. Up north I had a small vegetable and herb garden that was in the sunniest part of my yard. The rest of the gardens that surrounded our home were...

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A Three Bin Compost

A Three Bin Compost

Yesterday I showed you the project that I had been working on the last couple months, thank you for all the kind complements. My husband has also been working on a project too.Last month we maxed out our Earth Machine compost bin. In my efforts to unfreeze the pile,...

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