Why Mulch?

Hillside potato patch made from composted soil.

Mulching is sort of a kissing cousin to composting. I've been using both gardening practices over the years.

According to the Ecological Agriculture Projects website, there are lots of good reasons to mulch.

• controls weeds
• protects roots
• improves soil
• reduces pests
• keeps soil most
• moderates soil temperatures

Rain barrels above the garden patch.

The last two reasons prompted me to start mulching.

This year, I planted my hillside potato patch during a warm spell. After only three days of watering from my 55-gallon rain barrels, it was over half empty.

The hillside potato patch covered in leaf mulch.

I gathered buckets of salal leaves from the cliff-side path (with the added bonus of a neater trail). After a heavy watering, I spread the natural mulch over the potato patch and watered again. My hope was to keep the sprouting seed potatoes moist enough to get well established.

Yukon Gold potato plants with mulch in June.

As you can see, mulching with natural products was a huge success. My potato plants haven't been this strong and healthy. I have great hopes for a good crop of spuds come August. My soil depth in the cliff-side patch isn't very deep yet. All of it has come from years of composting. But it's rich in nutrients, and now even richer in moisture.

Do you mulch in your garden? What do you use? Has it been successful?

For more information about gardening, check out the Ecological Agriculture Projects website by the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at McGill University in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada. Publications are available in French and English on a variety of agricultural and gardening topics.

Hop on over to the Not So Modern Housewife and see some great ideas for homesteading and simple living.

Want more ideas? Try Nancy's Our Simple Homestead Blog Hop. -- Margy

A New Front Deck

You've heard a lot about John. He's our good friend and the man who built our float cabin.

He's taught us a lot about living off the grid, and continues to help us with cabin construction projects.

Last week he delivered the new floating dock he made to add to and expand our front deck area.

We need space for my expanding container gardening projects, and for guests to use to park their boats. With our growing fleet of boats, mooring spots have become quite limited.

John built the dock on two large logs with extra flotation provided by 55-gallon blue barrels. The top is decked with cedar boards with a raised Bull Rail on one side for boats to tie up.

Once the dock was in place, it had to be attached to the front of the cabin. John had to trim one of our float's connecting brow logs.

Then tires were attached on the inside as spaces. He cut through the steel belt with a grinder then cut a flap with an xacto knife. That gave an attachment point to nail the tires in place.

A turfer (winch) was used to tighten three chain attachments between the dock logs and the cabin's float logs.

Now all we need to do is get a stretch of sunny weather to get it painted with stain to match the rest of the deck and to preserve the wood.

Thanks again, John.

Thanks for visiting part of my world this week. For more great posts from Our World Tuesday, click here.

And also a meme called Through My Lens by Mersad. -- Margy

3 FREE Kindle e-Books from June 24-28

As a special thank you to all of our blog readers, here are three Kindle e-Books just for you.

Pick one or all, they're FREE
from June 24-28

and you don't have to own a Kindle to enjoy them. Just get a free Kindle app for your smartphone, pad or computer. 

Check here if you need a free Kindle App.

Flying the 
Pacific Northwest

Description: Airports of Western Washington and Oregon form the backdrop for adventures in the Pacific Northwest. Take the controls of a Piper Arrow, as your personal flight instructor leads you to out-of-the-way spots. For armchair pilots and experienced pros, this book is an escape so realistic you’ll swear you’re airborne.

Click here for your FREE copy of Flying the Pacific Northwest.

Up the Inlet

Description: Come boating up the inlets of coastal British Columbia, where the mountains drop into the sea, and lifestyles focus on self-assurance and a different sense of purpose. Follow along as we cruise northward from the Strait of Georgia, to Cortes and Quadra Islands, and beyond.

Click here for your FREE copy of Up the Inlet.

Across the Galactic Sea

Description: Spaceship Challenger is on mankind’s first galactic voyage using a high-tech blend of space jumps and cryogenic hibernation. Captain Tina Brett leads her ship towards the ultimate goal, first contact with alien intelligence, until a navigational glitch changes everything. Then there's a mutiny, or is it something more? Six individuals on an epic journey for the good of mankind.

Click here for your FREE copy of Across the Galactic Sea. 

Happy reading from Wayne and Margy
www.PowellRiverBooks.com

Spring Garden Update

Spring growth in the float garden.

The weather has been mostly cloudy with a few light showers. In between, I've been doing lots of gardening. My float garden is coming along even after a Canada goose got in and nibbled off shoots in the two of the beds on the right. He left the roots in place so most everything survived.

I've been thinning my lettuce and kale plants to give the remaining ones more room to grow. I saved the best ones for us to eat in salads. Waste not, want not.

My floating garden with four raised beds and a solar panel watering system.

Here's an early spring harvest. My first batch of radishes is finishing up so I planted more. On the left is my first picking of broccoli. It's a new crop for me to try in the garden.

An early spring harvest of lettuce, kale, onions, radishes, and broccoli.

This year I only have two plastic tubs of potatoes on the deck because I planted more up on the cliff. The plants in containers are really growing, but I won't be able to dig new potatoes until August. Next to the potatoes is zucchini. The plants are growing but no blossoms yet.

Potatoes growing in plastic tubs and zucchini with a protective cage.

Here's a picture of my hillside potato patch when I planted the seed potatoes a month ago. The plants are doing well, but are not as big as the ones in the tubs. There just isn't enough water up on the hill to give them as much as they need. Even so, I'll got a lot of small potatoes when summer ends.

My hillside potato patch made from compost over the years.

Last fall I divided my rhubarb and put it in a larger pot. It is doing much better and I've picked enough for a rhubarb crisp. Next year I might divide it again and put it in two containers.

Rhubarb growing in a large pot on the cabin deck.

Because I don't have much soil on shore, I grow most of my crops either in the floating garden or in pots.

Do you have a garden? Do you do container gardening? What's happening now that the growing season has arrived?

Hop on over to the Not So Modern Housewife and see some great ideas for homesteading and simple living.

Want more ideas? Try Nancy's Our Simple Homestead Blog Hop. -- Margy

Annual Powell River ATV Club Nanton Lake Campout and Ride

Wayne's ready to ride on his Yamaha Kodiak 450.

Last weekend was the annual Powell River ATV Club campout at Nanton Lake followed by a group poker ride on Saturday. When Wayne and I first came to Powell River in 2001, we knew nothing about riding ATVs, or quads as we call them. Our good friend John, who built our float cabin, introduced us to them and taught us about riding in the backcountry.

Lining up to draw a card for our poker hand.

Soon after, we joined the local quad club. Joining organizations is a good way to get to know people in a new town. And in this case, they could teach us more about the trails and destinations in our local area.

Nineteen quads and about thirty people participated.

We took our quads off the barge and put them on a trailer to get to Nanton Lake. Each spring we like to do this, one local ride with friends and a quad camping trip. Last year it was to Whistler. This year we will be heading over to Vancouver Island to ride in the backcountry near Campbell River.

Cloudy skies and a bit of rain at Little Horseshoe Lake.

The poker ride gave us a little bit of everything, sunshine, clouds and even a rain shower at Little Horseshoe Lake. It was a great weekend and we want to thank the Powell River ATV Club organizers for a nice way to enjoy time with friends and the Powell River region.

Do you belong to any groups or clubs? What's the best part for you?

Thanks for visiting part of my world this week. For more great posts from Our World Tuesday, click here.

And also a meme called Through My Lens by Mersad. -- Margy

Update: Float Cabins for Sale on Powell Lake BC

Wayne and I love living in our float cabin home on Powell Lake in all seasons, but summer is the best. The skies are blue, the sun is warm, and the lake is perfect for swimming and other water sports. It's also a time when my floating garden starts producing all those wonderful veggies for our meals.  Several properties have recently sold, so don't wait too long. Summer will be here before you know it. Purchasing our float cabin home was the best thing we ever did. Why don't you come up and see what Powell Lake has to offer.


Powell Lake Cabins and Properties

Are you interested in getting a cabin of your own? Here's an updated list of cabins and properties up the lake that are for sale. Some are through real estate agents, so you can get more information via their websites. Also, there's a unique opportunity to lease a float cabin, you pick the start date.


Powell Lake Cabin for Rent or Lease

CLASSIC FLOAT CABIN FOR RENT OR LEASE ON POWELL LAKE: An off-the-grid float cabin is available for rent by the day, week, month, or year. It comes fully furnished and ready for immediate use. Accommodations include two bedrooms plus a spacious loft, a large living room with woodstove, a kitchen with propane range and refrigerator, sink with a hand pump for easy access to lake water, composting toilet, and lots of outdoor deck space. It's located in a protected bay twenty-five minutes from the Shinglemill. Call now and be ready to experience all that Powell Lake has to offer. For more information, contact John at (604) 485-2471 (evenings only).


Powell Lake Cabins and Properties For Sale

MLS LISTING:  Max Pagani at Royal LePage has listed a float cabin just 15 minutes up the lake in tranquil Hendersen Bay. This 560 sq ft cabin has an open layout on one level with two bedrooms, kitchen/dining area, a living room, and a wood burning stove for heat. A composting toilet is in a separate but easily accessible building. The expansive 1600 sqft deck has been rebuilt and has new stained boards. A protective log breakwater is heavily anchored.  All of this now for only $109,000. For more information, contact Max at 604-485-4231 or click here.

MLS LISTING:  Max Pagani offers another float cabin at the mouth of Goat River. This rustic 480 sqft cabin has room to sleep eight and one bathroom. Included are beds, bedding, dishes, generator, solar power, woodstove, and a 10 ft boat with an outboard motor.  The cabin is built on sturdy logs with cedar decking. A strong boom of logs provides protection.  The complete package is only $109,000. For more information, contact Max at 604-485-4231 or click here.

MLS LISTING: Call Harry at RE/MAX about this one bedroom, one bath 400 square foot float cabin listed in the June 2017 Powell River Real Estate Guide. It's located in a protected picturesque spot next to a small island in the Rainbow area north of Goat Island on Powell Lake. The cabin is a mobile with a nice addition on a very roomy float. It has one outbuilding for additional storage. It's being offered for the very reasonable price of $59,000. For more information click here or contact Harry Zroback at (604) 483-8333 or harry@powellriverrealestate.com.

MLS LISTING: Jamie and Jason Zroback of BC Land Professionals has the "Ultimate Fly-in" Cabin listed. It's a float cabin on Frogpond Lake on Goat Island in the center of Powell Lake. This all-inclusive float cabin is accessible by plane or boat and vehicle via a logging road on the island. Just a few of the amenities include: main cabin, guest cabin, shop, propane and generator for power, 3 boats, and all the furnishings. This secluded cabin is one of only three float cabins on the lake. The cabin and its lease for occupation are priced at $199,000.  Click here for more information and pictures. For more information, call Jamie at (604) 483-1605 or Jason at (604) 414-5577.

CRAIGSLIST LISTING (June 6) -- Two bedroom float cabin on Powell Lake with propane fridge, stove, wood stove, composting toilet, a basic solar system, and a large covered deck area. It is moored against Goat Island with access to shore and more lakes to explore. There's an on-demand hot water system ready to be installed. The sale also includes a second float approx 24 x 38 ready to build on. The price is $99,900. Call or text through Craigslist.


Powell Lake Cabins for Rent

Powell Lake Land Cabins for Rent: This 8.35 acre lakefront property is 16 miles from the marina. Five one and two bedroom cabins all have: pressurized drinking water; septic for toilets, sinks and showers; and propane stoves, lights and hot water. Lounge on your cabin porch, enjoy the meadow, or go down to the lake to fish, swim or just relax. Access is by boat or floatplane only. Water taxi service is available if you don't have transportation of your own. Rates are based on the length of your stay. Go to www.cabin-powell-lake.com for more information or email at info@cabin-powell-lake.com.


Powell Lake Cabin Services

Powell Lake Cabin Services: Already have a cabin up the lake? We are always looking for help with projects around ours. Our good friend (and float cabin neighbour) Justin Behan offers services such as cargo delivery, lumber packages, cubes, propane tanks, wood stoves, and anchor and rope supply. In addition, Justin is now a distributor for Sun-Mar composting toilets just like the one we installed in our new bathroom addition. For more information, call Justin at (604) 483-6527.

Powell Lake Real Estate: Want a real estate agent that really knows float cabins? That's Harry Zroback (our man Harry who helped us get our cabin) from RE/MAX. Harry owns a cabin himself, so he's an excellent person to contact for all your "up the lake" real estate needs at 604-483-8333 or harry@powellriverrealestate.com.


Powell Lake Stories

Want to know more about life up the lake. Check out these books from Wayne's Coastal BC Stories series:

Up the Lake (Free for Kindle and e-books)
Farther Up the Lake
Cabin Number 5
Off the Grid

If you have any questions about Powell River, Powell Lake or cabin living, I'd be glad to help out. Just leave a comment or use the e-mail link in my profile to send me a message. -- Margy

Lake Barge Delivery Job

Loading lumber and small items first.

Helping a neighbour last week was fun. We were already heading down to the lake with our barge to offload the quads at Kinsmen Beach. We put them on our trailer for an upcoming ATV Club quad ride at Nanton Lake and to explore the backcountry near Campbell River on Vancouver Island later this month. That left our barge empty for the return trip so we took a load of building materials back up for one of our neighbours.

Next, the delivery truck pulled into position.

The materials were to replace a shed flattened during last winter's snow storm. Their contractor constructed the walls in town and had them delivered by a truck with a heavy duty articulating crane.

Then we pulled up next to the truck for the large load.

We met the delivery truck and contractor at the nearby Mowat Bay boat launch. First, the small items were loaded onto the barge deck by hand.

Last the crane positioned the roofing on top of the load.

Finally, the large bundle of constructed shed walls was lifted into place on top of the barge's side rails. The "icing on the cake" was a pallet of green metal roofing.

When we arrived at our neighbor's float cabin in Hole in the Wall, they had plenty of able bodied hands to manually take care of the offload. We enjoyed helping a neighbour and getting the opportunity to know them a little better. -- Margy