Eco-Sense

Only four more Sunday open houses this spring for sales of Perennial Edible plants.  10am – 2pm come on out and say hi, check out the gardens, ducks and chickens, and look at the house and peek inside the Eco-Hut nursery office.  All conversations welcome.  We are really enjoying our Sunday open houses.  No need to buy plants to come and spend some time.
Plants…What’s new?  Here’s the list (prices include GST)  We have Saskatoon berries…two types.  Thiessen and Smoky, but only 3 of each left.    We also received our new batch of black currents (Ben Tiran, Ben Connan, and Tiben.  Many people are buying a mix of multicoloured currents…we have red, white, pink, and black for health and beauty.  Currents (and especially black currents) are known for being very high in antioxidants.   Birds don’t generally see the black currents either.  Dwarf sour cherries:  These are not sour at all and make great eating cherries.  They are self fertile, grow to only 7-8ft tall, and are very beautiful plants.  Perfect backyard plant.  We have Valentine, Romeo, Cupid, and Juliet.  (notice the theme here?).  Our Honeyberries are looking excellent and they have flowers on them.  We have 5 types as pollination pairs are required.  We also have lots of Fuzzy Kiwi both male and female, Good King Henry (perennial spinach), skirret (perennial root veggie, 1 Oca left, and various sizes of Crosne.  Gooseberry.  We have lots of the large captivator variety…large red berries, and almost thornless plants.  Large roots on these plants which are sure to be big producers.  We also have LOTS more plants, like four types of figs, nuts (walnuts, chestnuts, hazelnuts, yellowhorn), grapes, onions, Large perennial Leeks, and some larger fruit trees like the Chinese Jujube, Chinese Toon (Toona Sinensis  or Chop suey tree), crab apples (for yummy fruit AND pollinating triploid apples…we planted two to increase our pollination), and plums, and pears, and apples, and Asian pear, and don’t forget about our tea and olive plants.  Plus more….

Ducks:  All doing well.  They spend their day foraging in the cover crops…it’s amazing anything is left standing…they hardly eat anymore store bought food…(just like us).  We have had to put some short fences around some areas to keep the ducks out…namely our new oyster mushroom patch.  The ducks also eat LOTS of comfrey.  Here they ate one down to the nubs.

Our two extra drakes (male ducks), which we call the sweet peas, are off to their new home next weekend.  They are well trained and friendly but we just can’t keep them anymore.  More than one drake is a crowd when there are female ducks around.  If you ever go to the Lavender Farm petting area say hi to our Sweet Peas for us.

Chickens:  We have a broody chicken sitting on about a dozen eggs.  She is taking her job seriously and hardly leaves the nest.  Ann is holding food and water up to her every morning which she graciously accepts.

Chickens self harvesting their OWN food.

One of the chicken fields is ready now to plant quinoa.  Ann has hoed swales on contour in the chicken fertilized bed.  When the main quinoa seed head is harvested the chickens will then go into the field and eat the rest and surface rototill the soil.  When they are done prepping the soil (with nicely spread manure), we will plant a winter cover crop that we can then let the chickens turn under come spring.

In the other two chicken fields we are trying to establish a pasture of various self seeding annual and perennial plants.  The idea is to let the chickens in for say 1 day per week to eat bugs living in the lush foliage.  There are some grains, (wheat oats, etc) buckwheat, kale, clovers, vetch and Jerusalem artichokes and lots of other “weeds”.  The soil is full of worms…We’ll see what happens in the next month.

This is Henopause…have we ever mentioned our very old chicken?  She is about 6 years old and went through a very NASTY feather moult 2 years ago…thought she would die.  But instead, she grew new feathers and now looks just like a rooster.

This is Oliver…he was saved from the soup pot and was hand raised by our friends and neighbours.  He is happiest being packed around on Ann’s hip getting pet.  He flies very well and spends much of his time out of the chicken coop…which is fine with the hens as none of them like him very much.  He has lots of people skills but very little chicken social skills.  He is a beautiful heritage breed that will add to the genetic diversity of our flock.  (The big rooster wont let him anywhere near his flock, so Oliver hides in the chicken coop and waits for the chickens to finish laying their morning egg…then he gets them on the way out…they don’t like him very much)

Turmeric: A friend gave us some turmeric roots which we enjoyed immensely…and we saved a few to plant.  We cut into 1/4″ sections with at least 2 eyes per piece and  planted in the lower greenhouse on bottom heat.  Three weeks later, we had sprouts.  We have planted them out in front of the cob home in a very warm and protected place right near the ginger and lemons.  We have one small turmeric plant for sale if anyone would like to try planting.

Lemons:  We have one small thriving lemon plant for sale that Gord started from a cutting.  There is even a small bud for a flower.  It is THRIVING.  Well done Gord.  Tomatoes:  The lower greenhouse has been excellent for all kinds of propagation…we even got a head start on our tomatoes for the first time.  They are now planted in the upper greenhouse and are already flowering.  We will have some extra heritage tomato starts to sell on May 10th.

Food security:  We take this topic seriously…one only has too look at what’s happening in California to know that water and food are going to be one of the key issues of our time.  This is why we are planting food forests and especially more chestnuts.  We have an old logging road that runs east to west on our south slope…PERFECT location to plant chestnuts on the upward side of the old road.  We’ve planted five more…I think we have 12 trees now.  They are irrigated with gravity fed rain water to get them going…once established they are very draught tolerant.  These are an ideal high protein food source for people, chickens, pigs, etc.

Almonds:  We stopped buying almonds last year…too expensive and too hard on the environment (bees, water, shipping distance, etc).  Just last week we were gifted a box of LOCALLY GROWN almonds (Halls Hardy Almonds) to plant.  (Thanks to our new friends Jamie and Angela) They taste fantastic.  Woohoo.  Gord has prepped the seeds a few different ways and started lots in the lower greenhouse.  We’ll keep you posted.  Our nutcrackers did not fair so well…the hammer worked better.

Sweet potatoes have been selling like hot cakes…and we keep getting more starts growing.  We have 4 types:  Red Ginseng, Georgia Jet, Travis, and Superior.  We grow them in a hoop cover…time to clean out the flowering mustard greens and get ready to plant when it’s warm enough.

Bees:  Parker (17) has shown an interest in bees and will be getting us set up soon with bees again.  Parker has the hives are all ready to go and has been studying up on his apiculture.

Both of us are really enjoying the weekly farm gate open house.  Thanks to everyone for enriching our lives with conversations and the soils with perennial plants.

And now…an update to the update:  Just arrived:  Bocking 14 Comfrey, Licorice plant, habanero chiles, sweetgrass, and cinnamon Yam (only 3).

Ann and Gord

3295 Compton Road in the East Highlands of Victoria

The following is a discussion that took place over our morning coffee… Gord’s reflections with Ann’s thoughts in  (brackets).     A different format… we’ll see how it reads.

An interesting week with interesting observations of the culture we live in and our own inner programming.   This week Gord is working on some small construction projects for Spinnakers Brew Pub in Victoria.  (Ann thinks he took the job so he could be close to his true love:  BEER!)  His tasks are rerouting the wheelchair access ramp and digging holes for the footings of two new beer tanks.  Nothing remarkable, just some basic planning setting up the layout, cutting the asphalt, then manual labour laying on ones belly and digging 3-foot holes by the handful, and collecting the materials and putting them in the “farm truck”.

So why post about such a project?  Why is this interesting?  It has been a year since Gord worked offsite doing a ‘purely manual labour’ job for someone else.   He chose it because his best friend was too busy, and the business (besides being a brew pub) has a high degree of ethics, one that mirrors the ethics Gord brought to his own business 15 years earlier.

We do a widely immense array of work;  everything from consulting for homeowners, builders, and bankers, to writing policy for the BC Ministry of health, public speaking on topics of lifestyle, permaculture, green building, plants, rain water harvesting and greywater resource recovery,  solar PV, and the science behind the thermodynamics and moisture properties of earthen architecture.  We research out plants, have created a viable farm and nursery, and feed ourselves using our own skills and hard work.   We are also homesteaders, which means we try and provide for many of our year round needs ourselves… including our water and energy.  Here in our own community we scrub the floors of the local public washroom, and collect the compost materials from the bins, and yet we also sit as councillors designing tax policy, and setting policies in place that “try” to incorporate intelligent understanding of the nasty predicament of our planet and culture.

Note:  Ann’s edits are in brackets.

This brings us back to Gord lying on his stomach doing work that you otherwise might see a young fellow performing because it would rank as the lowest of all jobs… hard physical manual labour.  (Ann thinks this is Gord’s cultural programming to classify manual labour below intellectual labour…it’s not a lowly job…it’s just a physical job).   Think about a finely dressed customer (someone trying to impress others with looks rather than substance),  going to one of Victoria’s best establishments, nice shoes (imported and made in a sweat shop, with a large carbon footprint), unmarred hands, and fine suit (waste of money and the earth’s resources), walking past a grey haired fellow (I love your grey hairs Gord) in his farm overalls (cute clothes) lying on his belly in the sludge of spilled grains and hops, long since decomposed.    Even the owner of the establishment, a great fellow in Gord’s view, does not quite seem to understand why a fellow of my age (you’re only 45  Gord) would be carrying out this work,  unless of course you were destitute (or you have such a fit healthy body that you can and are showing off).  I suspect from the glances and the comments that 10% of the patrons look down upon this labourer, with grey hair, farm clothes and a farm truck – no understanding as to why this person is even there.  (That’s their problem – take pride in your work Gord – you are talented and hard working and you can build almost anything…my kind of guy.  Rough hands also give the best back rubs.)

Our farm is busy, the tasks lists are long, and anxiety races over Gord as he says “Yes” to this job, knowing full well that dinners will be late, farm duties delayed for two weeks, and the ageing body will ache.   (And Ann will take on more of the farm duties.  Note that taking on this job was entirely Gord’s decision).  What was not expected by Gord was the feeling that would arise from hearing the conversations of the patrons, or seeing the disapproving sneer as they stepped out of their BMW’s and Audis.    How does one take this?  Do you apply the judgement to oneself?   (No, your sense of self worth should come from inside…not our #@&%$$ up culture of consumption and entitlement).  Do you see it as an “observation of the culture”?  Is it worthwhile to place yourself in such a position of judgement?  (personal choice).  I do not have the answers, other than to say that it is somewhat demoralizing to be so misunderstood.  (let it go Gord, you’re a good man, their judgement is their problem.)

But then there are others, a friend Michael, who walks by and we meet eyes, I get up and give him a hug.  Friends for years, and a shared reverence for each other, for skills and challenges we have placed upon ourselves, and our willingness to make ourselves vulnerable.  (Gord, maybe you do need to do this job to finally kick your #@&%$$ up cultural programming out on it’s ass?  Just saying.)   And Hymas, a patron that was challenged in her mobility and I brought back her dog after he took off towards the road, a person that three times came back during her visit to the Pub to chat.   And then the young brewers one by one coming out to look into  the holes and ask “How far do you have to dig?” or receiving a gracious “thanks” after loading spent grains onto another farmers truck.

What is the lesson?  What is the presumed hierarchy?  Who should even care… and should I just have said no and stayed home on the farm and instead not cancelled the 6 grade six school groups that had wanted to tour the home.   (Actually we cancelled the grade 6 tours because we were just too busy, and because the class groups are just too fragrant…before this job came about).  What’s the value of placing yourself in a position of humbleness when others do not have a clue to understanding the more complex person they walk past and feel sorry for?

No profound ending here, just lots to ponder about values, life, culture and how we all individually navigate this shit.  The only take away is the pleasure of having people take the time to express their interest, to appreciate the quality of the staff and  perhaps listen to Ann’s comments and continue on that path to ignore that culture I have tried hard to leave behind.

Perennial Edible Plant Sale:  Same place, same time – Sunday 10am – 2pm at 3295 Compton Road in the East Highlands, Victoria. Feel free to come on out and have a peek around…no purchase required. Beautiful photo of our new sign and Eco-Hut taken by our friend Josh of Integrated Living Landscapes. Their company has been busy designing and planting edible landscapes all over town.

Lots more plants available.  Check out our online plant list with our listed stock and prices.  All prices include GST.  Any plants that have been started by us or repotted have had a mycorrhizal inoculant added.  We also blend all of our own soils here on site.

Ginger shoots coming up beside lemon plant. Example of utilizing micro climates.  No lemon or ginger plants for sale – yet.

Perennial Leek that has been going strong for months. We have planted lots of these. One big leaf goes a long ways in soups, stews, omelettes, and stir fries.

Our special apple tree has been grafted with 4 other types of apples. Lots of bulbs and onions in the guild at the base. Shooting stars in full bloom…and yes, that’s Ann’s finger.

Spreading lingonberry. Sold out for the season. Flowering red current in the background is Ann’s favourite plant. Ann started it from seed about 15 years ago.

Elderberries in the nursery

Dwarf sour cherries – well stocked with 4 types. These have been specially bread to be sweet…don’t be fooled by the name.

Red currents, white currents, and pink currents. Black currents coming in a few weeks.  Spot the duck.

We have 3 types of kiwis; fuzzy, hardy, and arctic

Japanese pepper plant…a beautiful plant with edible leaves as well as spicy little pepper corns.

Hosta’s. Two types…only 4 left of each. Specially selected for edibility.

Crosne. Sweet little juicy crunchy tubers. Very unique ground cover…looks like mint. Small pots for only $5 will get you started. One of the first plants up in the spring.

Echinacea. Purple cone flower. Beautiful and medicinal.

Yarrow…spreading ground cover. Excellent for tea, highly medicinal both internally and externally. Fennel…everyone needs 1 fennel. Sweet yummy leaves for garden nibbles and salads.

Four types of figs for sale: Desert King, Dwarf bush fig, black negrone fig, and Peter’s Honey Fig.

Nodding onion. Native wild flower – beautiful and edible. Excellent in fruit tree guilds to help out compete grasses. Also 2 logan berries left – these berries grow quickly, are prolific, large and sweet, and NO thorns.

A new type of rhubarb. Strawberry rhubarb. Looking forward to trying this type.

We planted out over 100 of these  strawberries as ground cover…hopeful the birds will be so full we will get some too. Both types are ever-berring. We have used them for ground cover and to hold a steep slow together by preventing erosion. $3 per plant (we potted up the bare root plants and they are already growing like crazy)

Post coming soon on Gord’s Rant (with Ann’s edit) on Hierarchy.

Two adjacent properties beside Eco-Sense are going up for sale in the coming weeks.  The first property is so IDEAL for permaculture that we drool over it, complete with very gentle south facing slope of flat land, great solar exposure, no tree removal required, great pond, established veggie garden, and seasonal stream perfect for micro-hydro. Already two chestnut trees 20 years old and producing. Two acres of potential food forest and lots of existing soil. If we had the funds, we would buy it up… could actually make a living doing food production on this rare jewel. The second property, which would be suited for nook and cranny type permaculture – suitable for hazelnuts and apples, chickens etc.

2770 Bukin Dr W
$753,000 BC Assessment. About 5 acres with house. http://evaluebc.bcassessment.ca/Property.aspx

2850 Bukin Dr W
$564,000 BC Assessment: about 2 acres with house. http://evaluebc.bcassessment.ca/Property.aspx

This first piece of land backs up to our land behind our chicken coop…we could visit with a short trail through the forest.
The second property is also adjacent to us and beside the first property and can be reached via a short forest trail.

Map of two adjacent properties soon to hit the market.

We live in a community (The Highlands) where 40% of it’s land base is world class parks and hiking…unbelievable natural beauty and biodiversity. Only 10 minutes from Victoria General hospital, and only 12 minute to the Galloping goose…a walking/biking network of trails for the entire region. Only 15 minute to downtown Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. Our region is home to Canada’s first Green MP (Elizabeth May), and British Columbia’s first Green MLA (Andrew Weaver…nobel prize winning climate scientist). Southern Vancouver Island is surrounded by oceans and located in an area where vegetables can grow YEAR ROUND. Just sayin…
Lets take over the neighbourhood with community and permaculture. Sad to loose our existing neighbours, but hoping to find some more great people.

What a week…first the nursery update and then a few photos from our week.  Sunday open house for perennial edible plants (or just looking around).  10am – 2pm.  3295 Compton Road, East Highlands, Victoria.  Plant list with prices here:

Three weeks ago we were unsure what the nursery would bring … stress from no activity, or stress from selling out ?  Well it seems that it has been very busy, and have sold out of items, and furiously had to re-stock.  In restocking, it means that Gord has had to research and order in plants… by the truck load.  As with all of our new stock, we are planting out two of everything…yup, kind of ark like.

New additions include Evergreen Huckle berry (only one left), 12 foot tall Jujube (Chinese Date) trees, the best and most useful plums including Stanley, Santa Rosa and Methley, Sweet dwarf self fertile Lapins cherry, Morello cherry, edible crab apples (Red Sentinel and Whitney) to cross pollinate all the triploid apple trees, Aronia ‘Viking’ (Aronia melanocarpa), and more tea.

Link for info on Aronia melanocarpa:    Aronia
Link for info on Jujube ziziphous:  Chinese Date

We also were able to find some Toona Sinensis and Japanese pepper trees (Zanthoxylum piperitum).  The pepper tree is beautiful, it smells great and the leaves can be added into salads!

The dwarf sour cherries (Romeo, Juliet, Cupid and Valentine) arrived as well,   Though called a sour cherry due to the genetics, the first three are sweet and Valentine is a pie cherry.  Growing 6-8 feet and all self fertile, they are a nice tree to fit into an urban food forest.

Some good deals this week.

• We had lots of Red “Captivator” jumbo almost thornless Gooseberries arrive… bare root…with massive roots.  Potted up in 3 gal pots.  Very good price at $26.
• Asparagus (sweet purple).  We planted ours yesterday, but our remaining stock NEEDS TO GET PLANTED ASAP.  Only a few bundles of 10 left selling for $15.

Citrus

Our lemons we started here are doing great!   We’ll have home grown from Eco-Sense lemon trees next season.

Grafting trees

It is that time of year and Gord has been grafting stone fruits, pears, apples and cherries.  Due to the early spring, even T bud grafting is happening, rather than having to wait for May or June, the bark is slipping beautifully.

Closing early

If sales continue the way they have the first three weekends, we may have to close before June.  We have had customers from Courtney, Nanaimo, Gabriola, Duncan and Saltspring make the trek to find the items they have not been able to source elsewhere.

Here are a few photos from our week:

Nettle leaf. Finally finished all the drying. Can now be used for tea or soups.

Ginger beer brewing, home made cheese aging on counter, oats and brown rice fermenting on counter.

Gord made a trip to Vancouver to pick up some plants.

creative stacking of plants in our small pickup. worked very well.

Hardy kiwi looking good with leaves coming out. Shades house from hot western sun. Passive cooling.

Winter veggies right out side the front door.

Flowering red current and shooting stars…love the native plants.

Winter veggies…can you say brassica? Mild winter, so we have lots of brassica shoots.

More brassicas and greenhouse in the background.

Spot the fava beans, nettles, garlic, and my leek starts.

Sea kale coming up. Looking forward to feasting on this perennial vegetable for many years to come.

Burbank plum and daffodils. Bulbs or onions/leeks work well around fruit trees.

Eat the weeds…yup kale everywhere. Dandelions are also a favourite. Can eat the flower buds or the open flowers or the leaves. Roots are also good for tea/coffee. Medicinal plant as well.