how we do it: starting from seed

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A few friends have asked recently how we do the garden around here: so here’s a long overdue post with a glimpse into our humble, hard-working greenhouse. Come on in for a little tour and I’ll give the low-down on what we’re up to this season!

First off, if you’re not growing a food garden but would like to, I highly recommend Carolyn Herriot’s book A Year on the Garden Path. Especially if you live on Victoria! It is an invaluable resource as she walks you through what you should be doing, week-by-week. This is my absolute go-to handbook and after years of dragging out multiple books from the library, trying to figure out zones and soil types and being generally confused…this has made it all so simple for me! OK, ready to get started?

1. Choose your seeds!

You get to start with the fun part! If you’re organized and motivated, you can order way ahead in January. This is when the first of the seed catalogs come out, and it’s cold & dreary outside, and you have time to dream about getting your hands in the dirt. Otherwise, you can wait till they come into stores in early spring. Or a bit of both! This is the year I’ve missed the boat on planning ahead (for pretty much everything)- so I went with the quick and simple, and bought a pile in one fell swoop at Buckerfields. I purchased all Westcoast Seeds this time- they are well-priced with a reliable germination rate, and have a huge selection of Heirloom variety to choose from. (But be careful, those $3 see packets do add up fast. Still way cheaper than groceries, I figure. And better for you than candy. Or coffee out. Now you see how I justify these things…)

For seed purchasing, I also highly recommend:

The Garden Path
Saltspring Seeds

One good stock-up lasts us a couple of years, and it’s fun to have some extra seeds to swap with friends. I have done a little seed saving in the past (lettuces, arugula, beans and peas) but to be honest, its just not my favorite thing to do. No good reason, it’s just too fiddly for this stage of life. But don’t let me discourage you! Heck, it makes sense. I just need to figure out how to make it simple. Maybe this will be the the year.

Here’s the stash:

Most years I start tomatoes as well, but they do need a little more loving at the seedling stage. Knowing my time is limited, this will be a year for buying established, robust tomato plant that someone else has loved up on! I try to find them for cheap at random roadside stands…or waiting for The Garden Path’s sale to pick up Carolyn Herriot’s fabulous heirloom varieties. I haven’t bought them yet- so I’ll keep you posted what we find. More on that later this month!

2) Gather your Planting Supplies.

I’ve had these trays for about 5 years now and well…they just ain’t pretty. I don’t love that they are plastic, however they do last, and they make planting out really easy. There’s lots of cute links that show homemade biodegradable newspaper pots, or peat pots…and we’ve tried those. But this is what works best for me so for now, I’m sticking with it.

Sorry, I know that’s a bit uninspiring…but trust me, its worth it. Buy your supplies at Integrity Distributors on Keating X-Rd if you want the best prices and great service. (And you feel like a gardening professional shopping at a wholesale landscaper store. At least, I do.)

Next: starting soil! I know almost zilch about the proper chemistry of soil, but I do know that seeds germinate best in a starter soil that’s not full of lots of nutrients. I was told this one is best, so this is what I do. My seeds grow into happy sturdy seedlings and then I plant them out and it just seems to work. The label reads “Sunshine Professional Potting Soil- #5″.

Again- my apologies for the uninspiring photo. What can I say, my greenhouse could use a good cleanout. Let me add one of my sweet garden helper to change it up for you!

3) Fill ‘em up!

We’re all about speed here- so I put my fine-looking eldest son to work for about 15 min to fill me up a whack load of trays. We water them so the soil is cool and dark and moist, and then I stick in my little babies and label with simple popsicle sticks. Most of these were started a month ago- but really only just started taking off in my open greenhouse in the past couple weeks.

Fast forward a couple weeks, and you get these cute little seedlings:

(leeks, romaine lettuce and cauliflower)

Filling these seed trays really only takes an hour or so, maybe twice in the spring. Then it’s watering every couple days, and gradually, I plant things out as they are ready (and as I can get my act together out in the garden to have the soil ready.)

I aim for lettuces, spinach and salad greens to go out anytime in mid-April, and they can be continually seeded every couple weeks for a good summer supply. Sugarsnap peas can go directly in the ground in early April, and I wait on the squashes and tomatoes until late May.

When all else fails- plant out the whole garden around the May long weekend and you are good to go! Seriously, everything basically grows best in the summer months!

And… that’s it! Oh, and don’t feel like you need a greenhouse to do this. Inside works too- same trays (or smaller if you’re using your windowsills), add a clear cover and leave them in a sunny place. And make sure your toddlers don’t dig ‘em up. (Been there- SO messy!)

The garden beds themselves are being tended, little by little. We have a bit of (chicken-pecked) Swiss Chard still from last year, the rhubarb is emerging, there’s oodles of flowers on the apple, cherry, plum & peach trees, and plenty of green buds on the blueberry bushes and raspberry canes.

Oh, and a lot of chickens that are enjoying their final days having run of the place. And mulch galore.

And the good news is… it’s not too late! You can start seeds or plant starters easily this month. I’ve got some kale & cucumber seeds still to pop in the soil later today.

One last tidbit- I found an amazing deal this week, and today is the LAST day for this incredible book bundle. I have read a few of these titles already and love many of the bloggers. Crazy good value with some pretty amazing writers and their books! You can print out the ones that really catch your eye, or you can read on your computer or device. (I am loving that I can sneak in a few pages of reading on my kindle app for iphone while I’m out & about, or while breastfeeding my little guy. I print off recipes once I’ve tried them, and find these resources are a great way to create my own management binder and worksheets with the huge variety of free downloadable forms. I’ve also learned a ton from bloggers in these books- super useful tips all round. I am so grateful for my internet community!)

Click directly on the photo below if you’d like to buy your own! Today is the last day!

Here are some other great reviews if you’re not sure whether these are the books for you:

Steady Mom- Last Chance

Blogging With Amy- Ultimate Bundle

Keeper of the Home- The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle

Have a fabulous weekend digging in the garden, playing with your kiddos and sneaking in some time to read!

(Disclosure- this is an affiliate site and if you buy through me, it helps me devote a little more time to this blog space! And buy more seeds. Thanks so much!)

baby, 6 months looks good on you…

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I’ve been MIA from this space…has it seriously been 3 months since I last posted?

Thoughts of 2012 Christmas greetings, then 2012 year-end reviews, then reflective vision-casting 2013 posts,

or at the very least, chatty updates on baby and faith and food and fun…

have made it only as far as my mind.

I’m not sure if it was having baby #8 (who is as cute and easy-going as could be, apart from a nasty 7 week cough that finally resolved this month),

or if it’s having a 17 year old driving and dancing and teaching piano and dreaming…

or if it’s the six-in-the-mix between those two, that need schooling and organizing and driving and loving and non.stop.food…

but the scales were tipped a few months ago. Big time.

All systems needed revisiting, all recipes needed tripling, all floors needed a serious cleaning and I’m just now, feeling like we might, just maybe, have a groove going for this “school year”.

In it all,

there’s been a lot of laughs, nearly-sufficient sleep, God’s good grace leading and guiding us, and a crazy sense of joyful bewilderment at how delightful yet exhausting, simple yet complicated this season of life is.

And I’m not quite sure how this bloggy space fits into my days…but I do love documenting at least brief accounts of our milestones and moments…

So here’s one:

not-so-wee Jesse Jack at 6 months…with new moves, new rolls, a lot of drool and the most darling laugh.

Oh, and sporting some new knits…on top and bottom (’cause you can always make time for a little knitting.)

Though he’s mostly showcasing his scrumptiously smooth babychub here…

(and yes, he looks just like all the other Gillespie babies. I’m told.)

I hope to be in this space a little more often… I’ve got some stories and news and musings and God adventures to share with y’all.

And I want to hear yours!

Oh, and I’ll still be writing on Fridays with my sweet, smart, savvy friends, The Laundry Moms. Come visit there too!

this little light of mine

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Every fall and again in the spring, I’m reminded…and I take time to remember.

As I do that today- I choose to declare and celebrate life and hope, the gift of family and the promise of freedom!

Not just for me, but for the world.

My new friend Fawne asked me if I would write a guest post on her blog, sharing a little of my story, my journey of faith.

Come on over to her space Beauty in Weakness today for more of my story. And please explore her blog- she writes beautifully and has amazing stories of how a new faith & hope was found through the loss of her son.

And… if you know someone who has had an abortion and does not yet know the gift of forgiveness and freedom from shame, pain or regret- will you point them my way? I’d love to listen, pray & encourage. We don’t need to walk this alone.

“Let there be LIGHT. And the light came.” Genesis 1:3

The same God who, with a word and a breath, created the heavens and the earth- is wildly crazy about your heart. And is so jealous for it.

Will you trust Him with it?

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:6

I am so very thankful for His light & His face.

Walk in truth & light today my friends!

Welcome, class

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Allow me to introduce to you the class of 2012-2013 at the Gillespie family homeschool:

Wee Jesse. Smiles, coos, gurgles and is leading the master class in how to sleep 9 hour stretches through the night!

Hallelujah, we’ve got a sleeper!

And oh, it’s so nice having this little guy around. Totally yummy and smoochable, his sweet face is a soothing balm in the frenzy of certain moments.

Young Will is ~~exasperatingly~~ hilariously cute in his intensely curious, exploratory inquisitive stage.

Nothing is as sweet as discovering an entire roll of toilet paper unrolled and in the toilet, dental floss wrapped around the taps and toothbrushes, the water tap turned on high to fill up any container that can be found, the classic felt pen, lipstick and nailpolish bodypaint…the list goes on. How’s that for a positive spin? This boy is busy.

Ahhh, the fresh face of an eager Kinder.

Ethan is easy to please with new crayons, a pad of paper & any schoolish-looking workbook , a trip to the library, and anything snug-fitting and cozy to wear!

Simple pleasures make for smooth sailing with this lad. I’m so looking forward to a year of learning with this one!

Another eager beaver, Eli exudes enthusiasm from every pore of his being!

This fella sings at the top of his lungs from dawn to dusk, loves decoding street signs and cereal boxes, and is always, always agreeable towards any crazy idea mama wants to try.

These 5 & 7 year olds are my little sponges, wide-eyed and ready to drink deep of any new discovery I can lead them to. I LOVE homeschooling this age!

Sweet Isabel…coming into her own! Introducing “curriculum” takes a little more strategic presentation, with plenty of wiggle room for individuality!

Blossoming into the enjoyment of reading is happening here, best done with less nudging and more cuddles on the couch.

She gets down to business with her writing and math, knowing the sooner she’s done, the sooner she’s free!

Isabel loves her younger sibs and is an amazing help for us all- does diapers, chases toddlers, finds everyone’s missing anythings, does her own laundry, bikes herself to her 6+ hours of dance classes and can whip up lunch for 9!

I’m loving her tender heart these days and her creative, capable hands.

Still game to hold a chalkboard and make mama happy, Miles is agreeable to all things fun & a bit silly.

He’s also our soccer playing, wood-chopping, ditch-digging, baby- carrying ‘tween and cooked up a mean lentil spaghetti sauce yesterday.

Another babysitter in the ranks makes for three in the home- now that is fun!

Mature, funny, studious and handsome, (if I do say so myself), Aaron was focused on getting into his Grade 11 coursework…so I didn’t force the issue of participating in our nature walk and first-day-of-school photoshoot. (I don’t think he was disappointed.)

This teen is a dream to have around…works hard, keeps us laughing and pondering and discussing all things from theatre to theology.

This shot was taken on his 15th birthday a couple weeks earlier.

Photos to come of Al & Emma…they have been in the car or on bike, taxi-ing here and there to dance, piano & voice lessons. There’s an “N” on the near horizon and we are all looking forward to having another driver in our midst.

One last shot of me…and my two little sidekicks. It’s gonna be a crazy good one, this 2012-2013 school year.

Here we go…

scent-sibility

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Last spring, a group of friends gathered at my place and made up a few batches of soap and other homemade skincare products. Isabel helped out with this recipe.

Four months later and this supply is still going strong (although you do want to keep this out of hot bedrooms in the summer months-we learned that one the messy way!) Really, it’s a must-try! Inexpensive to make, with simple ingredients that we always have on hand- and it really works.

For today, I’m over at The Laundry Moms - come visit for the full scoop on how to make some for yourselves!

Do you use any homemade or all-natural skin care products? Any favorite recipes to share?

A birth story- welcome Jesse!

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OK, it’s been way too long since I’ve been in this space. I can’t believe our sweet little man is 4 weeks old today. This post has been awhile in the making- but mostly from the practical limitations of available “two-handed” typing time! This baby has loved to nurse, and nurse some more. Time for a little catch up.

I can’t help but start off with the overall feeling of gratitude in my heart for this pregnancy and birth. God has been so gracious with me!

While pregnant, I was strangely at peace with how simple it all felt…no major symptoms of discomfort to manage, and no compelling need to do much beyond what my normal healthy lifestyle already offers. This was a very different experience than my pregnancy with Will- where after experiencing a placental abruption and emergency c-section with Ethan’s birth, I was very focused and intentional about rebuilding health and strength and healing to my body. Occasionally I would feel this self-check of doubt, like “I should be doing more”- but I recognized that voice to be a little lie trying to creep in to my peaceful place…and I left it at that.

I have loved the care of the most wonderful midwife, Michele Buchman of Dandelion Midwifery. She is so relaxed, peaceful, and has been an empowering, compassionate listening ear. She has been totally supportive to follow my lead, while carefully answering questions and directing plans as needed.

My last weeks of pregnancy were wonderful…after the hectic month of June, I was ready to settle in at the poolside with my little crew of swimmers, and was able to catch up on visiting time with so many friends that the busy homeschooling year just doesn’t allow for. I regularly visited the wonderful chiropractor Misty Watson, and got this baby into a good position with the use of the Webster technique- which also brought much relief to my achy pelvis. I had beautiful pregnancy photos taken by the wonderful Shelly Wason , as we snuck away in the wee hours before dawn to enjoy the light of early morning sunrise together at Saxe Point Park.

Labour started slowly, as it has for all my babes. Two nights of contractions for a few hours- just enough to keep me awake part of the night. By 3:30 or so the following Tuesday afternoon, one week past my due date everything shifted, becoming a little bit stronger and more frequent. I knew this was the start of the real thing, so I gave Michele a call after a half hour or so, just to be sure.

Once Michele came, contractions were regular, every few minutes, but still very manageable. Shelly came over to take photos, Trysta came for support and prayer, the kids were out with friends, Al put on the coffee and made snacks for all. I plugged in and found a nice groove as I worshiped along with Will Reagan to one simple song, “Climb.” I had been listening to this one for a few weeks, knowing it would be the perfect labour song- and it was.

It was a gorgeous, sunny late afternoon…Trysta had a mini photography lesson outside with Shelly and I did my own thing…tucked into bed for awhile, had a shower, made some tea (“Comforting” by Aveda- the perfect labour tea!), and walked around for an hour or so.

Jill Pearman, our 2nd midwife came by shortly after, and within a few contractions I knew I was transitioning. As I was still doing my own thing, tucked away in the bathroom at that point, I realized I better move on out after Al came in asking if I wanted a veggie burger! “Um…no!?” It was that hilarious moment where I realized that they didn’t think I was as far along as I was, and I better get out of that bathroom…

Moving out was harder than I expected- I had several good hard contractions back to back- and I knew I wanted to make my way over to my birthing pool. I stuck my head out the back door for some fresh air between contractions, bent over for the next one and my water broke. They helped me get into the tub, and the soothing water felt instantly welcoming. I was mentally preparing for the intensity of the pushing stage, which has always been the most challenging part of labour for me.

I reached down and could feel his little head right there! I told my midwives- and one contraction later, his head was birthed…

One more contraction, and his body slipped out easily. I was in absolute disbelief….totally blown away that it was all over, and so fast!

Only a few minutes after stepping into the water, I pulled him up into my arms.

I have loved my water births so much.

Um, could I look more ridiculously giddy?!

He pinked up within a minute, and I marveled at the smallness of his head. His smaller 7lb 6oz body, seemed to make for a much easier go than my round-headed, 8-9 lb chubsters. Grateful moment captured in this photo below- thank-you God!

Though Al loves to be as involved as possible (and even helped to deliver Eli), the one job he gladly hands off is cutting the cord. Thanks Trysta!

Still in awe, I hung out in the pool nuzzling my baby and enjoying the sweetness of these incredible early moments before climbing out to deliver the placenta and tuck into bed.

Weights and measures: check!

Lisa came by shortly after his birth, leaving her sweet new baby at home that Jill helped deliver only 5 weeks earlier.

Isabel was the first of the gang to arrive home, and loved that she got the first cuddle and visit of all the sibs.

Number eight- the number of new beginnings. My best birth! A seamless experience, full of laughs and a light-hearted enjoyment that I knew God had given me the confidence & assurance for beforehand. Such a gift.

A few days later, we chose his name: Jesse Jack Matthew

Jesse means “gift and wealth”. Jack is Hebrew for “God is gracious”. Matthew is also “gift”. We feel that his life and his birth have been huge gifts to our family, and that his life will be full of the empowering presence of God’s grace as He brings life and hope and a richness of life to others.

to cloth or not to cloth…

dirty feet…

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photo by RaGardner4	via PhotoRee

Hey friends- I’m blogging over here today. Anyone else find themselves in a sappy state of affairs, surrounded by a whole lot of dirty feet? Learning to give thanks in it all…

Source: apopofpretty.com via Kali on Pinterest

a little knitting

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There’s a little nesting going on around here. These adorable knit trousers caught my eye and I thought they’d be perfect for a sweet chubalub next fall and winter! I loved the added texture of just a few rows of seed stitch…not so much that it takes twice as long to knit, but enough for interest and my tactile pleasure. Loved this free pattern- check out my Ravelry page for details. And I almost managed to make them out of some stash wool I had- until the last half a leg. Which means I now have enough for a matchy sweater- or another pair! I can’t wait to see them on our little one’s bottom.

We Have A Grad- Part 3: Keeping It Real

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Back to where I left off… let’s keep this homeschooling snapshot true to life! Here’s a backstage glimpse of how life looks around here with a handful of kiddos and a hubs working from home:

:: during the day, when the kitchen is full of food prep, and the kids have their schoolbooks out, and the littles are playing with playdough, and the laundry is in full motion- it’s not so easy on the eyes! There’s a whole lot of living going on at any given moment. A kind of organized chaos is taking place and it’s purposeful, full and lively. It’s taken some getting used to for me who likes ducks in a row and checklists checked and everything in its place (and to be honest, I still find that most days require a lot of deep breaths and heart checks!)

:: knowing who’s-on-what at any given time requires a lot of good, healthy communication. Assumptions are often made in error- usually about who’s “on” the baby. Then no-one’s on the baby, and the baby dumps dish soap, flour, oats, soy sauce, or cream into any available container, or pulls out an entire deck of cards or box of Qtips or bandaids, and flushes them down the toilet.

:: dealing with such messes tends to distract certain learners (and the working-from-home-parents) who then manage to evaporate into thin air, leaving a half-done task behind and me wondering where a certain child is, usually noticing far later than I should that he is MIA.

: making a phone call with full attention is near impossible.

:: focusing on a task requires a closed, locked door. Even then, it’s amazing how many times I’m called, my door knocked upon and the lock jimmied from the outside to track me down- to then hear, “Uh, Mom? Ummm…I forgot what I was going to say.”

:: never-ending meal and snack preparation! Everyone is always, always hungry and the kitchen is never fully closed. Meaning the sink is rarely empty, the counters stay wiped and clean for only brief moments in time, and there is more often than not something spilled on the floor. Apple cores and carrot stubs appear in the most unusual places, and sticky honey fingers make their way to math & copywork pages regularly.

Through it all, maintaining a longterm perspective, and a good sense of humour- has been the key.

As I look back over the years, I have to laugh at the many curriculums researched and sampled, the philosophies explored, the priorities shuffled, and the passions pursued. We’ve had six more kids, I’ve worked part-time as a nurse, we’ve traveled across Canada, the US, Europe, Uganda, & Cambodia either on our own or as a family, and moved homes three times. Plans were made and plans were changed- but looking back, I can’t think of much I would do differently. Except one thing.

And that is to not waste a single moment on fear, uncertainty or doubt. Because the one thing I know is that when we seek Him with all our hearts, His word promises that we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). He cares more about our kids than we do- and I really believe that if we allow Him to create a vision in us for our families, He directs the steps each day (Prov 16:9). We can trust Him in that!

There’s no perfect way for any one child or family, and all of our goals and reasons for choosing to homeschool- or not- will look very different. For me, listening to that niggling feeling back in kindergarten was my “why” that became more foundational over the years. I wanted to really know Emma’s heart, and have her know and trust mine. I wanted to help inspire a life-long learner, equipped to succeed in any area of life. And as we added more “students” to our little class at home, my resolve for these things has grown. We’ve had to become more streamlined and efficient in pursuing what we really value: doing what is life-giving and fun for us all, and what is clearly giving the best results.

We are more than thrilled to be at this stage of the journey together, and seeing our daughter coming into the fullness of who she was created to be is such a joy. My encouragement is to myself as much as to you, knowing I’ll be at this for a long while yet:

Keep it simple,

know your “why”,

seek God and trust Him every day with every decision,

and be sure to do whatever it takes to enjoy the journey together.

Thanks to Shelly Wason for the beautiful grad portrait. For more of her stunning images, subscribe to an inspired lens and enjoy a new photo delivered to your inbox or RSS server every week.

Kali Gillespie- a journal

home, garden, faith & family