Olaf, The Father, American Eskimos

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We got Olaf from Spirit River Alberta in fall 2014. We picked him because of his calm and relaxed personality, though at so young it's really still hard to know but we did our best and he has been perfect since Elsie is a bit more dominant. Olaf is a bit timid but he comes around when he's introduced to knew things properly.

Olaf is a great garden companion and he sits there with me while I work, and enjoys a truck ride back to the yard.

Elsie the American Eskimo

This year, spring 2016. Elsie had 5 puppies, 2 females and 3 males. This is her second litter. We got Elsie early spring 2013. Elsie is a determined little Eskimo and can be dominant. She needs  consistent exersise and direction by the pack leaders to keep her balanced and happy. 

Golden Retreiver litter 2016, Clover and Russle's litter

Seed starting

I like to do my first wave of planting seeds in late February, lots of light and a warm area for germinating are the basic needs, along with some soil and something that serves as pots and a few seeds and your off to a good start.

  I use a good potting soil with vermacilite in it, or I add it, vermacilite is a little white particle that adds air to your soil, lightens it up so the soil dosent compact. I add about 2 cups for a 3 gal bucket of soil.

  For pots I use anything that works that the water can drain out the bottom. Used milk cartons with slits cut in the bottom work great. Recycling old pots. I save all those greenhouse plant pots. I stay away from anything rusty or that had chemicals .  Remember warmth is only needed when you germinate the seeds, misting the soil or lightly water till germination occurs. Then move to a window with lots of light, and preferably below room temperature. Turn plants regularly for straight growth. Put outside when weather  permits. Up here in the north I put plants out on the sunny south deck even in early March when the snow is still deep on the ground. Providing you have heat units and lots of sun this is possible. But you wouldn't want to forget them there.