Garden thread.

[glenn kangiser]

Yeah, I probably will not get away with that.   I had been picking it up and piling it in a nice pile to compost at first, but dang, John.... that's a lot of poop.....

This EM we are using helps with composting and reduces smell and  flies to next to nothing.

[Sassy]

Thought this was pretty interesting - family in Los Angeles has the right idea - hope the FDA or Homeland Security don't shut them down!

http://www.nextworldtv.com/videos/community/sustainable-family-outside-la----keeping-it-extra-real.html

[Windpower]

peppers  hhmmm

I need to get the Poblanos started

I just saw that clip too, Sassy

they have a website as well


http://urbanhomestead.org/


lots of good info

they are making bio-diesel too


that is on my list and bumped up in priority because of the new farm truck

2005 F250 with 6 L diesel

[glenn kangiser]

Pablanos.... we need to get some going too but our feed store gets them in each year -- we hope.

[Windpower]

Poblano/Anchos are a key incredient in my favorite chile recipe


I'd like to think last fall's chile was a bit better than store bought anchos

[glenn kangiser]

I like them for Chile Rellenos, but haven't made them in a long time.  We have a bunch in the freezer though.

[Sassy]

Are you eating genetically engineered food?  Eye opening video...  http://wideeyecinema.com/?p=4709

[Homegrown Tomatoes]

Glenn... I can help you out with that microwaved manure thing.... there are two working microwaves down in our barn, left by the previous owner.  You want 'em, you can nuke all the poop you want.  Come and get 'em!!!  We don't even have a microwave in our kitchen, and yet there are two down in the barn.   

[glenn kangiser]

Hmmm - I better think on that a bit, Homey... not sure if that is an experiment I want to try. [ouch]

[Homegrown Tomatoes]

Really would like to be out in the garden working today, but seeing as there is still a foot of snow, and I have 3/4 of my kids out with the flu, don't think it is happening.  On the plus side, we really needed the moisture from the snow.

[Sassy]

Hope you all are feeling better, HG.  Any snow on the ground? 

We've had several weeks of mostly sunny weather - The fruit trees are budding out - usually when they bloom we get snow     The daffodils will be blooming soon, everything is green.  Lots of honey bees buzzing around    That will be good for the fruit trees.

I pruned the fruit trees in the garden area around the house & did a lot of weeding & cleaning out all the dead vegetation & put in the compost pile.  Also trimmed all my roses - have the scars to attest to that    Glenn pruned the fruit trees down on the terraces.

He picked some green cauliflower in the hugelkulture bed & I picked some white cauliflower in the garden by the house - ate it last night - yummy - so much better than store bought - no bitterness.  Of course we melted cheese on it  Also cooked one of the butternut squash - put butter & real maple syrup on it, placed it in a pan w/a little water & covered it with foil & put it in the oven & baked it while the meatloaf was cooking... yes, Glenn & I like meatloaf    Squash was really good, too.

[muldoon]

stay warm folks, spring is almost here. 

sassy, that cauliflower & meatloaf sounds awesome, I wish I was eating with you guys tonight. 

Here are my tomato and pepper starters.  They are in the garage because its 20 degrees outside.  They are sitting under the warmth of 300 watts of compact flouros.  I think by March they will be nice and stout to go into dirt.   


All heirloom, personally I like baker creek seeds. http://rareseeds.com 
(I have no financial ties to them other than happy customer of 4 years). 
any good viable heirloom seed is a good seed. 

I am so ready for spring. 

[glenn kangiser]

Nice start on the garden, muldoon.  I'm hoping to start another hugelbed to improve the top terrace garden at the cabin.  Lots of fertilizer now with the cows.  Some of it is aged pretty good. 

I know it is safe for the plants because my dog, Spike, loves to eat it fresh and it hasn't hurt him....

[Sassy]

  , Glenn 

Good start, Muldoon - our starts never seem to do real well, don't know why - they do real good at re-seeding themselves out in the garden, though  

[considerations]

The apple and pear trees are pruned. The butterfly bush starts survived, as did the bay tree, both of which are spending the winter in the "cold frame".

[Phssthpok]

As of Monday Feb 28:

corn/beans/squash (zucchini)


Herbs/tomatoes/carrots (near to far)


Cabbages 


under the

Green beans/cucumbers


Roma tomatoes...


...ripening nicely



Not shown are the peas, carrots, radishes, asparagus, onions, garlic, pumpkins, green zucchini, cantaloupe and potatoes that are doing nicely as well, nor the celery, spinich, peppers, okra, lettuce, chard, parsnips and beets I seeded the last two days. I'll try to get some photos of those tomorrow.

And the Aquaponics set-up too! (even though we're still trying to get things stabilized and not all the plants are happy )

[glenn kangiser]

Very nice garden.

[MountainDon]

Ain't that just like a Floridian to flaunt his garden at the beginning of march.   

Nice.

[Phssthpok]

Flaunt...flaunt..

Expanded photos and update of today's efforts:

Left to right: Pumpkin, (4) cantaloupes) green zucchini



Snow peas and radishes (with the ubiquitous LEEzard...Srsly...they're EVERYwhere down here)


Near to far (reorganized and added to from previous photo): Herbs, tomatoes, onions, tomatoes, unplanted, tomatoes, onions, tomatoes, carrots. Had to stake the near tomatoes due to wind today.


Russet potatoes (find waldo the tail-less LEEzard)


Bell Peppers (under the cloches), garlic down the side, two big onions on the end


Snap peas and carrots


Aquaponics tubes...


..fed from repurposed Koi pond (now filled with brim) with float tray

[Squirl]

Very cool aquaponics setup.  That is something I've been looking to get into.

[Sassy]

All I can say is WOW!  We're planning aquaponics, too.  Have done hydroponics in the same type of set-up you've done.  It's still too cold here... 

[archimedes]

Garden looks great.

I was thinking of building some planter boxes myself.  Is it safe to use PT wood for vegetable boxes?

[PEG688]

Turned over the garden today and cut the grass. Spring must be here!!

 


   A few  flowers think it spring anyway.

 

Where does phssthpok hail from roughly??  Nice lookin set-up.

[glenn kangiser]

I think Don mentioned Florida.....

Everybody will be showing me up this year, except we do have year round stuff....not well taken care of but it is there.  Nice to see you are out there after it PEG.

I got some onions and cabbage planted last week.  Added some of our compost to it too.

[Redoverfarm]

Anybody want tio make a little extra cash with their garden.  I was thinking about Drew and his orchard in CA.  I went to Sams Club the other day and noitice the price of red Raspberries & Blackberries.  Can you visualize 12 oz container selling for $6.98.  .  That farm must be using union labor from the US.