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-   -   New garden to be (http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=43096)

Tania November 12, 2016 01:07 PM

New garden to be
 
7 Attachment(s)
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.

jtjmartin November 12, 2016 02:03 PM

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

dmforcier November 12, 2016 02:08 PM

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!

Tania November 12, 2016 02:26 PM

[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.

Tania November 12, 2016 02:27 PM

[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.

twillis2252 November 12, 2016 02:33 PM

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

AlittleSalt November 12, 2016 02:49 PM

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 :)

Tania November 12, 2016 03:19 PM

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!

nancyruhl November 12, 2016 04:58 PM

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.

MrBig46 November 12, 2016 05:13 PM

1 Attachment(s)
I can not find words!
Vladimír

Tania November 12, 2016 05:19 PM

[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.

Father'sDaughter November 12, 2016 05:23 PM

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

Tania November 12, 2016 05:27 PM

2 Attachment(s)
here is a view from the deck.
The clouds below are above the lake.

[ATTACH]67299[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]67300[/ATTACH]

RJGlew November 12, 2016 08:22 PM

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.

Tania November 12, 2016 08:40 PM

[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 :)

RJGlew November 12, 2016 08:44 PM

[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.

Tania November 12, 2016 08:49 PM

[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.

RJGlew November 12, 2016 08:56 PM

[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. :-)

Tania November 12, 2016 09:00 PM

[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.

bower November 13, 2016 10:19 AM

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.

ddsack November 13, 2016 12:02 PM

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.

cjp1953 November 13, 2016 06:54 PM

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:

sjamesNorway November 14, 2016 09:10 AM

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

Steve

MissS November 20, 2016 08:05 PM

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.

Jimbotomateo November 21, 2016 07:43 PM

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

KarenO November 21, 2016 09:51 PM

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


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