Water worries?

Well, same as last year.... it's gone from cool and wet, wet, wet to blazin' hot, and no rain in sight. This is exactly what happened last summer... and we didn't get ANY rain for 3 months. I am dreading that happening again. Especially with all the garden beds I've got going now! I am investing in some hay bales, and covering many of the gardens with it, to help keep the moisture in for longer. Whatever I can do!

Shares are going well. I harvested my first snap peas this last week. OMG, are they delicious! I made a stir fry with them and one of my home-grown chickens last night. Best stir fry EVER;-) Not sure why, but what you grow yourself is so much more satisfying than just buying it in the store. Seems like a bit of a cop-out these days!

It is almost 9:30 at night, and I've just come inside from working in the yard and gardens all day. Watering, planting more tomatoes and peppers. I've also just started my kale and kohlrabi seeds in 6 packs, for transplanting as soon as I get some more garden beds made. I fill them as fast as I make 'em, and I never have enough, it seems.

My meat birds ended up being a disaster. I had ordered Cornish Crosses, which are ready in 8-12 weeks, and had booked them into the processor at 10 weeks. The stupid hatchery sent me 'broilers' which are ready in 6 weeks. They really should have let me know. They started dying on me, they grow TOO fast, and their hearts give out... I tried to make an earlier appointment at the processor, and could only get them in 1 week earlier than planned. The end of the story is that out of 75 birds, I ended up with 21. I had presold 51, and am trying to figure out who gets what. It is so depressing, I am having a hard time dealing with the whole situation, so of course, I am procrastinating. True to form! Now I am trying to find a new, more reliable supplier.

Oh, and on the poultry note... I am getting more turkeys on Tuesday. DON'T ASK ME WHY! I hated the damn things! I have been promised by a friend that she will come over to help clip their wings, so I don't have to worry about them flying all over the neighbourhood this time. This is their last chance! I am not going to sell any... I am just growing them for my own freezer at this point.

Dog boarding is still bloomin' busy. This is by far the longest busy stretch I have had. I am exhausted. I am NOT going to complain... I am finally getting caught up on all my bills! I've also raised my mortgage amount by about $25 a week. Doesn't sound like much, but it will take over 2 full years off my term! Maybe I will be able to retire before I am old and doddering.

Better head to bed... up with the dawn these days!

CSA Again...:-)

I am picking my CSA shares a bit early this week, as I am actually going away! I haven't been away anywhere, in so long, I can't even bear to think about it. Reckless and I are competing in the AAC Agility Regionals in Abbotsford. We are not really ready for regionals yet, they came up way too fast, but it will be good experience for the both of us! I've been going crazy all week, making sure the dogs are all taken care of, the schedule is set, everyone knows what dogs are coming and going, and so on and on and on... takes a lot of work! I'm sure I've forgotten a thing or two, but hopefully I've managed to cover all the major bases. I think I will be just be glad to get home next week and relax.... if there is such a thing! Dog boarding is non stop busy right now (which is wonderful, I can actually pay my bills!) and the gardens need constant tending and planting and slug-controling. We are FINALLY supposed to get some sun starting this weekend, so hopefully things will really start growing out there.

This weeks' shares:

mild mesculin
chives
peppermint
pea shoots (sounds odd, but this is my new favourite veggie... I go out daily and munch on pea shoots... they are delicious!!! Try it sometime!)

First CSA of the season!

Today is the day.... I picked my very first CSA shares! I was considering postphoning it until next week, because the weather has been rain, rain, cold, and more rain, and nothing in the gardens are growing. When I went out to check it all over this morning, I found a few little treasures, and my shares didn't look quite as little as I had feared.

So, I ended up with a good amount of mesculin, radish, parsley, green garlic, and spearmint. If the weather was co-operating, I would have had some snap peas and carrots to go with that. Oh, well! In another couple of weeks, there should be some more. I am already planning for next week... a few different herbs, mesculin will be a staple for the time being, and then we'll see what happens. Hopefully the weather will smarten up.... it was only 5 C last nite... WAY too cold for June!

I am still planting like mad... and will be planting right through August. I have made a few more garden beds, and will keep working on that until everything is in!