Down and Dirty

Beans and Flowers

noreply@blogger.com (Missy) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:25:00 +0000

061709 Garden Random 003, originally uploaded by themissiah.

Well, the garden is doing absolutely fantastic. The squash are now adding little blooms and the cucumbers are blooming and growing as well. The bell peppers have some *fruit* on the plants, but I'm waiting for them to get bigger and turn. The tomatoes have fruit as well and well, I'm just waiting for them to turn, too.

You can see a batch of beans above, which is our second batch. At this point I've put up 2 batches in the freezer and we've eaten one batch, which I made into the best Greek beans I've tasted. It was my first at making them, so I wasn't sure how they'd turn out. I'm quite picky about green beans and how they are cooked, but I could eat that recipe every week. I'll share the very quick and simple recipe on Noshed Up! at some point.

Our sunflowers are also doing beautifully...

Well, off to do some chores. Check you later.

Herb bunches

noreply@blogger.com (Missy) — Mon, 25 May 2009 12:10:00 +0000

It was time to cut back some of the herbs last week, so I did and I tied them in bunches for drying. Part of our house looks like a jungle.

Included are...

2 types of oregano - Greek and Italian

Lavender

Catnip

Catmint

Lemon Balm

Now I just have to wait for them to dry and then I can store them. I'm going to have tons of catnip if anyone wants.

Strawberries!

noreply@blogger.com (Missy) — Mon, 11 May 2009 18:38:00 +0000

I picked a small batch of strawberries, today, but it is more than we've had. The chipmunks have been eating them and I saw the opportunity to grab as many as I could, today. So pretty.

2009 Season Beginnings

noreply@blogger.com (Missy) — Sun, 10 May 2009 19:55:00 +0000

So, here we are... 2009. Another day, another garden. I've been neglectful about posting about our gardens, but here I am with a long intro. post.

Last year, down here in Northwest Georgia, we had a major drought. We had water use limitations and what-not. We had planned to put in rain barrels regardless, but did not get them in until this year. Now, we are about back up to normal as far as rain and moisture is concerned. We've had major rain lately... for the past two weeks... without much relief. It's good for the garden and water supply in general, but not good for getting things done. Our grass is growing like crazy and it is difficult to get out in the yard to do anything about it. However, our garden is doing well and flowers that didn't bloom last year (roses, hydrangeas, etc.) are blooming wildly this year. We did put in a rain barrel (and we are waiting for another's seal to be finished), which will be helpful in our water bill, at least.

As far as our vegetable garden is concerned, we are only using two out of the four beds we created last year. We lined two of them with bricks and planted tomatoes (Brandywine and Cherokee Purple), bell peppers, bush beans, onions, and cuces. I planted some squash, too, but the fire ants decided to set up shop. Now I have to replant those this week.

This above picture was taken before I even put in the cuces and the squash, but now the cucumbers are sprouting. I don't think the beans were even up, but now they are doing great and have already been thinned.

The herb/kitchen garden was weeded a few weekends back and it is doing well. We also have some pots of jalapenos for some pico de gallo. Our strawberries are taking over and we have many, but they are getting eaten before we can really get to them. Our rubber snake is helping with the birds, but not the chipmunks.

More picture of the garden are here, if interested. This includes our dahlias that I put in and other great shots as well.

Now, I must be off to do some cleaning. More updating to come.

Tomatoes. Tomatoes... and MORE Tomatoes.

noreply@blogger.com (Missy) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 19:05:00 +0000

We have so many tomatoes!

I almost cannot keep up with the harvest.

Since we've had so much rain, some of them are splitting, so I have resorted to picking them a bit turned and letting them ripen in the carport.

I think it is time for some making of tomato sauce and freezing it.

I also picked some beans, cayenne peppers, and cucumbers.

It's that time of year!

So much has happened...

noreply@blogger.com (Missy) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:21:00 +0000

since last post.

We're losing most of our squash to squash vine borers and squash bugs. Grrrr. At least we got a good harvest out of them before the bugs hit. We're getting TONS of rain, which for this area is a great thing. It's just not good for our tomatoes, which are splitting. I think they'll be fine, though. The beans have sprouted and are doing great. The peppers, cayenne and bell, are doing well, too. The cucumbers might be on their way out with the squash, but who knows. We'll see. The herbs and everything are doing wonderful. Oh, and the muskmelons are doing pretty well, too. I hope the squash bugs don't decide to migrate to them, next. It's our first year and we got started a bit late, so we didn't get to do everything we wanted. Overall, with the exception of the bugs, it has been good. Now we know what we are up against on this property. At least this rain will pull us a little further from the drought level. Here's to hoping. It could be horribly dry like last year.

Cucumbers, squash bugs, and "Grrrrr!"

noreply@blogger.com (Missy) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:54:00 +0000

So, the good news is that we have had a harvest and a half of cucumbers so far. Too many vegetables is a great problem to have. We purchased a Foodsaver© Vacuum Sealer the other day and I've frozen a couple of batches of yellow squash. We've been eating it fresh, too, as well as giving it away. Like I said - great problem to have.

I will be making some freezer pickles, soon, too.

In worse news... we have squash bugs. Not a good problem to have. I've been spraying them with coffee like crazy and picking off the eggs, so we will see how it goes. The plants are still fruiting well and developing new leaves, so the bugs haven't won the battle, yet.

We also have muskmelons growing everywhere and the gourd plants that a couple of friends gave me are doing well, too. Yay! Luffa sponges in the fall!

We've got BABIES!

noreply@blogger.com (Missy) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 02:37:00 +0000

Things have been growing around here in leaps and bounds. Here's some of the future bounty.

Thornless Blackberry

Soybeans

Yellow/Crook-neck/Summer Squash

Beefsteak Tomatoes

Pole Beans (w/ bean trellis created out of leftover limbs from spring pruning)

Yellow Bell Pepper (which keeps getting bigger by the day)

Cayenne Pepper

More pictures to come as the plants continue to grow!

Here I am...

noreply@blogger.com (Missy) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 04:14:00 +0000

posting way too late into the night, when I should be asleep.

I never have time to post anymore.

The vegetable garden is doing great and we have many blooms on the tomatoes and squash. My blackberry plant actually has a few berries on it and the strawberries are throwing runners like CRAZY. The cantaloupes are doing well, but still small. I am going to trellis the beans tomorrow because they are falling over. The soybeans are doing well and we have cayenne and bell peppers forming. I'm so excited. Pictures will follow at some point when I find time from work and school. Phew, I'm tired.

Avocado and Lemongrass

noreply@blogger.com (Missy) — Sun, 04 May 2008 14:07:00 +0000

Below is a picture of the avocado seed I have been rooting for the last couple of months. I have been coddling this seed forever and the other day, its first leaves and stem peeked their little heads from the top of the already rooting seed. Yay! I'll finally be able to pot it soon.

Also, a couple of weeks ago, I purchased a few lemongrass stalks, prepared them, and plopped them into a glass of water. They took root and now I just have to wait a week or two to put them into some pots. I bought a plant, too, so I have no idea what I'm going to do with all of the lemongrass. I was a little worried about the cuttings and wasn't sure if they were going to take root, but they did! Yay X 2!

In other news - we have decided to do semi-raised beds for our garden. We have some people delivering some "Black Gold" soil on Thursday. I cannot wait to get our stuff in the ground.

Lots of garden work... DONE and DONE!

noreply@blogger.com (Missy) — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:13:00 +0000

Today, I went out to clean with my friend, Ardyce, and came back home and went straight to gardening. I planted the Thornless Blackberry plant that I got the other day at Point of View Market, and I transplanted the tomato plants – because they REALLY needed it. Yesterday, I planted the Strawberry plants that I purchased at POV. Mmmm… berries. We won’t have blackberries this year, but when we do, they will be soooo goooood. Anyway, my arms and legs feel like jello.

Blackberry Plant

Tomatoes are repotted. FINALLY!

One of three Strawberry plants.

The man who is plowing our garden space should be calling this week or next. I cannot wait until I can push some dirt around.

General Garden(s) Update

noreply@blogger.com (Missy) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:39:00 +0000

Well, I got out this morning and built a flower bed - I tilled it up a couple of weeks ago - and planted some wildflowers. That's it in the picture above. It is actually outside next to our screened porch. It will be nice to be able to cut my own wildflowers.

It was supposed to rain, today, but it has been sunny since this morning. I should probably try to get more done, but I just don't know what the weather is going to do. The lettuce STILL needs to be put out. It's going to have to go out this week. The tomato plants are getting HUGE, too.

I'll update more when I get more done. Right now, I need to go do a load of laundry and maybe transplant my marigolds.

It all just seems appropriate.

noreply@blogger.com (Missy) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 03:06:00 +0000

Quoted from www.irishdruidry.com:

"MEAN EARRAIGH (moon erric) Spring Equinox, approx. March 21 [top]
The Sun has finally joined us here in the northern hemisphere, the first blossoms show and the world is filled with bright new colors. The Sun will gradually reach its apex of power after this day, with each day becoming longer. This is a time when day and night are equally balanced, and thus an in?between time. The Earth awakens from the slumber of the cold, dark half of the year and is tilled for the first sowing of seed. As a time for putting crops in the ground, it is now time for us to “plant our seed” in that we are beginning to actively work toward the goals we set for ourselves at Samhain. This is also a time to reinforce balance in our own lives."

My practice of nature appreciation and Druidry has been dormant for several years - formal practice, anyway. There are some things that have brought me back to it, recently, though. I almost forgot that tomorrow is Mean Earraigh, but remembered and found the above quote. How appropriate, since Tripp and I will be tilling and flitting around in the garden and yard this Saturday.

Getting Ready/Lettuce Seedlings

noreply@blogger.com (Missy) — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:37:00 +0000

This weekend, we will be working in the yard. I will also be cleaning up an overgrown bed in the backyard where I'm putting some of the peppers and our lettuce. I'm hardening off the lettuce seedlings above. It is Rouge De Grenobloise/Grenoble lettuce, and I can't wait to eat it in salads this spring and summer. I let the seedlings overgrow a bit, but they seem healthy - so I don't think there is much to worry about.

My tomatoes are growing in leaps and bounds, though. I've had to transplant them twice for root development, and they are doing wonderful. They smell like tomato plants, too, which is really exciting. One of my favorite smells next to basil. I'm a little worried about the "Georgia Clay" in our area, though. I think we are going to supplement it with horse manure. I did a soil test the other day and the pH was fine, but I don't want to take any chances - I really don't want to wait until August and realize my garden is as hard as concrete. Does anyone have any suggestions for dealing with clay soil?? I would appreciate them.

Tomato Transplants

noreply@blogger.com (Missy) — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:37:00 +0000

Last night, Tripp and I came home from dinner with his mother and grandmother and transplanted the tomato seedlings. They are about 4 inches high and are growing in leaps and bounds. I'll probably have to transplant them, again, at some point, but right now, they are on the kitchen window sill enjoying some light.

Compost Bins

noreply@blogger.com (Missy) — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:50:00 +0000

We made the pictured compost bins the weekend before last. We purchased 32/35 gallon animal proof Rubbermaid® trash cans from a hardware store and drilled 3 rows of holes down the can. The holes were drilled 4 to 6 inches apart. We also drilled a few holes in the bottom for drainage and air circulation. We had a ton of bricks, so we made a makeshift platform for smooth drainage and also for more air circulation. We might put the cans on a spinner at a later time. It will make it easier to turn the contents.

"Sowing the seeds of love, the seeds of love..."

noreply@blogger.com (Missy) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:20:00 +0000

Alright, enough Tears for Fears(I do love them, though).

I sowed many of the seeds for the garden for germination, today. It felt really good to be outside doing garden work, albeit not in the actual garden. See our little soon to be seedlings below. My favorite part is when they peek their little heads through the dirt.

Composter

noreply@blogger.com (Missy) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 22:02:00 +0000

Today, we made the compost bins. We decided to go simple and use plastic 35 gallon garbage cans. We might put them on a spinner at a later date. Anyway, we got it finished and now I just have to put them on some brick platforms in the yard for drainage.

Tasks for this week: Sow some of the vegetable and herb seeds for germination.

Crop List - Spring/Summer '08

noreply@blogger.com (Missy) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:19:00 +0000

Vegetable Garden

Tomatoes - edit: maybe two varieties
Summer Squash
Cucumbers
~~Lima Beans~~ - edit: changed to soybeans and snap beans
Carrots
Green and Red Bell Peppers
Chili Peppers (herb garden?)
Scallions (herb garden?)
Onions
Potatoes (a couple of plants)
Musk Melons/Canteloupe

Herb Garden

Lavender
Rosemary
Basil
Catnip
Sunflowers
Roma Tomatoes?
Thyme
~~Tansy? (needs space)~~ - edit: cannot find
Shallots
Chives
Parsley
Oregano
Feverfew?
Lemon Balm
Lemongrass?

This is our basic list for our first crop at our new house. Our next step is to purchase the seeds and possibly get the plot plowed.