Sunburst Ranch owner repurposed damaged canoes for quirky garden
Stephanie Bade is pictured in her canoe garden at Sunburst Ranch, a river outfitter with campground, cabin and canoe rentals on the North Fork of the White River off H Highway near Patrick Bridge. Stephanie and husband Bryan purchased the riverside business last year from former owners Justin and Amy Spencer, who owned the resort for 15 years.
Stephanie says it’s been a good year for her tomatoes, which are growing in the canoe in front. She used PVC pipe and cotton string to create a trellis between some of the other canoes, creating room and structure for vining plants to grow and spread.
Stephanie says it’s been a good year for her tomatoes, which are growing in the canoe in front. She used PVC pipe and cotton string to create a trellis between some of the other canoes, creating room and structure for vining plants to grow and spread.
Stephanie holds up one of the zucchinis she picked recently from the garden.
Editor’s note: Sunburst Ranch was severely damaged after the North Fork of the White River swelled to unprecedented depths in April 2017, completely covering the campground and resort and causing devastating destruction. The resort’s riverhouse, camp store, bathhouse, sleeper cabins and barn were completely gone when the river receded. Some of the other cabins were extensively damaged. Sunburst’s former owners Justin and Amy Spencer worked hard to repair the campground, planting dozens of trees and rebuilding with future floods in mind.
Gardener: Stephanie Bade, who owns Sunburst Ranch in the Caulfield/Dora area with her husband, Bryan
Describe your garden:
My garden consists of four old flood canoes that I have cut the bottoms out of and filled with soil to create my canoe garden. We had lots of them lying around, and I needed them to have a purpose. I couldn’t think of anything better than turning them into garden beds. I’m currently growing tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet banana peppers, eggplant, zucchini, sage, asparagus and red peppers in them.
How long have you been gardening?
I’m still very new to the gardening scene. I’ve had one garden before, and it was only one canoe. So this is a big step up for me to have four now! Both of my grandmas have always had gardens growing up, and my favorite thing as a kid was to pick off all the cherry tomatoes and eat them right away.
What is your favorite thing to grow?
My favorite this summer has been the sweet banana peppers. I’ve gotten enough already this summer to pickle them to add them to different recipes in the kitchen. I also love having the tomatoes and cucumbers for a summer salad.
Favorite part of gardening?
Gardening is time to be outside and not worry about the stresses of our everyday world. It’s just you and your plants.
Least favorite part?
My least favorite is those darn green horn caterpillars that always seem to eat up your tomato plants no matter what you do to keep them away.