GARDENING

       Here at Apsley Acers we have approximately two acres of cleared land around the house and pond area. The ground around the pond is a clean sand; we are fortunate that the land nearest to the house is a wonderful pocket of alluvial soil. There hasn't been many gardens in recent years; but we know this area had been farmed in the past. 

      The past two springs/summers we have been establishing a number of different gardens. Each brings pleasure to us in their own unique way. 

Come and visit them all or just the ones you are interested in.

 

THE KITCHEN GARDEN 

       The "Kitchen" garden is just outside the side door. It is approximately 20 X 40'; consisting of various shaped raised beds for early spring planting. The beds are edged with the scrap outside boards from logs Tom has squared off with his "Alaska Chainsaw Mill". These are also used  to make a short wall on the west side of the garden to keep the grass out
and a division between the garden and raspberry canes. At the north end of the bed I made a twenty foot long, six foot high and about two deep twig wall from pruned tree branches. This is ideal for growing vines up, plus it breaks the wind from the north. I run a number of experiments here each year. Of these the main one is growing in straw bales. Prior to planting for a week I soak the bales daily and add a water soluable balanced fertilizer. Then I make a small pocket in the bale, add about two cups of soil to "start" my seeds or transplant. I run a dribble hose along the top of all the bales (about 10) and just attach the hose to soak well as required. I have had wonderful luck with  a cucumber called Suyo Long which I get from Johnny's Seeds. (see cataloque list).e-mail me for address if list isn't done yet. I start these about the end of March under lights in the house. Then transplant when it looks like the frost is ended. I usually have a good supply of delicious long cucumbers from the second week of July to frost. To me for zone 4 - 4b this is a great achievement. 
Vines eg. Melons, squash etc  in particular seem to do well in the almost soil free bales.  I am continuing to experiment with other types will up date my findings each year. 

Twig Wall and Straw Bales mid-June

Feel free to e-mail me if you need any further information. I use this garden mainly for on going kitchen use. Lettuce, early small tomatoes, snow peas (we like a variety called "Corgi"), basils, dill, early carrots, swiss chard, radishes, a few plants of parsley, and anything new that I'm trying so I can keep a good eye to it. Last year I tried a heritage seed; Jacob's Cattle Beans..which I dried and used for baked beans; this year
there will be a long row in the big garden; they were wonderful. I also intersperse flowers for colour and texture, especially some of the edible ones. The hay bales are used as mulch the second year in the big vegetable garden.

The other end of the kitchen garden 

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Our main garden is watched over by "Morag" 
                           a unique garden angel/wind vane I made: 

I will try and get a picture of her face more clearly this year. She rotates with the wind; her purple sari flutters in the breeze; she is the first thing noticed by all who visit our back yard. 

Our  main vegetable garden is about 1500 sq.ft., and is fenced to keep out the deer, dog and to give us a place to grow vines up or tie things to. 
          Last year '98 was a wonderful growing year, what normally is an adequate ammount of produce for Tom and I for the year, became so much I was offering bags of vegies to any one who came to the door. 
          I ran another experiment in this garden with two plants each of ten varieties of tomatoes. Some were heritage varieties, some new hybrids, early ones, late ones, you name it...we had enough tomatoes to sink a ship. Some of the grow agains were: red Brandywine, Big Beef, Stupice, Matt's Wild cherry tomato to name a few. I start all my
tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, leeks, green peppers, melons, etc. inside under lights. Cucumbers, beets, carrots, squash, turnip, zuchinni and potatoes are all sown direct. 
         On the ouside edge of the garden on the north and east sides I have a border of sunflowers, morning glories, sweet peas and various other annuals. Makes a wonderful back drop for the garden. We try to stay as organic as possible and so far we have managed I'm proud to say; to do so 100%.
         We manage to can, freeze, dry or keep enough produce for the winter.  Sitting down to a meal that is mainly home grown produce is  wonderful . Some of my favorite receipes will be in the Receipe Page when it gets up. 

Dog Brian in back yard in front of garden. 
 

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To our herb corner:

         This photo is from the first year; will have to make a note to update it mid- summer; (oh how I'd like one of those new digital cameras)to accurately show how over full it is in only two years. At our old house we ran an enormous  garden also.
         Since we had to start all the gardens from scratch when we moved in; I temporarily choose to use the old sandbox which was already here for a few herbs. Needless to say already I should be thinking of making a new larger home for them; but this years plans are all set to go ahead with a much wanted green house and a walled perennial bed. I'll have to hope that they'll continue to do well where they are. We have a small food dryer in which I dry my culinary and medicinal herbs, Tom does his banana chips for his home made granola.  The following list is of the perennial herbs which are growing well in our zone 4 climate with good winter snow cover. 

In the near future I will elaborate more on the herbs.Especially the medicinals as these are so very important in todays health. I can tell you if you are looking for a book in this area, the following title I reccommend is about the best one I've found for having up to date pertinent information and easy to use. The next time you are near or in a health food store, check it out. I'm sure you will be plesantly surprised at
how useful it will be. 
Prescription for Nutritional Healing  Second Edition James F.Balch ,M.D. 
and Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C. Avery Publishing Group 
ISBN #0-89529-727-2