The upcoming May long weekend pretty much signals the end of my geographical separation from my garden site, meaning that in a few days I will be present consistently to tend to it appropriately. The weather has turned decidedly gorgeous here in the PNW, overnight lows now consistently in the double-digits Celsius, so when I head over to the island soon I will have a truck full of peppers, tomatoes (which are already bearing fruit!), cukes and zukes reading to be planted out. A relative was kind enough to give my garden some water yesterday, as well as giving me a video tour via FaceTime. Apart from the entire garden area needing trimming and mower treatment, things look amazing. Peas, lettuce, spinach, chard, radishes, garlic, kale, collards, cabbage, quinoa, potatoes and beets are thriving. This year it looks like I will be eating first crops of tomatoes, peas, and potatoes earlier than ever before. My garlic has never been this big and healthy before....I can only imagine how big the bulbs are going to be which I pull up the first ones in about a month. The blackberry and salal thickets that ring my garden are exploding with growth...and in terms of other foraging opportunities, nettles and salmonberries look to be especially prolific this year.
As as soon as I get to the garden I need to sow bush and pole beans ASAP....
One more pressing need....we must fill our 3000 gallon water cistern, which provides the water-lifeblood for my off grid acerage throughout the drought like conditions which inevitably seize the Southwest B.C. Coast come mid-Summer....
There is a lot to do, and normally I would look upon all this with relish....but I'm currently operating at what feels like 50% physical capacity so this is going to be somewhat challenging. It must get done though....and I suspect it will. :)