Country living Creating a potager
Story by Renee Conte, photos by Tania Moffat
L
iving outside the city has always been a dream for Mani- toba Gardener publisher, Tania
Moffat. One of the things she appreci- ates most about her acreage along the Assiniboine River is the natural beauty and open space. “I am a country girl at heart, I love
seeing the crops growing across the highway from our home and the diverse wildlife that we are able to experience here. But most of all, I would have to say I am thankful for the way my chil- dren can grow up. They’ve learned so much about gardening, food produc- tion and about the world around them. Every day is a new lesson and new opportunity to be close to nature,” she shares. As you pull into the long drive you
notice a small orchard to the west filled with a pear tree, plums, apple trees and several cherry, haskap, Saskatoon and blueberry bushes, surrounded by a natural windbreak. The east side of the drive is sheltered by majestic pines, and young elms line the driveway leading to her home, workshop, barn and gazebo. There are plantings and small
gardens everywhere, even a gnome garden on the hill south of their home. Antique metal cart wheels, milk cans and other vintage décor are mixed in with small painted statues and group- ings of container plants throughout the gardens and around the property. Challenges of a large property With almost 10 acres of property to
Vegetable beds are arranged in a geometric pattern with lots of trellises to add height.
tend to, a division of tasks is crucial. David, her husband, takes meticulous care of the lawn, an arduous and thank- less job, even with a riding mower. “By the time he has finished mowing, it is usually time to start at the other side again. He bags the grass every time he cuts and never cuts it too short, so the lawn is always a lush carpet of green,” she says. Tania meanwhile does most of the
The potager in early summer.
localgardener.net
gardening work. The boys, Taeven, 8 and Desmond, almost 5, are eager to help with planting and harvesting for short periods of time. Their main interests are in quality control (taste testing). “Once spring arrives we start walking around checking all the plants to see which ones are in bloom and by summer the boys are taking tasting tours on a daily basis. I love that,” she says smiling. There is usually some- thing they can find to eat. Tania has planted strawberries, three varieties of raspberries, chokecherries, and tasty
Spring 2016 • 17
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