Is it SPRING yet?

Well, it’s March 9.  Ann’s 50th birthday and it’s trying to snow…again.  We’ve had snow off and on all week and needless to say it is becoming frustrating on so many levels.  Ann has always had daffodils on her birthday, and in the last decade or so daffodils have been blooming much earlier.  But not this year…not a single daffodil is anywhere to be seen.  No peas.  No plums in bloom.  No rhubarb.  No spring greens…not even radishes.  Even the sweet potatoes slips are clinging to life in the earth sheltered greenhouse.  Thank goodness we put so much dried and fermented food away last year.

The nursery is almost ready for our first “spring/winter” open house for sales of perennial edible plants.  Plant list Here (All prices INCLUDE GST)

• SATURDAY March 11th from 10am-2pm
• If you are coming to buy plants please drive up to the top of the hill.

It is so odd to start the nursery season when virtually all the plants are still dormant.  Thank goodness for the Cornelian cherries, Black currants, and the fuki.

Lower Garden is getting a make over:  We have been landscaping the lower garden area and have plans for a small pond against the cliff and a simple hoop house greenhouse.  We are propagating more plants rather than bringing them in and need MORE space.  The lower garden has been levelled out and a parking area made on the east side right before the driveway starts going up the hill.  Just yesterday Tayler and Solara along with their three interns also gave the area a great start to a permaculture makeover.  Wow, does it ever look great down there.  (Please note that plants in the lower garden area are NOT FOR SALE).

YAM Magazine:  New article on our home is just out this week in Victoria’s YAM magazine. read online here:  https://issuu.com/page-one/docs/yma17/46

Highlands Community Garden:  The community organized a group to spearhead  the development of a community garden, a garden much different than the one’s you’ll find in the rest of the region.  Why is it different… well they are applying permaculture principles without really knowing it, because it just makes logical sense.  It is also mingled in and amongst some of Highlands finest rocks… so working with an undulating landscape and varying soils depths means biodiversity.  A huge thanks to the team.

Just a quick update to let everyone know, yes, we are open this Saturday (March 11th).   Feel free to come walk in the soggy food forest, in the soggy garden, and look at the wonders of what the Canadian Border Services can do to a perfectly healthy plant order as we nurse $1000 of plants to life.    And come see water in the pond!  Plant list Here

PS.  Bring gumboots!  Bathing suit not required.   Just your birthday suit… right Ann?