Ready, Set, Grow

Today my float garden is highlighted on my favourite Powell River blog, Powell River Daily News. Head on over for the rest of the story.

Last week I amended my vegetable garden soil with composted manure. I do this in March so the soil can rest before planting in April.

Do you have a garden? Is it large or small? Do you have pots on a balcony or a few things growing in a windowsill? Gardening can take many forms.

I don’t have land where I live up Powell Lake in a float cabin. My good friend John helped out by building a cedar log float with four one by two metre raised beds. It's a kitchen garden with lettuce, spinach, kale, chard, beets, carrots, onions, radishes, tomatoes, and herbs. On the cabin deck I grow other vegetables and flowers in pots. It’s not enough to be self-sustaining, but the home grown produce is a nice addition.

I keep the garden tied to the breakwater most of the time. That keeps my plants away from shore and hungry critters like mice, squirrels, and woodrats. A simple pulley brings it next to the deck for gardening or to pick something for supper. Then, a gentle pull sends it back out to its protected spot.

A solar panel and bilge pump let me water with a hose. I garden like you would on land, but I do have to be careful not to put anything harmful on the soil or plants because we drink the lake water after boiling.

My garden is a bit unique, but it shows you can garden just about anywhere as long as you have soil, water, sunshine, and loving hands.

On April 3 and April 6 (Easter Monday) my float cabin and garden were included in a CBC radio special about alternative housing across Canada. The show includes a rebroadcast of an interview conducted by Willow Yamauchi (who grew up in Lund) in 2013. You can read more about that program and hear my segment by clicking here.

Thanks for visiting my float garden. If you would like to know more, select the “Gardening” category. If you would like to know more about what a great place Powell River is, visit Powell River Daily News. -- Margy