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FOR BFF!

7/30/2010

Since tomorrow is the first of August, I got out my BIG basket of seeds to see what I get to plant this month.

It was like opening up a gift. Seems I get to plant some lettuce this month. Good! Back to good salads again. I am planting some bib lettuce, Vivian (Romaine like), and Iceberg.

I know, I know. Iceberg doesn't have many nutrients. But, The Lad likes it best. I can mix it in salad so we get nutrients with the other lettuces. Besides, it really IS good on a BLT sandwich.

I will be planting heartier greens, like kale, mustard greens, and large ribbed Swiss chard. Next month I get to plant a lot more greens. I have chard in every color.

I also have celery, Lemon cucumbers, turnips, and Bok Choi to plant. We are going to be so healthy! LOL.

I have also decided to plant some sweet corn. It takes 73 days to harvest. We can get corn for Halloween! Maybe I can make some corn relish. Oh! How! Yummy! My Pasilla peppers will be ready then, too.

There are a few repeats from this month that will be going in the ground too. Like some more beans...Red and Black. Plus broccoli.

Another thing I have decided to do is to start some eggplant seeds in the house to go in the ground next month. Just to see if it helps me get more eggplant. Plus...which does better.

The thing I need to do now, is build more beds, fence them in, and fill them with compost. I might be able to get some free wood...so I need to check that out. Or...I can just till up dirt and put a fence around it. We shall see.

I feel this is urgent, because NEXT month is when I will have many more seeds to plant. That is...if I get the beds built. And fenced. And filled. We will do what we can.

I just wanted to end this post by saying...BFF, this post's for you!

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MY NEW BEDS!

7/23/2010

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Up against the wood fence, I started a new bed. I would say this new bed is 4ft by 40ft. Inside this bed I planted red and black beans. Plus cucumbers. This used to be my flower bed, but it died out when I was in Il. last year.

This morning, I laid out this bed, checked for level, layered card board on the bottom, then branch chips, and then my compost. In my opinion, it is ready to plant.

I started to level and layer...then it got too hot. Yesterday was the first day in a week we stayed under 100 degrees. Not so today. Way too hot for me to work out there past 11 or 12.

I do have to say that I am thrilled to get this much done. I still have to get it fenced in from the rabbits. The dogs are another story. They can jump a 3 foot fence like nothing. Seriously.

I also want to make sure I can drive around back here without too much trouble turning around and getting to where I need to unload stuff.

Another concern is to make sure I can get a hose around to all the beds so I can water...easily. So...I have to work this all out in my head, and then I can put my plans into action. It is just how I roll.

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WORKS FOR ME

7/14/2010

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This week I finally got some more seeds in the ground. It is something I have been working toward for some time now.

I planted herbs to cook with. Cilantro, parsley, dill, basil, and lemon grass. These will need to be watered 2-3 times a day for a few weeks (along with everything else I have just started).

For veggies, I planted Hubbard squash, butternut squash, green beans, cucumbers (3 or 4 kinds), black beans, kidney beans, broccoli, cauliflower, and kohlrabi. I still have compost and beds to fill that I think I can fence in easy enough. (Pesky wabbits!)

I am still having trouble with those bugs in my squash. I think the garlic/tobacco/baby shampoo/water mix was too little, too late. I am still trying to make it work, but I may end up pulling them up and planting something else there that those bugs won't eat.

I have other options. Like...plant new plants in one of my new beds. I think the reason I am having this problem is that last year the pumpkin/squash that covered this garden. It didn't dawn on me that would cause problems...but ...yes it does!

If that doesn't work, I hope I can count on the kindness of others to give me their extra zucchini. But zucchini grows fast, and we have a long growing season. So all is not lost.

Besides, I have a feeling I will be busy with what I have already. Plus, my front porch is a staging area for all things coming and going.

Ever since I started...whatever you want to call what I am doing...people come and leave stuff there. Like my scraps from Big Al's for the compost. Or canning jars, fruit, veggies, trees, tools, you name it. It is mostly coming in here, but sometimes it goes out.

I have been thinking I should put a pad and pen on a clip board by the front door so people can leave a note. That way, I can properly thank people by sharing what I make in exchange for their generosity. 'Cause, what you share returns expanded.

My belief is that gardens are bounty and need to be shared. I think it is easy to share when you have more than you need. Kind of like paying it forward. I like that concept. It works for me.

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ANT POISON

7/4/2010

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Anyone who knows me, knows I want to know everything, yesterday. As a result, I do a lot of research. All the time. The problem is, I collect the information in my head, but not always the source.

One of the things I was curious about, was how to get rid of ants, without poison. I tried corn meal and coffee grounds. So, for years, I have been trying do this, without much luck. Till now.

I mixed Borax with sugar, equal parts, and poured it into four ant hills. After about 4 days, there are nowhere near the amount of ants that there used to be. Plus, the ants that are there, are not the ants that used to live there.

I am talking about BIG ant hills. Where the opening is the size of a large peach. Now it looks like a ghost town. I had ants in an area where I wanted to put a bed to plant. Now I can.

I just wanted to let you know something safe and cheap to use. Let me know what you think. If you have other "green" ways to help with pests let me know. Please. I need all the help I can get.

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FOR BFF!

MY NEW BEDS!

WORKS FOR ME

ANT POISON

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