Thu - July 1, 2004
How are things doing?
As of July 1st, the gardens are looking great, we
will begin harvesting some of our crops this week. it's so fun to watch
everything grow this time of year and we begin picking the 'first' of all our
veggies. it's so rewarding to grow our own food.
Posted at 09:39 PM Read More
Thu - June 3, 2004
Varments and Peppers
Less than one week after we planted the pepper
plants into the garden, the rabbits feasted on about 4 of them.
Posted at 09:18 PM Read More
Fri - May 28, 2004
Planting Tomato and Pepper Plants
Tonight we planted all of the tomatoes and pepper
plants into the full sun garden lot next to our house.... The tomato plants
were really starting to outgrow their small pots and they were starting to get
lanky from lack of sun light.
...For the tomatoes we took some old 4 inch flooring boards, cut a tip at the end of each board, and pounded them about a foot into the ground 8 feet apart.... As the plants grow, we will continue this procedure up the stakes at 6 to 12 inch intervals until the plants stop growing, we run out of stake, or the season ends.
...For the tomatoes we took some old 4 inch flooring boards, cut a tip at the end of each board, and pounded them about a foot into the ground 8 feet apart.... As the plants grow, we will continue this procedure up the stakes at 6 to 12 inch intervals until the plants stop growing, we run out of stake, or the season ends.
Posted at 09:36 PM Read More
Thu - May 27, 2004
Annual Flower Beds
I really want to do gazanias again this year in
the sunny portion of that bed so plan to go back to the market this weekend (one
of the farmers thought they would be able to bring me a flat of them if they
were ready).... Last year we got so many compliments on the bed out front-
lot's of people walk our street and they always enjoy the
flowers.
...I am not sure if we will start pansies from seed next year or not, the ones at the market look so great and are always further along than ours that it's almost easier to support the greenhouse growers for those rather than take up space under our lights.
...I am not sure if we will start pansies from seed next year or not, the ones at the market look so great and are always further along than ours that it's almost easier to support the greenhouse growers for those rather than take up space under our lights.
Posted at 09:35 PM Read More
Wed - May 26, 2004
The worms are back!
A few weeks after the major worm bin die off, it
appears that things are back to
normal.
When managing a worm bin, I would recommend erring on the side of dryness and adding fresh bedding often.
When managing a worm bin, I would recommend erring on the side of dryness and adding fresh bedding often.
Posted at 09:15 PM Read More
Sun - May 16, 2004
Carrots, Beets and Radishes
We planted beets, radishes and carrots in a
raised bed.
Posted at 08:54 PM Read More
Wed - May 5, 2004
Peas, Spinach, and Lettuce
To keep the critters out, we nailed stainless
steel quarter inch mesh to a miniature white picket fence and stuffed it around
the inside edge of the beds.
Posted at 03:56 PM Read More
Wed - April 28, 2004
Fixing the Yard
I did some research online to learn about what
other pet owners do to keep their yard looking somewhat presentable, some don't
care and just deal with the dead grass, some buy expensive additives for their
dogs food and some have crazy remedies like pouring sugar on the dead
spots.
...The first area I just raked with a short prong metal rake and then roughed it up to expose some dirt and loosen some of the yellowing grass and then saturated the soil there until it was soggy- supposedly new grass will begin to emerge.
The second area I again raked with the large metal rake and then on my hands and knees roughed up and pulled out most of the yellow dead grass, exposing much more soil, removing most of the yellow dead grass roots and all as best I could.
...The first area I just raked with a short prong metal rake and then roughed it up to expose some dirt and loosen some of the yellowing grass and then saturated the soil there until it was soggy- supposedly new grass will begin to emerge.
The second area I again raked with the large metal rake and then on my hands and knees roughed up and pulled out most of the yellow dead grass, exposing much more soil, removing most of the yellow dead grass roots and all as best I could.
Posted at 08:40 PM Read More
Sun - April 25, 2004
Disaster on Level Two
Tonight when I was checking on some plants in our
germination room, I noticed that there was a bad smell coming from the worm
bin.
...I added a handful of worms from level one and some fresh food.
...Also we need to move the worms out of the older levels into levels that have fresh food and bedding and we need to remove that finished compost earlier.
...I added a handful of worms from level one and some fresh food.
...Also we need to move the worms out of the older levels into levels that have fresh food and bedding and we need to remove that finished compost earlier.
Posted at 03:35 PM Read More
Thu - April 22, 2004
Huge Tomatoes
Tonight we decided to transplant the Brandywine
and the Cherry tomatoes into small and medium size pots, because they are so
large and many of their roots are growing out of the 2'' soil blocks.... I am
sure that the tomatoes will grow just fine in the pots, considering we use good
potting soil and at this stage of the game our plants are quite strong and
healthy.
Posted at 03:01 PM Read More
Tue - April 13, 2004
Worms Eat Our Garbage
One way to make healthy food for our indoor and
outdoor gardens is to maintain a worm bin that takes our food waste and turns it
into nutrient rich compost.
...Before we bought the worms I built a three layered worm bin using some scrap wood, old window screen, small nails, and staples.... Finally, I stapled small pieces of screen over each hole so that flies and other undesirable bugs couldn't get into the bin and the worms couldn't get out. Each box is the same size so that they stack well and the worms and other beneficial microorganisms can easily migrate between each layer.
...All three layers are in production with the bottom layer containing almost completely composted material and the second and first layers in the middle and beginning stages of decomposition.
...Before we bought the worms I built a three layered worm bin using some scrap wood, old window screen, small nails, and staples.... Finally, I stapled small pieces of screen over each hole so that flies and other undesirable bugs couldn't get into the bin and the worms couldn't get out. Each box is the same size so that they stack well and the worms and other beneficial microorganisms can easily migrate between each layer.
...All three layers are in production with the bottom layer containing almost completely composted material and the second and first layers in the middle and beginning stages of decomposition.
Posted at 09:42 PM Read More
Wed - April 7, 2004
Steady State
Steady State
We have found a way to keep them watered while we
are away by setting the tray they are sitting in, into another tray with water
(so they get watered from the bottom) This method works pretty
well.
...I am not sure if the seeds were old or if the conditions were not appropriate for them (too hot, too wet, etc.) The snaps are doing well and we will be transplanting them into 2 inch blocks soon.
...I am not sure if the seeds were old or if the conditions were not appropriate for them (too hot, too wet, etc.) The snaps are doing well and we will be transplanting them into 2 inch blocks soon.
Posted at 09:46 PM Read More
Wed - March 31, 2004
Moving up in the World
The Brandywine and Yellow Nugget cherry tomatoes
roots were starting to get long and entangled with one another in the small
blocks.... We were able to put the plastic covers over the 2 inch blocks as
well for a bit longer until the plants become too high and they hit the
top.
...They should be fine with a room temperature of 55-65° F, however they may not grow as fast as they would with the warm 78° F environment provided by the heat mat.
...They should be fine with a room temperature of 55-65° F, however they may not grow as fast as they would with the warm 78° F environment provided by the heat mat.
Posted at 10:04 PM Read More
Tue - March 30, 2004
Growing, Growing, Growing!
We will use the regular growing mix rather than
the seed starting mix to make the 2 inch soil blocks, last year we used the seed
starter for all our soil blocks, which was unnecessary and an added
expense.
...Once we transfer the plants into the 2 inch blocks we will take them off the heat mat since they just need warm soil to emerge.
...Once we transfer the plants into the 2 inch blocks we will take them off the heat mat since they just need warm soil to emerge.
Posted at 09:12 PM Read More
Thu - March 25, 2004
Sprouts!
We kept the germination chamber dark for
sprouting, we have the heat mat set at 78 degrees and have plastic covers over
the flats which kept in the moisture and
heat.
...Now that the sprouting has begun, we will keep the plants on the heat mat while they grow, it will be crucial to keep the soil blocks damp so the delicate sprouts don’t wilt and become weak at this stage of the game.
...Now that the sprouting has begun, we will keep the plants on the heat mat while they grow, it will be crucial to keep the soil blocks damp so the delicate sprouts don’t wilt and become weak at this stage of the game.
Posted at 10:26 PM Read More
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Published On: Jul 01, 2004 10:02 PM
Published On: Jul 01, 2004 10:02 PM