Odds and Ends

Today, I learned how to use a chainsaw! - How to start it, how to cut with it, how to sharpen it, how to be safe with it (that's for you mama.) I love the fact that I am getting to learn so many little things that I probably would never do otherwise. I also helped chop a good amount of wood...nice fresh alder, and learned the proper stacking technique.

I also began preparing a couple beds in greenhouses for early carrots. I forked the soil to loosen it, watered it, and will let it sit for a couple weeks to let any weeds present germinate. Once the weeds sprout up I'll either cut them with a collinear hoe (it has a sharp blade that you sharpen with a bastard file...yeah I know, cool name...I especially love the thought of carrying a bastard around in my back pocket when I use it) or maybe flame the bed with a torch to wilt the leaves (also very cool...but slightly tedious in a plastic greenhouse.)

So yeah! It was a full day and my body is feeling it. It was just wonderful to be outside in the sun, despite the freezing temperature. Yesterday was spent stuffing envelopes with our 2008 seed catalog. For those of you who may not know the farm also owns a seed company called Full Circle Seeds (www.fullcircleseeds.com)...you should check it out.

There is so much to say about seeds, but I'm too tired. I hope to write a post just on seed saving because it is pretty cool and an important part of farming. That will have to come later and maybe with some more slugs in the news (a reference for woonie mike)!

Spring is on it's way!

Slug Luv

Wow, 2008 has no idea how much I'm gonna rock it. Happy New Year everyone!

I'm back in BC...still a bit hung over from celebrations in Whistler, where I spent the past few days visiting my cousin and her family. I've only seen at most a couple inches of snow in my life...so seeing feet of snow was quite amazing. I learned how to cross country ski and tried my hand at skate skiing...downhill skiing will have to wait until after this poor farmer stage.

I believe in my last post I promised a tale about two slugs in love...so here it is.

Before I left for Atlanta I did one final night patrol in my greenhouse only to find some serious hanky panky going on. As I scanned the beds with my head lamp I noticed two slugs cuddled together. As I investigated closer I noticed that the slugs were head to tail with these huge white glistening proboscises sticking out of their necks. Further down the length of their bodies, each one had a hole in their side, which looked like they'd been punched in with a push pin. The slugs were slowly slowly stroking each other with these albino tongue looking things and occasionally sticking it in each other's holes. Eeeewwww! ...you may be thinking...but NO! It was quite beautiful...very compassionate and sensual at the same time. So I sat in the freezing cold and watched this late night show for a good long time. They were having a moment and I just couldn't bring myself to pluck them out of it. And now they've probably made babies who will soon be feasting on my lettuce as well. Sigh. The things you do for love.