Slowly but surely, we’re reaching late summer. The days are becoming shorter than the nights. Daytime temperatures are still over 20° C. But last night, it got as cold as 2.8° C. The solar panels for electricity generation have been positioned for winter – tilted vertically and south-facing.
Our two part time employees in the greenhouse have returned from their summer vacation. We’ve started the production of our hibiscus cuttings for next spring. The high temperatures make rooting go fast (four weeks). Later on in the season it’ll take at least six weeks. We’re filling the bromelia area with spring plants.
Managing our Christmas range, we become aware of the start of a new sales period after the relatively quiet summer and autumn seasons. During the winter, we want to make sure that our heat production is sufficient. Since 2003 we’ve been using High Efficiency Condensing Boilers, with a return of 93%, for our heating. Hot water of 40° C flows through the plastic hoses of the underfloor heating system around the pots, making optimal use of the heat.
In addition, we use convector heaters during the cold periods. We’re hoping to stay warm the coming winter. The back garden is a busy place these days. Summer visitors left in August and our winter guests are arriving. We’ve also installed outdoor cameras and put up observation posts in order to monitor wildlife. A number of deer have been filmed at night.
On Sunday the 25th of September, we celebrated the first anniversary of the New Limburg Brewing Company. This craft beer brewery produces Belgian style beers: Belgian Wheat, Dubbel, Tripel and Stout. Last summer, this place has been a lovely spot to cool down at the end of a warm day.
The brewery is located just around the corner from our house, in a former primary school. The library was converted into a brewery, the classroom into a bar. And the sports hall will also be converted into a brewery, now that they’re going to produce for the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, the largest retailer of alcoholic beverages in the world, with a near-monopoly on sales in Ontario.
Angelle van Kleef
Grower of potted plants, Ontario, Canada
