The Good Earth

I have a community garden.

3 transplanted Crimson Red Watermelon.
All my transplants are taking root (new perky leaves)
but none have started to take off and grow grow grow yet

I haven't had a garden of my very own in a few decades. I've done what I could but it was either too far away, or too shady, or too small. The last one I created was mowed down by the rental complex's gardener guy so I really gave up then. This garden is a short 5-10 minute walk, pretty much around the corner from me. It's not too full of gardeners. The plot is a decent size: 18' x 18' and the price is right: $25 for the season. If we're still here next year I will probably garden two plots; one with the goal of selling its bounty at the farmer's market... but I am wayyyyyy ahead of myself.


It was a bit discouraging at the beginning, about 2 weeks ago.   

first look at my garden plot: full grown weeds

I got the call to come get my garden well into June. I thought the plans for the garden had fallen through but what happened was that the farmer who tills our soil is a double amputee and he broke one of his prosthetic legs and/or his tilling equipment was on the fritz. Whatever the story, the garden was untilled when I got it. Bad. And the soil is... yep, clay.

clay soil as it came off my shovel

Heavy clay. And it's been pretty dry so the clay is really tough to dig into and the weeds are HUGE.   

But I thought just dig where you're going to plant and plant your stuff, you can pretty it up after. So I did, and I didn't wreck my body either. Surprisingly, after the first day I was very sore and then it was gone. Since then I haven't been in much pain at all from the digging. I start to clean out the garden tomorrow though. The thistles (eek!) are really coming back as is that crab grass and of course the dandelions. My seeds need me on their side to keep their beds as clean as I can.

weeds

Already I've had growing success! I planted all my seeds last Friday June 8th. We had heavy rain yesterday and the day before and overnight. Before the rain my Sparkler Radishes had peeped up.

Sparkler Radishes germinated in 2 days

I think some of the lettuce came up too: Kweik Butterhead Lettuce. Hard to tell though as it takes until the first set of leaves sometimes to recognize that that thing growing is a veggie and not a weed.

 

  I was presented with a lot of this kind of thing today  See image above... lots of these guys everywhere I planted stuff.

And in my northern climate I am trying a few experimental things. I am growing tomatoes directly seeded into the ground. I am waiting for them to germinate unless they already have (see paragraph above). The tomatoes I am trying are called Cosmonaut Volkov, a Ukrainian variety said to produce until the frost. Also directly seeded at Chinese 5 Colour Hot Pepper and Hungarian Hot Black Pepper. I think the 5 Colour Peppers are up. I don't think the Hungarian Black Pepper is.

inside Richter's Herbs greenhouse

I visited Richter's Herbs and bought a packet of rare seeds: Areni Jumbo Striped Banana Squash. 6 seeds per packet. Squash two feet long. The mound holding the seeds had a giant crack in it where some very vigorous thing is pushing up from below.

Like judging the size of a dog by the size of its puppy-paws, I await the debut of the Jumbo Squash seed leaves. I'm a little scared truth be told. Luckily the garden behind mine is empty so I envision pushing the giant vines over there if they are jumbo-sized too.

My Muncher Cucumbers are up! 4 little guys are enjoying the sun.

Muncher Cucumbers

Not seen yet: dill, yellow patty pan squash, Minnesota midget cantaloupe, shallots, and potatoes.

Black Valentine Bush Bean

Other things (possibly up): white kohlrabi, parsnips, purple outside/orange inside carrots, baby finger eggplant (also direct seeded!),  and beets.

Carrots? Parsnips? Peppers? Tomatoes? Eggpplant? Lettuce? or just weeds?? Everything just looks like this right now.

Tomorrow I am hoeing, trying to stymie the growth of the weeds. I may dig. I may not. I'd love to smother with black plastic the aisles where I walk to get rid of the weeds but it's not my permanent garden. If it was, I would definitely do that. I don't mind fighting the weeds. The whole thing is such a pleasure.

One more thing, this community garden requires us to grow a row for the local seniors. I've got 5 brussel sprouts and 4 cauliflowers and 1 broccoli planted for this purpose. These are all things I've never grown and probably wouldn't grow so I get the joy of watching them all season too.

This garden satisfies me in the same place that making art does.

weeds in pavement

It's in that same place. No wonder I've fallen so in love with it and feel like none of it is work at all.

It is just pure joy.

Take Care -- Hillary House woodblock print

Take Care  24" x 48" :  woodcut on photocopy paper, oil based ink, graphite

Hillary House in Aurora Ontario will celebrate its 150th Anniversary with the debut of the work of 6 artists on Saturday May 12th from 1pm to 4pm.

I was chosen as one of 6 artists to interpret objects found on site. I was intrigued by a collections notice, which led me to a price list, and then finally a recipe. The source material helped me fabricate a complete story told on one sheet of paper.

Top Third: Mrs. Holliday has an agricultural accident while picking pears. Her pinky is fractured.

Close-up of top left with x-ray and elaborate leafy border

Price from Dr. Hillary's posted price list circa 1914

leafy border with pear

Central Image: Dr. Hillary treats Mrs. Holliday

Dr. Hillary assesses the damage to the pinky finger

Pain is etched on Mrs. Holliday's face

Mrs. Holliday balls up her fist to cope with the pain. Her $5.00 fee DOES NOT include anaesthetic of any kind.

2 baskets pears accepted as partial payment on her overdue account

handwritten notation concerning the acceptance of pears at a value of $2.00 with $3.00 remaining on account

Bottom Third: 1915 Ladies of the Red Cross pear marmalade recipe and the Hillary House breakfast table serving marmalade on toast, in a dignified manner; pinky up.

close-up of pear marmalade in the jar

marmalade on toast

recipe card

enjoy the fruits of your labour

My print, and my woodblock,  will be on display in the ballroom of Hillary House for the 2012 season. Please come and visit. Directions here

2012 Market Season: Newmarket Farmers' Market

It was a perfect start to the market season. the weather was warm and sunny. While we did experience wind gusts throughout the day, I, mercifully, did not have to jump up and grab hold of my tent to keep it from flying off. It's a good thing as given my week I'm not sure I wouldn't have been quick enough. So thank you gods of wind for behaving.

backseat: twigs, chair, display boards, cinderblocks hiding below

This was my first look at the Newmarket Market since it moved to its permanent location at Riverwalk Commons in Newmarket. The location is fantastic. It's only one block away from a bustling small town main street, called, aptly Main Street. We had a steady flow of visitors. Some vendors I spoke to have been with the market for over 10 years. This is always a good sign, as was the lack of  farmers with produce. This time of year, we are waiting for the radishes, green onions and lettuce to come in. And that's normal.

The first market I've been to where you can leave your car behind your booth all day long. THIS is luxury to a vendor.

Crepes are a regular feature in all farmers' markets in this region it seems. Ottawa didn't have crepes.

This guy was caw-cawing up above, perfectly positioned above my blackbirds (and one red one) painting called The Visitor. Couldn't have created this scenario if I tried.

I was happy to see dogs walking about with their owners and socializing with their kind: peoples and animals alike.

handsome lad

loved his bangs!!

The best part of my day there was the entertainment. The Dustaleros performed. I *really* enjoyed this country band playing with a bluesy twang and a lead singer with a dusty whiskey-soaked vocal chords. They played my hurting country songs and I just sat there, paintbrush in hand, working away at some paintings that should-have-been-done-already, and enjoying the day.

This is beside the market. There is a lake called Fairy Lake nearby too...not sure if this is part of it

all my garden ornaments on sticks. Finally, 21 years later, I have "things on a stick"

A new fan. My Hoot Owl looked great on her.

happy shoppers

Sweet 'Ems, a cupcake/cookie baker set up beside me, had her first ever day at any farmers' market. She had a fantastic day selling out of all her baked goods! I was happy for her as it bodes well for the market as a whole.

entrance to Newmarket's Riverwalk Commons. Look at that sky! Summery clouds!

Here's the food draw at the market: the pizza oven guy. I heard a few people asking if he was there. In Carp it was the Bacon on a Bun people.

packed up after the day is done

Next week I will try out the Aurora Farmers' Market  and then I'll have to decide between the two.

On TV for part 2, in person at the Potters' Guild Sale, and debuting at the Newmarket Farmers' Market tomorrow!

Ok. I've been going nuts getting ready for this weekend.
And the weekend starts today.

Today is the opening day of the Hill Potters' Spring Sale. We are selling the goods all weekend at the Guild Hall, 530 Carrville Road, between Bathurst and Major Mackenzie Streets in Richmond Hill, Ontario.  Contact the Guild here: Tel: 905-884-0327 or email  hilllpotters@yahoo.ca
I will be demoing handbuilding on Sunday afternoon at 1:30pm. Stop by and watch me try to make something. No guarantee what it will be.

Also on tap is the delivery of my artwork to Hillary House for their Art at the Manor Event. Opening Day is the 12th of May. I am very gingerly transporting my still-almost-wet woodcut print to Hillary House today alongwith the woodblock plate I carved from a 2' x 4' piece of wood faced with Russian Birch. I have no idea what kind of wood lay beneath the Russian Birch, but it was purple in colur as I carved the birch away.

Melina Manna, videographer and interviewer, Community Connection Rogers TV in my "outdoor studio"

Melina at work shooting my work

My black and white proof of my Hillary House woodblock

Melina Manna was by at the beginning of the week as I prepared to proof my block. The day was a little over 10C/50F and I was worried the ink wouldn't move well, but it performed well and I got my proof. The final version ended up being colour and on different paper and with more stuff to fill in the blanks here but the majority of it was complete for me in this proof.

Part 2 of my Community Connection interview with Melina Manna will air tonight at 6pm and again at 10pm.
Channel 63 in York region on Rogers Local TV Channel.

Once in a Blue Moose

And tomorrow I am off to my first farmers' market in about 2 years. I will be at the Newmarket Farmers' Market, from 8am-1pm. I've been working on some new stuff ,( like the Once in a Blue Moose painting), and I am really looking forward to seeing what my new market is like. Come out and visit me there!

I'm on TV tonight at 6pm and at 10pm! Community Connection - Rogers TVcable 63

First a summary: I was interviewed for a local cable TV program about a week ago while I was at Hillary House searching for material for my artwork for the Art at the Manor exhibit opening May 12th. Part 1 is airing tonight at 6pm, and repeated at 10pm.  I am the "featured Hillary House Artist" in the programming schedule.
 
Melina Manna, my interviewer, will be following up with me as I create the artwork I am discussing on the first part of my TV interview. She was supposed to come by today to tape it, but the weather is not co-operating so I have post-poned it until Monday.

I'm printing outside because I live in a small apartment. I don't have a studio. I am printing a four foot by two foot woodblock and my paper is even bigger than that; plus my tools, my inks, my glass to roll my ink onto and etc; my two cats who would happily walk in the ink to get my attention... So, before I knew I'd have an audience, never even thinking it'd be a tv audience (!) I was planning to work outdoors under my new market canopy.

As I write this the temperature is 39F / 4C. 

OMG it's sooooo bright white, but I digress. I need at least 10C / 50F  to even have a hope of getting my ink to move across the block and transfer well to my paper. So, for today, it's a no go. Here are some images from my block. You can bet I am DYING to ink these up right now but I am patiently waiting until I do it on camera. The surprise that you always get with a print will be the real thing the camera will see on my face. I still have a few days after the taping to adjust my image if what I see is not right.

overview of the whole woodblock   24" x   48  a few areas left to be carved on TV

work-related injury: pinky fracture

breakfast table

Dr. Hillary and Mrs. Holliday: doctor, patient, and fractured pinky

Here's the link to the Rogers TV Show called Community Connection
and their description of tonight's show

Friday, April 27:
6:00 PM, 10:00 PM - A look at people and organizations that help make York Region the place it is. Featuring Hillary House Artist, Roller Skating, Cut-A-Thon, Church Fundraiser, Mother's Day Walk, Kindred Spirits Orchestra and Snap in the Community.