Moving Forward with the Garden

It often isn't sexy but fencing is crucial in our neck of the woods. Deer regularly pass through. So a very expensive first step has been to fence our back yard.

The back part of the fence has turned out surprisingly sexy. It is our modern take on a country fence. But really the work was all thanks to the vision of Shannon Lightfoot- a jack of all trades.

We chose an open fence to maintain the view of the ocean and marina downhill. It sits on top of a 4 foot tall rock wall. And we are relying on the fact that deer haven't learned how to slither under or through things.

Our wonderful permaculture garden expert Mark Wilkes celebrated by planting raspberry canes transplanted from his yard.

February Garden Goals

This list is taken from a variety of resources:
1) Have garden tools sharpened. And oil the wood with 1 part linseed and 1 part turpentine. Prepare a bucket of clean sand and horticultural oil. Dip dirty tools in this mixture every time you use them to keep them clean. Put the clean tools away.
2) Prune dogwoods and willows. Cut back dead growth left from last fall (for insects to overwinter in).
3) Test and amend your soil (here we look for high acidity).
4) Clean cold frames, pots, and greenhouse.
5) Prepare seedling soil.
6) Mid February- indoor sowing of lettuces (cold, but bright)
7) Late February- same for onions and leeks, and all but heat lovers.
8) Prepare raised beds for March sowing. Once ground is warm, greens can be sown directly (kale etc).
9) Remember that large seeds generally like darkness to germinate (under newspaper usually fine).
10) Remember that Umbel (carrots, parsnips, dill, parsley) and Alliums (onions and leeks) seeds only last 1 year!
11) Liquid fertilizer is needed once seedlings have sprouted and every 2 weeks.