06 Saturday Apr 2013
Recovery Success sometimes means an Evolution in our lives we had not anticipated!
Stay tuned for an onslaught of WAY OVER DUE blogs, It’s been a year since I started and then had to give up on Biophilia… but let me tell you…. there is a ton of material to share
09 Wednesday Jan 2013
“We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. The old skin has to be shed before the new one can come. -”
― Joseph Campbell
It’s been a tremendous ride thus far…. and incredible year of recovery and a beautiful discovery of who I am, what I’ve done and where I am going. I am excited to announce I am returning, and though I regret leaving the blog world so abruptly… I can’t wait to share my stories of the journey I’ve had while away.
17 Thursday May 2012
The Faithful House garden has been planted. And let me tell you, it was a family and community affair.
Garden beds taking shape
Kevin and the boys preserve our wood with All Natural “Lifetime Preserve”
After my husband teased me to design a vegetable garden, I decided to take him on. Once the draft was in his hands Kevin graciously cut out the sod which was located off to the side and built our raised beds.
We pulled in a colleague of ours to fill the raised beds with the turned over sod, covered with newspaper to serve as a sheet mulch while the sod broke down and a balanced soil blend I ordered from one of my favorite soil distributors. The site’s native soil, being very close to the beach is great, on the sandy side but ripe and ready for a little plumping with some good chunky organics.
The vegetable garden area was designed to meet the needs or our family. Each bed being no wider than 5 feet but did reach 12 feet in length. The paths were laid 4 feet apart for the possibility of a wheelchair or garden stool to be placed. Paths are wide enough to run wheelbarrows through and each bed stands 18″ tall, with the possibility of being raised higher if the property were to ever host programs for elders or clients with physical challenges such as my own. In the end our materials were chosen with the idea that the gardens may only be temporary, as we don’t know the future of this area due to an application we have going with the City of Victoria. (Long story, I’ll get in to some time if it’s relevant.)
A week later, we ran a simple pvc irrigation line to the beds with pop up routers on risers and away we went. The simple system was hooked to our rear garden hose-bib with a battery operated timer, and an additional bib for hand watering! Making seed germination a little less tricky for someone who can’t manoever stairs well.
Our paths ended up lined with fabric and covered in chip. Each path started and ended with two 1′ x 2′ concrete pavers to transition and provide an easy path for my wheelchair to enter and leave.
lawn patched by the kids, pavers down and thin layer of chip spread as a temporary fix
The chip was laid shallow enough so that the tires of the chair could grab ground no matter the choice in path material. As it turns out, I’m baring weight on my leg now, so the chip feels great under my very plush Asics running shoes bought for me by my boys on Mother’s Day.
Seeds were bought from local nurseries and seed wholesalers, though not as many heirlooms as I had hoped. I thought it best to be less picky about getting everything perfect in a new eden.
Perching carefully over the Sweet 100s, as I coil the tomatoes around twine, May 18th
My current mobility or restricted energy might let me down from time to time, who knows what interruptions might distract me over the next 4 months. If I was going to do this right, I’d best not set high expectations. Better to enjoy the process and hope for the best. I’d already tasted disappointment. Anyone having been through rehabilitation or having watched a loved one go through it, knows this feeling.
Watching my family and friends take on the installation from the porch or kitchen window was wonderful, don’t get me wrong. But the simple fact that I had longed to create this garden for Oh so LONG, really tugged on my nerves. That I could not participate in the full experience was very difficult and disheartening. And I won’t lie, the general contractor in me was finding it hard to lose all control.
I remembered to practise tolerance and appreciation. I swallowed my pride, accepted my need to be where I was when I had to be there, and crossed my fingers that I would soon be able to participate in the planting and “frosting” of the gardens. And truly, that is my favourite part.
I’d be happy just to see the beds fill with green at this point. It seems the idea of sitting out in the gardens and running my hands through the soil, or weeding the beds is enough for a smile to creep over my face.
Before we knew it, I had hired our friend Sean to come by and keep the momentum rolling. Our 100 year old Blackberry brambles were trimmed and tied back against the fence, with great intention to at least postpone their inevitable chaos of tasty madness. The beds to the south of our vegetable gardens were widened and shaped to make room for the start of a sensory garden.
Get ready get set, GERMINATE!
The boys and I soon had our seeds in the ground. Peas, Beans, radishes, onion, mixed mesclun lettuces, cucumbers, pumpkin, and my very favourite, Kholrabi!
We cheated a bit this year for the sake of my limited energy; planting our lettuces with the use of seed tape which the boys thought was the smartest invention out there. We started deep magenta and purple zinnias on our front porch, laying out my heating pad under the flat to kick start them in the cool air.
The excersise was a test in my sons’ patience, but we all found it very rewarding and some needed quiet time spent together. This time we used peat pucks for the ease, but next up the kids plan to make their own pots with newspaper and recycle our egg cartons.. they are really inspired.
happy little seedlings and fruit stocks harden off on the porch
Herbs, raspberries and tomatoes began filling our back porch, bought from local vendors such as Ravenhill Herb Farm (Saanich BC) and Hazelwood Herb Farms (Cedar BC).
The seedlings and starters lay outside our kitchen door, patiently hardening off before being placed in to their new homes this weekend.
A visit to Hazelwood Herb Farm
Today, my mom and I carefully maneuvered a local nursery to pick up the last of my vegetables and fruits… (for now at least.) With the help of a charming young man, I hobbled down the gushing green aisles with a 2 gallon pot of Vaccinum sp. Bringing home three species covered in flowers, promising to flood our kitchen with tangy ripe blueberries.. if they ever make it to the kitchen!
From the Cardoons I grabbed for the giant planters out front our home, to the Hops bought to trail up our porch lattice, or the cabbage starters I hoped would reach maturity in the front gardens amongst the shrubs and perennials (how fun). I had myself a terrific and whimsy collection of botanicals.
Thank heavens my accident landed me in bed during the early Spring season rather than the late. I’d have a much harder time accepting my fate without the sun’s rays or the miracle of germination, fruit and flower.
another great table top garden project
Stonecrop purchased for my table top garden program at Silver Threads Care facility, now lay in waiting alongside six packs packs of sedum and flats of native plants for upcoming terrarium projects.
I’ve procured a good deal of prosperity in the gardens. I am glowing with excitement, rejuvenated by the bounty that lay before me, and gushing with the pride only a gardener or mother truly knows. And to top it off, I am outside, out there and using my leg. Powered by my own drive, inspiring myself and my children. Beating the odds and smiling all the way. I am one month ahead of schedule in my recovery and I’m fast forwarding to a higher state of mind, counting every blessing this accident has brought to me.
There have been many great experiences over the last few weeks, and though I have been away from the computer, I have a great deal to share soon.
Some photos from the Lovely Raven Hill Farm
Teas, Tinctures and Seeds c/o Ravenhill herb farm
Looking for seeds, please check out Raven hill’s seed catalogue at Raven Hill Seeds
25 Wednesday Apr 2012
Posted in Walk the Walk
In the world of Garden design you will find styles and schematics with a purpose driving their construction. When one focuses on the health and well-being of a gardens visitors, as the purpose. We know this to be one of the inspirations behind any garden design but the below design terms are used often in the field of Horticulture therapy and Therapeutic Horticulture.
Garden designed for the purpose of supporting the Health and Wellness of its population. Whether you are a patient in day program, living in a short term recovery centre, or rehabilitating at home. Maybe you’re caring for a loved one. Studies show that participating in activities and visiting a garden, plant or natural environment is therapeutic on many levels.
When researching gardens for health and wellness, you will undoubtedly find a great amount of resources. Knowing which terms to look for can really narrow your search and help to refine your information, making the time devoted on the research phase more efficient.
Below you will find terms most commonly used in HT and TH Design;
Restorative Garden Design:
The term “Healing Garden” and “Restorative Garden” are often used interchangeably. These garden designs focus on fostering health and wellbeing in regards to: physical, emotional and spiritual health. These gardens implement design principles such as reflection, sensory stimulation, light and dark spaces etc. On many occasions they incorporate a memorial space, resting place or spiritual representations.
I.E. Japanese gardens, residential gardens, local parks and recreation installations
Therapeutic Garden Design:
A “therapeutic Landscape” is more focused. It is designed to have an effect on the perceived patient/s with measurable outcomes, (cognitive, physical, emotional and spiritual),that are able to be observed and/or recorded. Gardens that boast this title are often designed for a particular patient or “population” of patients, families and the healthcare staff that work on the properties where the gardens are found. These gardens incorporate areas for walking, minimize negative intrusions using light and sound, have a prevalence of green materials over hardscaping, clearly identifiable features etc.
I.E. Recovery and Rehabilitation centres, Long term care facilities, Hospitals and healthcare environments, municipal parks & community centres.
Commonly used in the field, is another Design term, “The Enabling Gardens”. Described as a garden that is accesible and engaging to people of all ages and abilities. We define enable;
en·a·ble: tr.v. en·a·bled, en·a·bling, en·a·bles
16 Monday Apr 2012
Posted in Walk the Walk
Growing Vegetables to combat Depression
“establish an individual connection with the planet, its seasons and rhythms.”
Read more: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Nhs-Launches-Gardening-Course-For-Depressed-Patients/2543789#ixzz1sH3lxgSh
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution No Derivatives
16 Monday Apr 2012
Posted in Walk the Walk
16 Monday Apr 2012
The latest news from Canada’s dear David Suzuki. It’s a random post, and though it does not follow the theme of Biphilia’s current topic of choice, I feel obligated to share it with my readers.
Stay aware, stay alert, and choose to support your community. For without David Suzuki and his foundation, we would not be able to step up to create change before it is too late.
The David Suzuki Foundation, “brings science and solutions to environment problems….”, “the Foundation…solve(s) critical environmental issues and bring(s) hope for the future.”
Please take a minute to read.
14 Saturday Apr 2012
Very excited, as we sit together as a family, reviewing our plans to dig out the vegetable gardens.
True I am a garden designer with out a garden. In my defence, we’ve been planning the subdivision of our rather large residential property and I refuse to do things backwards. I’ve got scotch blood, and practise permacultural principles whenever I can. But we can no longer wait.
The sun beckons us, and the seeds we’ve been planning to start, are screaming to get in the ground. Over winter, my husband and I endured an incredible kitchen renovation (I use the term endured lightly, imagine the circus I had while preparing Christmas dinner.) My lovely new kitchen boasts a gorgeous 4′x7′ butcher block style island, crafted out of Alder.
I imagine it regularly covered in freshly picked vegetables, soil still hanging on to the flesh of the carrots and the crown of the lettuces. I dream of days devoted to canning with my mom; pickled carrots and beans, tomatoes and peaches, turnips, and beets. My freezer supplying us with frozen peas, asparagus and strawberries. We’ll be so inspired, that we’ll run out and bring home a pick-up load of sweet Chilliwack corn. We’ll giggle and dance around the kitchen as the kids break apart the kernels that have been cut from the cobs; little fingers submerged in the bowls filled to the rim. Traditions and seasonal rituals that mimic my own childhood in Abbotsford, B.C.
My recent injury means the process will not only document our successes, but address the many obstacles I will meet along the way. I don’t plan to leave the typical 4 foot paths between the raised beds. I know this garden will have to be moved and possibly destroyed when our lot lines shift. Our installation timeline is short, our space limited, and we’re trying to conserve on costs. As we intend to frame the beds in timber, we’re best to build smaller beds and let paths be 2 feet wide instead. Meaning I will need the assistance of a rolling bench or my little monkeys during weeding and harvesting practises.
Even the planning finds me instructing from a table rather than participating in the construction. I long for the labor but remind myself that I am simple not capable of the balance required. It will be wonderful to watch and document the project with my camera and notebook. My 11 year olds can certainly do with a little agricultural education and some time doing manly tasks with their dad.
This project will also leave room for some seed starting activities, which are easily documented. I will do my best to produce the records in a similar format to that of an Horticultural Therapy program. Presenting it to our readers in the same format I would a community program or school committee.
I am thrilled! Time to Get up and Grow!
Danée
14 Saturday Apr 2012
Take a minute to learn how to get the most out of a minute! Efficiency at its best
Posted by inventingeden | Filed under Walk the Walk
13 Friday Apr 2012
Posted in Walk the Walk
Growth of the inner spirit is fed when you nurture yourself. Let your branches grow freely!
