I live in south-west Ontario, Canada, nestled in a spot where three of the Great Lakes are easily accessible within an hour or so which include Lakes Erie, Ontario and Huron. Up until a couple days ago, we've gone without rain for almost three weeks. I had to use tap water for my garden plants most of that time. Now, I'm happy to report that all three of my rain barrels are full to the rim. Even my goldfish pond is full to the top again.
Hopefully, the rain will work its way to the many forest fires that have been raging uncontrollably these last couple of weeks. For the first time in living memory, the smoke was so bad, it blanketed large cities like New York and Washington, D.C., in what could only be described as an apocalyptic scene from a terrible movie. From the news I'm getting, the smoke has dissipated but I'm now seeing warnings this could go on all summer and has affected wheat crops in Kansas, the 'wheat basket' of the U.S.A., not to mention other crops like corn which could lead to food shortages further on down the road. I've read that the wheat failure is the worst since the 1950s!
This is why I encourage everyone to start a garden and grow some of your own veggies. In the 1930s and 40s, food shortages were rampant in Canada and U.S.A. because of the Great Depression, followed by WW2. During this time, the population worked hard to grow their foods in their own backyards, to the point where the people were producing 40% of the available food.
I planted a variety of beans and celery on the weekend as well as some peanut plants, carrots, Asian cabbage, tomatoes, potatoes and I'm getting ready to plant spices in the next few days. I also planted rhubarb in the ground after nurturing them for 3 years in pots. It takes that long for rhubarb to begin to mature (similar to asparagus) and now, will continue to produce for the next 20 years or so.
Planting trees and shrubs that produce edibles are also a great option. I have a grafted cherry plum tree with 5 different plum varieties that I planted 3 years ago. I got a huge bounty of plums last year and it looks like I'll have another bounty this year. I also have haskap and saskatoon berry bushes. Heck, I'm still collecting kale leaves from plants I put in the ground a year ago!
When it comes to foods from the grocery stores, we never know if its GMO, coated with pesticides or preservatives or has been touched by multiple people. When you grow your own foods, you can avoid all the pesticides naturally. Did you know that cracked eggshells placed on the ground around your tomatoes and other plants will keep slugs and other undesirables from attacking your plants? This is a 100% natural way to keep bugs at bay. Another hack is coffee grinds. Got an issue with ants? Try sprinkling coffee grinds around them. Ants find this repulsive. Again, 100% natural and the only person touching your garden foods is you.
There are all sorts of safe and effective garden hacks. A quick internet search will do the trick. There are also numerous videos on Youtube for just about every plant imaginable. For example, I went online just yesterday to learn more about the dill plant. As it turns out, one plant needs at least 2 feet of space to grow and have long roots so it's best to plant directly in the ground. If using a pot, to make sure it's large and deep. Every plant has its own specifics when it comes to gardening. Did you know that adding ground bone meal to the soil when planting tomatoes will help produce better fruit and a much higher yield? I found that out watching videos.
As for the rain, I am very thankful. I'm thankful that all my outdoor plants are getting a good watering. The rain also helps purify the air. I love how fresh the air feels after a good rainfall? The plants feel it too as it washes away all the dust that's built up on their leaves these last few weeks, with all the debris we've gotten from these forest fires added on.
If you're affected by these fires and / or the smoke, stay safe and hang in there. Your health and safety is of utmost importance. Know that you are not alone and we'll get through this together. I'll continue to pray for rain in the drought stricken areas for the sake of the farmers and the food supply.
As I write, the clouds have broken and the sun is shining through. I'll go for a stroll in the garden and prepare my new spice beds. Till next time!
