Bregmata

The sap is slow to run this year. It was running when we tapped the trees but a week of below-normal temperatures (not cold, but cold enough) has slowed the run. That’s ok, it’ll make up for it next week and we’ll be desperately trying to keep up with the boiling again in no time.

Here’s a picture of where Rapa Nui used to stand. Well, actually, he’s still standing, down near the elms just to the right of the snowshoes. He’s probably all warm and cozy under his blanket of snow.

I suspect there may be some hauling of buckets in the snow this year. Wool socks stay warm event when sap sloshes into your boots.

We went into the city for the annual Seedy Saturday exchange with a few thousand tomatoes (and some squash) and came away with a lot of stuff I will neglect and compost. Or maybe successfully nurrture and harvest, but why start now?

This year’s weed patch will feature zero or more of the following heirloom varieties.

• Tomatoes (natch):
  • Howard German
  • Urbanite
  • Moscow
  • Livingston Perfection
  • Purple Cherokee
  • Yellow Plum
  • maybe Garden Peach and/or Craig’s Yellow
• Potatoes (natch)
  • Green Mountain
  • Kerr’s Pink
  • BC Blue
  • Warba
  • Brigus (placed second last year at the fair)
  • maybe Burbank Russet is I can find a supply
• Jarusalem Artichoke (new this year!)
• Peppers Jalapeno, Cayenne, Red Cherry
• Greens
  • Spinach Big Leaf
  • Mustard Greens(2 varieties)
  • Turnip white globe
  • Carrot some yellow variety
  • Beets sugar and regular
• Pulses
  • Peas Prince Albert, Monk
  • Beans Red-eye peas, Black Valentine, maybe Jacob’s Cattle
• Pumpkin, Squash, Melons
  • Squash Hubbard, Acorn
  • Melon Oka
  • Pumpkin Altlantic Giant
• Herbs
  • Dill
  • Cilantro

And of course all the garlic, a new replanting of asparagus, and maybe leeks (or, so far, leek) and maybeonions if I fix the electric fence. Also new is red dye amaranth, for the dye garden, and hopefully preparing the ground for 5 or 6 new trees for the apple orchard. And corn, did I mention corn? And the usual stuff out of the regular herb garden.

And I need a good nearby supplier of manure.

I already feel overwhelmed. I think I’ll go and lie down for a while…..