Organic Gardening Magazine
I’m really excited about discovering this magazine at my local library. Usually I’m apprehensive about allowing new publications into my life; I’ve got enough going on, and I don’t need a new slew of experts to make me feel bad about myself. But Organic Gardening is amazing. It’s simple yet smart, and packages its content in a way that appeals to both novice and expert.
Summer 2010 edition, featuring backyard hens
They make organic gardening fun, not pretentious, and offer the latest research and information on products and methods that will enhance your chemical-free lifestyle.
Plus there are interesting how-to’s:
I photocopied articles from the spring edition about how to create a smart three-season garden plan and build several types of trellises for peas.
Here’s a little bit of history about this innovative publication that has been around since 1942.
First Tomato of the Season
Behold: the first tomato!
Among the Swiss chard
Eat Your Weeds
I came across a great NPR piece about eating garden weeds.
Have you ever found or used edible weeds? What do you like the best?
Baby Steps
Today was a great day for getting things done. With only one hour after work, I pounded the bean poles into rows, planted the first round of beans, planted some peas in pots, planted a handful of onions, picked the the last of the arugula (for dinner!), and did a little weeding maintenence. Not bad! I’m learning not to stress over being so far behind. It is what it is, and I’m doing what I can. Breaking the work into manageable lists to be tackled throughout the week has really helped.
Shortly after this was taken, these arugula leaves were placed beneath a salmon fillet and gleefully eaten.
Regarding the peas, I gave up on the ones at the back of the house. I ripped out the poles and commandeered them for the beans and—soon—tomatoes. But not before I plucked a few pods. Though they’re immature, my son enjoys eating them right from the vine. I love that he gets a kick out of eating foods fresh from the garden. It started with beans last year, and he’s liked beans, in most forms, ever since. I hope he never gows tired of the novelty. I know I haven’t.
Peas for a snack.
Liatris: I’ve Created a Monster (and that’s OK)
When I began formulating this post, it was going to serve as a warning of the horrors of liatris. How within a few years, if left unchecked, they will consume your garden.
Which is true.
But as I waded into one of the perennial gardens, fully intent on clearing out all the spindly shoots, I noticed the whole garden is actually full of mature, ready to bloom plants.
Liatris everywhere
This garden, which I affectionately used to refer to as the Island of Doctor Moreau for the freakishly large plants I keep in there—not for the freakish man-beasts I keep in there—started out as a butterfly garden. Liatris were included in the lot of plants that promised to attract all sorts of butterflies and hummingbirds.
Two years ago I noted the liatris were more prolific than ever. Then last year I saw shoots everywhere, but little blooming (and a great heaving mound that I stupidly thought was all the liatris bulbs welling up under the dirt).
This year the garden will become a full-fledged mass liatris planting.
If you’re not familiar with liatris, they are spectacular flowers. Their tall (up to 4 feet!), purple columns of blossoms are showy all through the summer, attracting butterflies and bees. And clearly, they require little care. Just plenty of sun and well drained soil.
Liatris, preparing to bloom.
When the whole garden explodes into a purple show, I’ll post more photos.
Back on track
Everything died, and nothing is growing. There I said it.
It’s been a few months of craziness at work and with vacation, but I’m ready to get back on track with the garden. All my seedlings died because I started them indoors too early, and then didn’t take care of them. So I’m starting from scratch.
Before we went on vacation for a week, I sprinkled some arugula seeds in the Suburban Farm, plus a few other lettuce varieties. Results?
Arugula, for sure. Everything else? Not so much. Just one red Romaine sprout. I’ll try one more time, maybe in a dappled sun area. And if that doesn’t work, I’ll wait ’till late in the season. But the Bright Lights Swiss chard is finally breaking ground. That’ll be beautiful when it’s up and tall.
The peas I started in the beginning of spring are doing OK. I tried putting them at the back of the house, and I guess it’s not the ideal place. There isn’t enough sun. I’ll do a second sowing this week in a sunnier location, which is precious real estate on our property.
I’m just glad the nice weather is here. It’s a joy to watch the warm golden rays reach across the yard.
Spring Cleaning
We had an amazing weekend filled with unseasonably warm sunshine. On Saturday it topped out at 71 degrees. Though we had plans, we spent as much time outdoors as possible. On Saturday I took the opportunity to clear out the perennial garden and pull out all the leaves from behind the lilac bushes. Things are budding and blooming like crazy!
Sedum, getting started.
Token crocus shot.
Rise and shine, daffodils!
Seedlings!
I started my first batch of seeds at the beginning of the month, and they’re off and running.
Artichoke. Will it be green or purple?
The artichokes are having marginal success; not all the seeds are germinating.
The strawberries have emerged, and they’re so tiny I can hardly believe it. I couldn’t even begin to capture a decent photo with my lens.
I started broccoli, lettuces, and eggplant last Thursday, and they’ve been up for a few days.
Lettuce, starting strong.
The eggplant was a total whim, and so far, it’s a dud. Which is kind of a relief. First, I might be short on space for ten eggplant plants. Secondly, I’ve read that cultivating eggplants from seed is a tall order. I saved the seeds from a fruit I bought at the farmer’s market, so if it doesn’t work, I won’t be disappointed.
Looking at the calendar, I see that basil and peppers need to be started this week. But the light shelf is out of room! I’ll have to pick up some new lights and bulbs on Saturday.
On the production line.
Why A Salad Costs More Than a Big Mac
Yanked from The Consumerist, more evidence why growing your own food is better for you.
But what if you can’t or simply don’t grow good food to supplement your diet? No wonder Americans are forced to make difficult choices: good health or putting food on the table?
Lawn Rant
Passed along from a friend this morning, this just makes my head spin.
I’ve made no secret about how much I abhor my lawn. When we bought the house, it was sickly. And as we we enter our sixth seventh growing season, the thing is just a lousy lump of weeds. I simply don’t have the resources—money, time, desire—to create and maintain grass. Grass! That which does nothing but suck nitrogen from the soil.
Which leads me to wonder, where did the lawn come from? And why are Americans in love with it?
Virginia Scott Jenkins has written The Lawn: A History of an American Obsession, and I’d really like to read it. Because the best way to combat your enemy is to understand it, right?
I want to redesign the lawn to create artful, productive beds. Something that’s beautiful to behold. But back to the issue of resources, money and time are what’s holding me back. I’m not a landscape designer, and I’ve already admitted to being a poor planner. How am I going to do this? And how am I going to find the guts to do it if this isn’t our forever house?
The Suburban Farm 