Life's a Stitch

Years ago we heard about a couple who planted a few apple trees in their front yard. After several years they had so many apples they had to enlist family and friends to help with their apple problem.

Something about that appealed to me. I wanted a fruit problem, too, so I convinced C to plant a three peach trees; visions of pies, preserves and chutney dancing through my head. The cost of soil preparation, trees and blossom drop prevention spray far exceeded what we would have spent on peaches for years to come. But the thought of homegrown freestone fruit was my siren song. Bottom line – no peaches. Not a single one.

Our new house, replete with three strips of plantable dirt, renewed the fruity song in my soul. I’ve opted for a blueberry problem. My neighbour says, sure you’re going to have a blueberry problem, it’ll be keeping out the birds and raccoons. Not to be deterred, Chuck and BIL Greg, humoured me with their hard work.

It started with home grown soil testing, they guys having overlooked the test kit on the shopping list.

Listening for the fizz.

The verdict? Neutral  soil requiring the addition of Organic material and acidified. Note to self: don’t mix the two concoctions together unless you want to clean up the eruption of a dirt volcano. They contained baking soda and vinegar, the ingredients for the lava of grade school science projects.

The finished product.

 This  year’s chutney project using store bought fruit, both blueberry and peach.