Did you know?

That okra plants produce the loveliest, most delicate flowers?
Neither did I!
Part of this experiment is learning more about the earth, about the food we eat. Everything- even the hated squash vine borer worm- has it's place in the natural world. I'm trying to find mine.
Happy earth day!

the world's cutest tomato

flowers

sugar snap peas













cantaloupe


















watermelon

Look what I found!

While turning my compost after neglecting it for a tiny bit I found some lovely plants!
A garlic bulb that sprouted; two plants that I'm nearly certain are carrots; a mystery plant.


I love this-- plants sprouting out of my compost planted in soil from said compost in recycled containers. One change-- recycling-- led to another-- compost-- which ultimately will lead to an even bigger change-- expanding the types of food I'm able to produce myself.

Baby steps

I've been doing a lot of yearning for my own piece of land- to grow a substantial garden, to raise goats for milk and meat (and maybe wool?), to have chickens for eggs and Sunday dinner. To produce many if not most of the things I need. To have a homestead.

Right now, I am where I am and I have to do what I can with what I have. So I'm taking baby steps; soon I will be able to take a big leap- knock on wood.

One baby step is to make my own shampoo and conditioner. I use recycled bottles so I save packaging. The soap base is Dr. Bronner's so it's bio degradable. With the exception of the lavender and the nettle, the herbs came from my garden. (I tried various ways, but lavender just won't grow here for me from seeds. Too wet and warm I think.)

Amy's Homegrown Herbal Shampoo
4 oz. Dr. Bronner magic soap (I used lavender because I'm addicted and it's what I had on hand)
one cup herbs ( I used Rosemary, peppermint, lavender and nettle: If you have light hair nix the Rosemary and use chamomile- it brings out highlights.)
about a cup and half of water
glass jar with tight fitting lid ( I used a rinsed out pasta sauce jar)
plastic squeeze jar ( a recylced shampoo bottle would work; so would a plastic salad dressing bottle)

Boil water and pour it over herbs in glass jar. Screw on lid and let steep for about 10 minuets. Strain out herbs- I use a kitchen strainer though cheese cloth would work too. Really squeeze out the herbs to get every last bit of liquid. Add the herbal water to the soap. After it's cool I check to see if it foams up enough for me. If not I add more soap. This isn't an exact science.

Some other nice herb/soap combination:
Mint soap and Rosemary, nettle, peppermint
Lemon soap and basil, nettle, lemongrass
Tea tree oil soap and lavender, nettle

The nettle helps your hair soak up the herbs.

squah vine borer

I figured it out! I've got squash vine borers! Which basically means I'm screwed! No pesticides organic or otherwise works on it! I *might* be able to salvage what's left of my plants, but I'm not sure!
However, I did eat three very yummy pea pods. The okra also are growing as are the tomatoes and the canteloupe.

Help!

Something that isn't me (or a bunny for that matter!) is munching on my squash! like a worm or something! at this rate, there will be none for me to much on!
Anyone know something organic i can do to make it stop??

Mesclun greens

I planted two small pots of Mesclun salad greens today! I put the seeds in the little blue mushroom containers I use as seedling pots now. And in there with the seeds is compost from our wonderful heap.

I have several other packets of seeds to plant as well; spearmint, cilantro, and other types of salad greens.

This is something I should have started a month ago (then I could be eating them today!), but I hope this works... It's yet another first for me in the realm of growing my own food.

coming soon

Pictures of the well flourishing garden are coming soon-- tomorrow if it's not rainy like today! Everything is green and lush and beginning to produce! Squash are also coming soon as are snow peas!
Gladis's post on breast feeding and homegrown food prompted me to post this somewhat troubling editorial published in yesterday's St. Pete Times. How upsetting to me that this woman basically forced herself to nurse her babies based on the medical evidence. My mom-- who pointed the article out to me-- said she sounded like a spoiled brat, and I agree. I also think this article is dangerous and undermines the value of nursing.

Really Homegrown Food

Am I far off in assuming that most of our readers are gardening mamas? Mamas who breastfed their babies, or who still are?

That to me is the ultimate experience in creating something useful, necessary, NEEDED.

Well, anyway, I thought this would be interesting to you. :)