Our Victory Garden

dreams of a Canadian gardener

It’s February, when a gardener’s thoughts turn to spring. You know, seeds, dirt, plants, flags. People who don’t garden may still think it’s winter. That’s because it is winter. As proof, here’s how our Valentine’s Day started today:

me on the trails of the Northumberland Forest. Photo by Andy Moeck

Normally it takes me a while to write a post. But today, I was so excited I just had to get this out! It’s Flag Day tomorrow!

Canada’s flag is beautiful and unique. It can’t be mistaken for the flag of any other country. Tomorrow is the 60th anniversary of its status as our very own. A couple of years ago, it developed an unsavoury association with some loud honkers in Ottawa, but lately the flag has returned to its rightful place in the gentle Canadian heart. We wanted to fly one tomorrow for this special Flag Day.

Andy and I searched the house for Canadian flags that we had stashed somewhere, to no avail. We suspect they went to a thrift shop, following in the footsteps of many items we realized we didn’t need, courtesy of a massive renovation. Yesterday we went shopping for a new flag. Giant Tiger was sold out but the clerk, with typical Canadian and Giant Tiger helpfulness, directed us to a nearby dollar store. The flag I bought there was made in China. But that’s better than being made in a country whose leader has zero respect for their good old ally, Canada.

Our house is on the shore of Lake Ontario. The border with the US runs right through the lake. Sometimes we see the glow of lights from Rochester, New York. This shared body of water has been known as Lake Ontario for a very long time. Please do not ask Mr. Trump if he plans to change the name. I am positive that Mr. Trump doesn’t read my Substack, but I don’t want anybody putting more ideas in his head. Lake New York doesn’t have the same kind of ring to it as Lake Ontario.  

Canada Steamship Lines sends boatloads of stuff past our house. I bet some of it is pretty heavy. Maybe steel, or aluminum; stuff that could be tariffed. With tariffs that could be implemented at any time. Or not.

So back to the garden. Ours became a victory garden this afternoon.

First of all you get a flag. You mount that proudly outside somewhere, close to a patch of Canadian soil that you’re going to cultivate in the spring.

Get some seeds. I ordered some from the Ontario Seed Company (OSC). They arrived in no time, delivered today courtesy of Canada Post. I grew peanuts for the first time last year. They did pretty well so I ordered some more. Peanuts need loose soil, sandy if you can manage that; the stems of the plant send little shoots back down into the soil, and peanuts form at the end of those shoots. OSC carries some native plants too, and I got some butterfly weed seeds. Butterfly weed is a variety of milkweed with fragrant orange blossoms. I also ordered some of the standard carrots and spinach and such. And I have a slew of seeds saved from - drum roll - zucchini. Not sure I’ll plant those this year. (Please see previous post re zucchini.)

I know it’s too late this year for you to create a garden with cardboard, but I have to tell you anyway, in case your Victory Garden is so exciting that you want to expand it at the end of the summer. You mow the lawn as short as you can, lay a thick layer of cardboard on top, and cover that with a really thick layer of compost or other organic matter. Then you just wait for spring. By then the cardboard will have melted into the weed-free soil, and you can easily plant your garden.

Meanwhile, check that your flag is flying prominently. Make sure the wind carries it high enough that any stray American president is bound to see it. Think about the fresh vegetables that you will produce here in Canada, rather than having to import them from the United States. Not that you would. Not any more.

It feels a bit like we’re heading towards war. Or at least, it doesn’t feel like peace time. When you need a break from the news, dream of vegetables yet to come, watched over by our beautiful Canadian flag. And maybe go for a quick ski before spring arrives.

Andy looking ahead, to the way home