This dreamy garden belongs to Hardworking Hippy, a transplanted Scotswoman who has been 'perming' in France for the last 25 years. From veg to livestock, swales to hügelkultur, she's done it all.
Her many, many albums on flickr
Her blog
Heavenly Horticulture
This dreamy garden belongs to Hardworking Hippy, a transplanted Scotswoman who has been 'perming' in France for the last 25 years. From veg to livestock, swales to hügelkultur, she's done it all.
Her many, many albums on flickr
Her blog
Friday Flick: A Farm for the Future
A simple, clear and comprehensive look at farming and permaculture. I really enjoyed it.
2009. From BBC Two's Natural World series. Wildlife film maker Rebecca Hosking investigates how to transform her family’s farm in Devon into a low energy farm for the future and discovers that nature holds the key.
2009. From BBC Two's Natural World series. Wildlife film maker Rebecca Hosking investigates how to transform her family’s farm in Devon into a low energy farm for the future and discovers that nature holds the key.
Photo Theft
I don't usually watermark my photos but some on the sidebar have been marked. I had to smile the other day when I stumbled upon this:
Export Unie Flora are using my photo of Setaria italica (aka foxtail millet, Italian millet) on their site. They've kindly kept my watermark but have stamped theirs on as well (afraid someone might use it?). The worst part, actually, is not that they're using my photo without permission but using it to represent S. italica 'Brown Sugar' when, in fact, it's S. italica 'Max' (according to William Dam, anyway, where the seeds were purchased).
Photo theft and misrepresentation! lol.
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| Setaria Italica 'Max' |
Export Unie Flora are using my photo of Setaria italica (aka foxtail millet, Italian millet) on their site. They've kindly kept my watermark but have stamped theirs on as well (afraid someone might use it?). The worst part, actually, is not that they're using my photo without permission but using it to represent S. italica 'Brown Sugar' when, in fact, it's S. italica 'Max' (according to William Dam, anyway, where the seeds were purchased).
Photo theft and misrepresentation! lol.
Asparagus
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| The Edible Garden / Issue 4 / 'Grow for Taste' by Mark Diacono Photo Jason Ingram |
"Think of asparagus as a mini tree, and an asparagus patch as a small orchard, and you'll overcome any sens of hesitancy at having to wait a little while for your first crop. You can grow asparagus from seed but it's best to get young plants known as crowns. Plant them, and the year after next, you'll be cutting succulent spears and for 20 years or more after too. You may be able to get two-year-old crowns, in which case you need wait only a year to allow the plants to establish before you get to eat.
Asparagus, even more than peas, is the vegetable that highlights the value of good miles. Cut a spear in the morning then another in the afternoon and cook them together, and you can tell them apart. Once you've taste your own, it's impossible to make do with overseas, year-round imports. This is real plot-to-plate pleasure, and that late spring/early summer window, when the green spears break the soil, is up there with any in the growers' calendar. I prefer the flavour of the old varieties like 'Connover's Colossal' to most of the newer F1s that are, admittedly, more productive."
-- Mark Diacono, head gardener at River Cottage
Asparagus, even more than peas, is the vegetable that highlights the value of good miles. Cut a spear in the morning then another in the afternoon and cook them together, and you can tell them apart. Once you've taste your own, it's impossible to make do with overseas, year-round imports. This is real plot-to-plate pleasure, and that late spring/early summer window, when the green spears break the soil, is up there with any in the growers' calendar. I prefer the flavour of the old varieties like 'Connover's Colossal' to most of the newer F1s that are, admittedly, more productive."
-- Mark Diacono, head gardener at River Cottage
Mark, you're making my mouth water and I'm glad I've decided to grow asparagus this year. I love asparagus and don't know why I've put it off so long. Perhaps I perceived it as a difficult crop because it takes a while to get established and requires shrewd harvesting. More importantly, though, it's a fully hardy perennial. What more could my garden ask for?
I've chosen to grow it from seed so the wait will be even longer. (Gah. To think I'd be harvesting this year had I planned this out sooner). I'll be growing:
'Guelph Millennium' (William Dam)
'Jersey Giant' (Restoration Seeds)
'Jersey Supreme' (Restoration Seeds)
'Mary Washington' (Seedville)
To be continued ...
The University of Illinois Extension has some wonderful information on asparagus.
Potager 'Bed-In'
ROSA | Potager Urbain from Samuel Gaudreau on Vimeo.
Like other cases in the news, this couple from Drummondville, Québec, got in trouble with the city for growing vegetables in their front yard. Their clever design is neat and aesthetic. The soil is well contained in raised beds. Really, I fail to see how the city could fault such an impeccable garden.
It was their first year growing vegetables. Their (beautifully captured) 'Bed-In' protest along with heaps of signatures from supporters granted them the right to see the season through and city council now appears open to the concept but has yet to finalize details regarding any new by-laws.
It's time for change, cities. This is a good thing.
Related links:
The couple's site and photos of the garden
Stop the War on Front Yard Vegetable Gardens
Heritage Farm - Seed Savers HQ
Great little video put together by Iowa Public Television featuring Heritage Farm, the Seed Savers Exchange headquarters.
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| Click on photo to watch video on IPTV site |
Seed Savers Exchange
Seed Savers Exchange on G+
Gathering: Memoir of a Seed Saver by Diane Ott Whealy (2011)
Seed Savers Exchange on G+
Gathering: Memoir of a Seed Saver by Diane Ott Whealy (2011)
Don Tipping
Seed farmer/grower/developer and owner of Seven Seeds Farm in Williams, OR.
Site: Siskiyou Seeds
Related site: Family Farmers Seed Cooperative
Above, Don gave a talk at the BC Seeds Gathering 2012 which took place in November. Embedding has been disabled but you can watch on YT along with other videos of the gathering via Farm Folk City Folk's channel.
Farm Folk City Folk website
Site: Siskiyou Seeds
Related site: Family Farmers Seed Cooperative
Farm Folk City Folk website
The End
It snowed, albeit lightly, for much of the week. Looks like Winter is here to stay. I'm declaring the 2012 season officially over. There hasn't been much happening, anyway, since early November when the killing frost hit. I didn't feel like extending the season this Fall and didn't cover anything up.
Wishing you all a happy winter! Let's hope it's a good one. :)
Until we seed again,
Happy Gardening!
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