A Seed Saver's Garden

[heirloomgal]

Well, there isn't much to take pictures of these days. It has been 2 straight months of grey now. At least that's what it's seemed like. So I'm feeling VERY ready to have some sunshine, and some warmth. I am loving these first weeks of no ice; the lakes are even starting to open up.

It rained all day today, but near supper the sun came out. So I went out eagerly searching for signs of anything that seemed like a harbinger of Spring! It isn't much, but the few things I found really lifted my spirits!

I just love rhubarb, and I have so much respect for this plant given the deep freeze conditions it survives and how early it sprouts in the spring. Rhubarb buds are usually the first buds I get in spring. Always such a welcome sight.

I planted quite a lot of bulbs last fall, I don't remember now what they all were but it looks like most of them made it through winter and are starting to sprout too. Some of the sprout tips are truly a fluorescent yellow-green at first. This came as a surprise to me, mostly because I haven't planted many flower bulbs. I've sort of focused more on veggies.

I usually go around when the perennials start budding and play 'guess the perennial'. I always forget what's what. But I do think this is the chives starting. I keep them around more for the pink, puffball flowers than anything.

The creek next to the garden has FINALLY melted and is running again. There was still a giant formation of ice in there last week, but it's gone now. This is going to sound totally lame-o but I find the sound of that creek starting to run in Spring so serene. I just stand there listening to the bubbling as it rushes and feel transported. Being a water lover, and daily summer swimmer, just being able to look into a pool of water was AMAZING today. Same feeling as drinking a cool glass of water when your'e really, really thirsty.

Please summer, hurry!

 

[Alasgun]

Is this water source availavle for you to irrigate from? In the Dakotas we had the little Missouri river which got rank later in the year but was very useful for the majority of our season.

 

[heirloomgal]

Is this water source availavle for you to irrigate from? In the Dakotas we had the little Missouri river which got rank later in the year but was very useful for the majority of our season.

Well, technically no because it's on Crown land. But I have seen (on the other side of the creek) a little pump appear down there on a long hose. But this time of year the water runs so nice and clear, that I do often go down there with watering cans and fill them.

 

[Alasgun]

How close doe’s your property come to the edge of the stream? Im asking because if your within 10-20 feet it would be quite simple to dig a section of old culvert down 4-5 ft to create a bit of a well column. depending on the culvert diameter and depth; youd be surprised as to what it would provide.
in the dakotas, the county would freely give you the older cement sections when they replaced them; stood up on end they are pretty easy to dig in, using a number of different methods.
Around here, watering would be our biggest chore; if we wern’t set up to drip.

 

[heirloomgal]

How close doe’s your property come to the edge of the stream? Im asking because if your within 10-20 feet it would be quite simple to dig a section of old culvert down 4-5 ft to create a bit of a well column. depending on the culvert diameter and depth; youd be surprised as to what it would provide.
in the dakotas, the county would freely give you the older cement sections when they replaced them; stood up on end they are pretty easy to dig in, using a number of different methods.
Around here, watering would be our biggest chore; if we wern’t set up to drip.

I would love to so something like that, DH and I have talked and dreamed about doing something like that for years. The watering situation is a limiting factor here in expanding the garden as well, because the cost of city water is very high and rain barrels only go so far. As far as we know, it is illegal to put even a small well in anywhere on one's own property privately, though if you hire a Crown licensed well technician there might be some possibility but I think the red tape, permits and cost/per square foot (I think it's $100) that would need to be purchased might be cost prohibitive. Then there is a lot of regulation and probably monitoring involved after the fact too. It is a too bad because DH has the skills to put one in, and even some of the tools.

 

[Alasgun]

Well that’s too bad. Would you consider a couple pet beavers who could build anything they wanted without the crown’s permission?
once they’re stream becomes a pond the Crown may be more receptive
to working with the land owner who has promised to control the downstream flooding by utilizing the overage thru a well planned irrigation project.
may even be some Crown money to help tou keep those pesky beavers from becoming too much of a liability!

 

[flowerbug]

if you've built so close to a stream that beavers become a liability that isn't on them...

however i'm surprised to learn that digging a shallow well is that regulated in such a non-arid climate.

i could put one anywhere on this property and have water within a few feet.

 

[Alasgun]

By the way; the beaver comments we’re a stab at humor.

 

[heirloomgal]

Well that’s too bad. Would you consider a couple pet beavers who could build anything they wanted without the crown’s permission?
once they’re stream becomes a pond the Crown may be more receptive
to working with the land owner who has promised to control the downstream flooding by utilizing the overage thru a well planned irrigation project.
may even be some Crown money to help tou keep those pesky beavers from becoming too much of a liability!

That's just crazy enough to work @Alasgun !

 

[ducks4you]

Wanna laugh? On a recent Mid American Gardener a "Master Gardener" complained that his favorite tomato seeds are costing him $1/seed.
How can this be, when stupid ME managed to save over 50 Cherokee Purple seeds that sprouted for me this year?
Was he complaining...bragging (that he could afford the up charge)?!?!?