Waiting . . .

Waiting . . . 

. . . for spring

The interval between now (picture #1) and soon (picture #2) is the longest ten weeks of the year.  Last autumn's harvesting frenzy is just a memory and, tired of resting, I've been planning for the new season.

While it's true that seed catalogues present an idealized version of what might come to pass, I subscribe to the theory that a woman's reach should exceed her grasp.  With that in mind, let me tell you what you might be seeing this spring, should everything thrive.  To begin with, there will definitely be garlic scapes - this is year three, and my original five cloves have become a robust 120 new plants - and lovely fat new garlic heads in late summer.  There will also be wonderful rhubarb.  But wait . . . there's more . . . 

Zucchini, green and gold; winter squash - four different kinds; tomatoes - beefsteak, sweetie and indigo rose (purple); dill, oregano, parsley, sage, thyme, basil;  beans - yellow and green; beets - albino(white) and purple; broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage - ballhead and jersey wakefield; carrots - coreless, rainbow blend and winter; yellow and green cauliflower, radicchio, red and green, cucumbers - pickling and full-sized;  red and green kohlrabi, three types of lettuce, bunching onions, parsnip, sweet peppers - four colours - and mild hot peppers for salsa; pod peas, snow peas, pumpkins; red, white and multi-coloured radishes; turnips, rutabagas, chard . . .  sweet potatoes, maybe leeks, maybe celery, and I think this is the year the asparagus can finally be harvested too.

In early April, I will be distributing brochures to everyone between Lakevale and Livingstone Cove, just to let you know that Rose Cottage Garden is alive and well, and asking what two days of the week you'd like to see a market garden stand in your neighbourhood.  In the meantime I can be reached at RoseCottageGarden@gmail.com     Waiting . . . for spring.

In the beginning . . .

I loved the tag line from the film 'Field of Dreams': if you build it, they will come.  My worry is that maybe they won't.  Perhaps I'm too far away, or maybe it's because I'm new to agriculture and haven't yet established a following.  I don't know, but I guess I'm about to find out.

Hi.  I'm Brenda Rose and no, this is not a literary exercise.  This is my first attempt at blog-writing, and I've created it solely to communicate with you, my potential customers, people in the general area of Cape George, Nova Scotia, who are looking for organically-grown fresh vegetables.

My plan is to use this blog to let you know what I have planted, how things are progressing, and, most exciting, what is ready for immediate sale.  I'll also be asking for feedback and suggestions for future crops, and from time to time I'll be sharing recipes.  But right now I want to introduce you to my garden.

In a few weeks, I'll be putting a brochure into your mailbox to let you know what I'll be planting this year, and asking you a few questions about what you might like to see grown in your neighbourhood.  If you take a few minutes to respond to my informal survey, you'll be providing valuable feedback about the food you'd like to see.

I am your local farmer, and my goal is to provide you with high-quality organically-grown vegetables at a reasonable price.  If you have questions, I can be reached at RoseCottageGarden@gmail.com   Or you can just come down the road and say hi, or drop a note in my mailbox.  I'm always around, and I'm looking forward to meeting you.

Before I sign off, I'm going to introduce you to my garden.  It's asleep right now, but not for long.