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Gardening in Merritt BC

Merritt BC Gardening

Canadian’s Love to Garden in the Nicola Valley

Gardening Tips in Merritt BC 

Gardening in Merritt BC is about finding the right combination of sunlight, fertile soil, and water to make your plants thrive. It’s also about fulfilling your passion for life and nature, so select plants wisely, especially ones you can love back. Use available community resources if you can. Give life to our Merritt BC Canada stores like they are to your garden. Garden local as they say, and in no time you’ll have a beautiful garden, filled with colors, and smells no matter what level of gardening experience you have.   

Gardening in Merritt BC Canada

Sell your produce at a local farmer’s market. Photo by Tania Stewart.

Make Gardening in Merritt BC Enjoyable

Therefore, a good rule of a green thumb, is to not be intimidated by the process of how to start a garden and care for it successfully. Although,  there is a lot of groundwork involved, it is not work. It is quality time outdoors for body and mind. Deciding to the garden is the easy part, but the biggest decision is going ahead with the project. The benefits of “reaping what you sow” will lift you to the highest level of calling yourself a “Master Gardener” 

Gardening in Merritt spectators

Invite friends over! Photo by Tania Stewart

Advice for Essential Gardening in Merritt 

Do not overthink it. Planting and deciding to start a garden is easy, the upkeep is the hard part, but the result is truly magical.   

Gardening Merritt BC

Gardening In the Nicola Valley. Photo by Tania Stewart
Gardening In the Nicola Valley

It’s all about the dirt! Picture by Tania Stewart

Garden Location in the Nicola Valley

Starting a garden is just like real estate. It’s all about the location. Knowing where to plant, what to plant, and most importantly when to seed is crucial. Start by paying attention to the sunlight, where is it in the morning and where it goes in the evening. Secondly, how to space your seeds and what should be near what? Should your carrots be neighbors with lettuce or spuds?  Moreover, know your zone. This means, that the higher the zone number, the warmer the climate. If a plant is for zone 4, and your garden is zone 2, that plant will not survive. Most edible plants, including many vegetables, herbs, and fruits, need at least 6 hours of sun to thrive.

 

A Local Tip: “Never plant if there is snow on Iron Mountain, or before May long weekend,” Tania Stewart.

 

Invest in Good Gardening Tools

I cannot state enough how the right tools make working in your garden a pleasure instead of a chore. Here is some basic gardening equipment to get you going. 

  • Garden hoe
  • Scuffle hoe
  • Dirt rake
  • Leaf rake
  • Garden Shovel or D handle Shovel
  • Hand tools
  • Rototiller

Water Source

The best gardening tip you’ll ever get is to plan your new garden near a water source. Make sure you can run a hose to your garden site, so you don’t have to lug water into it each time your plants get thirsty. Fact, the best way to tell if plants need watering is to push a finger an inch down into the soil (that’s about one knuckle deep). If it’s dry, it’s time to water.

Birds Merritt BC

Water well. Photo by Tania Stewart
Flowers in Merritt BC

Bee’s love flowers. Photo by Tania Stewart

Do Not Forget To Plant Flowers

Bees need flowers. Throughout the world, people have taken on the fight for the survival of our “Bees”.  Merritt BC Canada is no different. Every day more and more people are becoming more aware of how important these hard-working honey makers are to our survival. Not to mention, without bees, the availability and diversity of fresh produce would decline substantially, and human nutrition would likely suffer. For more information on this subject,  Bee/honey makers Experience in the Nicola Valley. 

Flowering plants in Nicola Valley

Some flowers block pests. Photo by Tania Stewart
Sunflowers and Bees

Sunflowers are essential for gardens. Photo by Tania stewart

It Is All In The Soil

What do you really know about your garden soil? If you can try to invest in nutrient-rich soil. Test your soil to see if it’s acidic, alkaline, or neutral PH. Is it rocky, sandy clay, or just a mix of all? Does your soil have a good amount of basic nutrients?  This is something my avid gardening father takes seriously. 

Gardening as a family

Watching the garden grow. Photo by Tania Stewart

Learn your frost dates

Planting too early (or late) in the season can spell disaster for your garden. You need to know the last average spring frost date for your area so you don’t accidentally kill plants by putting them out prematurely. It’s also good to know your first average fall frost date so that you get your plants harvested or moved indoors before fall frost damages them.  

Gardening plot in merritt bc

Tomato plants. Photo by Tania Stewart
Tomato plants in Merritt BC

Safe Tomato plants. Picture by Tania Stewart

 

One can not stress the importance of your “Planting Groundwork!” Take extra care in the beginning, and the result is what you reap.

 

The result.

Planting with Care

Once you have done the groundwork, next is planting. Do not hesitate to ask neighbors where to purchase your seeds. Albeit the rule of thumb when planting seeds is roughly 3 times deep as the size of the seed. Unless otherwise directed on the package. When transplanting, usually you will plant at the same depth as they were growing in the pot. Important to note, that tomatoes can be planted deeper.

Gardening and lawn care

Garden maintenance. Photo by Tania Stewart
Preparing a garden in BC Canada

Preparing your garden. Photo by Tania Stewart

 

Consider containers when gardening Merritt BC.

When space is at a premium, look to containers. You can grow many plants in pots, including vegetables, herbs, flowers, fruit trees, berries, and shrubs. Planting tomatoes can be tricky. Using potting containers is sometimes ideal for small spaces as well as maturing them enabling their survival. Strawberries can also thrive well in containers. 

 

Strawberry net. Photo by Tania Stewart

Warning!

Every garden, may want to cover and protect from winged bandits! Birds love the sweetness of the berry, covering them will protect your plants and keep deer from eating the flowers and destroying the growth. Most important this is a safe non-chemical deterrent to natural pests. If you spray it, you will eat it!

 

Bird Bandits. Photo by Tania Stewart

Mulch is Great

Weeds suck the life out of plants, mulch helps reduce these nasty veg killers. Apply a layer of mulch that’s 2 to 3 inches deep around each plant. Help reduce weeds by blocking out the sun and reduce moisture loss through evaporation, so you have to be waterless.  

 

Gardening Merritt BC.

Reap what you sow. Photo by Tania Stewart

Reaping mounds of veggies

Nurture your garden in the Nicola Valley

Take it from me, my father is the best fertilizer, he is the garden’s shadow. Most important is to be prepared to make time to tend to your plants. Depending on the size of your garden, time requirements may range from a few minutes of weeding, and watering, to a full-time day job. Watering your plants, as a rule of thumb need around one inch of water per week. 

 

Be proud of your endeavors. Picture by Tania Stewart

Potato salad?

 

Gardening Merritt BC.

Truly the first fruit is the Strawberry. Moreover, being the first and the sweetest. June welcomes this favorite berry.  British Columbia has native strawberries throughout, just waiting for you to pick and enjoy their a burst of sweet flavor.  

Starting with great soil, with regular water, will make your plants very happy. Bill Stewart.

 

berry picking merritt bc

Strawberry delight. Photo by Tania Stewart
pie, home made, strawberry custard

Completely homemade strawberry custard pie.

Bugs and Disease 

When gardening in the Nicola Valley beware of bugs. Moreover, bugs are more attracted to plants that are stressed or in some way deficient. If you have healthy, well-nourished plants, your pest problems should be minimal. Noteworthy, for most problems, there’s an organic solution. If you’re going through all the effort to grow your food, why would you want to put toxins on it? Overwatering is almost more harmful than underwatering. 

 

Happy times! Photo by Tania Stewart

What’s up! Photo Tania Stewart

In conclusion Gardening Merritt BC.

 Extra produce from your garden? Try selling produce at your local farmers’ market or donate to the food bank.

Gardening in Merritt BC Canada

Nicola Valley Gardens, Gardening, and Gardeners 

 

#merrittmatters

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Christmas Lights in Merritt BC

Christmas Lights in Merritt BC

Organizing your Christmas Lights and Cheer

Enjoying the Holidays with Christmas Lights

This year putting up Christmas Lights in Merritt BC has extra meaning.  This summer we were faced with forest fires and some people were evacuated.  If that was not enough, the entire town of Merritt, British Columbia, Canada was evacuated due to extreme flooding.  In fact, over 350 homes were severely damaged.  Add to these problems, Covid-19 and you have a year to remember or not.

The nice thing about this time of year is that we have a chance to bring some cheer and light to our town.

Organizing Your Christmas Lights in Merritt BC

If you are like me, the worst part of putting up Christmas lights is actually taking them down.  Since I don’t like this job I just strip them down and throw them into a big bin.  Therefore, when it is time to put them up again I have to organize them.

If all the lights were the same colour this would not be a problem.  However, I have variations on a theme and thus I have to separate the strings into their individual colours.

I created my problem by buying my lights in different years.  My first purchase were some lights some describe as “warm” white.  That sounded good to me. However, they tended more to be a yellow than a white.  So the next year I purchased “cool” white.  These tended to be more blue than white. Xmas

The next time I went to the store my wife asked if we could get “clear” white.  Guess what?  These lights were actually white!

I, therefore, divided my lights into 3 piles.

Testing your Christmas Lights in Merritt BC

When I took my lights down last year they all worked but I know from past experience this may not be the case now. Somehow the gremlins find their way into the bin and break at least one string.   In my case two strings were 1/2 burnt out.  Since I am not an electrician and don’t have fancy testing gadgets I cut off the parts of the strings that didn’t work and put together the parts that worked. Notice that in this picture 1/2 the string is not on.

Testing L;ights

Testing Lights

Stringing Your Christmas Lights in Merritt BC

Most people who put up their lights put their efforts into decorating the front yard.  They generally follow the roof line, including any peaks.  Also, there is often lawn ornaments of deer, snowmen or Santa.

That is not the case in my house.  We have wall to wall windows that look out onto the backyard so it makes sense to me to put the majority of my effort there.  Also I am afraid of heights and ladders so you won’t find me decorating any areas that are up high.

 The backyard is terraced where the first level is defined by a row of lilac bushes centred by a choke cherry tree.  The second area is our new terraced garden that is on the north side of the house.  The final area is our deck that spans the back of the house.

The Results of Stringing the Christmas Lights in Merritt BC

I would like to say that everything went smoothly but unfortunately that was not the case.  I wrapped the lights around the branches of the lilacs and up into the choke cherry tree.  However, before I moved on I decided to test the installation and, lo and behold, the middle string did not light up. Canadian Tire did not have any of the long strings left so I headed over to Walmart where I found what I was looking for. The lights were labeled  “cool white” which was exactly what I needed.  After stringing the lights I tested them and found out that what Canadian Tire calls “cool white” is not the same as Walmart’s.

Despite the difference I decided to leave well enough alone and continued onto the other areas where I had success.  With the backyard complete I moved onto the front yard.

Deck Lighting

Deck lighting

Back Terrace lighting

Back Terrace Lighting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stringing Up the Christmas Lights in the Front Yard

As I said I have not put a lot of effort into the front yard.  We have a central flower bed that has a young sunburst locus tree in the centre and barberry bushes around the edges. So I have strung the Christmas lights on the tree and the bushes.

We also came across some kaleidoscope lights that you screw into your house out door lights to add some colour without a lot of work. 

Front Yard

Front Yard

With minimal work the front yard display is not bad.

 Christmas Lights in Merritt BC

 

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BUILDING A TERRACED GARDEN

BUILDING A TERRACED GARDEN

TIPS FOR THE RESTORATION OF A GARDEN

PART 2 0F 2

 

In Part 1 of Building a Terraced Garden I had to leave you hanging as we ran out of blocks for our wall and couldn’t complete the project.  We had Home Hardware  scouring their network to see if they could find some.  With no luck there we checked Home Depot, Lowes and Rona where we struck out in all cases. As a last resort we also looked on Market Place, Craig’s list and Kijiji.

Where for art thou bricks?

We were extremely upset because we had only a partial wall and no way of completing it.  However, providence was on our side.  One day my wife, Shirley, was out in the front yard when a friend of hers came by with her new neighbour.  When Shirley mentioned our brick problem the new neighbour said her husband was taking down a brick wall and maybe we could use them.  It turns out they were exactly the same as the ones we were using and therefore we could get started again.

Resuming Building a Terraced Garden

First Rows

First Rows Photo Tom Reynolds

We got this far in Part 1 of Building a Terraced Garden.  You will remember that we dug our trench, while making sure it was level, and finally added the gravel base.  After that we then placed our first two rows of blocks and are ready for the next step.

Our garden will have a sprinkler system so we have to be sure that we have a system that will move excess water away so that the walls don’t get undermined.  The first step is to lay the drain fabric up the side of the wall and with enough fabric on the other side so that you can wrap it back over the pipe after you have added the drain rock.

Drainage

Pipe with drainage rock photo Tom Reynolds

The walls go up in building a terraced garden

Once the drainage is dealt with, the next step is to continue with adding the next rows of blocks.  The tricky part of our construction was the number of corners we had.  To handle this you need a cement cutting saw for doing the rough cuts (a Quick Cut Saw).  Also another  for doing the finer details.  You can rent the quick cut saw.  Fortunately our contractor, Ted, had the other saw.

Quick Cut Saw

Quick Cut Saw photo Tom Reynolds

The Blocks are finished

Shirley and I carried almost two hundred blocks for this phase which brought the restoring of the terraced garden to an end. The next task was to fill the terraces with great top soil.  We got ours from High Mountain Ventures.

Finished Wall

Finished Wall photo Tom Reynolds

The Final Phase of Building a Terraced Garden

In order to finish our project we had to take the plants from the ICU and replant them in our restored garden.  Once this was done we could place our inground sprinkler system so all the plants would receive  a drink.

Finished Project

Finished Project photo Tom Reynolds

Just as humans who come out of the hospital’s ICU don’t look great, neither did our plants.  H0wever with the nutritious soil and watering we expect the garden to show well soon.

What did we learn about building a terraced garden

Planning is important.  We had a vision but did not think it through because we only started with about 150 blocks and if we planned properly and recognize that going from 5 tiers to 2 would require higher walls and therefore more bricks we may have been able to avoid our dilemma of running out of blocks.

We didn’t notice until the project was complete that we would have to move one of the sprinklers because the new walls were too high and blocked the water stream.

Our project turned out well because we used a great contractor, Ted Cederland, for the important parts of the job.

 

BUILDING A TERRACED GARDEN

TIPS FOR THE RESTORATION OF A GARDEN

 

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Merritt Honey and Bees in the Nicola Valley

Merritt Honey and Bees

Experience the Buzz in the Nicola Valley

The Nicola Valley  people and groups are standing up for bees and some are making honey

Merritt Honey and Bees – Throughout the world people have taken on the fight for the survival of our “Bees”. Merritt BC Canada is no different. Every day more and more people are becoming more aware of  how important these hard working honey makers are to our survival. Not to mention, without bees, the availability and diversity of fresh produce would decline substantially, and human nutrition would likely suffer.

Lots of Merritt Honey and Bees in the Valley

 I have heard the call of  the “Bumblebee”. To say nothing to how much I love “Bees” this is my tribute to these amazing creatures through my photo’s.  Experience the sweet Buzz in the Nicola Valley knowing I have tasted the honey in it all. Therefore, I can safely say that the Nicola Valley is home to some fine Apiaries.

Experience the Buzz in the Nicola Valley

Worker bees. Photo by Tania Stewart.

Experience the Honey in the Nicola Valley

Experience the Buzz in the Nicola Valley

Bees can see all colors except “Red”

Experience the Buzz in Merritt

Bees like coffee, keeps them awake.

 Going Bee Crazy Experience the Buzz in the Nicola Valley

Nicola Valley Gourmet  honey is produced by unsprayed bees on there ranchlands surrounding beautiful Merritt, B.C.  Additionally, with the combination of climate, abundance of flowers, soil and water resources the ranch is an ideal breeding ground for honey.   

Grimshire Apiary , located in the Nicola Valley,  is one of Merritt’s producers of raw unpasteurized honey products.  However, not only do they do honey, they also have beeswax candles for sale.   

Merritt honey makers.

Bees do not sleep, Photo by Tania Stewart.

Interesting fact:  The word “honeymoon” is derived from the ancient tradition of supplying a newlywed couple with a month’s supply of mead in order to ensure happiness and fertility. 

Experience the Buzz in the Nicola with bees

Bee are sensitive to smell. Photo by Tania Stewart.

“If the bee disappears from the surface of the Earth, man would have no more than four years left to live.” Albert Einstein 

Experience the Buzz in the Nicola with bees

They have a brain the size of a sesame. Photo by Tania Stewart.

“Honeybees are important pollinators for flowers, fruits, and vegetables. They live on stored honey and pollen all winter and cluster into a ball to conserve warmth. How cozy. While worker bees forage for food (pollen and nectar from flowers), build and protect the hive, clean, and circulate air by beating their wings.” National Geographic. 

Experience the Buzz in Merritt BC.

Bees have 5 eyes. Picture courtesy of Tania Stewart.

Experience the Buzz in the Nicola

They can solve basic math problems. Picture Tania Stewart.

Experience the Bee in the Nicola Valley 

What I have found through the years observing bees is that they have such amazing personalities. As a matter of fact, in the above pictures of this bee I found on my doorstep one day, it looked like this little guy was dying.  As I approached this little bee it raised it’s arm to warn me with a defensive move. However, I was most stunned when after a couple of seconds this bee got up and buzzed off. 

Experience the Buzz with bees

The sun helps bees navigate. Pic by Tania Stewart.

Without pollinators, the human race and all of Earth’s terrestrial ecosystems would not survive. 

Experience the Buzz in the Nicola with bees

Bees can remember your face. Pic by Tania Stewart.

Bees work up quite a thirst foraging and collecting nectar. Try filling a shallow bird bath or bowl with clean water,  arrange pebbles and stones inside so that they break the water’s surface. Stones will allow the bees to land and refresh themselves. Kind of like a Bees watering well. 

“One of the largest threats to bees is a lack of safe habitat where they can build homes and find a variety of nutritious food sources.” Queen Bee.

Going Bee Crazy

The Queen lives for 5yrs. Photo by Tania Stewart.

“Synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides, and neonicotinoids are harmful to bees, wreaking havoc on their sensitive systems. Avoid all.” Tania Stewart.

About 80% world plants have been pollinated. Photo by TS.

Support Local Beekeepers and Organizations

Local beekeepers work hard to nurture their bees. Buying locally-made honey and beeswax products helps the local environment. Plus, local honey is not only delicious, it is made from local flora. Basically you are tasting your own flowers. Notably, this is said to also help with seasonal allergies!

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A single bee will produce only about 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime. Pic by Tania Stewart.

Researchers have discovered that bumble bees are disappearing at rates “consistent with a mass extinction”.

“If declines continue at this pace, many of these species could vanish forever within a few decades,” Peter Soroye warned.

 

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Bees are taught by elders in the hive how to make honey.

Save our Bees

One of the main causes to the endangerment of our bees is their habitat loss. Death of bees is then followed closely by  invasive species, and natural disasters. Recently, there has been a worldwide call for everyone to get their “Flower Power On” in support of the bee.

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The practice of beekeeping dates back at least 4,500 yrs.

Interesting Fact: Bees are not born knowing how to produce honey. The elder bees in the hive teach the young at bee school.

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During a single collection trip, a honey bee will visit anywhere from 50 to 100 flowers.

How can you help 

Plant flowers and trees, go chemical free, create bee baths and homes for native bees. With the exception of honeybees, most bees are solitary creatures. In light of this you can provide a safe haven for them with a small plot of land in your garden. Provide “Bee condos”, small tube “apartments”  which allow species like mason bees to take up residence.

Bee Condo.

Bee watering station.
In a Bee World

There is a mass global awareness with people becoming more aware of the dangers bees are facing. Education and home scientists taking on the duty to help save these essential pollinators are leading the charge. Little things make a difference too like planting flowers, trees, water stations or even building mini bee condo’s.

The first step to their survival is awareness, and understanding how crucial they are to our own exitance.  Without our pollinators this blue planet we will be at a loss. 

Merritt’s’  Apiaries

Nicola Valley Honey. 1-(250)378-5208

Miller’s Farm active apiary and have farm fresh honey year round. (250) 315-1012
 
Grimshire Apiary. Producer of raw unpasteurized honey products. (250) 378-9703, 

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BUILDING A TERRACED GARDEN

BUILDING A TERRACED GARDEN

TIPS FOR RESTORATION OF A GARDEN

PART 1 OF 2 PARTS

 

Building a terraced garden is actually a tricky project if you don’t do it right.  You could end up with all your bricks at the bottom of the garden  In order to avoid this problem you can follow along and see how I did it.

The materials you will need for this project are:

  1.  Crush gravel used for the base of the blocks
  2. Drain rock for carrying water away
  3. “Big O” pipe to distribute water
  4. Drain fabric to prevent silt from entering “Big O” pipe
  5. Top soil to fill your new levels

Experience invaluable 

Like I said in my blog on “Gardening in Merritt”

I do not profess to be an expert in this field.  The blog is featured on the Experience Nicola Valley website where it is operated by Tourism Nicola Valley.  The product was developed by Eh!Canada Travel to provide revolutionary marketing for communities and businesses.

Bring in a professional

Therefore due to the complexity of the project I have hired a very experienced contractor who knows the ins and outs of building brick walls.  In fact, he is one who prefers to over build and therefore you will be able to build even higher walls.  Just remember if your plan is for a wall over 4 feet, you will need to get a permit from the City and the wall would have to have an engineer’s approval.

merritt contractor

Our Contractor’s vehicle

ted cederland

Our Contractor-Ted Cederland

Let the Fun Begin in Building a Terraced Garden

This project had its beginnings in Facebook’s Market Place where my wife spotted a deal on bricks.  The deal was so smoking hot that it was worth our while to make two trips to Kamloops to bring them home. However, it was too late in the year to start so we waited until this Spring.

We came up with our ideas, had our contractor in place and were ready to begin.  Our starting point was the original wood terrace garden.  The logs have been in place for at least 25 Years and when you step on them they disintegrate.

Wood Terrace Garden

Wood Terrace Garden

Demolition Day for Building a Terraced Garden

The first thing we had to do was remove all the rotten logs and remove the plants that would be in the way of the new wall.  In retrospect, we should have removed all the plants because we were going from 4 levels to two levels and thus some of the plants would be too low and would have to be moved later.  Anyway we ended up with our plant ICU.

Plant ICU

Plant ICU

Setting the stage for the first row in Building your Terraced Garden

The first row of any wall is the most important because if you don’t get this right your entire wall will be compromised.  So for this row you will need the following tools:

  1.  A Flat Head Shovel
  2. A Regular Shovel
  3.  A Tamper
  4. A Level
  5. A Rubber Mallet
  6. A Wheel Barrow
  7. Concrete Saw 

Your first trench has to be deep enough to allow for your gravel base and your first layer of bricks,  Keep in mind that this layer has to be level or all your other rows will be out of whack.  For example, if your first row is off by one inch by the time you get to the fourth row the error will be very noticeable.

You use the flat head shovel to dig your trench.  Not only do you want to make sure the trench is deep enough, you need to have enough width to receive the brick.  In other words, we had 8″  bricks so our trench was 12″.

The First Trench

The First Trench

Subsequent Rows in Building a Terraced Garden

Once the first trench is in you need to use the tamper to pound the bottom of the trench so it is nice and firm so that you will avoid shifting later on.  Once this is done you add about 2″ of crushed rock to the bottom of the trench, which you need to tamp the rock and make sure the trench is still level.

You are now ready for the exciting part of the project, the laying of the blocks for your first row.  Lay your first blocks in place and use the rubber mallet to tap it in place so that the block is nice and firm.  Check that it is level and then place the next one.  Tap it in place with the mallet and make sure it abuts tightly with the first block and that it is level.

First Row

First Row

Sorry.  You will Have to Waite To Finish Building a Terraced Garden

At the beginning of this blog I mentioned the great deal we got on the blocks from Kamloops.  What we didn’t think about was what would happen if we did not have enough.  With out checking we assumed that we could run down to the Home Hardware Store and pick up our shortfall.  However, what we didn’t think about was that a product made in 1970 may not be available in 2021?

As a result you will have to stay tuned as I will hopefully have a resolution to this problem in the next couple of weeks and we will be able to show you the results.

***

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Outdoor Berry Picking Merritt BC.

Outdoor Berry Picking in Merritt BC

Picking Berries in the Nicola Valley, Spring, Summer and Fall 

Outdoor family fun while picking berries around Merritt BC

 

As a consequence of the Nicola Valley’s dry climate we have many  berries 

Outdoor Berry Picking in Merritt BC –  Celebrate this time of year with your family and head out on a wild berry picking adventure in Merritt BC. Harvesting wild berries can strengthen your connection to the land and it is a great opportunity to be active outside with family and friends. Not to mention how great those berry’s will taste, after all everything tastes so much better when you’ve harvested it with your own hands. First Nation traditional foods in Merritt and throughout the Nicola Valley consisted of berries like Saskatoon berries, huckleberries, choke cherries and soap berries. So many Canadian Berries! Outdoor berry picking around the Nicola Valley can make a bad day into a good day one berry at a time. 

“A picking here, a picking there, here a pick, there a pick, everywhere a pick-pick.” Berry quotes.

Outdoor Berry Picking Merritt BC.

Can you almost taste it? Photo by Tania Stewart.
Outdoor Berry Picking Merritt BC.

My favourite, raspberry! Photo Tania Stewart.

Strawberry’s along with Raspberry’s Make For Good Outdoor Berry Picking Merritt BC

Albeit summer is truly a time of picking fresh berries. Whether in your garden or in the wild. Eating faster than you pick,  hands stained with juice, and smiles of enjoyment. Hard to imagine, but you can enjoy the ancestors of our modern-day ruby red strawberries in our wild meadows, roadsides, woods and coastline. British Columbia has native strawberries throughout, just waiting for you to pick and enjoy their a burst of sweet flavour.  

Outdoor Berry Picking Around The Nicola Valley, Spring, Summer and Fall

https://curious.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/native-strawberries-wild-ancestors-of-our-delicious-cultivated-fruit/

Outdoor family fun time picking wild berries around Merritt BC 

You can find wild strawberries almost everywhere in our province except in Haida Gwaii (the Queen Charlotte Islands), though it is much more common in the interior than along the coast. Indeed almost any open habitat, except bogs, supports wild strawberries, but the most favoured habitat has to be the open roadside, where clearing and scraping have created an ideal growing environment.

https://curious.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/native-strawberries-wild-ancestors-of-our-delicious-cultivated-fruit/

Wild strawberries make excellent jam as well the leaves can be used for anti-diarrhea. but getting enough berries is a challenge.

Outdoor Berry Picking Around The Nicola Valley, Spring, Summer and Fall

Canned Jam. Photo Tania Stewart.

Outdoor Fun Time Berry Picking in Merritt BC.

Leaf form and texture are helpful in identifying native strawberries. Many teeth typically line the edge of strawberry leaflets. Wild strawberry leaflets are often bluish green and the terminal tooth of each leaflet is usually shorter (smaller) than or equal to adjacent teeth. Wood strawberry has a terminal tooth that is larger and longer than adjacent teeth. Wood strawberry leaflets tend to be a bit softer and more yellowish than wild strawberry leaflets.

If you like to pick berries. Then you’ll want to know how to identify a few of these tasty treats. Tania Stewart.

Red Current Berries.

Firstly Red Current Berries can easily be identified due to their bright translucent red. Secondly , they are sour but palatable, even more sour than black currant’s. Thirdly, plant’s are about waist high. They tend to be growing in swamps, moist coniferous forests and rocky mountain slopes. Bring your bug spray along with H2O on every berry picking adventure.

Flowering/Red/Black – The berries, flowers and leaves are all edible. The berries make a great sauce for duck especially when combined with oranges as a marmalade.

Outdoor Berry Picking Around The Nicola Valley, Spring, Summer and Fall

Red Current.. the blossoms are tasty too.

Wild Blueberry

Additionally, wild blueberries are smaller than the commercial berries, but very delicious. Wild blueberry can be confused with blue huckleberries, but both are edible. Throw some of these tasty berries into your salad. Blueberries are the king of antioxidant foods, low in calories but high in nutrients. May help protect against aging and cancer. It is hard to argue with the strength of the “Blueberry”.

Blueberries.

Not to mention 

Berries have been an important part of First Nations and Aboriginal culture in BC for thousands of years. They have been used for both food and medicine. As a food, wild berries are nutritious and delicious. They can be eaten out of hand, tossed into a salad, added to baked goods, or be turned into jam or jelly. Bannock slathered with wild blueberry jam! Can you taste it now.

Saskatoon Berries

Saskatoon berries.

Berries are wild

Wild berries thrive in many different climates throughout Canada Eh.  They’re packed with nutrients and powerful plant compounds. Though wild berries can be tart, they’re quite versatile and can be enjoyed in many ways. Wild huckleberries grow in mountainous regions, forests, bogs, and lake basins in Northwestern America and Western Canada. The berries are small and either red, blue, or black. Ripe huckleberries are fairly sweet with a little tartness.

What about Choke Cherries?

First Nation traditional foods in Merritt and throughout the Nicola Valley consisted of berries like Saskatoon berries, huckleberries, choke cherries and soap berries. Gerome Garcia.

Chokecherries I picked. Photo by Gerome Garcia

In Conclusion.

Come enjoy our sunshine and outdoor berry picking around Merritt BC. Celebrate this time of year with gathering up your family and head out on a wild berry picking adventure. Harvesting wild berries can strengthen your connection to the land and is a great opportunity to be active outside with family and friends. Not to mention how great those berry’s will taste, after all everything tastes so much better when you’ve harvested it with your own hands.  

When berry picking there are a few rules you should follow. Firstly, leave no trace behind. Secondly, do not pick if you do not identify the species of berry. There are berries which are not safe to eat. Know the difference. Lastly, bears like berries too. Always be bear aware when picking berries in the backcountry. 

Berry Picking in Merritt BC

Adventures and activities in British Columbia Canada

 

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Gardening in Merritt BC – Preparing Your Garden For the Spring

Gardening in Merritt BC

Butchart Gardens Lookout!

Prepare for the Spring

Gardening in Merritt, BC, Canada can be very rewarding as you take a boring property to the heights of beauty. While the Butchart Gardens, just outside of Victoria, BC may be the gold standard for gardens you can make your property a thing to behold as well.  All it takes is some planning and you can be on your way.

Planning is Essential

I have to admit I have no formal training in gardening but as a homeowner for nearly fifty years I have learned a few things.  Besides, my wife has a gift for remembering plants, what they look like, when they bloom and how big they get,  all important aspects of planning a garden.

The best place to start is with a plan of your yard.  On a large sheet of graph paper lay out the dimensions of your yard and place the outline of your house on the sheet.  You then have to determine where you want your gardens beds to be.  I personally prefer garden beds that have some shape to them rather than just a rectangle.

 You also have to figure out where your hardscapes will go.  Is your lot sloped?  Do you need retaining walls or terraces?  What kind of walkways will you need to connect various spaces?  Place all these ideas on your plan.

Examples of Terraced Gardens

Terrace garden with logs

Terrace Garden-Tom Reynolds Photo

Terrace Concrete bloc

Terrace-Concrete Block Tom Reynolds Photo

Rock Wall

Rock Wall-Tom Reynolds Photo

Examples of Pathways

The following path connects the driveway to the front door.  You will notice that it is curved to add interest.

Pathway

Curved Path-Tom Reynolds Photo

When Gardening in Merritt BC What Plants Can You Use?

The first thing that you need to know is what gardening zone is appropriate for Merritt. According to the BC Interactive Plant Hardiness Zone Merritt is in Zone 5b.  This means that plants that are rated for this zone will be more successful than zones that are different.  You also need to know their drought tolerance as Merritt is considered semi arid.

Once you determined what plants will be suitable for your garden you need to make other considerations.  If you are renovating your current landscape you will probably have a good supply of plants already.  For example, you may already have trees that are well established and therefore you want to work with their current locations unless the tree is not healthy.  Trees provide shade and are a dramatic feature.  

Flowering Tree

Flowering Tree-Tom Reynolds Photo

Flowering shrubs are also great additions to any garden.  I particularly like a mock orange blossom shrub.  This is one of those cross over plants that could also be considered a tree. It grows quite large and provides a great privacy barrier and wind break.

Mock Orange

Mock Orange=Tom Reynolds Photo

Colour should be Your Goal when Gardening in Merritt BC

Perrenials Garden

Perennial Garden-Tom Reynolds photo

Perennial plants should be a part of everyone’s garden.  They are called perennials because they self propagate in place so you don’t have to renew them every year.  The downside is that they generally bloom for a short period during the growing season.  The good thing is that not all perennials bloom at the same time so with a littlie planning you can keep colour in your garden by selecting plants that bloom at different times.

Annuals have to be replaced every year but they have the advantage of  blooming all season long.  I think placing them between the perennials  provides constant colour.

Annuals

Annuals-Tom Reynolds photo

Colour can also be created by using different types of shrubs and perennials.  Some shrubs, like barberry come in many different colours.

Barberry Shrub

Barberry Shrub-Tom Reynolds Photo

“Colour in my garden is so up lifting”-Shirley Reynolds

Hostas are also a plant that comes in many different colourings.

Hostas

Hostas – Tom Reynolds Photo

Gardening in Merritt, BC doesn’t have to be all plants 

Plants aren’t the only things that you can use to make your garden interesting.  My wife likes things such as old chairs or head boards, while I  like things more on the tacky side such as garden gnomes and whirly-gigs’

Chair

Chair-Tom Reynolds photo

Rock Wall

Roc Wall-Tom Reynolds Photo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Joy of Gardening Never Ends

If you take in these tips you can start your journey to a beautiful yard and a great hobby.  Have fun!

Gardening in Merritt BC

Plants for the Soul

 

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My Merritt Hair Salon during COVID-19

Hair Cut During COVID-19

Hair Styling in Merritt BC Canada

What you need for a good hair cut in the Nicola Valley during COVID19

Hair styling during Covid-19 has been none existent in Merritt BC Canada.  Normally I can go to my stylist every six weeks.  I have been self isolating for twelve weeks so my locks have gotten a little too long for my liking.

Tom's Long Hair

The sides are just about over the ears

Tomscovid19hair

Hair styling during Covid-19

Merritt Hair Salon during Covid-19 is self administered

Hair dresser

Kari, she’s the best

I have a great hair stylist who always makes me feel good about my hair when I leave her shop.  I have been going to her for many years now and she has never let me down.  While I like my hair short (I’m lazy), my wife likes it longer.  Kari did a great job in satisfying us both.

She works for a beauty parlor in downtown Merritt called Kruse ‘N Style.  The owner has a unique set up as she not only provides the necessary beauty treatments she also sells clothes.  My co-worker used to tell me she was going to get her $150 hair cut.  I asked why they charged so much, she said the hair cut was an OK price but she couldn’t pass up on the clothing!

A reluctant volunteer?                                                                             

When my wife and I got married back in 1972 we were as poor as church mice, so we did many things to cut down on expenses.  We bought cheaper cuts of beef, upped our chicken and pork quantities and ate a lot of pasta.  At one time we switched to eggs to get our protein but alas, you can eat only so many omelettes and souffles.

experience merritt

 

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So in an effort to save money we decided my wife would cut my hair.  My wife is talented in many ways and I’m sure if YouTube existed back then I would of ended up with a great cut.  But unfortunately there was no YouTube and my hair style ended up being a little bit off.

Based on that experience I have been gun shy about having anyone work on my hair except a proper stylist.  However, as my hair got longer my wife again tried to get me to let her cut it.  Well that wasn’t going to happen.  However, my son decided he new what was best for dear old Dad and sat me on a chair out on the back lawn. (I guess we can’t afford a broom to sweep up the hair if we were inside.)

Merritt Hair Salon opens for business in my backyard during Covid-19

My son has this very fancy clipper that comes with various heads which allows him to control the length of the cut. 

For the short sides he chose a specific head and voila my sides are cut to a very short  even length.  Now he has to tackle the top which apparently has to be longer than the sides.  After a few minutes and adding some hair goop he declares that he is finished.  Here is the result.

 

Not happy

The finished product

Bring in the back up Hair Stylist

Merritt hair salon open for business

The “professional” arrives

As you probably guessed this is not the look I was going for.  We had to bring in some assistance, armed with her YouTube video my wife joins the fray.  Look at the way she is handling the scissors.  Looks really good.

Just Kidding

The job is finished and it doesn’t look anything like the electric socket style above.  In fact I can now say I have a modern up to date style.  I applaud my son and my wife for the great hair styling during Covid-19 but  must say that Kari will not be out of work.

just finished - merritt hair salon

Hair Styling During Covid-19-Finished Product

My Merritt Hair Salon during COVID-19

Nicola Valley hair cuts


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COVID-19 IN MERRITT BC – Please Self Isolate

COVID-19 IN MERRITT BC

HOW TO SELF ISOLATE IN STYLE

Fun Things To Do in Merritt To Break the Boredom
 

The COVID-19 in Merritt BC has citizens embracing the directives from our health authorities.  For my wife and myself this means self isolating ourselves. We are not quarantined, so we are able to go out for essential services such as groceries once a week or so.

GETTING THINGS DONE

  1. Converting CD’s

COVID-19 in Merritt BC

Gathering the materials

One of the nice things about self isolating during COVID-19 is that you now have time to tackle some jobs that you have been putting off because other things take you away from these tasks.  For example, I have wanted to convert my CD’s to digital and store them online. Ditto goes with my photos as well.

However, my procrastination has caused me some grief because technology has moved on and my computer does not have a CD drive.  To solve this problem I resurrected my old computer that did have the necessary drive to carry out this task.  This machine was extremely slow and was several releases of Windows 10 behind the times.  Despite these problems I persevered and the task was completed. 

2. Resurrecting the craft room 

We have a room downstairs that was originally going to be our craft room but overtime it became a storage room.  We had luggage, Christmas decorations, boxes of memorabilia and all kinds of other stuff which left no space to actually do any crafts.  This project is massive and is therefore still on going.

Emptying the storage room

Emptying the storage room

Putting the Craft Room back together

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.  Spring Cleaning in Merritt

What better time is there for tackling those cleaning exercises than when you can’t go anywhere.

Getting ‘er done

4.  Yard Work

Thatching the grass

The early Spring is a great time to get a jump on your gardening chores.  Things such as clearing out the winter die off, pruning, weeding and de-thatching.  The rewards will show within weeks.

Not all self isolation activities during COVID-19 is work!

1. Baking

This is one activity that is lots of fun and has great rewards when finished.  I myself am not a great baker but I can whip  up a great plate of Rice Krispy squares.  This time I added some crushed candy cane to add a little tasty addition to the recipe.

Rice Krispy Squares

Chili and Hamburger Soup

“I love food”-Shirley

My wife is a much better cook than I am.  She whipped up some of our favourite dishes, hamburger soup and Chili.

2.  Reading

Reading is one of my favourite things to do any time.  However with the COVID-19 in Merritt BC we have more time for reading.  I see one problem looming in the near future and that is the library is closed and so are the thrift stores that I get my reading supply from.  I guess I will have to step into the new age and get my books online.

Reading time

3.  Walking

Since we are not quarantined we can go out for walks.  There generally is no one  around but if we do meet someone we keep our separation of 2 metres.  It’s a great time for walking as Spring is beginning to show up everywhere.  We could use many of the trails around our house but it is tic season and so we are keeping away from these areas for now.

Out for a walk

4.  Games

Games are a big part of our life so it is fitting that we spend time doing this. We play card games and board games but not computer games.  The only downside is that we love to play games with our friends and that just doesn’t work during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Playing Canasta

This is serious

The Covid-19 in Merritt, BC is a serious matter.  There are things to remember  such as the pandemic will end, especially if we follow the advise of our National, Provincial and Community Governments.  There are many ways to keep in touch using such things as FACETIME and other equivalent programs or, even try,  the old fashion way by using the phone. 

COVID-19 Important Links

COVID 19 in Merritt BC

British Columbia COVID-19

Canada COVID-19

BE SAFE

COVID-19 IN MERRITT BC

Check out further information on ExperienceNicolaValley.com 

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Petit Creek Lavender Farm – Farms Of Merritt

Petit Creek Lavender Farm

Petit – which is pronounced “petee” Creek, Merritt, BC, Canada

“… remember the girl who grew a whole big country dream because she loved the smell of her Grandmother’s suitcase.”

Petit Creek Lavender Farm isn’t just about farming. It is about friends, it is about family, it is about fun, and it is about “following your heart”.  When I asked Judy-Sue Suzuki why she started the Lavender Farm in the Nicola Valley she said,

“ I started the Lavender Farm because I love it, and it gives me wonderful memories of my Grandmother’s luggage. When she would visit it smelled of Lavender”. 

Dreams Of Petit Creek Lavender Farm

Judy -Sue had a dream and since 2010 Judy-Sue and her entire family, her parents, her husband, her children, and her grandchildren have all played a valuable role in the production of Lavender buds, sachets, honey, creams, soaps, wreaths, and so much more. Everyone  is happy to pitch in to help with the acres of Lavender, over 300 rose bushes, gardens, rock beds, small quaint sitting areas and sweet cozy cottages. Every single inch of this property is touched by love. 

Petit Creek Lavender Farm

Everyone loves the Petit Creek Lavender Farm. Through the years the flowers and family grew.

Judy-Sue offers classes to teach others how to use Lavender in many ways, the farm has provided more than one wedding couple an amazing place to share their vows and start their new life together. But it is not all about making things pretty at the Petit Creek Lavender Farm. It is about work, hard work, long days and the only reward Judy-Sue is guaranteed to get is knowing she has done her best for her family and her animals, and for her that is more than enough. There are over 3200 photos on the Petit Creek Lavender Farm Facebook Page, I chose this one to share on my blog. Why? Read on!

experiencemerritt

Praying or Thanking?

Praying or Thanking.

Nothing To Waste 

I looked at this photo and it said so much. At first I thought Judy-Sue was looking up and saying a prayer, but then I also thought she could be looking up and saying “Thank You”, for the blessings she has in her life.  24 hours a day Judy-Sue watches over her farm in Merritt, BC Canada, hundreds of animals and birds are in her care. She also raises sheep, bunnies, and goats for fibre which she hand dyes and makes wool.  Nothing is wasted on the Petit Creek Lavender Farm, no land is left bare and unused, food is grown and preserved for the long winter. Birds lay eggs and provide meat, even the tiniest of creatures are trusted in Judy-Sue’s care. 

Lavender Farm in Merritt BC

Baby Birds in the Nest

Lavender And Heaven

It is so much more than Lavender, everyone shares photos of Lavender, we all know what it looks like and smells like. We love Lavender of course, but spending the day at the lavender farm in Merritt, BC, Canada is so much more. It is an experience your heart will remember forever. When you pull up to the front gate you will know you have arrived at a small piece of Heaven.

Petit Creek Lavender Farm

Arriving at Heaven’s Gate

Merritt Country Dream

When you meet Judy-Sue Suzuki you will understand what I mean. You will see a beautiful women with a heart the size of her 54 acres of flowers, fruits, family, and friends. Her smile will stay with you always. When you think of the sweet Petit Creek Lavender Farm in Merritt, BC, Canada you will always remember the girl who grew a whole big country dream because she loved the smell of her Grandmother’s suitcase.

Merritt BC cottage

Cozy Cottage at Lavender Farm

CONTACT INFORMATION

Facebook Page

Sunflower Farm

Merritt BC Lavender Farm

Petit – which is pronounced “petee” Creek, Merritt, BC, Canada

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