Hymers Fall Fair

Hymers Fall Fair 100th Anniversary

September third was one of those unbearably hot and humid days, even more so away from the Lake in Hymers . We thought we would beat the heat of the day by heading out early, but there was no escape. It didn't seem stop anyone from attending, with an endless stream of vehicles piling in, families piling out, and dogs everywhere (this is the one fair where year after year I see more people bringing their dogs - we decided next year we'll bring Clifford..) I'd swear all of Thunder Bay was there.

The goats were, of course, my favourite - but also the seed saving entries. 

 seed savers

Hymers Fair

3 September 2012

I've always loved the Hymers Fair, but haven't entered anything since I was a kid. Next year I'll try to change that. Our backyard is full of prize winning cucumbers, beans, leaks, basil and tomatoes...      After not feeling well for days, it didn't take long for the heat to get to me and more disappointing was passing up fair food; (there's just something about the smell of fresh kettle corn and elephant ears) but you can't mess with 100 years of tradition. Next to the arts & crafts building with potters and spinning wheels was hay bale tossing and people on stilts. Local honey, wooden flowers, classic carriages & engines - there really is something for everyone. Livestock shows with calves and lambs are ..well, simply adorable.

hay bale toss
Hymers Fall Fair 2012

produce for sale
Hymers Fall Fair 2012

Spring Cleaning

Spring cleaning swooped into the front garden late Monday afternoon while R was at a meeting. It brought cold beer and a rake, and took about half and hour to make a disaster of it all, and another hour to clean it (ish) before R returned and we went on with our never ending list of things to do.

I feel a huge relief for doing it, but also slight unable to move comfortably - in a good way, bad but good - not sick bad in any way, which if fine by me. My body just wasn't prepared for the sudden session of garden yoga. I cleaned back to the mass of ferns, and broke them down as mulch - that seems to have kept the ferns going thus far, so we shall just continue. Everybody else seems to be returning with enthusiasm.

Lady's Mantle
from Heather's garden

Pulmonaria, Lungwort & Heuchera 'Lime Marmalade

Columbine, 'Songbird Goldfinch'

I planted peas on the weekend: mammoth sugar heirloom, two rows of early snap, one sugar pod, and one sugar daddy. Short rows, but enough to enjoy an early harvest, then move on with the space. They're planted in our micro-climate nook, which has been ready for seeds for weeks. I'm brave enough, are you?
Peas like cool soil, cold even - and can tolerate light frost and snow. Pansies too, and radishes, lettuce too.

We have peas and lettuce coming, radishes soon, just had to find the seeds...

I can not wait to start digging in the new bed.., just a matter of time.

I've decided that the greenhouse is going to thoroughly consume me this year with dirty green wonderfulness, and I'm just going to let it have its way with me. I'm going to try to photo document as much as I can without being a pain, and getting the job done, and not killing my iPhone ...what a blessed thing the iPhone is.

seeds 2012

Stoked

Met a dog named Kone today ("snow" in Ojibwe). Walked in blowing snow again, hello winter. Came home to find 1012 Gardening Guide from Stokes Seeds in my mailbox, hello winter reading.

:D

Seedy

This Australian Digger's Club catalog is from Rohan's father, who thoughtfully forwarded it along through Rohan during his visit home last August. Digger's boasts "the largest range of heirloom vegetables, cottage flowers and fruit plants that can be delivered direct to your door." I enjoy their logic, and especially enjoy their

MINI PLOT PLAN.

Comparing the dates (i.e. planting, harvesting) to ours in the northern hemisphere is something. I can't wait to gaze at the stars in Australia, and see what's blooming there this August ~ during winter.

Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog also arrived the other day.

Tomato Growers Supply Company

Stokes Seeds

Salt Spring Seeds

Seeds of Diversity ~ Resource List 2010

seeding

....ordering seeds from Salt Spring Seeds , also finding:

• for the kids: bean-keepers from evergreen.ca
• planetnatural.com
• avant-gardening.com organic gardening tips