One thing after another...

"Basket of Temptation" ACEO
Coloured pencil on Mi-Teintes
Copyright Rita Woodburne

Howdy there, dear reader!

Well, I was going to do a post yesterday but unfortunately because Bell is run by complete morons (and I'm on dial up) that didn't happen. I'd like to turn this post into a rant but I'm not going to because "hump day" is coming to an end and the week-end will soon be in sight... and it's Thanksgiving week-end here in the Great White North to boot! I can just taste the turkey, stuffing and pie already....

Speaking of Great White North, we had our killing frost yesterday and now whatever was left in the garden is looking limp and pitiful. I'm kind of kicking myself because there were some coleous plants I wanted to bring inside to over winter but I was too late, I mean they call it a "killing frost" for a reason. Oh well, what can you do?


I've got lots of art laid out in front of me that needs to get done and I'd really like to get more done before daylight disappears and I'm stuck with icky lighting from bulbs. As an aside, if you're trying to access my website it's down. As in, it's gone. I'm not really sure what happened but my brother, who normally tends to the technical nitty-gritties of the website, is looking into it. When it's back up and running I'll let you know, dear reader.

So until later this week keep on art-ing, I know I will be!

Mmmm, eggplant!

Hi there, dear reader!

Autumn is creeping up on us and if it ever stops raining for longer than 24 hours it would be great to go out and enjoy the colours and crisper weather. That said, Autumn also means that it's time to start cleaning up the garden and make use of the abundance of produce that comes from that clean-up (and no, I'm not sick of zucchini... yet.)

"When Summer Meets Autumn" ACEO
Copyright Rita Woodburne

This year I grew eggplant and, to be perfectly honest, for the better part of the summer I didn't think I was going to get anything from the plants because of the cool, wet weather and also because due to my back injury a lot of my planting took place about a month behind schedule. Eggplant takes a bit longer to grow than most veggies and it looooves warm, humid weather so this Summer it fell short of a lot of the requirements for successful growing. However, much to my surprise towards the end of August I noticed that there were little eggplants popping up all over the place and last week we enjoyed the first of those little eggplants.

Now I don't know a lot of eggplant recipes and I'm contemplating trying to make baba ganoush but in the interim (and because there was only 1 eggplant that was ripe at the time) I figured I'd try out an appetizer/ side dish with the one that I had. It was super easy and if you like eggplant or want to try it out here's a recipe you may enjoy:

Eggplant & Tomato "Sandwiches"

1 eggplant, sliced into 8 1/4" pieces
1 tomato, cut into 4 slices
4 slices (or rounds if available) of mozzarella or provolone cheese
1 tbsp basil (or fresh basil leaves if available)
2-3 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste


Pre-heat BBQ on lowest setting.

Take 4 slices of eggplant and lightly brush 1 side with olive oil. Place tomato slice, sprinkle of basil (or 2 fresh basil leaves), slice of cheese on top of each eggplant and season with salt and pepper. Place another eggplant slice on top and secure with a toothpick.

Brush top of eggplant "sandwich" with olive oil and place on grill. Flip carefully after 10 minutes and brush other side with olive oil. Cook another 5-10 minutes, remove from BBQ and enjoy!



These were really easy to make and even the Other Half, who isn't a big fan of eggplant and tries to avoid eating tomatoes because they upset his stomach, hoovered his back and asked if there were more.
Depending on how hot your BBQ runs you may want to keep an eye on them and if you don't have a BBQ I suspect they would turn out just as well in the oven but, again, you'd have to keep an eye on them to make sure they didn't burn and all the cheese doesn't melt out.

So there you have it. Some art and a recipe!

I enjoy eggplant and I'm glad I wound up getting some from the plants even if they are smaller than usual. My next food-related project: Operation Baba Ganoush.

Transmission over.

And we're off!!

Well, in the interest of not rushing through my van Gogh/ Vermeer postings I’ve decided instead to do a gardening post. The Masters took their time, I think it would be in my best interests to do the same in studying and posting on them.
Also, the Other Half managed to get home early because we're having/ had some severe thunder and lightning storms come through the area and operating heavy machinery in those kinds of conditions is a no-no.


This summer has been a bit different than we’ve had for the past 2-3 years. We’ve has lots of rain (which is a relief when you’re on a well) and the temps have been erring on the side of cool-ish. My kinda Summer.

With that in mind it’s fair to say that it's been super for the good ol’ veggie garden. This year I decided that despite the Other Half’s distaste for them that I would grow green beans because I sure do love them. I built myself 2 little tee-pees and planted my bean seeds and waited for them to grow.

They started out innocently enough. The little beans poked their way through the soil and their little tendrils started to climb and climb... and climb some more. Then they kept climbing and they didn't stop, in fact, they still haven't stopped. If you don't believe me, look below:

And the mighty bean sentinels tower over their garden keep...

Fortunately, mammoth, out of control bean plants also yield lots and lots of beans just like these ones:

Mmmm, bean-y goodness.

At this point the plants have twined around the eggplant, the zucchini and the sunflowers that surround them. I'm pretty sure if I had planted the tee-pees about 2ft closer to the house they'd have started growing up the walls and by the end of the Summer we would have been held captive in the house by bean plants gone wild.


So there you have it. Me, I'm off to pack up the cooler, finish loading the truck and off we go. Just in case you're hankering for some art though here's the fox kit WIP. I've gotten more done on it than this but I'd like to keep you in suspense, dear reader, until I return from the Bon Echo Art Show. :D

Fox Kit, WIP
8x10, coloured pencil on Colourfix
Copyright Rita Woodburne

I know... you're just dying to see how it turns out.

Can't wait to plant?

This past week here in Ontario we experienced a bit of a cold snap so it really wasn’t ideal for any type of outdoor gardening. The past few days have hinted at warmer weather and we’re getting oodles of showers so things have really started taking off. Me, I’ve been tending to my seedlings and now that the weather is turning favourable again I’m getting ready to plant a few things outdoors. Although the veggies I’ll be planting are quite tolerant of cold weather (peas, parsnips, carrots and lettuce) today I want to touch on caring for plants that aren’t so hardy when colder weather strikes unexpectedly.

Even veggies, such as eggplant and tomatoes, need TLC.

For gardeners in Southern climes this isn’t so much of an issue, although it could be with very sensitive plants such as tomatoes or melons, but for us folks farther North we tend to get a little... *ahem*... anxious when there’s even a hint of warm weather and all planting sense goes out the window. “It’s May 3rd and mild,” we cry “surely it’s time to plant everything outdoors!!”


Um...no.


For those of us in zone 5b and surrounding areas the real marker for planting is the second last or last week-end in May, a time when the majority of risk for frost has past. That said, there’s still the possibility of an odd night-time frost and in true Canadian weather form there’s always the risk of unseasonably chilly temps both day and night. Sure, you may have planted your veggies out in the garden but you’ll still need to protect them for a few more weeks until they become hardy and really establish themselves in the garden.


One way to do this is to invest in a Wall-O-Water or construct some type of covering for your plants to protect them at night. A Wall-O-Water is made from plastic and consists of several tubes that you fill with lemonade...kidding, you fill them with water (just checking to see if you’re paying attention). They stand a little over 1 ft tall and when each of the tubes is filled up it closes in around the top of your plant. This traps in the heat and protects the plant from cold air and wind. They’re handy and re-useable from year to year.

A Wall-O-Water.
Re-useable and great for folks that are just itching to plant
something outdoors when it's still to early to do so. ;)

Since Wall-O-Water aren’t exactly cheap and easy to come by you can also use a large plastic pop-bottle, milk jugs with the bottoms cut off or even cardboard milk cartons, all of which would be placed over the plant and pushed into the earth slightly to stabilize them. It’s the frugal gardener’s way of doing things and a great way to recycle. :)


In this gardening post I’ve kind of gotten ahead of myself and so next week I’m going to talk about the steps you’d take before planting outdoors to prep your plants for the potential "big chill". So until next week have fun art-ing and playing in the dirt (but not at the same time unless you’re into that sort of thing).

Dishin' the dirt

Well, it’s a warm, sunny Friday and you know what that means? It’s time to talk about dirt. That is, it’s time to start thinking about your soil for gardening.

For those with existing gardens it’s not likely that you’ll need to do a whole lot in the way of amending your soil with the proper nutrients. For those that are starting a garden (and I’m referring to veggie gardens here) you may need to add some things to your soil to get a pH level that’s suitable for growing.

A wildflower seedling. What type of flower? Only time will tell...

Normal pH levels for growing are in the area of 6.5-7 and you can find this out easily enough by either purchasing a soil pH meter or taking a soil sample into your local municipal office to be sent out for testing. The plus side to having it done by a municipal testing centre is that they’ll also test for major trace elements in the soil as well as the 3 main plant nutrients, those being nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. In addition, these reports usually include recommendations for improving soil quality which is useful if you’re not familiar with measures that can be taken to adjust soil pH levels. For new gardens you’ll generally find that soil will be either too acidic, in which case you’ll need to add ground limestone to the top few inches of soil be spreading it and working it in, or it will be too alkaline and in that instance you’ll need to work sulfur into the first few inches of soil.

How do you know if you have good dirt? Well, I’ll tell you one way you can find out.

It's true! The first set of "true leaves" on a cherry tomato plant.

Although they might be icky to look at, in the case of gardening the earthworm is the best little helper you can have in the garden. Not only do they help loosen soil, they also deposit vital nutrients into the soil and keep root systems of established plants healthy. They’re also a great barometer as to the health of your soil. So here’s how you conduct an earthworm test:
Pick a day in late Spring or early Summer (early Spring if you live in a warmer climate) when the soil is moist and has warmed to about 50 degrees F. Dig out a section of soil equivalent to about 1 cubic foot. Spread out the dug soil and count the number of worms, being sure to return them to the soil and cover them with some dirt after they’ve been counted, worms aren’t big fans of tanning. A healthy soil sample of that size should contain at least 10 earthworms, any less than that and you’ll need to enrich your soil.


We’ve covered a lot with soil but before I sign off for the week-end (honestly, it’s just too nice to be inside on the computer) I wanted to touch on another bit of soil prep that can be done and will save you work in the summer when you’ll want to be tending to your plants and not the soil around them. This other thing I speak of is pre-sprouting the soil, that is pre-sprouting the weeds that are dormant now but with the onset of warmer days and nights will be more than happy to come up and take over your garden.

I don’t know about you but I hate, and I mean hate, weeding. So, if you want to cut down dramatically on the number of weeds you’ll need to start by first removing any weeds that have already started growing. Work the soil by turning over the first few inches and lightly water. Keep the soil moist for about a week until the bed is covered with weed seedlings about 1-2 inches in height. At this point pull out as many of the shoots and perennial weeds as possible. After you’ve done this first weed removal and if you have time, do it again before you start your planting. This will help you get rid of tons of weeds and will save you time in the long run.


So there’s the dirt for Friday. To leave you on a happy note, enjoy this picture of a perennial favourite of Spring: Barfing Sunshine (aka- daffodils).

Have a super week-end! :)

When the weather turns warm it's time to start the outdoor chores...

So it's another gardening post today and Spring is surely here because I've started my eggplant and tomato seeds. The other sure sign of Spring is that the grocery stores are starting to assemble their outdoor garden centres. They don't have any stock in yet but soon enough I'm sure they'll have stacks of manure, topsoil and flats of flowers ready for buying. The last little bits of snow that are hanging around need to go... now.

Today's post is going to be for those that are starting seeds, although some of this will apply to those that have already started their planting (you lucky folks in the South!) The focus is going to be choosing good soil for starting and the type of care you need to give the seeds for the first few of weeks of growth.

I use peat pots for my seed starting because they're cheap and are biodegradable so when it comes time for planting outdoors I can just dig a hole, plunk them in, fill the dirt back in, water and I'm done. No popping them out of trays and handling them with kid- gloves and running the risk of damaging the root system. Also, because the peat pots are natural as they degrade in the soil they actually wind up improving the soil quality and water retention. Win-win, how can you go wrong?

The first signs of Spring...and finally some colour!

As far as soil goes I use Miracle-Gro potting soil with vermiculite. That said, any good quality potting soil will do, although if it doesn't already have any in it you may want to consider amending the soil with vermiculite to improve the water retention of the soil to avoid having to water frequently.

When it comes time for starting the seeds I've always found the easiest thing to do is fill the peat pot a little over half full and then gently pat the soil down. Place 2-3 seeds in the pot (depending on how large they are) and top off with more potting mix and then gently pat the top layer down. Leave a bit of space at the top to allow for more soil to be added as the seedlings get bigger.
Most of the watering can be done with plain ol' water but it's advisable that once a week you treat your seeds to a dose of compost tea. A weekly watering with compost tea is like super-food for your seedlings and it's something that you can continue to do even after transplanting to the garden. Your plants will thank you for it, trust me.

In order not to over-saturate your seeds, and possibly cause rot, try to avoid using a watering can or water bottle. Instead, head of to your local dollar store and invest in a small spray bottle. This way you can just mist the soil and prevent drowning your seeds. I was fortunate in that this was passed onto me and it has been one of the most useful gardening tools I have:

Sorry 'bout the crummy picture.

Oh yes, a watering spout on one end and a sprayer on the other. Does it get much better than that!? I think not.

To end off this post I'll be posting a recipe... for compost tea.

Compost Tea
(Adjust the amounts based on your own needs)

Place a shovelful of compost into a burlap bag, large sheet of folded over cheesecloth or old pillowcase and tie off the end(s). Steep it in a bucket of water for 2-3 days. Take the sack of compost out and, if necessary, dilute it to the colour of weak tea.
Transfer the compost tea to whatever watering implement you're using and empty out the contents of your "tea bag" into the garden.

You just made compost tea!



So there you have it, a gardening post and a recipe. Although consuming the compost tea yourself is a no-no. (Really, I could just picture someone reading that and trying it out as a mixer at a party or something... I mean, I've heard of people doing stupider things.)

I'll be back later in the week with another art post. I just received some more art supplies in the mail today and I'm itching to start using them. So if you'll excuse me, I have some new toys I'd like to go play with. :D

It's Starting to Smell Green...

"Regalia" ACEO can be purchased by contacting me at:
rita @ ritawoodburne.com
Copyright Rita Woodburne

Well, it's that time of year again. Time to start thinking about the upcoming garden season and, if the weather is permitting in your neck of the woods, it's also time to start some veggie seeds.

Much like last year the majority of my gardening posts are going to cover vegetable gardening with the occasional foray into flowers. My green thumb is mainly reserved for growing veggies of epic proportion and my flower thumb... well, it's not entirely green, let's just put it that way.

Today's post is the official kick-off and I'll keep it as "Reader's Digest" as possible 'cause there's going to be oodles to cover in the coming weeks. So, with that in mind here's a list of what I'll be growing this year:

• carrots
• cherry tomatoes
• parsnips
• cucmbers
• onions
• garlic
• peas
• zucchini
• corn
• eggplant
• lettuce
• buttercup squash
• potatoes
• pumpkins
  

In addition, I've also decided to throw in basil and oregano because I use them a lot in my cooking. On top of those things there's the standards I already have in the garden that come back year after year like chives, dill, parsley, rhubarb and the raspberries that have taken on a life of their own.

That's right. Those are some daffodils and tulips that are poking
their sleepy little heads out.

Just to put this into perspective, on Monday of this week there was still a little
over a foot of snow covering these guys.

So there's the list of goodies for this year. I may also throw some beets and beans in there as well but we'll see as we get closer to planting time.This has been a long, snowy winter so the sooner I can get back to playing in the dirt, the better. Wouldn't you agree?

Just Another Day in Paradise...

On the weekend we were hit with a Winter storm, lots of snow, freezing rain, more snow, ice pellets, wind and as such it was the perfect day to stay inside . . . and watch the Other Half snow-blower (that’s gooder English, right?) the driveways.

For me it meant working on art because my only other option was to do laundry and, really, who wants to do laundry? Not me, that’s for sure.

Working on art and waiting for the snow to melt...
both being tasks that require the the highest level of patience one can muster.

I have a few projects on the go right now: a handful of commissions, some personal work that I’d like to have done for the upcoming show season and I’ve volunteered to do the artwork this year for the Lilac Tea Art Show that will be used for advertising and nitty-gritties like name-tags and place-cards for the show. So even with the daily chores and such that come with living on a farm it’s quite fair to say I’ve got a few things on my plate and on top of all that now I’m getting geared up for gardening season.

Did I mention we had a snowstorm here?

I tell ya, there’s nothing quite like two feet of snow, the end of Winter and cusp of Spring to get one thinking about planting zucchini and lobelia (not in the same plot, of course!) This past weekend I pulled out my seed supply from last year and the seed catalogue I was sent back in October and started mentally planning how my veggie garden and planters would look for this year. I also looked over floral ref pics I have stored on my computer because in the vast expanse of white that covers my front lawn and garden I was wont to recall the colours that were there back in the Spring. And Spring is coming...mark my words.



I do love the ever-changing variety that weather in Canada provides but to be honest, I’m quite sick of Winter now. The snow can melt. The Spring flowers can come out. The solar-loading can begin. In fact, if my nostrils freeze together one more time I’m just going to throw myself in the snow and have a temper-tantrum simply because I can. So there.