New blog added - Netivat Sofrut - a woman writing a Torah - September 24, 2004

Aviel Barclay

Soferet
http://soferet.blogspot.com

Not updated on a regular basis, but an impressive journey nonetheless.

"For the first time that anyone knows, a synagogue has commissioned a woman
to write a sefer Torah (Bible scroll). The synagogue is Kadima in Seattle,
Wash., and the woman is Vancouver resident Aviel Barclay. To the best of her
knowledge, Barclay will be the first woman to be certified in this ancient
Jewish vocation.

At this moment, Barclay has yet to start the actual writing of the sefer
Torah. In fact, she is in Israel now, completing her process of becoming a
certified soferet (female scribe). She began her training five years ago but
her interest in sofrut started long before that."

http://www.jewishbulletin.ca/archives/Aug03/archives03Aug22-01.html

On the dark side of the 'net [beheading in Iraq] - September 24, 2004

[Fair Notice - No image, but graphic description of Eugene Armstrong's death in Iraq below.]



I interupt this gardening blog with news from a different reality:

We all live on a very narrow bridge. But the main thing to recall is not to fear at all.
-Rabbi Nachman

I started reading the news that appears on my Blogroll again.
Big mistake.

I found access to the video [link at end of this entry] of Eugene Armstrong's beheading at the hands of Abu Musab
al-Zarqawi's Al-Tawhid Wal-Jihad. I watched it.
Bigger mistake.

To see this man, who is someone's father, brother, son,
cousin, uncle, friend and colleague being killed, struggling to
his last breath is horrifying. [At its worst, he was squealing like
a pig; his final breath sounded as if a horse snorted - once]
Then, to see his head being separated from his body and
placed on top of it is beyond words.
I didn't sleep the rest of the night.

Later, I realized again why I started my gardening projects. It
gives me the opportunity to create beauty and provide
sustenance in a world that is, at times, inhospitable.

May TheOne, Who is everywhere, comfort his family amongst the other mourners of those everywhere who experience the
loss of a loved one.

The day is short, the task is great...It is not incumbent upon
you to finish the task. Yet, you are not free to desist from it.
-Pirkei Avot Ch 2, v20, 21

http://www.homelandsecurityus.com/Hostages.asp

I now return you to my regular blogging about gardening [maybe].

Again! Vandalism at Science World - September 21, 2004

Again! Vandalism at Science World

The ground was dug up, coffee bags were exposed, the tansy uprooted, the bamboo "fence" was torn down.

It was a mess. As always, I feel sad for people who can only destroy what is supposed to be beautiful. [3p]

Surprisingly, the Corn Salad is still sprouting almost undisturbed. They missed the main rows.
Cleaned it up as best I could.

No matter; I'm going to put clover seeds on it tomorrow [September 23] and hope for the best.

If they take hold, I'll plant my veggies among them in the spring.

[September 23: In the end I could not put the seeds on the plot. I went to another triangle
of land a few meters south and threw them [Red clover, white dutch clover and
crimson clover] over a 2m sq area. [p]

Getting rid of bindweed [Morning Glory] September 17, 2004

Getting rid of bindweed [Morning Glory]

Update: September 23, 2004

Well, I think it is working, slowly in some spots, faster in others.

I may have to play with the formula a bit.

To get rid of it,

http://www.bcbiodiversity.homestead.com/noxiousweeds.html
http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/weedguid/bindweed.htm
http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Convolvulus+arvensis

I'm trying this:

"You will get suggestions that involve a ton of work and you may have to
resort to that, but what I would suggest trying first is a "trick" with
roundup. Take a container like say a plastic milk jug, fill it half way with
a strong dilution of round up concentrate and dig a hole in the ground to
set the container (so it doesn't tip over and kill your pumpkins). Grab a
piece of bindweed, but don't rip it out of the ground, put the end into the
milk jug so part of it is submerged in the roundup. Secure the weed to the
jug so it can't get out and leave it sit until the weed is dead.

"The problem with bind weed is it's extensive root system and ability to
regrow from any root left alive. Using roundup via normal applications often
isn't sufficient to kill the entire root system which is why I recommend
soaking the plant in it until it dies completely.... one Garden Webber
reported doing this and seeing bindweed dying on several lots which would
indicate one weed with an incredibly massive root system."
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/weeds/msg0506291210419.html

I have four containers set up around the garden and will report on the
progress.

There is a bug that may solve the problem

http://www.ag.state.co.us/DPI/insectary/BOM-Am.html


Scientific Name: Aceria malherbae
Common Name: Bindweed gall mite
Type of Agent: Mite (Acari:Eriophyidae)

A website in BC refers to the same creature as

Aceria convolvuli

http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfp/range/manual/ch11%2Dapp%2D06.htm

Current links list - September 11, 2004

Current links list - September 11, 2004

**For current links, see Blogrolling list in the right column or here**

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/urbanwild/links



BC Biodeversity

An excellent site explaining the plants, animals and their habitat in
British Columbia. Also includes uses.

http://www.bcbiodiversity.homestead.com/



BikeBox Trailers

A growing and innovative manufacturer located in Vancouver, British
Columbia, BikeBox began as the simple "stuff transportation" solution for
cyclists. Built around the philosophy that "small is beautiful", and a
commitment to "doing more with less" Andy Hunter started the company with
the desire to make off-the-shelf trailers that don't cost an arm and a leg.

http://bikebox.ca/index.html



Blog: AA UrbanWild's bloglines list

Mine, obviously

http://www.bloglines.com/public/urbanwild



Blog: ColdClimateGardening bloglines feed
Yet another

http://www.bloglines.com/public/ColdClimateGardening



Blog: ColdClimateGardening newsfeed list
Gardening Weblogs with XML/RSS feeds

http://server.com/WebApps/NewsApp/news-read.cgi?id=1172



Blog: List from ColdClimateGardening
"These are all the gardening blogs I know about that are being regularly
updated."

http://www.coldclimategardening.com/links/index.html#weblogs



Blog: List from The Providence Journal, RI I've been added [September 3,
2004]

http://www.projo.com/cgi-bin/include.pl/blogs/shenews/gardenblogs.htm



Center for Invasive Plant Management (CIPM) Noxious Weed List - June 2004

Under the British Columbia Weed Control Act, the following weeds are
classified as noxious within all regions of the province. The BC Weed
Control Act imposes a duty on all land-occupiers to control designated
noxious plan

Science World redo - Monday, September 6, 2004

Science World redo - Monday, September 6, 2004

I decided it was time to start from scratch at the
Science World location.

I loaded up my cart and went down to the site.
On the way, I picked up some cardboard in one
of the alleys.

[p] Once there, I shovelled the soil [p] onto one of
the pieces cardboard and used Roundup [ugh!]
along the edges of the bed to remove the wild clover.
I put cardboard on the ground and cut it to fit [p].
Where there were gaps, I used foil coffee bags from
Starbucks [p]. Slowly, I put the soil back on the
cardboard and filled the bed back in keeping the soil
evenly spread. Smaller pieces of cardboard were also
used to fill in any open spaces

While putting the soil back, I removed any weeds and
moss found in the soil and added 18L of topsoil to the
orginal mix [p].

After the soil was back on the bed, I took another piece
of cardboard and compacted the soil by kneeling on it.[p]
Finally, I put a bamboo stick at the small and ran some
green garden twine to a nail in the telephone poll and back,
so the strings were at different heights. To the string, I
added orange flagging tape.[p] With luck, this will deter
people from running over the garden. Of course on the
other side of the coin, it draws attention to the garden itself.

I decided that the winter garden would be vegetable,
so I planted Corn Salad again this time in three rows
instead of broadcasting them like I did at the Car Barn.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/urbanwild/message/32

The seeds in the north row [closest to the road] are
unevenly spaced in the row as the seeds spilled
and I had to collect them off the ground and mixed
them with some gravel.

Spoke with about ten people who stopped by -
refered them to the diary site where possible by
asking them to Google urbanwild

Watered it all with 8L of water and took lots of PICs [p].

The Zen of gardening - a nice dry day, not to hot, not in a rush.
Arrived at 930am - left at Noon.

Scavenging compostable materials - Friday, September 3, 2004

Starbucks gives away their coffee grounds.

People cut their grass and put in bags in the back lanes.

Smaller grocery stores will give you their produce that
they throw out. Some of it does go back into a compost

pile to nourish more plants.

In the fall people have to many apples and pears than
they can eat. They bag them and leave them to rot.
That is sad waste.

An alternative is the Fruit Tree Project: "The Fruit Tree Project connects people who have fruit trees, people who can help harvest fruit, and community groups that use fruit in their programs."

Seeds - Thank you!! - August 29, 2004

From: A. A. Pasternak
To: Cristina
Sent: Sunday, August 29, 2004 12:42 PM
Subject: Re: Seeds - Thank you!!

Cristina,

Wow! Thanks.

Getting the box of seeds was worth the wait. Really.

I left a bit later than I would have liked to, and the timing was perfect -
and as you probably know [or will soon enough] - Chris was already there.
Seeing the first Starbuck's near the Liquor Store was a bit of a surprise,
but a kid at the bus stop was able to tell me how to get to the London Drugs
side.

You have a public Thank You on my Wish List page - the second link.

Best wishes,

Al

P.S. - I will be interested in that second box when its ready.

----- Original Message -----
From: Cristina
To: A. A. Pasternak
Sent: Saturday, August 28, 2004 1:08 PM
Subject: Re: Seeds - Sunday

Hi Al,
Chris's cell phone # is 604-###-#### I would assume he will be drinking
coffee and possibly smoking, if he has a large box you will be able to spot
him. If not he has a silver Pathfinder and has dark hair (buzz cut) about
30 years old. If it helps I did take the Skytrain form his house to
downtown a while ago and it took me about 45 mins to get from Brentwood to
Granville Street, mind you it was mid day and fairly busy.
Cristina

A. A. Pasternak wrote:

Cristina,

When I'm on my bicycle, I can estimate the time it will take me to get
there.

8:45am at Starbucks is OK

Does Chris have a cell-phone number that I can call if I am delayed - I'll
only use it on Sunday

Or your number, so you can act as a message center, in the event of
disaster.:-)

Thanks,

Al

----- Original Message -----
From: Cristina
To: A. A. Pasternak
Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2004 8:14 PM
Subject: Re: Seeds - Burnaby

Hi Al,
Chris gets off work at 8 am and has to stay until about 8:15 (works in North
Van) so he says he can meet you at the Starbucks by London Drugs at the
upper level on Sunday, Aug. 29th at 8:45 am. Would this be ok with you?
Actually the Skytrain goes right to Brentwood Mall so you could take that if
you wanted instead of biking, it seems like such a long way!!!
Cristina

A. A. Pasternak wrote:

Cristina,

Thanks for letting me know the current situation

Now that it is all in one box, I think I would be able to fit it in the bike
trailer that I have. So, I can be in the Brtentwood Mall area on Sunday
morning - 8:00AM is okay - or whatever time works best for Chris.

Please call me or have him call me at 604.###-####

Thanks for this and Yours Truly,

Al

----- Original Message -----
From: Cristina
To: A. A. Pasternak
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2004 1:46 PM
Subject: Re: Seeds - Burnaby

Hi Al,
Actually he still had the boxes in his truck so yesterday I sorted through,
organized everything and I got everything into one box, so that makes things
easier. I actually will have another box as soon as I plant some things as
figure out my extras so I will have another box extra next spring. The
problem with Chris is his schedule, he works all night and sleeps all day.
He basically goes to work then comes home so he doesn't go downtown. He
works 10 pm to 8 am. Sleeps until 5 pm. As I mentioned it makes things
really difficult. I actually was hoping to be out next week but I won't
know until the weekend. I'll let you know. In the meantime if you know
anyone who is going to Brentwood let me know.
Cristina

A. A. Pasternak wrote:

Cristina,

Thanks for letting me know the situation. Since your boyfriend is closer to
me in Burnaby, it can make things easier.

Your boyfriend has a car, right? [ - you were going to bring the boxes to my
[old] office in Gastown.] Maybe we [he and I] can arrange for delivery /
transfer of the boxes sooner and then I could meet up with both of you when
you are next in Vancouver.

I also have colleagues with cars [and some with pickup trucks] and a trip
out to Brentwood Mall is not a difficult task.

We can make this work.:-) How many boxes are there?

Yours Truly,

Al Pasternak
604.###-####

----- Original Message -----
From: Cristina
To: A. A. Pasternak
Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2004 12:10 PM
Subject: Re: Seeds - Checking in

Hi Al,
Sorry I am slow to get back to you. Figuring out when he will be home, etc.
is difficult. He has been out here this week and is leaving for home
tomorrow. He lives not far from Brentwood Mall in Burnaby. The problem is
that he works graveyards from 10pm - 8 am and sleeps the majority of the
day. He lives on a busy street in a basement suite and can't just leave the
seeds outside as most likely someone would take them. He also finds out his
schedule on Fridays so I have no I idea what next weeks hold for him. So I
will get back to you as soon as I can figure out when I will be out in
Vancouver next or let me know if you will be around the Burnaby, Brentwood
Mall location.
Cristina

A. A. Pasternak wrote:

Hi Cristina,

I'm still interested in your flower seeds.

Planning a visit to the PNE between August 21 and Labour Day?:-)

I might be going out to Delta this coming Saturday morning. Once there
it isn't that much further to find my way to your boyfriend's house.

Yours Truly,

Al Pasternak
604.###-####

----- Original Message -----
From: Cristina
To: A. A. Pasternak
Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2004 2:19 PM
Subject: Re: Seeds - delivery

Hello,
I was thinking I doubt there will be any volunteers for the pick up and
since my boyfriend is out here now I thought I should send the seeds home
with my boyfriend today and when I am next out we could meet you somewhere
convenient. I must say that I don't think the boxes could be carried by
yourself alone so we will have to figure something out. We as I mentioned
usually go downtown and so Gastown is on the way. Would it be a problem to
meet you somewhere in that area? If you take transit I would think you
could only carry 1 box at a time so could you leave the boxes at work?
Cristina

Solution - Thursday, August 26, 2004

That email yesterday from Mr. Laird was a bit harsh in its tone.

I remember that Mr. Laird is often cutting the Horsetail weed that grows in the garden bed, so today I went by and removed every single sprout I could find. Even when I thought I had found them all, I found more.

was a bit harsh in its tone.

I remember that Mr. Laird is often cutting the Horsetail weed that grows in the garden bed, so today I went by and removed every single sprout I could find. Even when I thought I had found them all, I found more.

Powered By Qumana

Well, I got a response. - August 25, 2004

Mr. Laird replied to my email of the other day

He was very clear and to the point:

"You will NOT touch the bachelor button (blue) plante! If you do I will remove ALL of your plantes!

I don't like Oregon Grapes so don't plante any."

My reply:

"Dear Mr. Laird,

Thank you for responding. If I didn't ask, I wouldn't know.

Okay, no Oregon Grape. So a Rosemary bush where the
dead tree is now?

See you on the weekend."

I think he has different ideas than I about what beautification means.

When I started he seemed ambivalent about me doing this.

Now that he sees what is happening/changing, he might be wanting to keep control.

That's understandable, so a fine balance needs to be maintained.

After a weekend of rain - Monday, August 23, 2004

After a weekend of rain - Monday, August 23, 2004

Everything at the Car Barn seemed to be doing well. Someone moved the
west J-choke closer to the center of the garden. I wrote an email to Dale
Laird to say hello, thanks, ask why and tell him of what might be happening
next:

"My other plans include removing the blue plant and replacing it with a Day Lily and replacing the dead tree with a Rosemary bush. Both these plants are hardy and drought tolerant. An Oregon Grape is another alternative plant that I am considering putting where the dead tree is.

"Please respond if you have any concerns about my activities."

I planted Corn Salad in the open space on the east side near the
Rock Rose. I broadcast the seeds, so I'll see what happens.

I also added some regular Chives along the front beside the Garlic Chives

The Science World site was trashed again with a tire track. I was so
frustrated I didn't even bother to fix it. I'm thinking its time to give up
and plant clover instead.

A perfect circle - Sunday, August 22, 2004

A perfect circle - Sunday, August 22, 2004

Stopping for a moment on my ride home I looked to my right and down. I saw a
hole that went below the ground in a stand of Oregon Grape. It was a
perfect hole, fresh and I thought it would be the perfect entrance for a
mouse. A few seconds after seeing this I see a wasp crawl up from inside the
hole, take off and fly away. Then another. Two wasps fly down and enter the
hole. More come out, go in in an endless cycle.

Looking more deeply, I see that the foliage along their flight path has
formed a circle around the hive entrance - not at ground level, but 10 -
15cm off the ground at an angle. It is so perfect I think they might have
cut it that way.

Vancouver Freecycle - wanted and offers completed - Sunday, August 22, 2004

Vancouver Freecycle - wanted and offers completed - Sunday, August 22, 2004


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vancouverfreecycle

Sharmeen picked up my double size futon, frame, couch bed frame and foam
mattress today. I still have the boxspring so I will put it out on the list
again in two weeks or so.

Cheri has some perennial plants that she wanted to be rid of so I went down
there and picked up a whole bunch of daylilies as well as
lavender mint ["put it in a container right away!"]
and marjoram.

She lives in New Westminster and I cycled down on the Skytrain Bikeway with
my kid cart. I left Cambie & 18th at 12:40pm and arrived around 2:00pm. On
my way back I discovered a 20 foot/7 meter!! patch of landscaped Rosemary bushes. Also on my way back I heard crickets in the city.

Non-garden adventure: Was sitting outside of Flying Wedge Pizza when a
confrontation began outside of Choices as the staff accused a young man of
stealing steaks. He denied it, said he put it back and refused to lift his
shirt. They wrestled him to the ground - that took a long time - and called
the police. He had 3 salmon filets in his waistband and three more in his
pockets.

Rain and West Coast Seeds - Saturday, August 21, 2004

Rain and West Coast Seeds - Saturday, August 21, 2004

Rain for the first time in weeks on Saturday. Starts at 11:00AM, continues all day - heavy at times.
All told 19.8 mm falls. Amazing and beautiful.

Went with Ann D. to West Coast Seeds' open house.
We arrive at Noon just as the tour is getting underway and the torrent of rain begins. We tour anyway.
Four people who started before we arrived, get to wet and mosquitoed and leave - we have the place
to ourselves with our tour guide John who takes us on the tour. Sampling of wondeful veggies.
They grow the seeds they plan to sell next year in a test garden this year.

I buy seeds of
Lovage

Anise Hyssop [Agastache, Licorice Blue]
http://hortiplex.gardenweb.com/plants/p1/gw1000804.html



Nasturtium, Tip Top Alaska


http://hortiplex.gardenweb.com/plants/p1/gw1041177.html
http://www.garden.org/articles/scripts/articles.taf?action=print&id=59


Partial Shade Wildflower Mix - 224g

Oats - Cover Crop


White Dutch Clover - Cover Crop

http://hortiplex.gardenweb.com/plants/p1/gw1040930.html


Companion Planting Chart

How to store fresh produce chart
[Room temperature or 'fridge]

It was a great day.

Car Barn - Adding more plants -Thursday, August 20, 2004

Car Barn - Adding more plants -Thursday, August 20, 2004

On Tuesday, August 17, I removed the wilting / dying Evening Primrose and
replaced it with a
Yellow Onion - Allium Flavum

acquired during Figaro's Garden 50% off sale on the weekend. In addition, I
added 3 Garlic Chives

[Thursday August 19 - 3 more added to the West]

along the front of the space and a Creeping Thyme

between the Anise Hyssop and the Garlic Chive.

[Thursday August 19 - another added in front of the Jerusalem Artichoke]

Nearest to the shelter and the other Jerusalem Artichoke I added a Salad Burnet

I'm trying to think ahead to the rest of the year and the fall winter
planting crops.

Corn Salad is next on my list, but I am also looking for some flowering plants too

The warm/hot dry weather is coming to an end and this weekend rain is
expected.

More missing plants Science World - Thursday, August 19, 2004

More missing plants Science World - Thursday, August 19, 2004

That beautiful purple flower on a stem 5cm high was removed from the garden
as well as one of the Purple Tansy. I need to make a sign that reads:

"Enjoy the plants while you roam. Please do not take them home."

Excerpt - Oklahoma urban permaculture - 2004 Forest Garden Diary-Blog - 8/15/04

Excerpt - Oklahoma urban permaculture -
2004 Forest Garden Diary-Blog, August 15, 2004

A long list of perennial plants grown for food.
Great link directory too added to links section.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/urbanwild/links


2004 Forest Garden Diary-Blog

http://www.bettertimesinfo.org/2004garden.htm

105 total, 3 biennials, 24 annuals, 72 perennials

1524 NW 21st, Oklahoma City, at
the southeast corner of North McKinley
and NW 21st Street,
an on-going experiment in urban permaculture

TREES 12 varieties
mature pecan tree
immature pecan tree
semi dwarf peach (Elberta semi dwarf, hansens)
semi dwarf Apricot
apple (dwarf Jonathan and Gala semi dwarf)
semi-dwarf plum (Superior and Toka,)
Manchurian apricot
black cherry
Oklahoma redbud

BUSHES 12 varieties, all perennial

bush cherries
sand plums
elderberries
Mature mulberries
Oregon grape bushes
Siberian pea tree
Nanking cherry
Sand cherry
Saskatoon juneberry
Sea buckthorn
Schubert chokeberry
Sand plum

GROUND COVERS 4 varieties (1 perennial, 3 annual)
strawberries
purple clover A
white clover A
hairy vetch A

VINES AND CANES 10 varieties , all perennial

fredonia grape
niagara grape
venus grape
concord grape
dewberries
blackberries
boysenberries
clove currants
scarlet runner beans A
Luffa (a)

GREENS AND SALADS 17 varieties (6 perennial, 7 annual, 4 biannual)

Salad burnet
daylilies
Turnips (a)
Collards (a)
Fordhook giant chard (b)
Bloomsday savoy spinach (b)
Rhubarb chard (b)
Lucullus chard (b)
New Zealand spinach (a)
Ruby orach (mountain spinach) (a)

Mustard (a)
lettuce polycultue bed (a) (Parisian cos, buttercrunch, red sails, bibb,
romaine)
Dandelions
Bloody sorrel
French sorrel
Rose of sharon (flowers)

VEGETABLES 10 varieties (2 perennial, 8 annual)
Asparagus
rhubarb
habenero peppers (a)
Caribbean peppers (a)
Cherokee and roma tomatoes (a)
English peas (a)
Purple hulled peas (a)
Black-eyed peas (a)
Jalapeno peppers (a)
Cayenne peppers (a)
ROOT CROPS 5 varieties (all annuals)
shallots (a)
walking onions (a)
potato onions (a)
Garlic A (a)
Turnips (a)

FLOWERS 12 varieties (8 perennial, 4 annual)

Rosa rugosa
Rosa erfult
Prairie rose
Purple echinacea
Pink ecinacea
Iris
Maximilien sunflowers
Russian mammoth sunflowers A
Mexican hat (a)
Wild geranium (a)
bee balm (monarda) (a)
Daffodils

HERBS 23 varieties (21 perennial, 1 annual, 1 biennial)
sage
creeping thyme
common oregano
greek oregano
tarragon
lovage
gotu kola
catnip
rue
garlic chives
spearmint
apple mint
lemon balm
spear mint (or some kind of common mint)
dill (A)
horehound
chocolate mint (the leaf tasted like one of those
chocolate mints you get at a restaurant checkout)
lemon mint
Roman chamomile
horseradish
rosemary
comfrey
parsley (b)

LIST OF PLANTS ORGANIZED BY LAYERS OF A FOREST GARDEN
Canopy trees
pecan
American plum
Manchurian apricot
black cherry
Understory trees
Oklahoma redbud
semi dwarf peach
semi dwarf Apricot
semi-dwarf apple
semi-dwarf plum

Bushes and canes
bush cherries
sand plums
elderberries
Mature mulberries
Oregon grape bushes
Siberian pea tree
Nanking cherry
Sand cherry
Saskatoon juneberry
Sea buckthorn
Schubert chokeberry
Sand plum
dewberries
blackberries
boysenberries
clove currants
Herbs and smaller plants
Salad burnet
daylilies
Turnips (a)
Collards (a)
Fordhook giant chard (b)
Rhubarb chard (b)
Mustard (a)
Self seeding lettuce bed (a)
Dandelions
Bloody sorrel
French sorrel
Rose of sharon (flowers)
Asparagus
rhubarb
habenero peppers (a)
Cherokee and roma tomatoes (a)
English peas (a)
Purple hulled peas (a)
Black-eyed peas (a)
Jalapeno peppers (a)
Cayenne peppers (a)
Rosa rugosa
Rosa erfult
Prairie rose
Purple echinacea
Pink ecinacea
Iris
Maximilien sunflowers
Russian mammoth sunflowers A
Mexican hat (a)
Wild geranium (a)
bee balm (monarda) (a)
sage
creeping thyme
common oregano
greek oregano
tarragon
lovage
gotu kola
catnip
rue
garlic chives
spearmint
apple mint
lemon balm
spear mint (or some kind of common mint)
dill (A)
horehound
chocolate mint (the leaf tasted like one of those
chocolate mints you get at a restaurant checkout)
lemon mint
Roman chamomile
horseradish
rosemary
comfrey
parsley (b)
Ground covers
strawberries
purple clover A
white clover A
hairy vetch A
Climbing vines
fredonia grape
niagara grape
venus grape
concord grape
scarlet runner beans A
Luffa (a)
Roots
shallots (a)
walking onions (a)
potato onions (a)
Garlic A (a)
Turnips (a)

Approaching a business for a garden site - August 13, 2004

Approaching a business for a garden site - August 13, 2004

Saw it a few weeks ago and decided to approach the manager.

Said I wanted to create a garden out front and that my criteria was that it would be low maintenance, perennial and edible.

I noticed that she underlined the word edible.

When she asked about the fees, I said it was negotiable. [I'll do it for the cost of materials and maybe a few tools]

Let us see what happens.

One of my work colleagues saw me in the area and asked what was happening. When I told her, she thought that was a great idea and if I get the deal, she will help with the design.

Should I put up a string fence? - August 11, 2004

A bike ran over the Science World site this afternoon.

I get the impression it was not deliberate but still, everytime it happens it is a setback to the growth of the plants.

Took pictures before and after.

A string fence maybe 30cm [12in] high marked with bright flagging might solve the problem or make it a higher target.

On the boulevard, I added another bag of coffee grounds last night and this morning watered it. After 20 minutes, the grass underneath was still dry, so turned it over and watered for another 15.

Car Barn & Science World - Monday, August 9, 2004

Car Barn & Science World - Monday, August 9, 2004

High: 33.9 °C
Low: 14.4 °C

Another record setting
hot sunny day.

Watered the Car Barn site with 8L of water at Noon and 930pm. Both times
people were around and I told them that the plants were edible and if they
saw anyone around to make sure no one used it as a urinal.
Agreement from folks.

The J-Choke on the West side is doing poorly but the one on the East is
starting to revive. The Evening Primose is has not fully recovered from the
move and the Anise Hyssop had light coloured leaves in the evening.

There are a few more wildflower seedlings growing [a beautiful purple flower
has bloomed on a plant about 5cm high] at the Science World site - watered
at Noon only - but it is not thriving as well as I expected for the amount
of time that the garden has established. Depending on how things progress,
in the fall, I may strip the site of the dirt and mix it with topsoil to
give it more body, do a better covering of the ground beneath and plant the
wildflowers in rows, so I can remove any plants that are not in the rows as
weeds.

I got some Starbucks coffee grounds and put them on my boulevard site. I am
going to need a lot.