Author Archives: Rhona

 

Mason bees in the summer

Jul 24

By now all my Blue Orchard Mason Bees (Osmia lignaria) are finished: this year’s adults have gone to the great flower garden in the sky and the next generation is tucked up in its nesting tubes waiting for spring. It … Continue reading →

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Time of the stinking rose – with rust

Jul 12

I was looking forward to my garlic crop this year: I’d followed farmer Ray’s advice (plant deep, mulch well) and my plants seemed to be thriving. They also appeared to be rust-free, which surprised me since I’d had rust the … Continue reading →

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Ecovillage tour & Canada Day

Jul 7

Another place I’d long wanted to see was O.U.R. Ecovillage, near Shawnigan Lake on Vancouver Island. A haven for green builders, permaculture designers, and people in search of collaborative and sustainable lifestyles, it’s a half-finished dream with a population that … Continue reading →

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Terra Nossa Farm tour

Jun 30

Last Sunday I got down and dirty with the Victoria Horticultural Society’s Fruit & Vegetable Group, whose monthly meeting was a tour of Terra Nossa Farm. I’d often bought eggs or sausages or chicken from Evelyn, who commands a loyal … Continue reading →

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Wild & raw

Jun 20

It’s been a slightly wild week, and the weather’s been bordering on raw at times, but I think we’re safely and belatedly into our summer now, if a mild one. The strawberries think so, anyway. Farmer Ray’s berries have been … Continue reading →

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