| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Mar 09 2009 : 1:25:02 PM
Wow! I just had my gardens turned today and they are twice as big now. I just looked out there and almost fell over. They look huge from here and even huger when I'm out there closer! The guy that did it said he hoped I had lots of help. I hope so, too!
The newer garden was about 100' long and now is about 200' and way wider. I had him go wider on the other one, too. And a little longer. So it's about 120'x100' or so. I need to measure but maybe not. That's a lot of ground to be plantin'. Anyone want a summer job? Come on over.
I guess we'll wait a few weeks to til it, then start planting. Man, I sure hope I can get it all done. Does anyone else have big gardens? I plant alot to sell at the farmer's market, that's why they're so big. But not as big as some. But for one person, they are big.
Kris
Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you. Maori proverb |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Mar 29 2009 : 12:22:33 PM
Katie, it's lots of work, but well worth it. Do the other 3 families help in the garden? If they do you have plenty of help to make it bigger. Go for it. I read the book, too. Love her philosophy. I grow most all out veggies and meat and have goats for milk and chickens for eggs. I make bread. So I don't have to buy much food anymore.
Kris
Life is what you make it. Always has been. Always will be. |
| KD Earthwork |
Posted - Mar 29 2009 : 11:40:58 AM
Wow, these replys just keep getting better.I'm inspired to double or triple my garden after reading "Animal,Vegetable,Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver".I feed four families already but don't grow "enough" potatoes,onions and probably beans.She plamted three 75ft rows to supply her family!Fence more area take out those invasive redwoods nearby(roots can render land undiggable in a few years).Barbara had a grat way of describing what to grow when and why.
Katie |
| LisaLu |
Posted - Mar 27 2009 : 4:59:37 PM
KayB:
You will be able to grow everything you listed as soon as the danger of frost is gone. Check your local almanac to see for casted dates. I'm so sorry you are still getting snow....I feel bad saying that we are in the high 70's this whole week. It's just perfect garden weather!
I would google winter veggies, you'll soon find a pluther of sites to help guide you. The zone you live in makes a difference what you'll be able to grow. Do you have a local nursery? Your county extension office has a "master gardener" that can also help guide you. I would start saving your kitchen scraps (all plant scraps) and start saving brown bags....then you can start your compost pile, which will help amend your soil.
Take caution, be very careful and think this thru...gardening is addictive, once you start......you may never stop! Once you taste the victory of fresh produce, you may never go back! You may find yourself slowly becoming obsessed with the dirt, then advanced stages may have you talking to the bugs!
Best of luck sister.....and should I say...."welcome"!
LisaLu
Happiness is homemade... |
| KayB |
Posted - Mar 27 2009 : 2:17:42 PM
Okay, since I'm very new to this, what and how do I plant veggies? My roto tiller isn't working, so I guess I'll get a fork and turn the soil myself. Right now, we have an ice storm and 4"-8" of snow headed this way, so when everything melts, maybe the ground with soften up. And what's the best way to keep my doggies out of everything? I was thinking of tomatoes, corn, green beans, peas. What else? And what are fall gardens? What do you plant in those?
Life's a dance you learn as you go |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Mar 27 2009 : 1:30:18 PM
Wow, Lisa! That is great news. I think that is every farmer's dream. I would love to find someone like that. Good for you. Now get busy, girl! Get out there and plant away.
I got some seeds from Kelley in Texas. More swiss chard and okrs, basil and sunflower seeds. Now I have to get them started.
I have Georgia Stream tomatoes coming up in the cold frame! That's exiting. And a few more in some of the other cups, too. So I will hopefully have lots of heirloom tomatoes growing soon.
Kris
Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you. Maori proverb |
| LisaLu |
Posted - Mar 27 2009 : 07:51:34 AM
Hey farmgirls, guess what...dreams do come true!
After our meeting with the tax lady, I suggested to my hubby that we stop by my favorite Italian restaurant and have a glass of wine and their wonderful cheese platter (I was in a bad mood and needed some comfort), this is my most favorite place, it has a beautiful bar area, all in rich dark woods, it reminds me of San Francisco, anyway, we got to talking to the chef's wife, she does all the purchasing, and she drives 2 hours to the farmers market, twice a week. I told her about my garden, and that I wanted to someday sell my heirloom tomatoes, that I had every color and shape planted. Her eyes lit up and said she would be very interested! She said she would buy just about anything that I could supply!
"I'ma so happy!" Now, I just have to get movin' and plant more....more basil....more onions...more fennel...I'm thinking Italian, garlic, heck, it really doesn't matter, their menu is soooooo gourmet, maybe they would like my luffa sponges!!!! "I'ma so happy!"
This is all I wanted, just one restaurant. And I scored the best one in town! Even if I don't make $$$$ at it, maybe we can trade for dinners, they make the best lobster raviolis I've ever tasted! And their the bread is to die for.
I just had to share the news, "I'ma SO happy!"
Dreams really do come true....
Off to dig in the dirt!
LisaLu
Happiness is homemade... |
| Alee |
Posted - Mar 24 2009 : 5:55:04 PM
Really Julie! That is so cool! Uhm, what do you have planned for the other gardens so far? I really love things with lots of flavor! Like really good canteloupe/muskmelon, or some really great tomatoes?
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Mar 24 2009 : 4:38:57 PM
Haha! I've also noticed that when I tell him something he doesn't remember it, but his mother could say the exact same thing and he thinks it's the greatest thing ever. And I would say it first. Men! Ya gotta love 'em though. And they have to be ready to do a job before it gets done. They have to think about it for a week or so and then they get going on it. And do a great job, too. I just have to learn to not rush the man. I do love him, in spite of all this. He's the best hubby. And so funny, too.
Kris
Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you. Maori proverb |
| paradiseplantation |
Posted - Mar 24 2009 : 11:14:54 AM
Uh, Kristin -- are you sure you're not married to MY dh? That is exactly what he does! So, I've learned, when I really want something, I start gently suggesting things until he starts thinking it is his idea!
from the hearts of paradise... |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Mar 24 2009 : 06:55:15 AM
Julie, I love the planter. It is such a great help. And oh so fast. I told my hubby I couldn't believe he never mentioned it before. But when it's his idea it gets done. Do ya'll notice that about your hubby's? I could say something til I'm blue but when it comes out of his mouth it's the best idea in the world! Hhmmm.
Kris
Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you. Maori proverb |
| paradiseplantation |
Posted - Mar 24 2009 : 05:21:40 AM
Hey, Kristin! OUr garden is only about 7500 sf, but we ran out of room to dig it. No big deal really, because I'm getting ready to shift over to raised beds. Do you really like your planter? We got one last year (don't know what kind, but it was around the same price) and we have some problems with it. Alee -- I'm planting a raised bed in your name!!! What do you want to grow in it??? :)
from the hearts of paradise... |
| lupinelady99 |
Posted - Mar 23 2009 : 8:59:18 PM
Thanks so much Kristin! I love to garden and nothing is better therapy in the world. It can't be helped that it is either feast or famine with a garden and I just can't waste the bounty! Must be all my Irish ancestry, lol. The two food pantries love to see me come with my organic vegetables and leftover seed packets. They always have a home for them.
Last October I was visiting a long time friend in Northern California and I was just in awe of her bell peppers and tomatoes. They were so gorgeous!
The weather is improving. The days are getting brighter and longer for sure. I just had to adjust all my timers on lights around the house again!
http://www.myspace.com/lupinelady99 |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Mar 23 2009 : 8:26:58 PM
Hey Lisa Lupinelady, your garden sounds great. And very nice of you to share your bounty. I bring produce to church for some of the older folks. They love it. And your mother is so blessed to have you to help her with her little potted garden. I guess that will be me in 40 years or so.
I wish I could grow the green bell peppers. I have never had good luck with them. They just don't get big like in the stores.
Your ground will be thawed out soon and you'll be out there digging in the dirt soon. Have fun.
Lisa, I love your dream! How cute. I hope it comes true real soon for you. Sounds like fun and I'm sure it would take off fast the way you describe it. Love the truck, too.
Kris
Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you. Maori proverb |
| lupinelady99 |
Posted - Mar 23 2009 : 2:40:54 PM
I'm glad to have tumbled into this topic. Noticed that the number of seeds available in stores and varieties have been limited this year. Online even the catalogs seem to be selling out faster than usual. Seemed strange to me since so many people are planning a garden (heck, even the White House is doing it, lol). I thought maybe it was inventory control on the part of stores with the economy, but seeing that it is hitting so many different areas definitely has me wondering about the logic.
I have a smallish garden set up with 5 raised bed rows. Grow the basics for me and then share the rest with local food pantries, friends and family. Also do some gardens in pots for my Mother. Her heath is frail but she loves being able to reach out her back door to get some beans, a cucumber and a tomato.
When my husband was still alive and the kids were at home I canned and froze everything in sight! Now I'm not as ambitious. Might do a small batch of applesauce, a few jars of jam, and freeze some squashes for breads.
I'm envious of those of you in California that can grow those big beautiful peppers! Our seasons here in Northern New York just aren't hot and long enough to grow really plentiful big ones, but we grow the best we can.
The ground here is still frozen, but my grow lights are on and am working on seedlings in anticipation of another fine season.
"we come from the Earth, we return to the Earth and we garden in between"
http://www.myspace.com/lupinelady99 |
| LisaLu |
Posted - Mar 23 2009 : 07:37:49 AM
Kristin:
That's a great idea, passing out recipes at the market, maybe in your spare time you could make a few appitizers for your customers to try! Wouldn't that be nice!
I wish I knew more about the farmers markets here. I think they are expensive to join, and I'm not sure I'd like the loading and unloading, then sitting down all day.....that would be torture for me. I could see myself in a cool apron...with a tray of appitizers working the crowd, bringing them in, but I couldn't just sit down all day. I guess you never know until you try....
My dream is to buy an old 1952 farm truck, red of coarse, and put my logo of a blonde pin-up girl holding a basket of tomatoes on the side doors, and deliver my toms to fancy restaurants. I don't know why I think that would work here, it's never been done, but I think it would be really cute. I could hire pretty girls to deliver...who would say "no" to that! My crazy hubby got a tatoo of my logo (a photo of me standing in front of a 52 truck). At first I was mad that he got the truck first, but, well, he did it out of love...
Here's to livin' the dream....
I think I'll go get dirty now and plant those pepper plants!
LisaLu
Happiness is homemade... |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Mar 23 2009 : 06:55:15 AM
Lisa, that sounds good. That reminded me of a lady that bought the banana peppers from me last year. She cut them in half long ways, dipped them in pancake batter, and fried them. I never have tried that, but want to. She said they are so good, I guess as appetizers.
Go plant some peppers, girl! I think I will print up a bunch of recipes to give out at the market. People like that.
Kris
Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you. Maori proverb |
| LisaLu |
Posted - Mar 22 2009 : 7:04:38 PM
Kristin:
Yes, I too love to grow peppers, last year I tried Pepperoncini's for the first time, I tried to "can" them, but they turned to mush!
Here is the best recipe of all time...I make these stuffed peppers everytime we have a special BBQ, everyone loves them....I like jalapeno peppers, but it the heat is too much, you can substitute with the mild red, yellow, and orange ones.
Make a slit lengthwise on peppers, stuff with a mixture of cream cheese and grated cheddar cheese (chopped jalapeno's too if you like a little heat)....then wrap the pepper in bacon, secure with a toothpick....then put on the BBQ, and baste with "Sweet Baby Rays' BBQ sauce.
The heat, the coolness of the cheese, and the salt of the bacon, OMG, and then the sauce.....they are to die for...in fact, I think I'll plant some peppers tomorrow!
Thanks for the idea! I hope you will try the recipe, I'd love your opinion.
LisaLu
Happiness is homemade... |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Mar 21 2009 : 6:59:10 PM
Wow, you have 40 different varieties of tomatoes?? That's a bunch. I have what I was sent from Wintersown. About 7. I think that's all I'll do now. I hope they all come up now. I think I got 8 cups with 9 cells. So that will be plenty.
Has anyone grown the little sweet mini peppers? They are so good. I dried some seeds from one of them and just planted them today. I'll see what happens. I had really good luck last year with peppers. I had yellow banana and jalapeno and the red hot peppers all summer. I couldn't get them to stop. I was picking them up until frost. I was sick of them by then.
The recipe looks good. I will have to try it when they get ready. Thanks.
Kris
Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you. Maori proverb |
| LisaLu |
Posted - Mar 21 2009 : 10:14:16 AM
Kristin:
My hubby did the same for me a few years ago, he took a set of french doors and placed them on a wood frame, it held up for only a few years, our sun is so intense, the seedlings would burn up, and the doors were so heavy to lift, I wore out the hinges, and then the frames started to get weak, then the glass shattered. What a mess! They looked really cool, like doors to some secret place.....but just not good for Southern California!
I purchased a small green house at Lowe's, it was about $35.00, it has 4 shelves and is covered by plastic, with zipper front access. I put it by a sunny window in the living room, my tomatoes strouted fast, the plants looked great, then I put them outside on the patio for a week to adjust to the temps, then put them out in the sun. I planted the little toms last week....and they all died! The stems shrived up, I think the dirt got too hot, or they were just too young...I was so upset, everytime I go to great lengths to cultivate these "weeds" they die, so I retaliated and just put the seeds in the ground, and .....guess what....they sprouted! So lets hope I get the crop of my dreams! I have about 40 different varieties of tomatoes, all different colors and shapes. I can't wait for the first salad!
Happiness is homemade... |
| LisaLu |
Posted - Mar 21 2009 : 10:02:48 AM
Katie:
I grew a small crop of Chard this winter, I've always had a few plants in the garden because I love the colors, yellow, red,orange....but never knew how to cook it. Well I found a great receipe for a caserole, you steam the chopped Chard (cut out the center stem, then layer it in a casserole dish with butter, grated cheeses (pepper jack & parmesean) and top with seasoned bread crumbs! Bake in oven until top is browned and bubbly....it's soooo goooooood!
Happiness is homemade... |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Mar 20 2009 : 6:45:15 PM
Katie, I've never grown Swiss chard before. Any advice? It is the prettiest plants with all the colors. I hope I can get this to seed. How do I do that? I also bought one cup of kolrabi and don't know anything about that, either. I know you eat the root, right? I just thought I'd grow some different things this year for a change.
Lisa, I wish I had a seperate garden just for watermelon and cantalope and pumpkins. They take up so much room to grow. I did grow pumpkins a few years ago. And I also have lots of wood chucks that love to eat the melons. So I don't grow them anymore.
My hubby built us a cold frame. It looks like a coffin. We had an old door and our old windows. So he made a double one. It's so neat. I have all my plants and my trays of tomato seeds in there now. What a handy thing to have. I want a bunch more for winter gardening now.
Kris
Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you. Maori proverb |
| KD Earthwork |
Posted - Mar 20 2009 : 08:13:14 AM
I don't have that big of a garden but my lettuce is doing it's third year since I bought a seed.My chard went crazy I let about twenty go to seed and I have chard everywhere.Great because here for organic,five leaves cost $3.75 in the stores,not even a handful.Then my arugula reseeded and now I'm letting parsnips.It's also fun giving away the seed.It's great to feel this cheap abundance!
Katie |
| KD Earthwork |
Posted - Mar 20 2009 : 08:01:56 AM
Lisa Lu, I'm in Gualala,Calif.South Mendocino coast.I could send you some Opium poppy seeds if you want to email me an address.They will be spilling out of the envelope like they did the other day on my computer.They soon grow everywhere.Wildomar is it in S. Cal? Already planting tomatoes??Here only in the greenhouses.
Katie |
| LisaLu |
Posted - Mar 20 2009 : 07:59:12 AM
Kristin:
At $4.00/cup, that doesn't seem high to me at all, I guess I'm used to the envelopes, my girlfriend just spent $1.00/seed for some special watermelon! They look like black bowling balls, sure hope she doesn't "strike out"!!!! (a little morning humor for ya!)
Best of luck with your planting, I wish you were still in CA, I'd love to come and lend a hand. I've always wanted to know more about growing larger crops.
Keep me posted!
LisaLu
Happiness is homemade... |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Mar 19 2009 : 6:42:22 PM
Lisa, I noticed the last few years that my okra comes back. So I did save a few pounds from last years seed pods. I will use them this year. And my zinnias always come back volunteer. I am going to save seed this year for next years crops because I have already spent about $75 maybe more. I got 4 cups of Swiss chard, 2 kale, 1 kolrabi and a cabbage today and they were close to $4 a cup. It does add up quick, but I hope to make lots of money at the FM and selling direct from my place.
I have still not gotten my Baker Creek catalog. I'd like to order from them but might not be able to if it takes this long to mail seeds.
Kris
Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you. Maori proverb |
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