Recent Happenings

This week Jason and I were able to harvest our first cherry tomatoes.  They are delicious! So far we've been able to eat cherry tomatoes, jalepeno peppers, and green peppers.  Unfortunately we had quite the storm last night which blew over all our tomato and pepper plants (with their stakes and cages too).  Jason and I spent a good part of the morning putting everything upright again! We lost a few budding tomatoes but other than that I think everything will be fine.

Here are a few recent pictures:

First Fruit

0612011850.jpg, a photo by JLPerry711 on Flickr.

Here is one of our first peppers making an appearance! I'm not sure how long to leave it on the vine... compared to the plant it is getting quite large, though compared to my thumb it is still on the small side. I think I may pick it when it 'feels right'... haha not sure when that will be though!

Garden Visitor!

downsized_0512011846a.jpg, a photo by JLPerry711 on Flickr.

This little guy has been visiting our yard lately.  He was kind enough to pose for a picture!
I don't think he will bother our garden any, and he's been staying away from that area.
What a handsome guy!  Kona was growling at him, and was awfully curious, but eventually ignored him.
Anyone know what species he is?

Garden- almost done

Garden- almost done, a photo by JLPerry711 on Flickr.


We've planted some strawberries (yes we know they will take over), and more peppers... of the spicy variety.  We are still deciding where/how to plant some things but have been plagued with a ton of rain!!!  Hopefully things will clear up so that we can finish our planting.

Tomatoes, Peppers, Cilantro, Parsley, and Basil

Tomatoes, Peppers, Cilantro, Parsley, and Basil, a photo by JLPerry711 on Flickr.

Our garden has been changing quite a bit lately!  Jason and I bought plants from a local nursery, and soaker hoses from a local hardware store to get things going.  There is a spicket near by so we ran a regular hose to our two garden plots, then attached a splitter and ran a soaker hose up and down each garden plot.  We have already found this to be extremely convenient!!!  Then we planted most of our plants: various types of tomatoes, peppers, and pole beans, also marigolds and herbs (basil, cilantro, dill, parsley) to keep away the bad bugs!  This plot has been planted over a week and all is well so far!


I do have one little thing that I didn't like...


While Jason and I were at the hardware store for the soaker hoses, we originally wanted to get fencing too.  After talking with an employee who is also a gardener he recommended saving the money of fencing until we knew we were having pests in the garden.  He also gave us an organic spray to keep way rabbits and deer and other animals.  He gave it to us, for free!  Both thought - Great!!  Didn't read the labels or directions or anything, because we didn't have to pay for it!


So then we've planted the garden and I go to use the spray, I attach the spray nozel and read the directions (note: not the ingredients) and start spraying away!  Turns out that the spray was a mixture of bovine blood and water!! It smelled horrid, and practically made me sick to my stomach!  Then while it may keep away rabbits and deer, it certainly was attracting our black lab, Kona, it was all we could do to keep him from eating our new plants which had a nice dressing of bovine blood!  Then the nozel leaked all over my hands and had blood stains on my skin!  Like I was a pig murderer!!!  


I was highly traumatized.  


AND I will forever read the ingredients on EVERYTHING (because I really only read food labels...)

Primitive Garden Photos

We've dug, and sweated, and grunted, and pulled out a lot of rocks.  Here is what we've got so far.

 Garden plot #1 finished!

 

Garden plot #2 in the words via Jason's strong muscles!

Two side by side plots for our garden.  I promise that I did help, it's just that someone  had to take some pictures.  ;-)

We mapped out our garden plots using old yarn and nails (that we found in the garage) as stakes.  I'm sure actual stakes would have been better but we didn't have any... so get creative (nails ended up okay except that Jason tripped on a section of the yarn and pulled a nail out which we have yet to find!).  I walked 3 steps wide and about 14 steps long, and also did some eye-balling.  Then just dug off the grass.  Easy peasy lemon squeasy!

Our soil turns out to be very clay heavy and full of rocks, thankfully we didn't find any rocks bigger than a soft ball.  Our next adventure will be into soil additives, wish us luck!

First Steps

While we haven't tilled the ground, or decided what we want to grow, or even where we want to grow it, Jason and I have decided that we want to grow ORGANIC!



Jason and I as a married couple have only had one growing season under our belt, we planted yellow squash and eggplant.  Needless to say we ate a lot of yellow squash, and not much eggplant.  We were renting at the time and didn't want to commit to destroying the landlords lawn.


Now we are new home owners and (also recent vegetarians) and really excited to have a garden, ORGANIC garden. 


Except where to start?



Jason went to the library and brought home a plethora (really more than necessary) books on organic gardening and energy efficiency.  I started by picking one, and taking notes!

This is the title I've started with.  Doug and Jessica are very helpful!  I haven't gotten so far yet but hopefully I will finish it soon.  Here is what I've learned so far:

• The soil is where it's at.  Literally, think of taking care of your plants by taking care of your soil instead!
• pH should be at the golden number of 6.5, that number is magic.  Soil needs to be tested and treated accordingly.
• <6.5 is too acidic, add limestone (doug and jessica suggest dolomitic limestone)
• >6.5 is too alkaline, add sulfur.
• Once soil is treated test again in a few months

• Then there is the COMPOST.  This is also a really big deal.Good soil needs organic matter additives in order to have nutrients for your plants to be strong and fruitful. 
• To be sure what you are putting in your garden it is best to make your own compost.  Commercial  composts can have bio-solids (sewage) and fillers like bark chippings.  You want to feed your garden good things- not junk!
• IF you purchase your compost be sure to smell it (any reputable seller will let you) if it smells earthy it is good, if it smells like urine or overall gross DO NOT BUY!!
• Making your own compost
• 3:1 Ratio of Brown:Green Materials
• Green Materials include but are not limited to:
• Grass clippings
• Kitchen Scraps
• Weeds/Fresh trimmings
• Manure
• Over-ripe Veggies
• Brown Materials include but are not limited to:
• Hay
• Straw
• Shredded Newspaper
• Autumn Leaves
• Unbleached napkins/paper towels
• 2 Additional ingredients are needed
• Oxygen- be sure to stir or mix frequently
• Water- Maintain the moisture needed for decomposition
• Then there are Soil Amendments
• These are meant to add organic material to the soil, be sure to vary products to get a variety of nutrients!
• Examples Are:
• Compost
• Mushroom Soil/Compost
• Sphagnum Peat Moss
• Leaf Mold/Humus
• Manures
• Be sure to check pH and nutrient levels for best product for your garden!
• It seems as though Compost and Leaf Mold/Humus are the best for their nutrients and levels of pH

 More planning and prep to come!  I know there are few readers for this blog yet, but are there any suggestions for starting your first 'real' garden??