Thursday, February 26, 2009

tendrils and other things

My peas are growing so fast, I MUST build the trellis this weekend. I can see tiny little pea tendrils just starting to reach skyward.

There was a distinct hole dug in my garden today! I don't think it's bunnies. I think it's squirrels. Oh! Freaking squirrels! How I hate you all! Yesterday I spread next door neighbor dog Tippy's fur around the garden. This should supposedly keep the vermin away. It is not a smart idea to try and spread dog fur while holding a baby. Not a smart idea at all.

Here's a link to a good idea on how to grow lettuce in a small space and for my friends who are unfortunate to live where it's still cold!

And, Gladis, the peppers are doing well!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Gross

Lately, I've found myself doing a lot of gross things. Avery is on antibiotics for an ear infection and a staph infection (!), and his digestive track is all out of whack. I've given him yogurt to eat but the last couple of days his diapers have been... gross. Yesterday I made the executive decision to use dispoables until he's back to normal. Swishing out diarahhea into the toliet is not on my list of fun ways to spend an afternoon. Gross.

Today I decided to figure out what's Going On in the compost bin. I usually use a shovel to stir things around but I could tell that there was a good four inches of compost that wasn't getting air. So, I dumped it on the bare ground. And I wasn't wearing gloves. Smart. I had to use my hands to get it back into the trash bin. My hands smell, odly enough, like horse shit. I've washed them three times and they still smell. Gross.

But, I discovered that most of the food particles have decomposed. The execption being a stalk of broccoli that has some shoots growing out the top of it. I might take a page out of Gladis's book and try to plant it. I like broccoli. There were some major clots of slimy grass roots. I am going to either take it out of the bin and put it on the ground, or poke holes in the can.

It was absolutely glorious out: lot's of sun, warm, and breezy. I did a close inspection of the garden and found out good things are happening. The salad greens have put out true leaves that look like something you'd find actually in a salad. The zucchinie are getting HUGE; the squash are finally up as are the cantaloupe. The watermelon- both seeds and transplants-- are doing well. The pumpkins are well established, but the peepers look a little frazzled. The okra are thriving and the peas are at least THREE inches tall. My poor bedraggled marigolds are still blooming in spite of being trampled and munched on regularily.

Some of the wild flowers have begun to show signs of life. My herbs and my trays of peppers and tomatoes are still showing nary a green shoot.

I'm going to go wash my hands one more time, and hope for the best.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

inspiration for garden projects at Lizard Loop

My gardening background is brief enough. I was raised (semi-nomadically) in both New York City and various spots in central Florida. I have always loved the idea of gardens, self sufficiency, and all things pastoral, but believed that I had an inherent lack of skill in handling the plant friends I love so much.

During my early adulthood, I lived in a house with a big yard, dozens of climbing rosebushes older than my husband and I combined, and ample space for new projects. But none of them seemed to take hold. For example, I tried planting a bougainvillea in a sunny spot, and even now, 6 years later, it still hasn't grown a bit.

Years passed and I left. My new home, an apartment/townhouse, came with a little slip of yard in both the front and back, but there was hardly any soil at all! Oak tree roots, sand, and gravel seemed to be the predominant ingredients in the mixture. I decided to try my hand at composting in the fall so we could have some soil on hand for potting little herbs or houseplants. My roommate suggested it, and since I do cook a lot it seemed like a good way to not waste our food scraps.

It turned out exponentially better than I thought it would be. The compost took off with a fervor and started to host new life, seedlings from our favorite foods. And, after years of playing thrifty-housewife, I saw amazing potential in my new project. Was there EVER anything more practical than a magic spot that absorbs what you can't use and gives back something you can use?

Saturday, February 21, 2009

fantastic day

Gladis and her charming children came over today and brought some seedlings that have been growing in her compost pile. we planted some watermelons, some pumpkins, and some mystery plant Gladis thinks to be peppers. Her kids were very cute, wanting to be helpful- they helped do some planting, picked rocks out of the garden, and dug up some dirt to put on the top of the compost to try and keep the flies and stinkyness to a minimum. Cora, who is 6, has her own theory about the glass in the garden. She thinks it's growing there just like all the other plants.
I really like that this garden-- and this blog-- is turning out to be a collaborative effort. Those plants came from seeds from a compost pile which came from plants from Gladis and Helen's kitchen. My parents also pitch in by providing the land (and a house for me!) and Daddy does some of the more heavy lifting. The neighbors have even helped out by giving me some dog hair to try and repel the bunnies. And Avery, well he helps by being the sweetest baby boy there ever was.
Speaking of collaboration, Gladis is going to be posting about her seedlings and her low tech but quite successful compost.
The other plants continue to do their thing despite some chilly nights.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Momentous occasion!


Tonight for dinner, I made Moo Shoo Beef lettuce cups topped with bean sprouts THAT I GREW! The first meal made with food grown (or sprouted) here in the Bohler homestead. I can't wait until I am planing meals around what's ready to be picked.
Also! All of the vegetables in the patch have sprouted! All of them! We may be swimming in squash and vucchini very soon. I have visions of giving it away as favors at the upcoming Bohler-Park wedding.
In other news, you may have noticed that someone else has posted. Welcome to Kathleen, who I went to Lesley College with and who also has a lovely little boy. She is growing things is pots on her porch but she knows much more about this than I do. There may be some other voices joining the conversation.

Getting started in Maryland

AE invited me to share my experiences gardening here in Maryland. But, before I get ahead of myself, here's a little snippet of who I am and what I'm doing here.

For the past 2 1/2 years I half years I've lived in Baltimore County, Maryland, and have taught gardening to elementary and middle school kids in Baltimore City at the Living Classrooms Foundation. I LOVED MY JOB! My greatest joy was watching kids sneak vegetables to nibble instead of candy, help kids overcome their fears of creepy crawlers and understand how worms are gardener's best friend, and teaching my little ladies create perfumes by rubbing combinations of herbs in their wrists. My favorite was thyme and lavender! January of 2008 I learned I would be growing something outside the garden, and welcomed my son, Keirnan in September. After much soul searching and a whole lot of tears, I resigned so to stay home with my son, Keirnan, and work part time from home for my father's company.

One of my main goals as an at home mom is to save as much money as possible now that our family income has been reduced. And as an overachiever, I try and limit our weekly grocery bill to no more than $40 for a family of 3 with two pets (so really the way the cats eat, it's more like a family of 5!). I like the challenge, and especially like coming up with creative ways of making it happen.

In the past two years I've been able to start my garden in the Living Classrooms greenhouse in late January with the snow still falling outside, the sun going down around 5, and the gas heater providing the temperature needed to germinate. Instead of gardening in a big beautiful plot with a greenhouse and ample sunshine, I am now planning a container garden on my second floor apartment deck, which measures approximately 4 feet by 6 feet with a table and recycling bins already occupying a bit of space.

Here's my To Do list:
  1. Come up with a list of what to grow
  2. Locate and purchase organic or locally grown seeds.
  3. Find a location for starting seeds that is both baby and cat proof.
  4. Outfit and supply my container garden for no more than $50.
  5. Design the container garden layout so it is both aesthetically pleasing and makes an efficient use of space, allowing enough space for my husband and I to enjoy our summer dinners and thunderstorm watching.
Here we go!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

my sprouts have arrived!


My sprouts came in the mail yesterday! one package of alfalfa and one of mung bean. This morning I began the sprouting process following directions I found here. I used a recycled spaghetti sauce jar and, a rubber band, and a pair of ill fitting pantie hose. I was hoping to document the process but my parent's camera is on the fritz.

In other news, something has been nibbling (devouring really) my marigold flowers. Rather them than my baby greens but I'm not sure that this isn't a bad omen for things to come. Mom looked up ways to keep pests out of your garden and apparently urine is a really good deterrent. If Dad isn't game, I may have to pee in a cup and sprinkle it around the garden. Urine is also really good for compost. Who knew pee had some many agricultural uses.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

salad greens

seed tray

marigolds

signs of life

Yesterday afternoon, Daddy, Mom and I (plus Avery on my back for part of it) all worked out in the yard. Daddy built our hopefully rabbit proof fence out of chicken wire and plywood. There was an electric saw and and a staple gun involved. Around this fence I planted some marigold seedlings. I also have some marigold seeds to fill in the gaps. I also planted the herbs: cilantro and garlic chives and basil and more (!) lavender and something else I can't remember right now. Oh and sunflower seeds! Excited about those both for their beauty and their seeds, though I'm not sure how to harvest their seeds or if you have to have a specific kind to get the kind of seeds you can eat raw and sprout. The seeds in the packet, however, looked just like the kind you can eat so this may be promising. I also started the pepper and both types of tomatoes in a peat tray. The tomato seeds had some sort of white coating on them that I hope isn't pesticide.
While Daddy and I got dirty, Mom started the process of painting some dining room chairs. It was nice for us all to be out in the sunshine being busy.
While Daddy was putting the fence around the plot, he noticed that MY GREENS HAVE SPROUTED! They are just the tinniest little green sprout in the whole world but there they are. I planted them and now they are growing! I'm amazed! This was great encouragement and also incentive for the fencing seeing as it's like Watership Down in our backyard. This morning when I took the compost out to the bin, I checked on them and they have grown a little bit more! Huzzah!

Thursday, February 12, 2009

horray pt 2

this morning I plant one row of okra and two rows of sugar snaps. I also tossed some bell pepper seeds from the kitchen scrap bucket onto the soil between the okra and peas. we'll see how that goes. I'm also going to seed some peppers and tomatoes whenever i get to the store to pick up some more potting soil. tomorrow perhaps.
i also need to learn how to build a trelis for my peas.
this weekend dad and i are going to build a fence of sorts around the plot with marigolds and chicken wire.
seeds in the ground grow grow grow, seeds in the ground grow grow grow. help me build my garden.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Horray!

This morning I planted one row of salad greens, three hills of squash, three hills of zucchini, one hill of cantaloupe and one hill of watermelons. Please grow little plants!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Sprouts!


I also want to grow sprouts! I ordered alfalfa sprouts and bean sprouts in bulk online.
Shipping was more than I wanted to pay, but can't beat having someone bringing two pounds of various seeds for sprouting to my door. I plan on using recycled jars to grow them in. Total cost: $24

To Do

*Draw up garden plan
* Plant veggies according to plan
* Start tomatoes and peppers plants in tray
*Find a plot for herbs and dig it up
*Plant herbs
* Plant wild flowers
Back from California and a weekend trip to Grandma's, I worked in the garden for the first time in weeks. I was concerned I don't have enough space so I dug a bit more around around the perimeter of my patch. Then I dug in some potting soil and raked it over. Mom came out and thought I should extend it a little further so she dug up more grass while I cut the roots, put the dead grass in the leaf pile, etc.
It's a bit like an archaeological dig- I've found a bunch of broken beer bottles, evidence of the ancient frat boys who used to live in my back yard?
Last week I went to Lowe's and bought seeds --two types of tomatoes, watermelon, cantaloupe, squash, greens, snow peas, okra, red peppers, lavender, wild flowers, chamomile, garlic chives, basil, cilantro, ) and basic gardening gear -- gloves, a trowel set, water can, peat seeding trays, organic plant food and potting soil. The grand total $61.
Need to buy more potting soil, some rubber boots. I also might buy some English peas given that Avery loves them so much.