August on the farm

At home and on the farm, the pole beans seem to be doing well in contrast to the squash. There are plenty of squash blossoms, but very little squash. A huge green and white variegated pumpkin/squash hybrid lurks at the far end of the first row at the farm. We haven't decided what it is, but it's huge. The upside of this summer's tempestuous weather is that I have not had to water the gardens too much. In addition to the corn and beans, the beets, carrots, peas and kale are coming along nicely at the farm. At home, the butterfly gardens and sunflowers are spectacularly colourful and I often see goldfinches fly out of their several wildflower oases as I walk by. I have had to bell the cat... We range from micro to mega flora - the tomatoes are microscopic and the sunflower, zucchini and watermelon leaves are like immense green umbrellas.

Lurking squash, it's much bigger now.

Scarlet runner beans rock - so juicy, tender and sweet. Note the nearly invisible tomato in the stainless bowl, hence the purchased tomatoes in the background...

Some fun with a tiny tomato stem star

Starfish-Upon-the-Thames

Pole beans winding their way up the corn stalks

Steve surveys the bounty and the weeds!

Is that the sun?

Nope, more rain on its way...

I know, I know, we are lucky to have so much rain for the corn.

Torrential rain and a tornado warning: at least the gardens had a good soaking.

This week there was a tornado warning in our region as the Nebraska tornadoes travelled north to Canada. Angus, Ontario experienced an EF-2 tornado and houses were destroyed, but unlike the tragedy in Nebraska, we were fortunate that nobody died here. The violent storm that we did experience in Guelph was intense. At least our gardens at home and the community garden at the farm were well watered.

Gavin the crayfish hanging out in his cabbage leaf - new front claw regrowing - he didn't seem to care about the weather.

May and June: It's Spring and we are deciding what to plant in our community garden plot.

Thanks to our new friend Doug, who contacted me through FarmLINK (FarmLINK.net) this winter, my family now enjoys weekend visits to the farm that he and his wife have in Ariss, just north of Guelph. We have been preparing the soil and planning our garden plot for the past month or so, since the last traces of snow and ice receded. It's June on the farm and so far we have planted corn, beans, squash (several varieties), pumpkins, beets, parsnips, carrots, peas, kale, green cabbage, Asian cabbage (for kimchi) and we have yet to plant green and yellow zucchinis, more pole and flat beans. We love feeding the horses apples and hanging out with the chickens!

The three sisters:

Corn and pole beans planted in mounds.

Squash planted between the mounds.

Our rows of  wee vegetables.

I am uncertain that we will be growing enough produce to be able to sell it at the Guelph Farmers' Market www.guelphfarmersmarket.ca/. I am interested in bottling chutneys,  chili sauces and relishes, so we will see how it all goes this summer.