Debbie Heys

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Eric Bee wrote:Interesting. So actually you get a lot more rain -- 572mm in 2015, 518mm in 2014, and plenty in the winter for the cover crop. Looks pretty good to me. If it were me I'd go with the fava and throw in some vetch or rye or whatever is handy that will germinate in low temps -- I see in November 2015 the high was 12C and low -11. Edit: we posted at the same time -- that's the spirit!"

I just found a government site: Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification Program.
Which classifies Enderby as a IDFMW1  which ( If I understand it properly) translates as Interior Douglas Fir Mild Warm Dry.Wi

Fava, Vetch and winter cereal it is! oh, and garlic of course!  





Farmers are funny about thinking outside the box but it's for good reason. When you are taking out a loan so you can buy seed getting creative is a bad idea. On my scale (loan? hah!) at least I have the option to experiment here and there without losing my land. Well in theory at least.

"Come on over to the fava thread to learn more.
Here people go ape-shit over fresh fava pods.  If you can get in before the California crop comes north, you can get a crazy price.  Even when there is a glut on the market, it's still about $2 a pound.  Now that people are starting to learn that you can actually eat dry favas... this is definitely a crop to play around with.  It's usually just a matter of finding a planting time that works for your location.  A good place to start is to go with your local barley planting time - they seem to like the same conditions.  But think outside the box too.

That's the great thing about moving to a new plot of land, you can plant at crazy times of year and observe what happens.  Quite often the local planting times correspond with the bird migrations.  Our local farmers have trouble growing grain because of the migratory geese.  But what they don't realize is they could plant it two weeks (or even two months) earlier and avoid the birds for both planting and harvest.  But no, they plant it at the 'proper time' and don't experiment with different timing for themselves.  "

Your suggestion to experiment and think outside the box, I am going to do just that as its right up my alley.  I will report back on what legumes and seeds I was able to buy.  We have beautiful garlic from our garden here.  I will take some bulbs to plant.
I will definitely grab some fava beans. Very excited about that. As a nurse, I find it very interesting that they have levodopa in them, which is a medication that is used to treat Parkinson's.

Eric Bee wrote:Holy rain shadow batman.

Ok, so cover crop. With that rain, given the timing, it wouldn't make much sense to do anything else. Kale will germinate at quite low temps, but obviously you'll need water. And by the time you came back it would be long done. Even so, it's maybe too late for all but really cold hardy like rye or hairy vetch.

Our area is dry fir, pine but we do have cedar as well. For water resources we have 2 springs and a well that produces 50 - 60 gal a min

I'm new to this forum, so I don't know yet how to reply to each of you individually, as I would like to. So I will do my best to cover the replies as best as I can without seeing them!  

We won't be back until again April.
We are Zone 6, and the soil is sandy, clay.
We get approx. 357 mm or 14 inches of rain
Approx 190 growing days
Do you think Kale germinate this time of year?  
Fava beans sound very interesting, and I will look into it.
I need a ground cover as the cleared portion is bare. I was thinking that clover would cover most bases as it attracts good insects, leaves a mulch, is drought tolerant etc.  I don't believe it's nitrogen fixing though, so may need to mix it with a plant that is. But I don't think I can spread it until April. Maybe May.
I would love to plant a tree, as I love the idea of having a long term marker of our time there.  PS,  your tropicals are making me jealous!

Looking for ideas on something we can plant to celebrate our new digs.  
Raw land, 7.7 acres with about 3 cleared and level. North Thompson Okanagan.
Our goal is to grow organic vegetable/fruit on the cleared while leaving the rest natural.
We are visiting this month (November) for the weekend and wondering if there is anything we could plant.
Any thoughts?

Hi, My husband and I just bought a few acres in Enderby. We look forward to meeting our nieghbours! Hopefully we will move onto the property in late spring.  We hope to host a few meet and greet pot lucks.  
Fyi, we will be looking for a suitable, like minded person with their own tiny home to rent .25 of a acre from us. Hydro and septic available.

Thank you John!  Can't wait to meet people from Enderby area.  
I love the area myself, but I'd love to know more about its particular micro climate.

Here in cowichan, we are buckling down for a "historic" storm this week end. Hope the damage is minimal!

Hi, Im new to this site. My husband and I just bought 8 acres in Enderby. We hope to develop it using permaculture principles.  Also, we would love to build a geothermal greenhouse to grow vegies.  
We will be stictly organic, and possibly have chickens.   Hope to meet with and learn from like minded people.  We will be hiring a few people along the way to get things done.  We are also looking at a thought of  making room to rent to someone like minded with there own tiny house .
Looking forward to getting to know you all.