01.08.10
The real deal
Yesterday I showed the original hand drawn plan for my garden before we moved here. Here is what it actually looks like
This shows the garden plan for winter 2009/2010. Tomorrow, what we’re growing this year. |
01.07.10
The garden plan
I drew up a garden plan before moving here with beds and greenhouse. I say drew up because it changed. The footprint is basically the same but the beds and placement of the greenhouse and chicken moat aren’t.
This grand plan allowed for trees and beds and a chicken moat that surrounded the whole garden…..Tomorrow, the actual plans as it sits now.
01.06.10
New Year and a new blog
It’s time to get going. It’s January 2010 and the whole year is laid out before us. We’ve lived here through 6 seasons and I feel it is time to get started. Get started on this year’s garden, get started on this year’s inventory of socks, time to get started and get busy.
Follow along as I document my journey as I design and plant a market garden for this year’s farmer’s market. I look forward to sharing my 12 years of Master Gardener experience with you and encourage comments.
Let’s get started!
06.03.09
The color of the week
The color of the week is Black.
A couple nights ago the Dh went for a ride on his quad down into Thomas Creek Canyon. This is the usual route he takes as he checks on the Elk population. He didn’t see any Elk but he did see this, a mama black bear and her 3 cubs. I guess BooBoo, the really large male black bear is still around.
05.28.09
The color of the week is Yellow.
The color of the week is yellow.
Yellow represents the 75 baby chicks I received in the mail on Tuesday.
Thus far all are well. There are 50 meat birds that will grow a an amazing rate and be ready for butcher in 60 days. The remaining 25 are Delawares. These will be my production birds for egg laying. I purchased straight run Delawares so I know I’ll have some roosers. I’ll keep the best 2 roosters (sorry neighbors, they will crow) and the hens for fertile eggs. Hopefully I won’t have to purchase chicks again as I have an incubator.
05.25.09
Grease is Slick!
A whirlwind past 3 days for us. The Azalea Festival is celebrated on Memorial Weekend in Brookings. We are also into our second weekend of Grease. The director decided to enter us in the parade. Guess what? We won the sweepstakes! The cast did great. Of course it helps to have an authentic T-Bird as part of your entry.
We stopped about 3 times and the guys did their rendition of Greased Lightening. The crowd loved it.
Here is part of the case for the pre-parade line up.
The play is going well with mostly sold out audiences. Without this motley crew we would be sunk. Here are the brain heads, the tech crew.
It is only because of loads of behind the scenes volunteers (yes I said all this is done on a volunteer basis!) that these shows can come off.
It will end next weekend and I can say I will be sorry but I sure will have more time at home to do those long awaited chores like laundry, cleaning, organizing and of course sock making.
05.22.09
It looks much better in person.
Here is a panorama view of my market garden. I just got a new camera can you tell?
I know it looks like a big field of white. What you’re seeing is the greenhouse and garden beds surrounded by donated carpet. The finished chicken coupe’ is on the left. Our house is way up on the hill upper left. I’m just waiting for the weather to warm up so I can plant.
Here is what the inside of the greenhouse looks like.
I’ll be glad when I can get all the starts in the ground to free up some growing space.
Enjoy your weekend…Happy Memorial Day on Monday.
05.21.09
Weird “Discovery”
I subscribe to Discovery Magazine because I like to think I am intellectual enough to understand the articles. Occasionally there is an article in there that pertains to me. Here you go…two weird items in the June 2009 Discovery Magazine.
Item #1: Page 29. Easybloom Plant Sensor. Yes shoppers for the small fee of $60 you can purchase the EasyBloom. You jab it into your soil, leave it for a day and plug it into your computer. What does it do? “It will match your local soil and weather conditions to a database that can tell you which perennials and annuals will thrive in your garden and what your existing plants are missing.” No comment.
Item #2: Page 30. Money from Muck.
“Farmers have used manure in slurry form for years as an organic fertilizer. But animal feces can be a dangerous pollutant, and handling liquid waste is messy at best. EarthRenew, a company based in Calgary, Alberta, says it has a better way: converting manure into dry granules.”
I never thought of manure (animal waste) as a dangerous pollutant. Hmmm..
So there you go, I’m off to deal with a dangerous pollutant by shoveling said pollutant onto my marion berry plants. Let’s hope I make it back from the dangerous outdoors.
05.19.09
It’s Link Day
Perhaps you’ve read about how home gardens are all the rage this year. Seed companies are selling out of popular varieties. The cost of soil and (gasp) manure have gone through the roof. Really, $3.99 for 2 CF of steer manure? They used to give this stuff away for $.99 a bag.
So I’ve been thinking about just how much my garden costs. Here is a great link to a blog that talks about How Much The home garden actually costs. He is trying to track EVERYTHING that goes into raising vegetables. This is a scary thought for me. This past year I’ve spent WAAAAAy too much in the way of securing my garden. The deer fence, rabbit fence, chicken moat, clearing land, moving dirt, buying dirt, buying compost, 2500 gallon water tank, hoses, hose repair kits becuase the DH cut my main line in half with the chain saw….you get the idea. I really cannot think about how much the lettuce has cost me this year. I have to think toward the long haul.
I also purchased a $40 ten year garden journal from Lee Valley Tools. This was, at the time, a splurge for me. But I can see it will be an invaluable resource. I can plan the garden, year to do’s, purchases, what works and doesn’t. Of course, I have to actually use it for it to work for me. Thus far I make lists of to do things and have noted the weather. I actually enjoy looking at it each morning to plan my day.
Finally here is an article on the 5 foods that are cheaper to grow. Keep reading and you’ll see they’ve listed the 5 items to leave to the large farmers. Basically I agree with these listings but there is something about walking outside, pulling some garlic, picking a cabbage, harvesting fresh carrots and digging some potatoes for dinner. Add an onion, cut up everything into pieces and saute’ with olive oil. You’ve got what we call 50 foot meal. Grown right here in our little part of the world. Fresh, organic and tasty. Nothing is better!