Springtime Sunshine!

That sunshine break (past two weeks) this spring was super awesome!  We loved getting our outdoor spring cleaning done and enjoyed the beauty blossoming in our garden!

Our outdoor patio area is now set up and ready for BBQs! Come on over! 

Now let's see where the path to the garden leads...

Garden tea for two?

Awe...lilacs!

Lots getting started in the green house!

Tomatoes!  Peas!

Our garden Circle space is ready for conversations!

Cauliflower!

Celery!

Anis!

Sweet Sicily & Lady's Mantle!

Awe....roses!

Most of our trees are in flower now!

New archways are coming for some of the grapes. 

The other grapes have been finally trained up poles & wire.

Beautiful!

Finally...we've got Borage this year! The bees love it and it's edible! What better plant to have!

Calendula!   I've already started adding it in my Sensational Salads!

And the garden grows....

Spring Projects

Spring time is project time! We've been busy "beautifying" our home. We post these pictures for our family and friends who've been asking what we've been up to... the truth behind "We've been busy!" when our social lives have been null existent. Smiles.

Outdoor furniture gets a fresh coat of paint.

We've been meaning to paint the outside of our house for years.  I got to the bottom and window trim so far! (Only the roof trim to go!)

(Below: Before picture)

After!

(Below: Before picture)

After!

 The next project is taking down this old roof (the support beam foundation was rotten) and to replace it. This will be our "outdoor kitchen" - "garden produce washing area" one day. For now, we've cleaned up the mess that was underneath it  and we're getting ready for a new roof :)

The fence gets some lovin!  I can't believe how it looks like a whole new fence!

I added some candle lanterns on the fence to light the path at night. 

Some new raised beds (small boxes) for the cukes and some squashes, with a fence they can climb.

An area for the bees!  The palettes are for the purpose of added extra shelter around the hive during the winter (wind barrier and structure for a roof), as well as shade from the south during the summer (climbing plants planted). 

Finally got around to adding some sides for the outdoor patio area on the front lawn. The bricks need to be re-set (flattened), and eventually there will be a top open pergola structure of sorts for climbing plants.

Along with the white fences that were painted, so was the banister trim and posts at the front of the house. And all these projects are just the beginning of garden & home spring madness!

Garden Gabbers @ Earth Day Chilliwack

Garden Gabbers officially introduced itself to the community @ Earth Day Chilliwack this past weekend on April 21, 2012!

The "Creation Station" was a hit!

These girls model their 'bumble hat' creations!

Come on in and see what we got! So much packed under one tent!

There was bugs in jars for the kids to look at... "Edutainment" activities, games, scavenger hunt handouts, etc.

Plants for sale! (rhubarb, raspberries, lovage, mint, lemon balm and more). Still some available!

I brought the Fairy & Gnome picture board I painted... for fun! I loved seeing people stop for pictures...I bet I'll be seeing some across Facebook soon!

A closer look inside...

I can't believe our rhubarb plants in the front yard produced this much already! 

We ended up selling around 10 pounds of salad greens... a mixture of chard, pea shoots, lettuce, kohlarabi, cabbage, collards, anis, kale...  Jason got up at 3am to harvest, and everything was washed and made ready for the event before 7:30am!  And it hardly looks like we even touched the greens in our garden!  

 I loved selling my magnets! Still lots left for those interested in magnets with a 'local, food growing, farming, organic...' message.

 Jason joined Rachel to announce the "Community Gardens" ribbon cutting with the mayor. He remained busy coordinating the work party in the gardens during the day...

More pictures to come!