It might be close to the first day of winter, but a Chinook blew in tonight and brought with it tidings of spring. Yes, I know it's not even Christmas yet (Christmas shopping! Oh dear...) but my seed catalogues arrived about two weeks ago and I'm ready to dig my hands into that nice, warm, fresh spring soil. There's about eight inches of snow on the ground though, so that dream may have to wait for a little while yet.
I'll start with a bit of an introduction here. That's easier than just launching headlong into everything and hoping for the best. My name is Sarah, and this coming year (2012) will be my first full year dedicated to growing fruits and vegetables. I've grown a variety of vegetables over my lifetime, and my education from Olds College, was in the horticultural field. Growing up on the family farm, where we grow barley and canola in the summer, and finish feedlot cattle in the the winter, instilled a strong sense of the land in me at a young age. I've always wanted to be a part of producing food. Through this journey, I've discovered that I want to be able to talk to the people who end up with the food I grow. I want to be able to answer their questions and provide them with the satisfaction of knowing who grew what's on their plate for supper.
Over the past four years I've experimented with sour cherries, in an attempt to discern which variety can survive the moles, deer, coyotes, chinooks, and occasional oops'. I've always heard that deer are a large problem with sour cherries, but other than having a few ripped out of the ground, the deer have pretty much left them alone. The moles however are a different story. I had a 10% loss this year to them... however they don't appear to like the Cupid, Valentine, and Crimson Passion sour cherries. Those may be the varieties I end up growing in the future!
I'm also growing Honeyberries (Haskap) because they set fruit so early in the year. My plants weren't mature enough to produce fruit last year, but they should start this year if all goes according to plan. Plans are plans though, and are definitely not set in stone.
Through PrairieTech Propagation in Bonnyville, Alberta I've purchased a few different varieties of gooseberries, and currants. I'm really looking forward to their arrival in April! It will be a few years before these plants are mature enough to produce fruit, but I can just about taste the first gooseberry pie... the wait will be worth it!
This past summer I constructed two 8'x14' greenhouses. Due to the chaos that generally ensues with working two jobs and trying to find time to get everything completed, I was not able to grow anything of any merit in them this past year. For watering purposes my Dad, designed a water collection system off of our garage. The first time it rained, it poured down an inch in about ten minutes. The water fell from the sky in ferocious grey sheets. But we both raced across the yard to make sure the tanks and pipes were holding. They work like a charm! If it rains next spring, I won't have any water worries.
2012 is going to be an interesting year. It will be full of learning experiences and plenty of vegetable production. I hope it goes well, and I'll do my uttermost to keep this blog going and updated, so people know whats growing and where they can purchase it. I wish you all the best in the New Year, and I hope you and your family have a Very Merry Christmas!
