Skip to main content

Welcome to "The KelKel Farm"

 The "KelKel Farm" is a nickname I gave to encompass all my plant-related ventures. It serves as a title for a personal goal, a passion project of sorts. 

The actual duotang with the lesson on plants from Grade 3


My passion for plants was sown by my third grade teacher Ms.Imrie. During a science unit we each planted several seeds into an egg carton filled with peat moss. I distinctly remember planting chives. Watching the small green sprouts emerge and grow was fascinating. Eventually we were able to take our projects home- my chives did so well they came back the next year!


My first vegetable grown from seed - tomatoes


Years later in grade five the enrichment program I was in was part of an experiment - something related to growing tomatoes in space. Once again the experience of life springing up where it wasn't before, watching the growth and changes amazed me - I ended up taking home the majority of the classes plants. 


My Grandfather's adjustable light table - a gift from his children a decade or so ago
Humble beginnings


From there my Grandfather nurtured my interest, teaching me how to sow seeds and transplant seedlings, growing lettuce and herbs from seed on the light table in his basement. Each spring we would choose some seeds and plant them indoors before transplanting them outside when it was warm enough. It started in pots on the deck, then a raised bed in the yard.


My 16 x 20 garden plot on my Uncles property

By 2016 my Grandfather had negotiated the use of a plot of land on my Uncle's property - allowing me to expand my planting options - I took on a variety of squash and potato plants. The harvest was much greater and my excitement only grew from there. In 2017 my father and I built a greenhouse behind our garage which has been upgraded over the years. The majority of my education is self-taught. 

The harvest from my 2017 season



The covid19 pandemic spawned a 'plantdemic', after a long winter I decided to start seeding early and sold the resulting plants (which were a fair size due to being started early) to friends and family - I barely made enough to cover the cost of the soil but it was  the start of the business component of "The KelKel Farm".

My father & I built this greenhouse in 2017


In 2020 I worked in the garden centre of a big box store. I gained invaluable training regarding plant care, transplanting and landscaping. I was able to build on my previous knowledge of perennials and annuals as well as familiarizing myself with a vast array of plants from cedar trees to pansy flowers.  I also learned more about the inner workings of the plant trade - and just how un-eco-friendly it is. 

Started from the bottom now we're here...


My goal is to eventually run a sustainable plant shop that focuses on making growing your own flowers approachable and growing your own food rewarding. I wish to share the joy of plants with more people and ensure gardening remains possible for those of all backgrounds. 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Indoor Seed Starting Set Up (DIY Grow Light Table)

Growing seeds indoors doesn't require a lot of money or fancy equipment, but premade grow table kits can be quite expensive. I've saved over $500 by creating a DIY version that works just as well for a fraction of the cost.  Top: Lee Valley Grow Table Bottom: My DIY Version My first few seasons of starting seed indoors I used my Grandfather's "Professional" Light Table - it was a gift from his children one year and cost well over $1,000 at the time. It had three tiers of shelving with adjustable fluorescent tube fixtures that got quite warm. The plastic shelves were removable for easier cleaning. It worked really well and the plants benefitted from the adjustable lights. My Grandpa's Grow Table - 3 Tiers, 4 Ft Long, Approx $1000 value.  When I decided to expand, I looked at purchasing a similar light table - the cheapest option for a similar size (4 feet long, three tiers) was well over $700. I figured I could DIY for cheaper, leading me to buy a metal 5-tier ...
Post a Comment
Read more

So You've got Seedlings... Now What?

In my last post I broke down how to have the best chance at seed germination, if you missed it you can read it here:  Seed Starting in 5 Easy Steps    If you were successful, you should see small green leaves emerging from the medium within 3 - 14 days. If there aren't any sprouts after two weeks you can try and troubleshoot the issue, or discard and start over again. I have been growing from seed since 2016 and sometimes still have issues with seed germination.   The first signs of life! The first set of leaves (called Cotyledons) act as sensors for the seed, they determine if there is enough light to provide food for the roots. They will stretch out and up on a long stem searching for light over the first few hours after emerging. This is when it is vital to provide plenty of light - either a sunny window or artificial lighting. The first "True Leaf" on the left, and the "Cotyledons" on the right - they look very different therefore it is easy to identify them...
Post a Comment
Read more

Supporting Canadian Seeds

There's just something mesmerizing about a freshly stocked seed display... It's easy to get lost in the bright colours and various shapes, little packages of potential. A favorite past-time of mine in the winter is to review seed catalogues (typically print copy but pdfs are becoming more common) for the same reason - they're just really beautiful to look at.  Burpee Seeds (I haven't tried them - they financially support Monsanto)  Over the years I have tried a handful of different seed companies, although I try to order from exclusively Canadian companies.  The only exceptions so far have been Valley Greene (which I bought at a local surplus depot) and this year (2021) when I placed an order with Baker's Creek based out of Missouri. Here's a list of companies I have used and my thoughts on them.  OSC / Aimers (Waterloo, ON) OSC Display in a local nursery I was lucky enough to be born and raised in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario - meaning "OSC" or Ontario...
Post a Comment
Read more