Compost Nerd
It’s a winter wonderland out there, but installing a new compost bin sure warms my heart.
Starting a pile in the winter probably isn’t ideal since there’s little brown matter to be found. But with some shredded newspaper and other household paper, hopefully I can give the pile a decent start.
Have you ever tried to start a compost pile in the winter? Do you have any tips to share?
Inspiration
One of my favorite places for urban and small-space farming inspiration is over at Little Homestead in the City. The Dervaes family has transformed every inch of their urban Pasadena, California tenth of an acre into a micro farm that produces a stunning amount of food. Like three-tons annually, stunning. And beyond the farm, they’ve become outreach educators.
Check out this video recently produced by Lisa Rau for a glimpse into life on the farm.
Check out more at their blog, and spend some time browsing through their photos, facts, stats, online store, and more.
Little Homestead in the City represents the ultimate in self-sustainability and using your land to its fullest potential. I know I’ll never make it to this level, but always fun to check in for tips and inspiration.
Who are some of your most inspiring farmers or gardeners?
Gifts for Gardeners
I can’t believe the holidays are already upon us! Here in the Northeast, it’s brutally cold, and I’ve barely gone outside to explore my new Suburban Farm. With all the business of moving, it’s been hard to keep up with my holiday shopping.
As a gardener, I keep a few lists, mostly on Amazon (hooray for the Universal Wish List!) and Etsy, of some things that would be great to receive or purchase for myself on a whim. Here are my favorite things, which I think would make great gifts for any gardener on your list.
Do you have any gardener gifts to share?
Garden Tools Shirt
Image courtesy of beryllynn's Etsy shop
This super-cute shirt displays all your tools of the trade, and is printed using “non-toxic, eco-friendly, water-based dishcharge ink.”
Wood Dibble
Image courtesy of WoodElements' Etsy shop
I bought one of these in 2009, and I absolutely love it. It’s a beautiful, quality heirloom piece that I use all the time for planting my seeds. I keep it on display in my kitchen and it’s always a topic of conversation. (What IS that?)
Mason Bee Box
Image courtesy of andrewsreclaimed Etsy shop
You may be aware of the decimation of the North American honey bee population. And just this week, reports are coming out that the problem may be a pesticide. Mason bees are also beneficial pollinators, especially for orchard trees. Attract them to your garden with this lovely box. I bet it would be fun to watch them make their mud tubes.
Ollas
Image courtesy of Peddler's Wagon
If you know me, then you know I’m into ollas. If you don’t want to make them, here are some lovely bottles.
Soil Block Maker
Image courtesy of Peddler's Wagon
Now this I’ve been wanting to try. No more cell trays. Make your own seed starting blocks.
Books
Image courtesy of Amazon
This is an amazing book. Life changing, even. The book chronicles the Kingsolver family’s one-year experiment to live off their own land. Along the way the author feeds her readers information about the history and current affairs of agriculture in the United States. You may not have a gigantic mountain plot to farm, but you’ll be inspired to dig a little deeper into your own land.
What are your favorite gardening books?
Fruit and Vegetable Parchment Bracelets
Image courtesy of Uncommon Goods
I’ve talked about these before, and I think they’re so cool. Real dried fruit and veggies, made into wearable art.
Window Farm Kit
Image courtesy of NPR
I first heard about this on NPR, and now that I have a little more space in my new sun room, I’d love to try setting this up for year-round farming.
Final Harvest + Big News
Well, that’s it. The fall frost has hit and I’ve pulled the last harvest from the soil.
Purple dragon carrots.
More than three-and-a-half pounds of carrots and nearly two pounds of Swiss chard.
Bright lights Swiss chard
Here’s the final tally:
- Peas: .1 lb.
- Arugula: .2 lb.
- Cherry Tomatoes: 30.475 lbs.
- Plum Tomatoes: 4.445 lbs.
- Large Tomatoes: 6.585
- Cucumber: 5.45 lbs.
- Purple Beans: 1.85 lbs.
- Green beans: .3 lb.
- Swiss Chard: 2.615 lbs.
- Carrots: 3.88 lbs.
Grand total: 55.9 pounds
Now, for some big news: The Suburban Farm is moving. We’ve bought a new house and will be leaving this garden behind. Normally I would be upset; I’ve invested so much sweat and emotion in all of my gardens. It’s hard to leave them behind. However, our new house comes with multiple garden plots. While that makes the transition to a new place easier, I’ll always fondly look back at the original Suburban Farm.
We’ll be moving in one month, which means there won’t be any wheat updates, nor any other winter gardening projects. I can say this much about the wheat: it ain’t great. It needs more sun. A reminder that spaces that get decent sun during the warm months may not get enough during the winter.
Goodbye, current Suburban Farm. I’m looking forward to making you flourish in your new home.
The Suburban Farm in the fall
The Suburban Farm in summer
Predicting Frost
I’ve always wanted to be one of those gardeners who has so much instinct and experience that she can look at the sky and predict what’s coming.
Now that the overnight temperatures are getting colder with each passing night, I’m looking for frost alerts.
Organic Gardening posted a handy write-up of what to watch for when a frost might happen. So check the clouds, feel for a breeze, and…turn on the sprinklers?
Fall Gardening + Cleanup
Last week I attended a fantastic seminar on fall gardening and cleanup, which was hosted by the recently reopened Comstock, Ferre & Co. in Wethersfield, Connecticut.
Those in the know, much longer than me, remember the days of Comstock, Ferre. Known as the country’s oldest continuously owned seed company, and the region’s premiere supplier of seeds, the business was recently purchased by a young couple from Missouri who also own Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Comstock, Ferre now focuses on heirloom seeds, local artisan products, and antiques.
Caroline Finnegan of Ladybug Landscaping, an organic landscaping and design company, was our discussion leader for the evening.
Let me tell you, Caroline knows her stuff. Ask her anything. From compost, to making your own sustainable potting soil, how and when to water, crop rotation and soil amendments, she knows. She also writes regularly for Going Home to Roost.
In nearly two hours, our small group discussed all kinds of things related to preparing your garden for fall and winter:
- Fall plantings for late season and spring harvest (radishes and greens were provided)
- Test your soil! Don’t amend without knowing what you’re fixing
- Cover crops (hairy vetch was provided)
- Pull out those tomato vines and “cook” them to eliminate blight
- Good gardening practices (leave no seeds, seedlings, or debris behind)
- Now is the time to start pulling out summer’s plants and clearing the garden
Next Class
Creating Next Spring’s Garden. October 14 @ 6:30 p.m.
If you’re local, make a point of stopping in. Seven dollars gets you a whole lot of information and a fun experience!
ETA: As I write this, it seems something funny is happening over there. The company site is down, and one of their employees was laid off. Stay tuned.
Growing Your Own Wheat (part 1)
Well, I’ve finally done it. I’ve planted wheat in my own yard. I bought the seeds last year and never got around to it.
I get looks of surprise when I say I’m planting wheat. This is New England; our compact, rocky soil isn’t suited to a crop that demands, well, the kind of soil you find in the midwest. Plus, I have a tiny garden.
Fortunately I discovered a supply of organic hard red winter wheat from Dirtworks, which is grown in Vermont. One pound cost me about $5 (and just as much to ship it).
I chose a 10’x10′ corner of my garden for this experiment. (I don’t expect a high yield.)
After clearing the whole section of weeds, summer plantings, and debris, I raked it smooth and hand-broadcast approximately 4 oz. of seed. I gently raked it into the soil and watered well.
This was on September 18. The wheat has yet to sprout, though I’m vigilant about watering. Fortunately the weather these past days has been warm and sunny, and I’m hoping to see green shoots soon.
I’m excited! Wheat is one of several things I have planned for my winter garden (others include radishes, carrots, greens, and a cover crop of hairy vetch), and I can’t wait to bake a loaf of bread and say I MADE that loaf. From seed to plate.
More updates to come as the wheat sprouts and gets established for the winter.
Have you ever grown your own wheat?
ETA: The wheat is up! After less than a week, there are small green shoots.
First Day of Fall
At 11:09 p.m., it’s officially autumn. People around me seem to have mixed feelings about the advent of cooler weather that accompanies a return to school, work, and other indoor tasks. Some moan about the loss of sunshine and fun things, others are happy to be back to mild temperatures.
I love fall, and not just because I was born in November. It signals transition. Time for a change. We have mere weeks to prepare for the business of winter.
What about you? Are you ready for a change?
The Secret Garden
As she looked she saw something almost buried in the newly turned soil. It was something like a ring of rusty iron or brass, and when the robin flew up into a tree near by she put out her hand and picked the ring up. It was more than a ring, however; it was an old key which looked as if it had been buried a long time.
Mistress Mary stood up and looked at it with an almost frightened face as it hung from her finger.
‘Perhaps it has been buried for ten years,’ she said in a whisper. ‘Perhaps it is the key to the garden!’
–The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett
I’d venture to guess this old key has been buried more than 10 years; it was fun to find it while turning the soil for fall plantings.
Colors of Fall
I love the colors of fall.
The Suburban Farm 