Gardening · Homesteading

July On The Homestead

July was a scorcher on the island, and it was a busy month for us. We got so much done, for the prepping of this coming Fall, and as well next years garden beds.

I capped the blueberry and golden raspberry beds, to ensure that the deer would not get in. Doesn’t keep children out though…..

The giant basil grew so huge. I found a new home for it, so that the bees could get to all of it – it is no longer wrapped in fencing. Most days it is covered in native bees.

The Cinabar Moth. When I first saw the caterpillars in the upper acreage I was slightly skeeved, till I found out they were very beneficial. They destroy certain invasive plants, literally drying them out till they die. Good riddance Tansy!

We have spent countless hours bucking the logs, with more to do. Then you have to start the quartering of them……

The little seed that Walker planted in May on a field trip has grown, and was getting there at the start of the month.

On the last day of the month, the little plant was huge and full of flowers.

The few garlic I had in the ground put on garlic scapes, but I let them grow, as I hadn’t ever let them go to seed. I am going to leave the garlic in the ground, till next year.

After growing it for two years…the Chilean Guava put on flowers and tiny berries!

The first zucchini came by the first week of July.

Helichrysm in bloom.

Lavender in bloom.

A Junco bird set up a nest in one of the fields. I was hoping, but alas, the nest was abandoned. Was she eaten? I don’t know. But after a week the eggs slowly disappeared.

Harvesting and foraging, something we do most days. I don’t bring much back to the freezer, but that is OK.

Madrona tree peeling. Love, love the green stage. It doesn’t last long.

The first cherry tomatoes.

The garlic scapes getting closer to flowering.

On the last day of July it just started opening!

As July marched on, the blueberries started to ripen.

Last summer I was gifted a barely alive red raspberry start. I brought it back to life, and it wintered over, then I brought it with us. It put on the first blossoms in July. The native bees love it. I have since harvested a few starts off of the plant, to start for next years canes.

The first beet harvest.

A big project at the end of the month was refencing the upper patio area. When we moved in, I had no time and just made cages around certain plants. Now it is fully caged. And I can get in to weed, if needed. It isn’t perfect and is only 4 feet high, but overall we haven’t had deer issue up on the patio. It isn’t deer friendly up on it.

Native Salal berries ripe.

The first Himalayan blackberries.

Our homestead got featured as the front page article in the local newspaper. :-O

~ Sarah