Seeds
for Thought
January 2008
Who can resist a crisp, sunny winter
day for a cross-country ski or a
brisk hike in the snow? If you look closely along the way you can see
buds nestling along bare branches. It’s comforting to know that the
recipe for spring is tucked inside a plain brown wrapper ready to go:
just add a little rain, a ray or two of sunshine and bit of warmth then
watch the action.
I like to imagine that we gardeners
are a bit like those buds. Our
wrappings may differ substantially but we entertain the same growing
potential. While we wait for planting weather we haunt the seed
catalogues. Evenings are filled with fantasies of perfection gleaned
from the pages that draw us like ants to honey. We plan our orders with
abandon that has nothing to do with common sense.
My husband peruses my list and
patiently points out the perimeters of
the gardens while explaining that we would need several more acres to
plant the seeds I am planning to buy. Still I like a variety of plants
and I like to experiment. Sharing seeds with a friend helps.
Vegetable seeds in the perennial gardens show off at blossom time and
then provide colourful
food. I can buy more knowing I won’t be planting
all of the seeds in the packet and that I can steal space among the flowers.
When I visit the Seed Store I smell
spring. The feast of colourful
packets several tiers high and lined up along the rows, talk to me. I walk
among them in a daze, my list dangling from my hand, forgotten in the
riot of colour. I fill my
basket. Even the sighs of defeat from my
trailing husband fail to deter my appetite. Once again I leave with a
bulging bag of seed packets I guard like an expectant mother.
Preparing the soil in spring
rejuvenates my spirit and I’m always on
the look out for information. At our January meeting one of our
members, Tony Nunes,
introduced us to biochar.
From its possible use
in ancient societies to its commercial production and experimentation
today, we were fascinated to hear and see the difference it can make to
the soil. Since then I’ve been planning my garden and researching
biochar. If you want to know more just Google “biochar” or check with
your nearest library. Happy gardening.
Jean Burbidge,
Chair
