The Gardens
What’s Growing On?
Week 1
We are planting summer harvest greens outside. The first of the potatoes are going in. The asparagus are popping their heads above ground and the rhubarb looks like some massive prehistoric plant. The spring has been so wet and most things are waiting for the sun to come out before they do. The Dahlia's are being planted in the hotel gardens. The tomatoes are being planted in the new greenhouse. Bees are still buzzing and making sweet honey. Oh and Yoyo is still a very naughty goat.
Week 2
We had a group of grade 1 students from Fulford Elementary school visiting the farm on Tuesday. They said their favourite things about the farm were the strawberry patch and of course the goats. Yoyo loved the attention, Luke and Lily ran away, and Carlie wanted to run away but didn't have the stamina to so she just put up with it. The first of the Aubergine have been planted in the greenhouse as we now finally have enough sunshine to heat it to the right temperature. It seems like this week everything has come to life (including the weeds). We will be planting another 500 strawberry plants tomorrow to join the other 1000 plants we already have. Can you say Strawberry jam!
Week 3
It's hard to believe that we are closing the door on May and will soon be welcoming the hopefully sunny skies of June. It's been a wet spring but we are starting to see the fruits of our labours. Our strawberry plants are exploding with flowers that will become the sweet fruit we all know and love. Everything is getting bigger and greener. It's amazing what a little sunshine will do!
Week 4
We've been busy little bees on the farm this past week. And speaking of bees, the bees have capped their first honey of the season! The goats too have been occupying themselves with new ways to break into the garden. Luckily they were spotted before they made it to the raspberry bushes. In the green houses the first flowers have bloomed on the early tomatoes and the peppers plants are dangling with jalapenos. Our outside crops have soldered through a wet spring and are finally starting to come to life. The pole beans, quinoa and Jerusalem artichokes have been planted in the top field. And best of all, we held a sacred ceremony for the planting of the giant pumpkin's parent plants accompanied with flute playing and a special incantation to ensure a fall fair winner.
Week 5
Thank the gods for all the great warm weather we are having. The farm is abundant with life. The bees are buzzing, the vegetables are growing, and the goats are bathing in the sun. Most of the major planting is finished for the summer and fall harvests and our time is spent watering and weeding the beds. The strawberries are soon to redden and the first of our jalapenos are ready to pick. We are excited of the bounty that will soon grace the plates of our restaurant. It's a delicious time of year!
Week 6
Our strawberries are ready and are they ever delicious. The birds like them too. We set-up deflectors over the strawberries and now the patch resembles a Chinese New Year celebration. And a festival of flavour it is. This week we've also harvested snow peas, Swiss chard, jalapenos, as well as our usual salad greens and herbs. On the goat front all is well munching and lazing about. Yoyo seems to be sprouting new horn buds and Lily's beard appears to be getting longer. Carlie is getting rounder and Luke is still timid, tall and handsome. We loved to be brushed so come and pay us a visit (goats and human farmers alike).
