New garden to be
 

As many of you know, we bought a property in Columbia Valley, BC. It is almost on the US border, situated in a beautiful valley with a large lake (Cultus Lake), surrounded by mountains. It is 37.5 acres lot, mostly forest.

We hope to get a garden going by spring, so we can plant tomatoes and other veggies.

We are still in the process of moving, as it takes a very long time to move the farm, with all the birds and gardening equipment and greenhouses.

By now, we cleared 2 acres of forest and planted garlic. Now it is time to look for organic materials for mulch and fertilizer. We have 150+ birds (chickens and ducks), so this will be the main fertilizer source, but we are looking at finding enough hay to use as mulch. Found some local folks willing to part with their wet/spoiled hay for free. I am very excited.

The beauty of this land is that it has never seen any chemicals. It was always a forest, with some pasture cleared about 20 years ago. And there are no farms around that use any chemical fertilizers or pesticides/herbicides. SO it is absolutely pristine. :love:

Here is the cleared garden area.

Tania:

Congrats on some lovely land! And as a newbie - thank you for all the work you've done with heirlooms.

It seems you have the wood available and equipment available. Have you thought of doing any experimental hugelkulture beds?

Jeff

Congratulations! I see a tomato ranch in your future.


[QUOTE] It was always a forest, with some pasture cleared about 20 years ago.[/QUOTE]
Are you sure about that? The tree pattern on the side of the hill in your first pic looks like it was logged, and I see no tree around you that looks older than maybe 70 years.

Still at least the land is pretty close to "virgin". Best of luck!

[QUOTE=dmforcier;599582]Congratulations! I see a tomato ranch in your future.



Are you sure about that? The tree pattern on the side of the hill in your first pic looks like it was logged, and I see no tree around you that looks older than maybe 70 years.

Still at least the land is pretty close to "virgin". Best of luck![/QUOTE]

Yep, I am sure. The area that was cleared 20 years ago has young alder forest at the moment. We cleared the older forest - and you'd probably be surprised that these very large trees are hardly 30-50 years old, not very good logging material.

[QUOTE=jtjmartin;599581]Tania:

Congrats on some lovely land! And as a newbie - thank you for all the work you've done with heirlooms.

It seems you have the wood available and equipment available. Have you thought of doing any experimental hugelkulture beds?

Jeff[/QUOTE]

Jeff, yes, definitely! Once we figure out how to move the logs into desired location, we will most certainly will! We loved our hugel beds in our old garden, they produce wonderfully.

Enjoyed the pics. Beautiful property BTW! Know it will soon look like Eden! Best Wishes, Tom

The third picture is absolutely beautiful. I can imagine being there.

We live near an area with hills like that. The trees here are oak, elm and cedar/juniper.

Back to tilling the garden for me :)

Thank you folks! Yes, it is a very beautiful place, and so quiet.

We are not going to till. Only mulch. If the soil is too compacted (by the excavator that pulled trees), then it will be used for alfalfa patch.

No irrigation, except for the time when seedlings are planted.

The size of the area creates a challenge - not easy to haul things around, even with a small tractor. We do not want to ride tractor over the field, as it will compact soil.

Looking forward to figuring out the best way to start from zero!

Oh, that is so beautiful. Idyllic, really. Is that your house and greenhouse in one of the pictures?
I don't think I would ever want to leave, except to see my grandkids, of course.
Do you plan to fence the garden in as you did on the last place? I think I see deer licking their lips behind a couple of those trees.

I can not find words!
Vladimír

[QUOTE=nancyruhl;599612]Oh, that is so beautiful. Idyllic, really. Is that your house and greenhouse in one of the pictures?
I don't think I would ever want to leave, except to see my grandkids, of course.
Do you plan to fence the garden in as you did on the last place? I think I see deer licking their lips behind a couple of those trees.[/QUOTE]

yes, fencing is a must :( Local deer has been already fertilizing the garden area.

This is a remote location, so we will not be leaving often - I will certainly will not leave the place except for my monthly hospital appts.

Congratulations! It looks like a beautiful spot with a beautiful view.

here is a view from the deck.
The clouds below are above the lake.

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We get into the valley many times a year, primarily to ski the Powder Highway. It is a very beautiful area, and I hope you enjoy it.

[QUOTE=RJGlew;599655]We get into the valley many times a year, primarily to ski the Powder Highway. It is a very beautiful area, and I hope you enjoy it.[/QUOTE]

we do not have highways there, it is a very rural area, all private farmland, between Cultus Lake and the US border. I have a feeling we are in a different valley :)

[QUOTE=Tania;599656]we do not have highways there, it is a very rural area, all private farmland, between Cultus Lake and the US border. I have a feeling we are in a different valley :)[/QUOTE]

Columbia Valley BC: Radium, Invermere, Fairmont, Canal Flats etc. Sounds like we're further north.

[QUOTE=RJGlew;599657]Columbia Valley BC: Radium, Invermere, Fairmont, Canal Flats etc. Sounds like we're further north.[/QUOTE]

oh wow! There is another one, I had no idea! :)

We are east from Abbotsford and south from Chilliwack, BC.

[QUOTE=Tania;599658]oh wow! There is another one, I had no idea! :)

We are east from Abbotsford and south from Chilliwack, BC.[/QUOTE]

Nor did I! The climate will be much better where you are. I was thinking if you were in this part of the Columbia Valley, we would be able to compare notes on the Saraev varieties. :-)

[QUOTE=RJGlew;599659]Nor did I! The climate will be much better where you are. I was thinking if you were in this part of the Columbia Valley, we would be able to compare notes on the Saraev varieties. :-)[/QUOTE]

yeah... no such luck :). The climate here is very mild, just around 31-32F average low / 44F average high for January, and above freezing all the other months. But we will not be able to grow anything in winter, as the mountains to the south block the sun completely from mid-Nov to mid-Jan. Not that we get much sun here in winter anyway... it is always overcast and rain.

Tania it looks amazing!!! :D So happy for you. :yes:
That virgin soil looks really good as well. Not bad at all to start with! And the birds will make it good and rich in no time. 8-) And it's awesome that the climate is so mild, even if you do have a 'winter shadow' for a couple of months from those beautiful mountains.

Oh my, Tania! What a gorgeous view to the lake, and such an idyllic spot to live in peace and privacy! It will be a lot of work getting everything built and set up and moving your flock, but so worth it! I'll be looking forward to more pictures and updates on your progress.

What a view!You're very lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the country.We don't have anything that nice here in North East Ohio.Best of luck with your new farm and garden.I'm sure it will come out very nice when all is done.:yes:

It looks wonderful, Tania. You must feel like a pioneer sodbuster.

Steve

What a wonderful place to relocate to. It is gorgeous and pristine. The soil appears to be just beautiful and looks to be a deep layer of topsoil full with organic matter. What a nice way to start a new garden. Most of us have to try to convert clay into something that resembles topsoil.

You should be quite happy there.

What a beautiful property! Hope you have best gardens ever!

Spectacular scene. I will never be able to live without a view again myself. Congratulations on your new home. It's beautiful there
KarenO