Tag Archives: garden

August Garden Updates

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The Good:

  • We have cherry tomatoes!
  • The cucumbers are coming in nicely, but have started to show signs of wilt/disease.
  • The squash is growing nicely.
  • The corn is growing nicely.
  • We’ve been able to harvest a few more beans (they’re fighters)

The Bad:

  • No peppers yet, but some blossoms have arrived.
  • I don’t predict a large harvest in September.

Note: I added a harvest tally to the sidebar –>

 

 

July Garden Updates

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The Good:

  • The garlic has been harvested and is curing.  It’s a respectable haul for my first year.
  • We harvested the first tomato – delicious! but nothing else has ripened.
  • We’ve eaten 2 flavorful cucumbers and 2 have been harvested and are waiting for friends.
  • I’ve harvested some basil, thyme, chives, and mint.
  • The corn has tassels!
  • The bean plants are recovering from the rabbit attack but may not ever recover fully.
  • Some winter squash has taken (after I took the initiative to pollinate).

The Bad:

  • The zucchini and summer squash will probably not produce this year – the plants are almost the same size they were when I transplanted in May 😦
  • My peppers are hit or miss – some are thriving, others are being eaten.

Note: I added a harvest tally to the sidebar –>

June Garden Updates

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The Good:

  • The garlic is doing great!  It’s almost shoulder high with beautiful scapes.
  • I have tall tomato plants and one huge green tomato on which I cannot wait to see some color.
  • The cucumbers have survived the dogs’ rearranging session and are starting to climb up the trellises.
  • Carrots, radishes, and beets are coming along nicely.
  • Our strawberry plants are establishing runners.

The Bad:

  • The corn is calf high, about 6 inches shorter than everyone else’s crop 😦
  • While I spent the weekend in Connecticut someone came through and ate the leaves off of all of my green and purple bean plants 😦
  • The squash is coming along but is moving much slower than I remembered.
  • My peppers are hit or miss – some are thriving, others are being eaten.
  • I never put my broccoli, cauliflower, or cabbage in the ground; I’ll try again for the fall.
  • Weeds and Violets have taken over the beds by the garage.
  • The dogs LOVE to climb into the beds and dig around in the loose soil.

Note: I added a harvest tally to the sidebar –>

Garden Updates & First Harvest!

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The side beds and a quarter of the u-shaped bed are done.  I have to finish the u-shaped bed, the garage bed, and decide if I’m going to start our pumpkin bed.  The heat, humidity, and low-energy from the pregnancy have been slowing me down.

Dash Sleepy

Dashel taking a break from the hot outdoors.

Gir never goes outside but he's feeling the heat and humidity in the house.

Gir never goes outside but he’s feeling the heat and humidity in the house.

Pea Progress

Pea Progress

Side Beds (2 of 4): Beans, Squash, Sweet Corn

Side Beds (2 of 4): Beans, Squash, Sweet Corn

Garlic Progress

Garlic Progress

Strawberries are in the ground.

Strawberries are in the ground.

First harvest of the season: 0.15 ounces of strawberries.  Very sweet!

First harvest of the season: 0.15 ounces of strawberries. Very sweet!

Free Seed Starting eBook

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Head on over to one of my favorite blogs, Chiot’s Run, for a free and beautiful seed starting eBook.  I already have mine!  If you find it particularly helpful (which I think you will other wise I wouldn’t have shared it) then maybe think about dropping a few dollars in her pay pal donation account.  She keeps her blog ad free and puts together quality material including a regular podcast!

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Community Garden Work Days!

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The Royal Oak – Huntington Woods TimeBank is moving from planning to action!  Join just for an open house on Saturday April 6th from 2-4 p.m. at Wendy’s house (contact me for details).  Frantz will be showing everyone how to collect a soil sample and you can grab information on how to get involved and reap the benefits of home-grown food and canning classes!  Workdays will be held on site every Saturday in April (13th, 20th, 27th) with times to be announced.

Community Gardening Building Part 1

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13711669-vegetables-in-the-garden

On Sunday I had my first community garden meeting for the Royal Oak Huntington Wood TimeBank.  It was very exciting!  17 of us met on the planned site, which is an additional side lot owned by a TimeBank member.  We discussed the short term and long term goals of the endeavor.

It looks like we’re heading in the direction of a large communal plot (rather than individual plots that are leased out to members) with several raised beds used for both food production for members and education.  The garden will have a sustainable and organic (with a little o) foundation and will act as a visual and physical place in the community to show what the TimeBank can do.

We’re still looking at zoning ordinances, though we have general approval from the city, and liability issues – but it’s moving forward.  If you’re in the Royal Oak or Huntington Woods areas and are interested in participating we are holding our second meeting this coming Sunday at 2PM.  Message me for details.