I hope that you were able to attend the Horticultural Society's Fall Plant and Bulb Sale last week, and that you found some new treasures for your garden! Thank you to everyone who donated plants to the sale; a special thank you to the very kind friends who donated plants and don't belong to the club. Thank you to all the members who worked at the sale, and of course, thank you to everyone who came out and bought some exciting new plants at the sale! It seems we always have some little corners in our gardens that need refurbishing or filling in , don't we! This plant sale gives us a chance to make some additions this year, so that next spring our plants are already on their way!
I'd like to tell you about a few garden-related events that are coming up; tonight, September 26 at 7:00 PM, the Assiniboine Food Security Alliance will be meeting at the Godfrey Dean. This group is really just getting going, and interested gardeners will have the unique chance of being able to help formulate the direction and action of the group. The group provides practical, learning opportunities enabling people to access and consume food appropriate for a healthy life. So if you'd like to find out more, stop in at this informative meeting!
Then on Sunday, September 30, at 3:00 PM, you have a chance to see the "best of the Festival" Golden Sheaf award winning film "To Make A Farm" at the Godfrey Dean Cultural Centre. This is a free event, and a great chance to see a wonderful film about five young people who have decided to become small scale farmers. We see their heartaches and joys as they experience what it is like to grow their food. With so much talk about "eating local" and growing our own food for a variety of reasons, this film will make all of us think. You and I have chatted before about how many people have a great disconnect about how food grows and where it comes from. You might remember that I told you about someone I knew who grew up in a very large city and was an adult before she saw where potatoes come from and how they grow. So for us gardeners, we are truly lucky to be able to enjoy our gardens and their bounty. That's Sunday, September 30 at the Godfrey Dean.
Also, and I don't want to rush us into winter, but circle the day on your calendar for the 3rd Annual Prairie Sun Seed Festival on February 23, 2013. This Festival is growing each year, and has many interesting things to offer such as fascinating speakers and booths. More about it as the date draws closer.
Some gardening notes: have you cleaned up your garden yet? We did ours, and while I love the garden, I also get a feeling of satisfaction and completion from cleaning everything up and putting it away for the winter. I think we'd all agree this was a great year for cucumbers and tomatoes! We tried a new variety of tomato called "Health Kick" that was very prolific with firm, mild-tasting tomatoes. We'd try them again next year.
Something I would not be bothered with again is the albino beets; they were a great disappointment not only in yield, but also in how they looked. Not appetizing at all. The red carrots didn't live up their expectations, either. I believe they were called "Red Rocket", and while they were a darker orange, they weren't the red color I was anticipating. The "Bull's Blood" beets, however, were a definite hit: I'd highly recommend them!
Be sure to jot down the "hits" and "misses" of your own garden this year, and enjoy sitting out in the your own peaceful fall garden! Have a great week!
