Hail Season = Construction Season

I remember 3 years ago when I moved back to the farm, someone asked me if it was a good idea growing to grow flowers with all the hail we get here. As my memory served me at the time I could only remember hail 1 out of 4 years. As it turns out for the 3 years we have been growing flowers those numbers have been switched with 4 hail storms each year.


Many flowers are very durable and will stand up to a bit of abuse, but when it comes to the lily, one piece of hail is too much hail. Here are some pics of what a 2 minute hail storm did to our lilies back in 2007. There are small brown spots on the lily buds where the hail stones hit the plants. These spots cause the buds to deform when they finally open




So to combat mother nature our most delicate flowers, the lilies are grown under plastic tunnels. This year we are currently putting up our second set of tunnels. The first step is to order and receive delivery of the metal early enough in the season to construct the tunnels before hail season. Although we started planning back in January it was just 10 days ago that we picked up the metal. The pictures above were from a hail storm on June 25th, so we are already running on lost time.


One really nice feature about the tunnels are that they are designed to be temporary and will be moved when when it is time for the lilies to be divided in 4-5 years. This is a pic of my dad and our worker Roberto screwing the posts into the ground.

The next step is to put the hoops on the posts. You may notice the plastic is wet from a rain storm that came through. We were a little worried the clouds might drop hail, but we were lucky this time.


Finally the plastic will be pulled over the hoops and left on until September. Each winter we will pull the plastic off the tunnels and where it will be wrapped in black plastic to protect it from the UV rays and winter snow storms.

The lilies are a little behind this year with our cool spring, but should be ready for picking by July 7th. You may come out to the farm or find our bouquets at an Innisfail Growers at one of your local Farmers Markets. We will also be attending two markets on our own this year. Friday evenings at the Sundre Farmers Market and Saturday Afternoon at the Bentley Farmers Market. Hope to see you there.

Farmers Market Season

I attended my first market of the season today. Unfortunately none of my products were ready just yet, although the radishes are only a week to ten days away. I work with a neighbouring co-operative of vegetables growers called Innisfail Growers. Each Grower specializes in a different product. We grow the Cut Flowers, Radishes, Garlic & Sweet Corn.

So although I do not have anything ready yet there was plenty to sell. hanging baskets from the Jungle Farm, Asparagus from Edgar Farms, last seasons potatoes from Upper Green Farms and Tomatoes from C & J Greenhouses.

I will be sending product to about 12 markets a week with Innisfail Growers for a complete list visit the website and you will find me at Northlands Market every Tuesday from 3:30 - 7:00pm and most Sundays at the Calgary farmers market at the Currie Barracks . Just look for the really tall guy, that will be me.. Farmer John.

In the Midst of Planting

There may not be enough to see on the farm but there is plenty to do. For the next two months we are working hard to get the farm ready for our first weekend for the maze August 1st - 3rd. Visit us this weekend for our Annual Lily Festival

Here is a short list of what is keeping us busy at the moment.

1)The Sunflower & Corn Mazes are just poking out of the ground, so in the next two weeks we will be planning out and cutting in this years pattern.

2) All our Seed Potatoes and U-pick potatoes are in the ground and will soon need to be weeded.. Anyone want to help??

3) This year we are expanding our U-pick vegetable Fields. A variety of carrots, potatoes, peas, tomatoes, beans, radishes, garlic & more will be available throughout the summer

4) The lilies are growing like mad, the first of which should be ready for picking early July

5) In addition to the lilies we plant approximately 10, 000 annual flowers & have expanded our perennial beds for visitors to pic and create beautiful bouquets.

6) Earlier this week we received our first shipment of Christmas Trees. We planted the trees yesterday and they should be ready for picking in 2016... It's only a few years away. That's a "soon to be" christmas tree in the white circles