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The Wisdom of the Cosmic Garden By Alexandra Luppold, German Garden Master

initial writing and research 2013, update 2017

www.AlexandraLuppold.com 1

The Wisdom of the Cosmic Garden By Alexandra Luppold

Alexandra is a German Garden Master who immigrated to Canada in 1998 to live her dream, of owning her own organic Gardens. She has produced organic vegetables for the fine dining restaurants in Calgary, AB since 1999. Alexandra; Author, Artist, Systemic Constellation Facilitator, is assisting any seeker of self-awareness and peace to expand consciousness into a rooted spiritual nature in many aspects of life. Through her guided journeying with the sacred CosmoGram, ceremonies, workshops and seminars she reaches deep into the heart. Today she lives with her partner in Courtenay, on Vancouver Island, where she enjoys her gardens in the rain forest climate. (From this climate you will receive the bonus garden videos.) The initial writing of this seminar was in 2013, specific designed for the short season gardening and tough climate in the Foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The provided links have been updated January 2017. “I feel that everyone is in service to the whole, To All, and everyone came with a very special gift in their heart. We just need to remember this and expand our consciousness to all levels of life. And when we do, we will have Heaven on Earth. All Life is sacred.” Alexandra The Wisdom of the Cosmic Garden Our great Mother Earth is calling you to expand your consciousness to all life!

➢ Garden related journey through the four seasons ➢ General overview of Soil, Seed and Plants ➢ Starting your own vegetables early inside ➢ Extending Growing season ➢ Organic and Biodynamic Techniques ➢ Utilizing Biodynamic calendar for seeding, planting and harvest ➢ Holistic management and easy garden application ➢ 14 most common grown vegetables in detail ➢ Personal garden plan

If you have any question coming up for you, while you gardening, you can follow me throughout the growing season with garden tips on Facebook:

www.facebook.com/butterfly.transition

www.AlexandraLuppold.com [email protected]

http://www.alexandraluppold.com/

http://www.facebook.com/butterfly.transition


mailto:[email protected]




Session 2 The Surface of Earth The Surface of our Planet ~ 30% Land and 70% Water 30% LAND includes: Mountains ~ Desert ~ Grassland ~ Forest ~ Wasteland ~ Human living areas...etc.; In short:

Great and healthy topsoil for gardens to grow food are small in comparison to the rest of the land surface. Every surface that is alive is: Breathing ~ Protecting ~ A sensor to the Earth and Nature herself! Nature will close any open spot on the surface of the planet. The PLANTS are the cover of the Soil.

70% Water includes:

Salt Water 97%Water used as living ‘room’ and big ‘transporter’ of movement on Earth Fresh Water 3%

Water useable and life sustaining to ALL LIFE on Earth Fresh Water on Earth, is divided into 68.7% Icecaps and Glaciers 30.1% Groundwater 0.9% other (not sure what that may be) 0.3% Surface Water, which contains Fresh surface water (liquid) 87% Lakes 11% Swamps 2% Rivers

Soil is vital to all Life on Mother Earth

Soil supports the growth of plants. The plants supply food & oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide & nitrogen.

Your Notes:





Session 3 The Soil

Soil not dirt

Support ~ Organic matter ~ Important energy exchange ~ Living environment

Support Life support to any creatures (human, animals, plants) on Earth, physical place to hold the plant world (roots).

Organic matter Decomposition of animal and plant cells (leaves, animal manure). Humus = decomposed organic matter plus rocks and mineral particles. Helps sustain soil fertility & quality.

Important energy exchange Water, Air, Oxygen, Nutrients, absorbing carbon dioxide and nitrogen

Living environment Plants, big & small animals and micro-organisms like bacteria & fungi decompose organic matter.

Your Notes:

Image from: http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/images/soil_breakdown.gif





Returning nutrients to the soil, help absorb carbon dioxide and nitrogen, keeping the soil alive and in

movement.

The most important Goal is: KEEP THE SOIL ALIVE!

Your Notes:

Session 4 Return to the Soil





Support to the ground

Protect (through covering) the surface from the natural elements like:

Wind ~ Sun ~ Heavy Rain

Create more healthy land sites. Turn gravel, parking spots and grass front lawns into gardens.

Help decreasing pollution of soil. If you know of a (lightly) polluted ground, you can cover it with grass with the intention of clearing it.

To protect the surface from the elements you can use: Row cover material ~ Plant material or live plants such as ‘Weeds”

“Know that Nature will close every open spot in the soil or ground, just like your

body will heal any open wound.”

Your Notes:

Organic matter

Return or leave plant parts on the soil Encourage the earthworms to stay or come to your garden (leave the plant parts on the ground)

Composting (return the composted soil to your garden) Apply mulch to the surface (use grass clipping only occasionally, ensure to use only untreated material) Green cover crop turned into the soil

Session 4 Return to the Soil





Integrity, be unimpaired! Be aware of your thoughts and feelings. Your actions speak louder than words. The ground is ‘reading’ your energy know that what you give will return to you in many forms.

Your Notes:

Love

Every living thing below and above the surface is doing its purpose in the life cycle.

Love and respect the life in the soil:

Worms ~ Bugs ~ Fungus ~ Insects ~ Bacteria...etc.

Your Notes:

Lesson 5 The Seed Start and end of transformation





Expert at surviving Essence of the plant Doorway of the plant embryo Start and end of transformation We start the growing with a seed. Plant grows with the intent to pass on life. It ‘transforms’ its essences into a SEED, which then ends its growth with the physical ‘plant body’ as it has transformed. The End is the beginning again.

There are many ways a plant ensures its continuing existence. In the vegetable garden the SEED is the most appropriate continuation, and we make use of it to ‘create’ fresh food for ourselves.

Your Notes:

Expert at surviving Perfect physical body to survive in the environment it has been expelled into. It is an expert of ‘knowing’ the right conditions for growth in the environment, when to stay dormant or when to start growing.

Some SEEDS can lie dormant for more than 30 years, waiting for the perfect time to sprout!

I call this patience!

Your Notes:

Lesson 5 The Seed Essence of the plant





Carries all the information from: The Mother plant ~ Environment ~ Soil and Land ~ Water ~ Climate and Season It is like a little computer, with all the ‘back up’ data. It’s like a human ‘cell’, which carries all the ‘data’ of the whole organism.

Your Notes:

Doorway of the plant embryo

Keeps the embryo safe and protected until everything is set up for emerging from its ‘shell’. It’s important to realize that a ‘dead-looking’ seed is NOT dead at all, but a professional in passing on life!

Your Notes:

Lesson 6 Ordering your Seeds

When choosing your Seeds!





Know the climate and the frost-free day of your area www.planthardiness.gc.ca

Know which vegetables you like to grow and eat (of course)! Choose after the mature days in the catalogue. Use untreated or organic seeds (many seed companies treat the seeds with fungicide)!

Best is to collect your own seeds as much as possible, it is fun! This website will help you learn how... http://howtosaveseeds.com/index.php

Be adventurous and try something new each year. Take your time to read through the catalog before you order. www.damseeds.ca (my favorite . . . price is right with good quality seeds for a big garden) www.westcoastseeds.com If you are interested in seed exchange and heritage seeds, this is a link for Canada www.seeds.ca

Your Notes:

Lesson 7 Preparations for Seeding inside

Inside seeding for the Northern Hemisphere Gardener


http://www.planthardiness.gc.ca/

http://howtosaveseeds.com/index.php

http://www.damseeds.ca/

http://www.westcoastseeds.com/

http://www.seeds.ca/




Growing healthy plants inside without a greenhouse is tricky. But it can be done! The seedlings will demand lots of attention! Start small and make mistakes to learn from Not every plant is okay with getting started inside!!!

From the moment of staring your seedlings inside… you have committed yourself!

The Timing of seeding is in Days before last frost

Our last frost here in Calgary is about ... mid/end May/June. You should find your own last frost day. . . which of course can change. There are some tricks to help with the protection, which I will share later.

The plants that are seeded early, will need to be transplanted...sometimes 3 times. So, you should have enough room for all those plants. You also need a very good growing light. I recommend using the Bio-Dynamic Calendar for the seeding dates.

Your Notes:

Lesson 7 Preparations for Seeding inside

Here are some most common vegetables plants you can start inside:

Plants that can be started earlier: Tomatoes





Zucchinis, Squash, Gourds...

Cucumbers

Peppers and Eggplants

Leeks

Onions (if started from seed)

Cabbages, red + green

Herbs like:

Parsley

Basil

Melissa

(or any other you like that did not make it through the winter)

Time before last frost:

10-12 weeks

3-4 weeks

3-4 weeks

8 weeks

12 weeks

12 weeks

8-10 weeks

3-8 weeks

Your Notes:

Lesson 8 Seeding inside Water your soil very well before planting! Make sure to have fine soil, for the small seeds. Have your labels and seed ready.

Plant one variety at a time. Take your seeds in your hand, and connect to the seed.





What you need: Soil, fine

Flats (or pots) Labels Spray bottle (water) Food plastic wrap Your seeds

I have use the same soil for the seedlings for years, because I know this soil is fine and clean of weeds.

Create little rows in your flat for more varieties, if you need to, this helps with the space. Spread your seeds thin into the little rows, (so that they are not laying on top of each other). Use a flat wood to gently press the seed into the soil. Now use your spray bottle and water them gently. Cover the seed with soil, (double the size of the seed). Stretch the plastic wrap over the flat, there should be air between the soil and the wrap. Set-aside until germination, most likely in a warm spot, but no need for extra light yet.

Your Notes:

Lesson 9 Transplanting

Again, water your soil very well before transplanting! Also, water the plants to be transplanted!

I use compost soil and peat moos* mix 1:2





What you need: Good Soil Flats (or bigger pots)

Labels Spray bottle (water) Transplanting tool Your plants of course!

*As peat moos is coming from a natural bog, we should find local alternatives to peat moos. Nowadays you find coconut fibrous offered in your local nurseries, but we should consider that this is not a local product for Canada. I also found it more expensive, and its preforming is not to mine liken. I am aware of the ecological foot print the harvest of peat moos leaves behind! So, I use as less as possible or none, as well reuse the healthy soil.

Process of Transplanting

Gently lift the plant with a stick-tool out of the soil. Ensure to support the lift from beneath the plant. Every root counts in a little plant like that. Create a little hole with your tool. Put the roots into the hole. Use the tool to gently press the soil around the plant.

Your test is to gently pull the plant, if it comes loose very easy...not good. If it sits firmly in the soil...good.

Your Notes:

Lesson 9 Transplanting Now the plants have more room to grow and become strong! If you leave them too long in the first flat, they become long and thin; a very weak plant.





For very small seedlings Bushy herbs: I transplant them also in bushels, like Parsley. You don’t have to transplant every single little plant here. It is even better for those little ones to stay in a group. It goes for chamomile, thyme, and oregano, Melissa…

For tomatoes, I put the plants in deeper soil each time I transplant. This ensures the deep-growing roots can support the plant as it grows up. There are other vegetables with the same preference.

Using the Bio-Dynamic Calendar for Seeding, Transplanting, other

Garden tasks and Harvest!

To order: http://www.stellanatura.com

Your Notes

Lesson 10 The Plant Primordial beings

Plants have been here on the planet for a very long time. First there were spore plants (close by water, limited food supply),then somehow the plants evolved into plants with seeds, which made possible the spread of life deeper into the land.





Lung of Earth

Plants the only natural source of air for us to breath. A beautiful relationship we breath in, what plants breath out. Alive

Plants are alive and are the creation of divine love, like us.

In my experience and connection with plants, they have a collective consciousness and together they thrive for life and balance.

Your Notes

Backster, Primary Perception: Bio-communication with Plants, Living Foods and Human Cell, 2003, www.primaryperception.com 1966 he started to experiment with a machine called Polygraph on plants to find electrical activity. This kind of machine was use as a lie detector on humans. We can find the same kind of experiences written down in the book “The Secret Life of Plants” by Peter Tompkins & Christopher Bird, conducted by Russian and American scientists.

Lesson 10 The Plant

Nutrient

Food ~ Medicine ~ Shelter ~ Housing ~ Protection ~ Clothes ~ Transportation Plants supply the needed things for others to survive and drive.





Transformation of energy

Plants can bind the energies of Earth and Sky into their essence and transform them into edible substance.

Your Notes

“Through the plants, we are able to take in the energies of the Sky and Earth,

raise our own energy and vibration.” - Alexandra Luppold

Lesson 11 Bio-Dynamic Principles and Plant Families The Bio-Dynamic Principles where laid out after Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) ideas in his spiritual science. The Waldorf School, known worldwide, is an alternative educational movement, which is based on the ideas of Rudolf Steiner.





The Bio-Dynamic principles are very complex, too big to bring them into this course. For more detailed information please visit, https://www.biodynamics.com. You can also get books from R. Steiner through this website.

“Plants can only be understood when considered in connection with all that is circling weaving,

and living around them.” Rudolf Steiner

I will share what I understand and have utilized in my garden since 1998.

Each plant has a different giving/receiving relationship to the soil and environment, including the

PLANETS in our solar system.

The plant-world is very connected to the Earth of course, but also to the Cosmos.

In the Bio-Dynamic we take this into practice and create healthy plants.

Bio-Dynamic Principles = Harmony between all Life

Your Notes

Lesson 11 Bio-Dynamic Principles and Plant Families


https://www.biodynamics.com/




Lesson 11 Bio-Dynamic Principles and Plant Families

Element

Earth – Root Water – Leaf Air – Flower Fire – Fruit





Zodiac Sign Zodiac Sign Zodiac Sign Zodiac Sign

Taurus Pisces Gemini Aries

Virgo Cancer Libra Leo

Capricorn Scorpio Aquarius Sagittarius

Your Notes

Lesson 12 Bio-Dynamic Calendar

Using the Bio-Dynamic Calendar for Seeding, Transplanting, Planting and other Garden tasks like Harvest!

Different planets and their relationship/constellation to the Earth are influencing the plant kingdom. Seed, plant, hoe and harvest using the calendar benefit the quality; nutrition, taste and shelf life of your harvest. STELLA NATURA is the biodynamic calendar I found mostly organized and easy to work with.

To order your calendar: http://www.stellanatura.com


http://www.stellanatura.com/




You can also get your calendar here in Canada at:

https://www.banyen.com/products/stella-natura-biodydnamic-planting-calendar-2017

Lesson 13 The Garden Plan Rotation





Rest

If you have lots of room, you could have a fifth plot for total rest that would be ideal.

Lesson 13

Root

LeafFlower

Fruit

Root

Leaf

Flower

Fruit





The Garden Plan Rotation

Rotation is Important!

Rotating the crop each year keeps the soil and plants healthy and disease/pests under control. The garden plan helps you to keep track of the rotation cycle. Set up your garden in the first year, after that you just move the family to the next position Rotation follows the natural rhythm of the plant development. ROOT ~ STEM/LEAF ~ FLOWER ~ FRUIT/SEED and again... It supports:

➢ rested & healthy soil ➢ balance nutrients in the soil ➢ healthy plants ➢ Pest control ➢ Fungus control

Your Notes

Plot # 1 Plot # 2 Plot # 3 Plot # 4

1. Year Root Leaf Flower/rest Fruit 2. Year Leaf Flower/rest Fruit Root

3. Year Flower/rest Fruit Root Leaf

4. Year Fruit Root Leaf Flower/rest

5. Year Root Leaf Flower/rest Fruit





Lesson 13 The Garden Plan Rotation Now try it out for yourself and fill in your own vegetables in the right rotation!

Your Garden Plot # 1




First Year you start

Second Year

Third Year

Fourth Year

Lesson 14 Your Garden Plan and some examples Creating your own garden plan! • sketch out your garden area • post the plots on paper • designate the vegetables to the plots It does not matter in what geometric shape your garden is. Work with what you have. Within any shape you can create a circle somewhere, as your center.





Your Notes

Lesson 15 Spring Seeding-Preparation Bring the spring inside your home by: Keep some chive plants in a pot. Place them into the garden, shady side, during the growing season. Before the winter frost, set them into a sunny place of easy access. Dig the pot into soil or put straw around it. Bring the pot inside as soon you can get to it. Enjoy!

Step #1 You still must wait until your garden is dry enough to work. The soil can still be frozen for the cleanup. Now you can remove all the plant leftovers (the soil cover over the winter). Your options depend on level of decomposition and garden size:

➢ leave plants to use as mulch ➢ Compose in a pile





➢ dig them into the soil Remember, for good soil management you want your garden-soil covered over the winter. Step #2 Have your garden plan ready; go out and get a feeling for your garden. Prep your soil and beds/patches:

➢ dig in organic matter ➢ smooth out the soil ➢ dig out any weeds

Get your bed or plant labels ready to go. Your Notes

Lesson 16 Connection Before you start in your Garden, take a moment and connect! You are part of Nature! Show your intention and love. With a prayer of gratitude to the land, the plants and all the other life that surrounds you and is part of your land! Connect and pray(talk) from your Heart. Your Notes





Lesson 17 Spring Seeding Use the Bio-dynamic Calendar for the best seeding days.

For all your fruits and vegetables use the Fruit days...and so on.

Use the right tool to make little rows within the bed, deep enough for the seed!

In average, soil coverage should be double the size of the seed, or the depth of your rows.





Tip: I make deep little rows for the seed, to help the water collection in the row and wind protection.

But I do not fill the row up with soil.

Common Vegetables suitable for early seeding (before the official last frost date – Mid May)

➢ Garden Peas, sugar/snap Peas ➢ Sweet Pea (flower, good for your soul) ➢ Loose leaf lettuce ➢ Spinach (NOT New Zealand spinach) ➢ Mustard greens ➢ Radishes ➢ Carrots, Radishes in same row - as marker ➢ Kale ➢ Beets ➢ Green onions ➢ Onions ➢ Garlic (spring variety)You can buy bulbs in the health food store & seed the cloves;

fall varieties should be set in Sep/Oct of the year before. Your Notes

Lesson 18 Spring Planting

➢ Plants you buy from the greenhouse-nursery or you have grown yourself need to be ‘hardened up’ before you can plant them outside.

➢ Start by bringing them outside into a shady area during the day. Bring them back inside for the nights until there is no frost danger.





➢ We often have very windy days in the spring, so make sure your plants are protected. Wind can suck the life out of the plants very fast.

➢ 7 days minimum of this process or keep them protected with the row cover. Tip: For Zucchini, Squash, Gourds, Cucumber, and Pumpkin: it is more supportive to the plant to wait until you are sure of the weather, so the plant can grow without interruption. 2-4 weeks before you plant them outside is good enough. Basil (likes it hot) for Pesto! I seed directly into the frame and keep the windows closed at night. Your Notes

Plants from the inside after planting out – Protection! You can help any plant with this transplanting stress!

Row covers – Help plants get ‘settled in a new place, providing protection from wind and sun and help maintain heat and moisture.

Lesson 18 Spring Planting Cut down the transplanting stress for the Plant:

➢ Row Cover ➢ Plant on overcast days ➢ Plant in the cooler afternoon/evening ➢ Water the plant before lifting out of the pot





➢ Make sure to firmly push the soil against the plant (your test is to pull it gently; it should not move)

For over 30 years I have watched this wonder: No matter whether in Germany or here in Canada. In spring and fall, when the weather turns around the time of the full moon, there is always a danger of frost!

➢ Watch the forecast, around the changing moon there is a danger of frost. ➢ Choose the planting days from the Bio-Dynamic Calendar. ➢ Plant in the evening or on overcast days. ➢ Important! Push the soil firmly around the Plant. ➢ Water plenty (to close any air pockets around the root) ➢ Cover for two days!

➢ It is a challenge for a plant to catch up with its growth after it has any “trauma”; later

planting will promote uninterrupted growth and healthier, stronger plants. Your Notes

Lesson 19 Your Garden Space

Plots – Beds – Rows

Space efficiency in your Garden

Organize the different vegetables of each family in your garden plot.





Use beds rather than rows!

Beds Better soil management No compacting of soil Better space use Water conserving Less work

Rows Open soil Compacting of soil Waste of space Water depletion More work (exception Potatoes rows)

Your Notes

Lesson 20 Watering 70% Water includes:

97% Salt Water 3% Fresh Water Water useable and life sustaining to ALL LIFE on Earth Fresh Water on Earth, is divided into 68.7% Icecaps and Glaciers 30.1% Groundwater





0.9% other (not sure what that may be) 0.3% Surface Water, which contains Fresh surface water (liquid)

87% Lakes 11% Swamps 2% Rivers

➢ Water makes life possible! For yourself and other life forms. ➢ Water your plants only if you really have to, like after planting and seeding.

(spot watering) ➢ If you water, do it in the evening when Earth is breathing in. ➢ Use rainwater as much as possible; It is untreated water filled with nutrients. ➢ Row cover keeps the moisture close to the plants ➢ Intense and thick planting, creating shade.

You can train your plants! ➢ A plant can get use to lots of water or less water. ➢ If you water plenty, the root system doesn’t go deep! ➢ If you water less, the root system needs to search for water and goes deeper into the

ground. ➢ Some plants need more water than others, (mostly plants that are connected to the

water element in the leafy family) ➢ Never water during the high sun! Magnifying effect! ➢ Spot watering instead of sprinkling ➢ Hoeing once = watering twice

Your Notes

Lesson 20 Watering You live in a water-blessed area?

➢ Then you want to hoe even more. ➢ If it is too wet, hoe in the morning. ➢ To get the moisture from the air into your soil, hoe in the evening. ➢ Be careful with the material you mulch, it can harbor unwanted fungus growth





➢ Use it instead to grow edible fungus!

➢ You need to work with the environment you live in! ➢ Here in Calgary we don’t have a lot of rain throughout the summer.

Your Notes

Lesson 21 Hoeing

➢ Before mulching hoe the soil, especially after heavy rain ➢ Hoe flat to break the surface, then the soil can breathe. ➢ Hoe in the evening to bring moisture into the soil ➢ Earth Mother is breathing in at night and out during the day. ➢ One time hoeing = two times watering (in the evening)

Hoe your crop on the right Bio-Dynamic Day, to bring in the cosmic energies!





A special Loop Hoe (Lee Valley) is used for just pulling the tool through the rows, opening the soil and cutting off the weeds, leaving the weeds on the topsoil. Your Notes

Lesson 22 Weeding A weed is a plant too! A weed is a plant in service! A weed, part of nature and great teacher. Weeds serve a purpose by:

➢ covering the surface ➢ ensure diversity ➢ attract beneficial insects





➢ providing food to many little animals and birds Weeds deserve respect, just like Roses.

Make a deal with the weeds!

Healthy neighborhoods to your “wanted” plants.

Weeds attract beneficial insects and take on the pests.

This deserves acknowledgment!

Keep your crop ahead of the other plants/weed surrounding them!

This is all you want to do!

“I will let you grow outside of my garden, but inside the beds I will keep you under control with

pulling and cutting.”

Your Notes

Lesson 23 Mulching Very Important! It helps with:

➢ Keeps weeds small ➢ Prevents soil from drying out and is water saving ➢ Adds organic matter ➢ Weed before mulching

Mulching material:





➢ Straw ➢ Wood chips (best used for ‘long term tails’) ➢ Any dry organic matter (leaf) ➢ Grass clippings etc. ➢ Living mulch is a cover crop like rye or oats. ➢ I use the weeds as mulch!

Again, the Row Cover gives a nice protection to the open soil, and is easier to move. Make sure your mulching material comes from a clean source. (Pesticide free)

If you mulch too much, it will be harder to bring the cosmic energies to the soil!

Your Notes

Lesson 24 Pest and Disease Don’t panic!

➢ A healthy plant can deal with any kind of pest or disease by itself! ➢ When plants get sick even in a healthy garden, something else is going on. ➢ Pay attention to your own environment and the garden life. ➢ Plants are beautiful beings; they will deal with your emotions. ➢ Respect the higher plan! ➢ If there is a sick plant or patch, I leave it alone. ➢ Otherwise, it would be too much work and STRESS, with something that is out of my

control.





Plants and the insects/crawlers function under a collective consciousness. Your Notes

One example from my own garden: One time I had more and more slugs showing up in my garden. I was stressed out. The slugs were eating my earnings. I just connected with this crawler (or should I call them slimy-er), understood what THEIR purpose was, and we made a deal. “I will let you be outside of the salad greens, but know that I will collect you if I find you in the greens.” The next season was much, much better. I kept my word and so did the crawlers!

Lesson 25 Extending Growing Season ~ Floating Row Cover Enjoy unique vegetables and extend your growing season with, little expense. Greenhouse, hub house, frames, row cover. For any shelter built with plastic ensure the air exchange during sunny days. www.northerngreenhouse.com Floating Row Cover Wholesale Supplier: www.greenhousemegastore.com/product/row-cover-deluxe/frost-protection-fabric-rolls

Floating Row Cover Retail Supplier:


http://www.northerngreenhouse.com/

http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/product/row-cover-deluxe/frost-protection-fabric-rolls




Floating Row Cover by Agfabric on Amazon.ca, www.amazon.ca/Agfabric40g-Protection-Blanket-Garden-

Fabric/dp/B01JE4ISKQ/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1485549790&sr=8-7&keywords=floating+row+cover

William Dam Seeds offers 3 different thicknesses of the Floating Row Covers: 0.29 oz. light weight ~very light material, used for insect protection 0.45 oz. light weight ~ medium light material 0.55 oz. light weight ~ thicker material, protection for light frost The fabric can be placed directly onto your crop. No need to use support such as wire hoops or loop hoops. www.damseeds.com West Coast Seeds also offers 2 different thicknesses: http://www.westcoastseeds.com/product/Gardening-Supplies/Crop-Protection/ Your Notes

Lesson 25 Extending Growing Season ~ Cold Frames I highly recommend going on this site for a visit, I have used this woven plastic and it was amazing! www.northerngreenhouse.com You can also find construction plans for different models of greenhouses. Get all your info first, before you decide about a greenhouse or frame.

I have built some frames myself with the following guideline:

➢ it should be light and easy ➢ moveable ➢ inexpensive


http://www.amazon.ca/Agfabric40g-Protection-Blanket-Garden-Fabric/dp/B01JE4ISKQ/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1485549790&sr=8-7&keywords=floating+row+cover


http://www.damseeds.com/

http://www.westcoastseeds.com/product/Gardening-Supplies/Crop-Protection/





I will give you my design: Material I used: Plywood sheets (untreated) Linseed oil to protect the wood 2x2 wood to build window frame Plastic for windows The standard length my units are

based on is 8 feet. You need to make one side higher, so the water/snow can run off! This is important to calculate into your design.

Lesson 26 Extending Growing Season ~ Cold Frames Material in detail for One Unit: For the cold frame, for 1 unit of about 32 square feet, you would need (this frame would be 8 ' long and 4' wide and about 1.5' height one side, 1' height other side) 2x 8' long plywood, (1 piece 8'x1' and 1 piece 8'x1.5) 2x2 lumber wood, per frame 6 lumber 8' long (2 wood will be cut to 4') For the windows, 2x2 lumber wood, per frame 8 lumber 4' long, plus the plastic cover, or Coroplast, or any other soft plastic. Coroplast:





http://www.homedepot.com/p/Coroplast-48-in-x-96-in-x-0-157-in-White-Corrugated-Plastic-Sheet-CP4896S/205351385 If you like to invest in soft plastic and have a good quality product I recommend this one here. I have used it myself. http://www.northerngreenhouse.com/products/woven-poly/clear-polys.shtml I do NOT recommend Glass Windows for greenhouse or frame. The sun can burn your plant to easily and the needed light rays don’t get through the glass. (UV is okay for plants!) Your Notes

Lesson 27 Extending Growing Season ~ Greenhouse We use our greenhouse only in the spring for early start and during the summer/late summer for our tomato crop. There are many designs for any kind of use, taste, and wallet and of how big you like to go into the greenhouse production. I started small and let it grow. (just like a plant) Some links for you to get some ideas: For fancy Greenhouse:


http://www.homedepot.com/p/Coroplast-48-in-x-96-in-x-0-157-in-White-Corrugated-Plastic-Sheet-CP4896S/205351385

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Coroplast-48-in-x-96-in-x-0-157-in-White-Corrugated-Plastic-Sheet-CP4896S/205351385

http://www.northerngreenhouse.com/products/woven-poly/clear-polys.shtml




http://www.greenhousescanada.com Inexpensive ideas: www.northerngreenhouse.com At that note I like to give you a link to the rotor tiller I use and is suitable for a 2-acre garden production. http://www.troybilt.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10001_14102_91388_54971_-1

Your Notes

Lesson 27 Extending Growing Season ~ Pots and Boxes If you have just a small garden, you can do a lot in pots on your porch. Be adventurous and creative. You just need to keep a close eye on those pots; they are likely to dry out much faster. To help this you can create some shade around the pots. There are some limitations to what you can grow. Your Notes



http://www.troybilt.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10001_14102_91388_54971_-1




Lesson 28 Harvest

Harvesting for the Best Nutrients

For all vegetables above the ground: ➢ Harvest in the morning before 11 a.m. ➢ Energy is moving up.

For all vegetables below the ground: ➢ Harvest in the afternoon/evening ➢ Energy is moving down into earth.

Use the biodynamic calendar for the harvest day to ensure the best shelf life!





For your daily consumption, there is no need to follow the times of the calendar, as you eat it right away. But I strongly recommend picking in the morning for the richest nutrients and taste. Bitterness comes from late picking. Your Notes

Lesson 29 Winter Preparation

➢ This green cover needed to be done 6-8 weeks before the winter arrives, to get enough growth to cover the soil.

➢ Collect the ripen seeds and store on cold dry place. ➢ When collecting, your own seeds make sure they are rip and dry

Good news, no cleaning up!





In Nature…there is no “cleaning up”!!! Leafs and other plant parts, leftovers, are an important and necessary part of the healthy garden. Ladybugs will gather in groups under the leaves and migrate. The goal is: Covered Soil! Frost sensitive plants should be mulched with straw. Your Notes

Lesson 30 Compost Organic waste form your garden and kitchen There are many great sites on the web, if you would like to know more about Bio-Dynamic

Compost preparation. https://www.biodynamics.com/content/biodynamic-compost-preparations Compost is a Mixture of kitchen scratch (no meat) and garden/plant material. Meat will attract animals to your compost.


https://www.biodynamics.com/content/biodynamic-compost-preparations




How you use compost depends on your way of living and environment. There are many ways and compost-styles. To make it work you need to make sure of the following:

➢ Air can go through ➢ Sunny place to support the heat ➢ Room to turn and move the compost (after 1 season) ➢ Established microorganism and worms -

they come when your compost floor is open to the ground ➢ Balance between:

dry material and wet material (leafs/stems and wet kitchen scratch) Your Notes

Lesson 30 Compost

Compost loves coffee grounds!

Materials for the compost stomach: Leaves of tree Stems and twigs Straw Any plant material (after the winter) Grass clipping Vegetables scraps

Weeds (only after they are dried out, NO grass roots) Food waste (no meat) Materials to Avoid for the compost stomach: Coal Ash Coloured Paper Pet Droppings





Any chemicals Inorganic material Plant material of sick plants

Meat, Bones, Fish

Your Notes

Lesson 31 In the following pages, we will look at some common vegetables and things to be aware of. The order follows the about timing for the spring seeding.

➢ Fava Beans ➢ Peas ➢ Salad Greens ➢ Potato ➢ Beets - Carrots - Radishes ➢ Cabbage - Chinese cabbage - ➢ Garlic ➢ Shallots ➢ Beans





➢ Basil ➢ Tomato

Lesson 31 Fava Beans Seed, hoe, weed and harvest on Fruit Day!

Seed directly in Garden! Don’t soak in Water!

Time: Early spring!

Fava Beans are perfect for cold short season climates. Fava beans are okay with the cold start. Plant at the same time as you plant peas. They need space! Prune the tip to help ripen the fruit! On FRUIT DAY!

Lesson 32 Peas Seed, hoe, weed and harvest on Fruit Day!

Seed directly in Garden! Soak in Water and inoculate!

Time: Early spring

➢ Our atmosphere has 78% nitrogen! Only 22% is oxygen! ➢ Many legume plants have a symbiotic bacterium living at their root system. ➢ These Bacteria are the specialists in fixing (converting) nitrogen from the atmosphere

into the soil to the roots of the legume. ➢ This makes these super plants rich in plant proteins, and helpers for the garden soil. ➢ Nitrogen is an important ‘food’ for the growth and life processes of all plants.





I make a fence for my peas to climb up! It’s easier to take down. This is one plant we can use for the Green-cover crop during the rest period in our rotation!

Inoculate Peas, Snap & Lima Beans with nitrogen-fixing bacteria ➢ Soak your peas until fat and round (may take 6-8 hours) ➢ separate water from peas ➢ add powder to moist peas ➢ shake until all the peas are covered with powder ➢ ready to seed!

Lesson 33 Salad Greens Seed, hoe, weed and harvest on Leaf Day!

Seed directly in Garden! Thin to single plant for spacing!

Time: Early spring! Fresh greens can go into your summer blender drink.

Loose Leaf Lettuces Continuously picking the leaves from the outside. This kind of lettuce is ready to eat 6-8 weeks after seeding. Can be started very early, as soon the ground is workable.





Loose Leaf Lettuce - Russian Kale - Red Flash Orach - Spinach - Wild Arugula Edible flowers, like Nasturtium, violets, borage...for the looks and stomach.

Head Lettuces Seed directly in Garden! Thin (more) to single plant for head!

Or start inside and transplant later into Garden. Time: Early spring

Head lettuces are lettuces that form a ‘head’, of course, and will be harvest all at once. This would be the Romaine types, Butter head types, Crisp head types (or Iceberg). All of them need time to grow before you harvest. Here in Calgary it takes too long, for my taste. In areas of mild winters, you can grow them and cover/protect the plants and harvest late into the winter. Protected in a cold frame/greenhouse. Find the right one for you by growing a variety, and then have a taste and growing test.

Greens that grow fast and continually for your green blender drink!

Swiss Chard

Spinach

Green Kale (takes a little bit long to grow)

Russian Kale

Loose Leaf Lettuce

Seed, hoe, weed and harvest on Leaf Day!

Seed directly in Garden! Time: Early spring

I dehydrated a lot of kale to put into blender drinks for the winter season.





Easy to grow in colder climate! Even in big pots! Different rows of ‘greens’ in one bed. Arugula will be done when Kale needs more space. Kale gets sweeter with the frost!

Lesson 34 Potatoes Plant, hoe, weed and harvest on Root Day!

Plant directly in Garden! Time: Early spring!

Need protection from late spring frost! Harvest: Do NOT wash!

Storage: Cold, dark and dry! Hilling the potatoes until they flower; always use the ROOT day to do this! Plant early and protect your plants with row covers! This is the reason for hilling. Potatoes not covered by soil turn green and should not been eaten. The leafs are also toxic, which the deer seem to ignore.





After harvest for storage, do not wash! We overwinter our potatoes in the very cold garage with great success. Over winter your seed-potatoes: Choose only

➢ the healthy ones ➢ cut free ➢ the biggest (yes) ➢ the variety you like ➢ scab free

Garage is just below freezing. Make layers within layers of isolation. Keep them cold and dark. Be 150% sure you take the ones out that have been damaged throughout the harvest!!! One rotting potato can spoil the rest!! German Fingerlings; my favorite, great potato taste, firm cooking, best winter keeper, no peeling and low scab-effected.

Lesson 35 Beets, Carrots, and Radishes

Seed, hoe, weed, thinning and harvest on Root Day! Seed directly in Garden!

Time: Early spring!

Thinning of beets to create room for the root. I am thinning the rows when the top is big enough to eat. Steamed Beet greens (with butter and soy) are delicious.





If you have carrot worms, you really need to rotate this crop. The worms are waiting year after year on those ‘hunting grounds’ Tip: I seed radishes between the carrots as row markers and protector to the slow growing carrots.

Lesson 36 Cabbage Seed, plant, hoe, weed and harvest on Leaf Day!

For big plants start inside – Mid-March! Need protection all season!

Members of the cabbage family attract certain pests. For that reason, it is heavily sprayed in the commercial crop. Protect your cabbage with row cover all season from the cabbageworm! (comes from the butterfly). Protect your cabbages with paper bags from the cutworm. (lives just beneath the surface of the soil)





➢ Start early for healthy strong plants. ➢ 6-8 weeks before last frost. ➢ This would include 2 x transplanting. (deeper into soil) ➢ Keep the plants under growing lights, not too warm. ➢ Slowly growth = stronger plants! ➢ Green cabbage grows faster than Red cabbage.

➢ Harvesting on LEAF DAY for Sauerkraut making.

Tip: Protection from the cutworm I plant my cabbages into brown paper ‘lunch bags’ as protection for the cutworm. It works! This little cutworm lives just beneath the surface and like to eat/put its eggs into the stem. Creating an organic barrier cuts the cutworm from its supper. Planting These plants will become huge, so when you plant them remember the size. About 40 cm in one row, only 2 rows in one bed (1 m wide) Tip: Use the measuring with your hand and fingers. Stretch your hand and fingers, from top of your middle finger to top of thump is about 20 cm.

Lesson 36 Chinese Cabbage Seed, plant, hoe, weed and harvest on Leaf Day!

Try to seed directly in Garden! Thin to single plant! Time: Mid-summer!





This idea came to me last year; after not being very successful with growing the Chinese cabbage, I open the bottom of the lunch bag and put it over the plant. The goal is to have it covered from the sun and compact growth. It worked!

Lesson 37 Garlic, Shallots and Onions

Seed, plant, hoe, weed, and harvest on Root Day! Plant/set directly in Garden!

Time: Early spring! Harvest: Do NOT wash!

Storage: Cold, dark and dry!





For our short season: Plant your garlic in the fall, before the ground snows in (End of September/October). Mulch heavily for the winter, and remove mulch in spring. For big bulbs, pick flowers off on ROOT DAY! Steamed or fresh those tender flower heads are ...yummy! Divide bulb into cloves and plant. Don’t take off outside skin! Plant right-side up! On ROOT DAY! The plant knows where UP is, even in the dark soil! It will correct the position, but it will take energy and time! Plant shallots like garlic, but only spring planting. Shallots are milder then onion...most chefs prefer shallots to onion.

Lesson 37 Garlic, Shallots and Onions

Seed, plant, hoe, weed, and harvest on Root Day! Plant/set directly in Garden!

Time: Early spring! Harvest: Do NOT wash!

Storage: Cold, dark and dry!





Harvest of Onion, Garlic and Shallots on Root Day!

➢ Pull or dig your bulbs. ➢ Dry in the sun for about 3 days. ➢ This helps to get the outside skin harder, for protection. ➢ Hang them for storage in a cold, dry and dark place.

We use the cold garage. Spread out your bulbs so that everyone gets the Sun! Do NOT wash!

Lesson 38 Beans Seed, hoe, weed and harvest on Fruit Days!

Seed directly in Garden! Don’t soak in Water!

Time: Mid-June, soil must be warm! Need protection from cold night!

You can grow them under the row cover very successfully.





Some tips:

➢ Seed when soil is warm! ➢ Don’t soak them in water! ➢ Cover with row cover right after seeding! ➢ Leave the cover on all season! ➢ Take off only for weeding and harvesting! ➢ It’s like a little flooding greenhouse or grow-house.

The beans are closed pollinated, meaning no need for the Bee. WE enjoy our beans all winter long in the form of pickled, fermented or frozen/steamed. It tastes like fresh from the garden, in January!

Lesson 38 Basil Seed, plant, hoe, weed and harvest on Leaf Day!

Start inside in pots or direct into frame! Time: Inside – early spring!

Outside – Mid/end June! I had good success with growing basil in my frames.

➢ It is protected from the wind.





➢ For the cold nights, I closed the windows. ➢ Keep the row cover over the plants all the time as well.

The secret is LAYERS!

Lesson 39 Tomatoes Seed, plant, hoe, weed, trim and harvest on Fruit Day!

Start inside! Time: Early March!

Keep trimming side branches during growth! Protect from cold night! Or grow in Greenhouse!

Use organic Fertilizer!





Almost everyone loves this princess! The taste of your own tomatoes...you never forget. Here in our climate zone (Calgary), tomatoes need to stay in the greenhouse throughout the summer. Our nights are often too cold. BUT After you open a jar of homemade tomato paste you know it was worth the effort.

Tomatoes start early and stay late! First seeding is about February/March. First harvest is about mid-August/September. And in between a lot of pampering. BUT I love it!

Starting Tomatoes early: Transplanting them before the plant

gets long and spindly. Transplant again when they get

too big for the flat. Always making sure they have

enough space to grow.

The secret to strong healthy tomato

plants is: Enough light.

Not too hot or cold. Not too wet or dry.

Transplant often and deep. Give them enough space to grow.



Keep trimming side branches during growth! Protect from cold night! Or grow in Greenhouse!

Use organic Fertilizer!





Before planting you may need to exchange your soil with fresh compost - humus - soil. Tomatoes can be grown in the same place. You just need to apply organic tomato fertilizer. Early state of first transplanting. First real leaf state. Choose only the strongest plants.

Strong root growth. Healthy stem and leaf.

Plant with more space between plants, setting plant deeper into soil.

Deeper planting promotes lots of roots to support the plant with ‘eating’ and holding up. At last! Transplanting - deeper- into the greenhouse! Trail the plants onto strings clockwise (with the sun’s movement)



Keep trimming side branches during growth! Protect from cold night!





Or grow in Greenhouse! Use organic Fertilizer!

Pruning the overgrowth between leaf and stem. For all tomatoes, we want to prune or pinch off the growth that comes from between the leaf and stem. Pruning on the Fruit day supports and helps the plant to bring in the energy to the fruit.

Find the main stem of the plant; from there the flowers will be stronger and faster growing.









Keep pruning/trimming & stringing throughout growing. Use the FRUIT DAY! Nicotiana plant, as trap plant for insects. Kept in pots for easier removal. Applying ladybugs into the greenhouse! http://www.thebuglady.ca/ Use a green tomato to clean the stain on your hands! Every year I try some other variety of tomatoes, the Heirloom, Cherry, Paste, Early ones, Bush or Patio types. Then I make seeds of the ones I like the best in taste and performance.





http://www.thebuglady.ca/





It is easy to make your own tomato seeds:

➢ Pick very, very ripe. ➢ Take out inside of tomato including the seed. ➢ Put in container and put aside. ➢ Let the mold grow on it. ➢ When very nice moldy, ➢ Clean with fresh water. ➢ Put seeds on paper towel to dry. ➢ When dry, label and put in paper bag. ➢ After it has dried off, I use the paper towel, ➢ Fold it and then I put the seeds in plastic bag. ➢ You should make sure it is dry, before using a plastic bag.

Lesson 41 Conclusion Enjoy the fruits of your labor, with your family or business clients.





Now that you have finished this course, I encourage you to go out into your garden and grow your own medicine in the form of food/vegetables. You better make some mistakes, as this is the best form of learning.

Know that I am not the teacher here, but NATURE is. Let nature show you.

I have been growing ‘cosmic’ vegetables for a long time, in a big style for my income and business and smaller for home sustainability and food security. Malcolm receiving my extra cabbages, to make sauerkraut for his costumer. Malcolm Saunders www.thelightcellar.ca The Light Cellar is a unique specialty boutique offering a wide selection of organic superfoods, super herbs, medicinal mushrooms, ferments, elixirs and raw chocolate. When something does not work, or grow for you:

This is NATURE’s law we’re working with. You and I are part of NATURE.

WE are one family. And NATURE, or better to say, our mother Earth,

is supporting us, if we LET HER.

So, if one plant is doing better than another, this means, that we are being given what we need. There will always be some vegetables that are great one year and not so good the next, even if you do it just the same way.

Lesson 41 Conclusion I will continue learning from nature.


http://www.thelightcellar.ca/




Whatever you do, if it comes from your heart,

it can only be good.

This seminar provided you with a lot of information, but most important now, you should go outside and apply it.

Then it will bring healing to your physical body,

peace to your emotions, balance to your mind

and growth to your spirit.

Namaste, Alexandra

I wish you a very fruitful season.

If you have any question coming up for you while you gardening, you can follow me throughout the growing season

with garden tips on Facebook.

www.facebook.com/butterfly.transition www.facebook.com/alexandras.butterflytransition

www.AlexandraLuppold.com

[email protected]

Helpful Links: Thank you everyone who has encourage me to write this course. Terry Willard www.drterrywillard.com Wild Rose College of Natural Healing: www.wrc.net Useful links:


http://www.facebook.com/butterfly.transition

http://www.facebook.com/alexandras.butterflytransition


mailto:[email protected]

http://www.drterrywillard.com/




Bio-Dynamic Calendar, Stella Natura: www.stellanatura.com

Banyen Books in Vancouver: https://www.banyen.com/products/stella-natura-biodydnamic-planting-

calendar-2017

Climate and the frost-free day of your area: Canada

www.planthardiness.gc.ca

Save your seeds: www.howtosaveseeds.com

Seed exchange and heritage seeds: www.seeds.ca

Bio-Dynamic principles: www.biodynamics.com.


Lee Valley garden loop hoe: www.leevalley.com/en/Garden/page.aspx?p=10421&cat=2,44823&ap=1

Garden seed and Floating Row Cover supplier:

www.damseeds.com

www.westcoastseeds.com

Update . . . Whole sale for row cover:

www.greenhousemegastore.com/product/row-cover-deluxe/frost-protection-fabric-rolls

Floating Row Cover by Agfabric on Amazon.ca,

www.amazon.ca/Agfabric40g-Protection-Blanket-Garden-

Fabric/dp/B01JE4ISKQ/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1485549790&sr=8-7&keywords=floating+row+cover

Picture from Amazon.ca for Row cover available size

Fancy Greenhouse: www.greenhousescanada.com

Inexpensive ideas: www.northerngreenhouse.com

I like to give you a link to the rotor tiller I use, which is suitable for a 2-acre garden production.

www.troybilt.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10001_14102_91388_54971_-1

Greenhouse/cold frame material

Coroplast sheets for inexpensive building material

http://www.homedepot.com/b/Building-Materials-Glass-Plastic-Sheets-Corrugated-Plastic-Sheets/N-5yc1vZcbtu/Ntk-

Extended/Ntt-coroplast?Ntx=mode+matchpartialmax&NCNI-5

Interesting article link to Glass vs. Polycarbonate:

www.greenhousescanada.com/glass-vs-polycarbonate.html


http://www.stellanatura.com/

http://www.planthardiness.gc.ca/

http://www.seeds.ca/

https://www.biodynamics.com/


http://www.damseeds.com/

http://www.westcoastseeds.com/

http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/product/row-cover-deluxe/frost-protection-fabric-rolls



http://www.greenhousescanada.com/


http://www.homedepot.com/b/Building-Materials-Glass-Plastic-Sheets-Corrugated-Plastic-Sheets/N-5yc1vZcbtu/Ntk-Extended/Ntt-coroplast?Ntx=mode+matchpartialmax&NCNI-5

http://www.homedepot.com/b/Building-Materials-Glass-Plastic-Sheets-Corrugated-Plastic-Sheets/N-5yc1vZcbtu/Ntk-Extended/Ntt-coroplast?Ntx=mode+matchpartialmax&NCNI-5

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