Cayenne to the Resue

No, Cayenne is not a character in a comic book western. At the suggestion of garlic farmer Al Cowan, I put a light sprinkling of cayenne, the spice, on the soil where I planted garlic. We live in the city, and the garlic I planted last week in small pots got dug up by squirrels. So I've re-plannted it, this time with a dash of cayenne in the hope that the odour will keep away urban pests.

The garlic I've got growing at Whole Circle Farm doesn't have this problem.

The Garlic is Emerging

Simon deBoer just sent this pic of his garlic.  Must check on my garlic in the next week.

Ted Maczka RIP

With Ted at Paul Pospisil's June, 2013 Garlic Field Day in Maberly Ontario

Am very sad to hear that Ted Maczka the "Fish Lake Garlic Man" passed away. He was a true garlic pioneer. He was preaching the virtues of garlic long before it became fashionable. I was honoured to have him speak at the 2013 garlic festival. The last time we spoke was at the festival. He was feeling chilly so I loaned him my sweater. I could see that people wanted to listen to him, not just because he was talking about garlic but because they could sense his passion. Ted was a gracious and unassuming man. His grandaughter said about him: "It wasn't logical, but his passion for his craft was mesmerizing and what made him so unique."

 We'll miss you Ted.