I'm getting a bit worried about the tomato seeds I put in on the 12th. They're not UP yet! There have been no floods or droughts in the cold frame, yet there they are, snuggled down in the $24/bag organic, gorgeous, super-nutrient-rich soil. I - of course - want them up already. Happy little green exploratory first leaves should be showing...info on them says 7-14 days and they're pushing it! Today is day 17. I'm wondering if they aren't coming at all. It isn't just one kind though, it's two, so I'm pretty sure they just haven't hit the sweet spot in temperature yet. Meanwhile, I'm putting in more this weekend just in case. *grumble*
The broccoli, cabbage and eggplant are all up though. More each day, so I'm not completely neurotic about the appearance of seedlings. Tomatoes rate so much higher on the taste scale though.
Outside under the bed hoops though, we have all kinds of lettuces up as well as the peas, five-color silverbeet and spinach. In the Onion Region the seeds I saved last year from our onions have sprouted!! Open-pollinated and haphazardly saved, but there they are just the same. The Walla Walla starts (6" tall) I planted must have some roots out because they've perked up and are starting to grow, and they now have a large neighborhood of red onion sets next to them. We will have plenty of onions this year.
Since the hoops are over everything but the rhubarb outside, the cold snow and wind we're getting right now aren't phasing the little plants that are under them. This is a wonderful thing. Had we known what cheap plastic and salvaged pipe could do, we would have started earlier last year. Speaking of plastic, we're going to put an inner layer on the greenhouse this weekend in an effort to not use the space heater in there at night (and hopefully get those dang tomatoes going!). Oh!! And on Wednesday I made Richard very proud. Our neighbor was tearing down his hoop house to move it out to his new home, so I asked him how much it cost him to build: he said about $1,000 including all kinds of things we wouldn't be buying. Then he mentioned he was building a bigger one at his new place, so I asked if he would be interested in selling the pipe from this one. He not only said "yes" but also said we could "just have it!" Sweet deal. Even if it only lasts a year or two, it gives us an expanded growing area with a deferred cost.
As far as the Harvest Potluck goes, Richard has gotten both beef and lamb commitments from some of his customers, and one of them has said he will BBQ also (the lamb man). Just as soon as Rick finishes building his BBQ haha.
P.S. The large, floppy paws of a snuffling, drift-y basset hound are not real helpful in the beds. Seedlings can take the snuffling, but not the big 'ol footprint. Good thing he's so cute and comical. Not sure what we're going to do about it though...
Friday, April 29, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Function Comes First
In response to people who are under the impression that they have to have "the perfect setup" in order to grow plants, I'd like to share some tips we've learned from our "setup" so far. Keep in mind that we are not big-time market gardeners, so we do not need sparkly new things, we need functioning, any-age things!
Please don't get hung up in the details, the most important things for plants are soil, water, sun, and occasionally protection (hello, giant hail/wind storm). Also, try to remember that plants have been around a long time, you are much newer to watching them grow than they are to growing...it'll be OK - so long as you read the tag or label that comes with them and follow it. Just because you don't have a huge space of your own doesn't mean that you can't have a garden either. People who truly want to do something can always find a way - sometimes it just takes a while to figure out the path.
Next month, we'll be hosting a planting box workshop of sorts. We will provide resources for adults and small children to grow a tiny bit of food on their step at home. They'll assemble their own boxes (we'll help of course) and - hopefully - will learn that gardening is mostly a matter of doing, not of science.
Try not to get caught up in buying the snazziest this or that unless you're food-gardening mostly for fun. If you're doing it to save money and eat well, investing a chunk of change up front isn't in your best interest.
Learn how to ask people to sell or give obviously un-used items, such as:
a stack of boards nearly hidden by grass "out back" that would be awesome for raised beds
a roll of wire that you could use to trellis plants
a wheelbarrow in need of a bolt or two, or maybe a wheel (replacement parts are cheap usually)
shovels without handles
framed windows (hello protection for your plants - free!)
random piles of dirt from projects dug years ago (to fill a raised bed or planting box)
horses/chickens/cows with a shed of some sort - there's good fertilizer in there and it's probably broken down already (especially if they have chickens)!
Most of these items can be found at homes/properties that have been owned by the same person for a long, long time. This stuff collects and they are usually thrilled to have someone use it. "Waste not, want not" and all. This also applies to shared fences (train some peas or beans there and you get what's on your side, they get whats on theirs, then you clean up!), open space on the corner down the street, extra space in your neighbors backyard...offer to share the bounty and the water bill, and I'd bet on them letting you use their space to produce food. Most people, given the option, will not pass up fresh anything...unless it's squash season and they have already been hit by desperately overloaded gardener-friends. Lock your doors. Anyways, the point is, don't be afraid to ask! For the most part, as long as you respect people's privacy and property, you can find a place suitable for at least a bit of a garden. And if you use your head, you can get started for a very small price!
P.S. And as I've learned from Rick, keep your eyes open at the dump! If you're lucky enough to have a FreeCycle in your area, ask for supplies on there! It's a wonderful resource!
Please don't get hung up in the details, the most important things for plants are soil, water, sun, and occasionally protection (hello, giant hail/wind storm). Also, try to remember that plants have been around a long time, you are much newer to watching them grow than they are to growing...it'll be OK - so long as you read the tag or label that comes with them and follow it. Just because you don't have a huge space of your own doesn't mean that you can't have a garden either. People who truly want to do something can always find a way - sometimes it just takes a while to figure out the path.
Next month, we'll be hosting a planting box workshop of sorts. We will provide resources for adults and small children to grow a tiny bit of food on their step at home. They'll assemble their own boxes (we'll help of course) and - hopefully - will learn that gardening is mostly a matter of doing, not of science.
Try not to get caught up in buying the snazziest this or that unless you're food-gardening mostly for fun. If you're doing it to save money and eat well, investing a chunk of change up front isn't in your best interest.
Learn how to ask people to sell or give obviously un-used items, such as:
a stack of boards nearly hidden by grass "out back" that would be awesome for raised beds
a roll of wire that you could use to trellis plants
a wheelbarrow in need of a bolt or two, or maybe a wheel (replacement parts are cheap usually)
shovels without handles
framed windows (hello protection for your plants - free!)
random piles of dirt from projects dug years ago (to fill a raised bed or planting box)
horses/chickens/cows with a shed of some sort - there's good fertilizer in there and it's probably broken down already (especially if they have chickens)!
Most of these items can be found at homes/properties that have been owned by the same person for a long, long time. This stuff collects and they are usually thrilled to have someone use it. "Waste not, want not" and all. This also applies to shared fences (train some peas or beans there and you get what's on your side, they get whats on theirs, then you clean up!), open space on the corner down the street, extra space in your neighbors backyard...offer to share the bounty and the water bill, and I'd bet on them letting you use their space to produce food. Most people, given the option, will not pass up fresh anything...unless it's squash season and they have already been hit by desperately overloaded gardener-friends. Lock your doors. Anyways, the point is, don't be afraid to ask! For the most part, as long as you respect people's privacy and property, you can find a place suitable for at least a bit of a garden. And if you use your head, you can get started for a very small price!
P.S. And as I've learned from Rick, keep your eyes open at the dump! If you're lucky enough to have a FreeCycle in your area, ask for supplies on there! It's a wonderful resource!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Bed Hoops & Seeds In
Yesterday was the first in a long time that Richard got to stay home and work outside with me (nap time is our "outside/work date"). We got some important things done! A year or so ago, he snagged a huge roll of Pex tubing (think a cross between drip line and PVC, bendy but pretty hard) and yesterday he drug it out for the hoop supports. This is one instance that I can honestly say I'm thrilled he's a stuff hound. It's not a common emotion for me, I may have to mark this down somewhere. Usually I'm trying to sneak things off to the dump! Anyways, the front bed is half-hooped/covered with plastic and the others will be shortly (one has all it's hoops and no plastic yet). Happy seeds/starts.
We're pushing the season this year a bit, trying to get things growing earlier in an effort to feed ourselves well, earlier! We have the following in the ground:
Chiogga Beets
Five-Color Silverbeet (chard, but the pretty kind)
Swiss Chard (green stems)
Lettuce Mix
Simpson Lettuce
Spinach
Yellow Onion Seeds
Walla Walla Onion "starts" aka 6" tall sets
Amish Snap Peas
Sweet Peas
In the cold frame we have:
Siberian Tomatoes
Stupice Tomatoes
Cheyenne Pumpkins
Velvet Queen Sunflowers
Basil
Thyme
Rosemary
Spearmint
Snap Dragons
Eggplant
Cabbage
Broccoli
Calendula
Dill
I am planting in a different way this year in an effort to stem harvest insanity this fall. The aim is for steady not sudden. These are things you ponder when you're up at midnight harvesting or canning - "how can I make this less crazy next year?!"
Next up, we're tracking down a rototiller and getting the "compost" area turned well and also tilling a 12'x60' +/- along one side of the lot, then the strip up front between the sidewalk and the street which is 4' x 120' +/-. The big, long sections will be planted in sweet clover to prepare for next years production (it's very first). I am REALLY excited about expanding our planting area by so much, next year is going to be amazing!
There are seedlings all over the section on the left, but my cell phone is only so skilled at detail-catching. Note on the white labels you see here: they are mini-blinds, cut to desired length. Recycled due to naughty, blind-destroying children :)
Chiogga Beets
Five-Color Silverbeet (chard, but the pretty kind)
Swiss Chard (green stems)
Lettuce Mix
Simpson Lettuce
Spinach
Yellow Onion Seeds
Walla Walla Onion "starts" aka 6" tall sets
Amish Snap Peas
Sweet Peas
In the cold frame we have:
Siberian Tomatoes
Stupice Tomatoes
Cheyenne Pumpkins
Velvet Queen Sunflowers
Basil
Thyme
Rosemary
Spearmint
Snap Dragons
Eggplant
Cabbage
Broccoli
Calendula
Dill
I am planting in a different way this year in an effort to stem harvest insanity this fall. The aim is for steady not sudden. These are things you ponder when you're up at midnight harvesting or canning - "how can I make this less crazy next year?!"
Next up, we're tracking down a rototiller and getting the "compost" area turned well and also tilling a 12'x60' +/- along one side of the lot, then the strip up front between the sidewalk and the street which is 4' x 120' +/-. The big, long sections will be planted in sweet clover to prepare for next years production (it's very first). I am REALLY excited about expanding our planting area by so much, next year is going to be amazing!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Harvest Potluck - September 10th!
Yes, it 'tis the plain 'ol "Harvest Potluck."
Because it's simple, and I like simple.
I wanted a name that would cross cultural boundaries, something fun and snappy, then realized that it didn't have to be. People were excited enough with the word "potluck" - it'd be pure madness if I had a stellar name. Crowd control would put this free event over budget!
This isn't a completely thought-out event yet, but here are the basics:
I reserved the park (September 10th)- while also paying my water bill, love a small town - and got the run-down from the Mayor on the fact that I don't need a single permission, permit or inspection. "We love people to do stuff like that. It sounds great" was all he had to say about it. Oh, and he was glad I was going for participation from farmers and ranchers too.
Talking to the Farmers Market group on Monday, so should have a bit more to say about this then!
Because it's simple, and I like simple.
I wanted a name that would cross cultural boundaries, something fun and snappy, then realized that it didn't have to be. People were excited enough with the word "potluck" - it'd be pure madness if I had a stellar name. Crowd control would put this free event over budget!
This isn't a completely thought-out event yet, but here are the basics:
- It's open to the public - as feeders or eaters or both!
- The main ingredient of each dish must be produced in southwest Montana but not necessarily by you.
- There will be music: The Dillon Fiddlers have agreed to play country and bluegrass.
- I'm hoping to get local grain, potato, beef and lamb producers involved also. BBQ would be awesome.
- Horseshoes for the adults and "wa-shoes" for the kids.
- An information booth will be available, and all dishes will be tagged with the "production" information. People can network and eat, no shopping.
- It is not a fair, festival, or anything else super-duper entertaining.
- It's good food and community.
- I have very little idea what I'm doing, but it's working so far!
I reserved the park (September 10th)- while also paying my water bill, love a small town - and got the run-down from the Mayor on the fact that I don't need a single permission, permit or inspection. "We love people to do stuff like that. It sounds great" was all he had to say about it. Oh, and he was glad I was going for participation from farmers and ranchers too.
Talking to the Farmers Market group on Monday, so should have a bit more to say about this then!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Seed-planting Has Begun!
Yesterday, we received our order of seeds from the Seed Savers Exchange and we are thrilled! They are all heirloom varieties and are much more colorful than the hybrids I've seen. I can hardly wait until they come up and produce.
We have a ton of seeds already, from seed-saving last year and varieties we didn't get planted (herbs and flowers mostly).
So today, the kids and I planted another batch (10 holes with 2 seeds each) of Swiss Chard after lunch, and then once they'd ditched me for snack, I planted the first of a "gourmet lettuce blend," as well as Simpson lettuce and spinach. I'll plant the same again next week, and continue each week until mid-May. In early June the "greens beds" will become the "tomato beds." I just figured they should go to work until then too. I'll be covering these beds with bed-size hoop houses to help protect the greens from death by snow-flattening.
If all goes well, we'll be able to eat and sell greens in a month or so; a very exciting prospect in the land of long winters.
Next week, I'll be starting several seeds in the cold frame and can hardly express how exciting it is to have so many interesting new varieties this year! Better get my tail in gear and organize all my pots etc!
UP NEXT: The Harvest Potluck
We have a ton of seeds already, from seed-saving last year and varieties we didn't get planted (herbs and flowers mostly).
So today, the kids and I planted another batch (10 holes with 2 seeds each) of Swiss Chard after lunch, and then once they'd ditched me for snack, I planted the first of a "gourmet lettuce blend," as well as Simpson lettuce and spinach. I'll plant the same again next week, and continue each week until mid-May. In early June the "greens beds" will become the "tomato beds." I just figured they should go to work until then too. I'll be covering these beds with bed-size hoop houses to help protect the greens from death by snow-flattening.
If all goes well, we'll be able to eat and sell greens in a month or so; a very exciting prospect in the land of long winters.
Next week, I'll be starting several seeds in the cold frame and can hardly express how exciting it is to have so many interesting new varieties this year! Better get my tail in gear and organize all my pots etc!
UP NEXT: The Harvest Potluck
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Gearing Up Again
This odd thing happens at the end of every growing season: we furiously gather the bounty, then sprint inside and peel, slice, freeze, boil, and can until we pass out in our food-stained aprons all over the living room. Really. This is what canning days look like. They always end with two or more of us lounging/napping/staring-stunned-into-the-distance.
And then this happens...nothing.
Clean-up? Like, clean off all the beds and prepare for spring?
I am worked. No way. Or in the case of last fall, "there's a crazy man living with us and we all are therefore running around all crazy."
Not this year.
Not going to happen. We have decided to get serious - not only about producing - but about making this space produce enough for us all within the next year or two.
That and crazy people aren't welcome here any more.
Well, the good crazy ones are fine, it's those bad crazy that you have to watch for. Good crazy would mean we couldn't live here either!
New things happening this year:
1. A ton of ground will be rototilled and then planted in green manure (legumes this year - calorie crop next year). The largest space will be the "alley easement" that is basically a long driveway along one side of our lot.
2. Another large-ish piece will be tilled and planted with potatoes. I am really interested in what the soil here looks like - it's been our compost heap (not a well-managed region) for two years. It is now moving up in the world, it's going to be soil.
3. There is a strip of ground between our sidewalk and the street. Not much going on there, so we're going to till it up too and plant stuff. It's 4' x 120' I'm pretty sure. Hopefully it'll be a lot of stuff, but it's going to have to be some kind of "stuff" that likes crummy soil and wind....bet that's a long list. It will get better with use though, and may very well just be planted in green manure also. Clover's nice...hmm.
4. We will have both children running around wild and helping us this year. I am really excited about this! They both are very good about plants, barring a few incidents, and really love to see things grow. Between the two of them though, we may not have many tomatoes actually making it in the house. There are much worse things to worry about though : ) Besides, they're much, much cuter than tomato worms.
We cleaned up around the cold frame yesterday, and Rick and Thomas built all the panels for it (we are getting good too - these are much better than last years). I will post photos once the snow we got today melts a bit.
And then this happens...nothing.
Clean-up? Like, clean off all the beds and prepare for spring?
I am worked. No way. Or in the case of last fall, "there's a crazy man living with us and we all are therefore running around all crazy."
Not this year.
Not going to happen. We have decided to get serious - not only about producing - but about making this space produce enough for us all within the next year or two.
That and crazy people aren't welcome here any more.
Well, the good crazy ones are fine, it's those bad crazy that you have to watch for. Good crazy would mean we couldn't live here either!
New things happening this year:
1. A ton of ground will be rototilled and then planted in green manure (legumes this year - calorie crop next year). The largest space will be the "alley easement" that is basically a long driveway along one side of our lot.
2. Another large-ish piece will be tilled and planted with potatoes. I am really interested in what the soil here looks like - it's been our compost heap (not a well-managed region) for two years. It is now moving up in the world, it's going to be soil.
3. There is a strip of ground between our sidewalk and the street. Not much going on there, so we're going to till it up too and plant stuff. It's 4' x 120' I'm pretty sure. Hopefully it'll be a lot of stuff, but it's going to have to be some kind of "stuff" that likes crummy soil and wind....bet that's a long list. It will get better with use though, and may very well just be planted in green manure also. Clover's nice...hmm.
4. We will have both children running around wild and helping us this year. I am really excited about this! They both are very good about plants, barring a few incidents, and really love to see things grow. Between the two of them though, we may not have many tomatoes actually making it in the house. There are much worse things to worry about though : ) Besides, they're much, much cuter than tomato worms.
We cleaned up around the cold frame yesterday, and Rick and Thomas built all the panels for it (we are getting good too - these are much better than last years). I will post photos once the snow we got today melts a bit.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Until Today - It Wasn't a Concern
Just yesterday my mom and I were discussing "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" (I've just started it). I made the statement that while I understood why people were concerned with oil consumption, and were therefore changing their lifestyles to a more sustainable one; our main reasons for producing more of our own food were the quality of food and personal fufillment that came along with it.
Today, I was listening to the radio while making dinner, there was an interview with some scientists involved in an independent study of the affects of the tar sand mining in Canada (National Geographic photo gallery and article). This little bit of trivia just shot me into the group concerned with oil consumption: "About half the oil produced heads south: The U.S. is Canada's biggest oil customer, importing more from its northern neighbor than from any other nation."
I'm not from any kind of background that stands up and shakes their fist at the industrial machine. I understand the need for fuel. My husband is a diesel mechanic (semi-trucks and heavy equipment), and I was one for a few years. Our very livelihood is dependent upon the industry. I get all these things. What I can't wrap my head around is the incredible way this process affects everything around it. Thousands of acres of woodlands are just...gone. Not just picked up and carted out either, the soil is washed with water. Shale mining also falls into the shameless-use-of-water category.
It's the water thing that mostly gets me.
And the fact that I grew up in wide, beautiful spaces...and seeing those pictures of thousands of acres of land just gone just baffles me. When you grow up outside, you constantly think of where animals travel on land, what they eat, where they drink/sleep, and what the predator/prey balance is. It gives me a big, empty feeling inside seeing this resource harvest...where's the consideration of life in all this?
I can do without a car.
Without a lot of things.
Water is second on the need list only to oxygen.
Therefore, all things have clicked and I'm now concerned.
It's been a long time coming.
I think about what we can do, really simply and cost-effectively. There is not a chance that we can buy a new, high MPG car. We drive older vehicles because we own them outright and they're easy and inexpensive to fix. We spend less in fuel than we would on a payment plus fuel. Plus, I drive a total of 50 miles a month probably. Not a big need there.
This isn't where I hop on the activist wagon, just where I add another reason to the list of why we spend our growing season months with our hands in soil.
There will always be a need for equipment and vehicles, but how much it is used depends much on how we choose to live our lives collectively.
So.
What can we do?
Get serious about producing most of the food we consume. I will continue to buy big, fat watermelon until we find a way to grow them here.
1. Convert more of the lot to food production this spring (in reality, we could grow enough food for all of us on half the lot).
2. Grow our own grains.
3. Buy some sort of bike (suggestions appreciated here) that has 3 wheels and a basket for 2 small children. They wiggle and I'm certain we'd get tipped over on 2 wheels. I am not an exceptional bike operator.
4. Find a property/barn near town to keep whatever milk cow is fresh in, and ride my bike to milk her. This would cut down our dairy-based food costs quite a bit...since we drive old, low MPG vehicles!
5. Raise a beef and/or a few lambs on free pasture (hauling them would be our only costs beyond purchase), and fill the freezer in the fall.
These are just the things that we have been nonchalantly thinking about for the last couple years, and are now more convicted, so may actually get serious about implementing a few of them.
I would love to hear some input on these ideas, the issue (especially if I have misunderstood at some point), things that you may be doing to lessen your impact etc. Suggestions are always appreciated!
P.S. The prospect of paying over $4/gallon for gas this summer is seriously influencing the thinking about a bike.
Today, I was listening to the radio while making dinner, there was an interview with some scientists involved in an independent study of the affects of the tar sand mining in Canada (National Geographic photo gallery and article). This little bit of trivia just shot me into the group concerned with oil consumption: "About half the oil produced heads south: The U.S. is Canada's biggest oil customer, importing more from its northern neighbor than from any other nation."
I'm not from any kind of background that stands up and shakes their fist at the industrial machine. I understand the need for fuel. My husband is a diesel mechanic (semi-trucks and heavy equipment), and I was one for a few years. Our very livelihood is dependent upon the industry. I get all these things. What I can't wrap my head around is the incredible way this process affects everything around it. Thousands of acres of woodlands are just...gone. Not just picked up and carted out either, the soil is washed with water. Shale mining also falls into the shameless-use-of-water category.
It's the water thing that mostly gets me.
And the fact that I grew up in wide, beautiful spaces...and seeing those pictures of thousands of acres of land just gone just baffles me. When you grow up outside, you constantly think of where animals travel on land, what they eat, where they drink/sleep, and what the predator/prey balance is. It gives me a big, empty feeling inside seeing this resource harvest...where's the consideration of life in all this?
I can do without a car.
Without a lot of things.
Water is second on the need list only to oxygen.
Therefore, all things have clicked and I'm now concerned.
It's been a long time coming.
I think about what we can do, really simply and cost-effectively. There is not a chance that we can buy a new, high MPG car. We drive older vehicles because we own them outright and they're easy and inexpensive to fix. We spend less in fuel than we would on a payment plus fuel. Plus, I drive a total of 50 miles a month probably. Not a big need there.
This isn't where I hop on the activist wagon, just where I add another reason to the list of why we spend our growing season months with our hands in soil.
There will always be a need for equipment and vehicles, but how much it is used depends much on how we choose to live our lives collectively.
So.
What can we do?
Get serious about producing most of the food we consume. I will continue to buy big, fat watermelon until we find a way to grow them here.
1. Convert more of the lot to food production this spring (in reality, we could grow enough food for all of us on half the lot).
2. Grow our own grains.
3. Buy some sort of bike (suggestions appreciated here) that has 3 wheels and a basket for 2 small children. They wiggle and I'm certain we'd get tipped over on 2 wheels. I am not an exceptional bike operator.
4. Find a property/barn near town to keep whatever milk cow is fresh in, and ride my bike to milk her. This would cut down our dairy-based food costs quite a bit...since we drive old, low MPG vehicles!
5. Raise a beef and/or a few lambs on free pasture (hauling them would be our only costs beyond purchase), and fill the freezer in the fall.
These are just the things that we have been nonchalantly thinking about for the last couple years, and are now more convicted, so may actually get serious about implementing a few of them.
I would love to hear some input on these ideas, the issue (especially if I have misunderstood at some point), things that you may be doing to lessen your impact etc. Suggestions are always appreciated!
P.S. The prospect of paying over $4/gallon for gas this summer is seriously influencing the thinking about a bike.
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