Uncle Tom's Garden

May Herbs

2008-05-07T14:07:00.001-07:00

Spearmint

Chives

Calendula

Lavender

Sage

May Seedlings in Flats

2008-05-07T13:43:00.000-07:00

Kale

Sunflowers and Parsley

Tomatoes

More Tomatoes

May Fruits

2008-05-07T13:38:00.000-07:00

Limes - no frost killed them, so lots of limes this year!

Oranges - plenty to pick in the fall

Dwarf Orange Tree

Dwarf Meyer Lemon

May Garden

2008-05-07T13:32:00.000-07:00

Full View

Buddha Bed

Perennial Herb Bed

Recent Propigations - 150 year old Union Cemetary Rose, Rosemary, Lavender, Sage.

May Veggies

2008-05-07T13:27:00.000-07:00

Artichoke

Cucumber Trellis

Summer Squash

Celery and Parsley And Thyme

Kale

Argula going to seed

May Flowers

2008-05-07T13:21:00.000-07:00

Volunteer Cornflowers

Climbing Rose

Volunteer Foxglove

Volunteer Nasturtium

Rose Geranium

Wake Up & Smell The Rebate - Don't Buy It

2008-02-03T13:14:00.000-08:00

The Story Of Stuff

2007-12-11T17:13:00.000-08:00

Before you go Holiday Shopping, watch this video

November Garden

2007-11-19T08:26:00.001-08:00

In November, I covered the beds with Remy Cloth to protect from the cooler nights

Weekly Harvest - a large colander of chopped and cleaned chard

October Garden

2007-09-30T14:24:00.000-07:00

I have 3 beds of happy Swiss Chard growing during this cool season. All from one packet of seeds. They are so beautiful. I love the red and yellow stems. And they taste delicious too.

On Mondays, I saute a large bunch of chard in coconut oil, with lots of fresh chopped garlic and grey sea salt. It's enough to last me through the week. Each morning for breakfast, I poach 2 eggs for about 2 minutes, and serve it on a portion of the reheated chard, with a Tablespoon of butter melted in.

I only had room for 8 Cauliflower plants in this bed, 4 white and 4 purple. I started them from seed in August. I must have about 40 seedlings that I am trying to give away. They need lots of room, 15" spacing. I am going to border the bed with Bronze Arrow Lettuce as soon as they are ready to transplant.

This bed has a variety of lettuce and greens. Some volunteer arugula and curly endive. The chives are still going strong. The flats in the back are full of baby lettuce seedlings which should be ready to transplant out in another week.

Romaine Lettuce

2007-08-23T14:46:00.000-07:00

Lettuce Seedling ready to transplant into their beds

Lettuce transplanted today into Bed #6Cover with shade cloth for a few days to protect seedlings from hot summer days.

Chard

2007-08-23T14:37:00.001-07:00

Swiss Chard 1st flat (Sown in Mid July)Seeds were broadcast directly into this 1st flat.

August 1

Swiss Chard 2nd flatSwiss Chard is transplanted into this 2nd flat, on 1-2" inch spacing on the diagional. I will keep these on the potting table, in partial shade, for a few days.

August 23

Swiss Chard Seedlings now large enough to transplant outdoors into their beds

Swiss Chard in bed #1Planted on the diagional, with 8" spacing between plants.

October 1

3 Happy Beds of Swiss Chard from only 1 packet of seeds.

In November, I covered the beds with Remy Cloth to protect from the cooler nights

Weekly Harvest - a large colander of chopped and cleaned chard

Seed Sowing for Fall

2007-08-01T13:39:00.000-07:00

I decided to have a small winter garden, with Swiss Chard and Cauliflower this year, in addition to the usual Lettuces and edible flowers, and Fava beans for cover crop.

Swiss Chard 1st flat (Sown in Mid July)Seeds were broadcast directly into this 1st flat.

Swiss Chard 2nd flatSwiss Chard is transplanted into this 2nd flat, on 1-2" inch spacing on the diagional. I will keep these on the potting table, in partial shade, for a few days.

Lettuce's 2nd flat (back)Lettuce's transplanted into 2nd flat, on 1 -2" spacing on the diagional. I will store them on the picnic table, protected from August heat, under the partial shade of the pergola for a few days. I also used this netting, normally used for covering food dishes when eating outdoors, but even better used for protecting my seedlings from cats, etc.

5 recyclable plastic container's (front) - Lettuce, 2 Cauliflower, Calendula and Stock broadcast directly into small flats

Volunteers in My Garden

2007-07-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

Nasturtium pops up in the coolest places!

Foxglove

Stock

Borage

Calendula

Cosmos

Feverfew

Milk Thistle

Roman Chamomile, Oregano, Cornflowers, Comfrey, , Arugula, Sweet Viola

Bee's In My Yard

2007-07-17T09:28:00.000-07:00

We had to set this up this year, so we could eat outdoors, without getting attacked by bee's.I've read a lot this year about how the bee's are disappearing. NOT in my yard. I have more then ever. Can't even eat outdoors.

I think they are attracted by the Spearmint in bloom now, they are buzzing around it all day. Last month it was the patch of Cornflowers.

Spring Plant Propigation

2007-07-17T09:17:00.001-07:00

Curly Willow TreeI discovered by accident that I can propigate this tree. I usually prune it in late winter then use the branches for stakes to support plants in my spring garden. Well, the branches took root and started sprouting leaves, so I dug this one up and stuck it in this pot and now have another tree.

Summer Flowers in Bloom

2007-07-17T09:15:00.000-07:00

Sunflowers and Bee Balm

Lavender and Chamomile

Spearmint

Nasturtium

Pinks

July Harvest

2007-07-07T10:57:00.000-07:00

JULY 15

BasilI've started pinching off the basil. The more you pick, the more it grows! I've noticed that basil doesn't have to be sown in succession. The first man crop will keep producing until winter, if you keep pinching, preventing it from going to seed.

ChivesI started these from seeds in April. They are delicious in Potato Salad. Next year, I plan on starting many more plants from seed, spreading throughout my garden beds.

JULY 7TH

Garden Oasis CucumberExtra-sweet, burpless, uniquely smooth-skinned Beit alpha cucumber renowned for quality throughout the Mediterranean basin. High yields of glossy fruits with refreshing juicy-sweet flesh.

New Sun TomatoA bright yellow slicer with 8-16 ounce fruit, and a determinate habit. Disease resistant, flavorful and early.

Seed Saving Tip - As hard as it is not to pick and eat, this first tomato will be saved for next years seed, so I will leave it on the vine to over-ripen............being tempted everytime I pass - it is a beauty!

June 2007 Garden Beds

2007-06-16T20:48:00.001-07:00

Bed #1Lettuce, herbs

Bed #2Determinate tomatoes, dill, herbs

Bed #3Cherry tomatoes, herbs

Bed #4Indeterminate tomtoes, herbs

Bed #5Early tomatoes, basil, herbs

Bed #6Lettuce, cucumbers, chives, herbs

Late Tomatoes

2007-06-16T16:39:00.000-07:00

Cherries in Bed #3

Early Varieties in Bed #5

Early in a container

Bay Area (and beyond) Farmer's Markets

2007-05-23T13:45:00.001-07:00

Monday's in Morrow Bay

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WEDNESDAY'S AT COLLEGE OF SAN MATEOGet your local cherries before it's too late!

Great entertainment.

THURSDAY'S IN SAN CARLOSGet your fresh eggs from pastured chickens early. She sold out. Only $4.50 dozen. Still had a few duck and goose eggs for sale.

Blueberries went quick too!

Beautiful stuff!

Organic Strawberries......the sweetest!

Peaches already! Gotta love living in California!

More beautiful stuff........

Wear your dancing shoes!

Hurry, only 4 chickens left! They smell really good.

SATURDAYS IN HALF MOON BAYLocal grower.

Local Organic Grower.

The Best Cherries so far!

$10 Massage

SUNDAYS IN BELMONT

Bay Area Activities

2007-05-22T09:13:00.000-07:00

What to do when not tending to the farm?

SHORELINE PARK in Mountain View

HALF MOON BAYSome Beaches are best for walking.............

APTOSNew Brighton Beach - swimming

SAN FRANCISCO BAY TRAIL - BikingView of San Mateo Bridge

HIKING TRAILSEdgewood Park

May 2007 Garden Beds

2007-05-18T19:48:00.001-07:00

Buddha BedLots of Cornflowers and California Poppies this year.

BED #1Lettuce, Lavender, Feverfew, Thyme, Parsley, Nasturtium.

BED #26 Deciduous Tomatoes, Dill, Nasturtium, Calendula, Thyme, Oregano.

BED #4Calendula, Sage, 3 Indeciduious Tomatoes, Nasturtium, Lemon Verbanum, Borage, Endive (going to seed).

BED #6Lettuce, Oregano, Roman Chamomile, Nasturtium - and space saved for Cucumbers.

.....More Tomatoes 2007

2007-05-18T11:32:00.000-07:00

I got a few more tomatoes planted in their permanent locations this week. So far, I have 13 planted. I am continuing to plant a few every month, to see how far I can extend my harvest at the end of the season, rather then have them all come in at once, since I don't want to preserve, just want to use as I pick:

Another Cherry in a hanging basket, to replace the one that didn't make it last month

June 16th

This Cherry was planted in a large container. I have to protect from chickens who love tomato plants.

June 16th

Add 1/4 cup side dressing at transplanting, and continue working 1/4 cup into all tomatoes in containers every month. I use "Down to Earth" All Purpose Fertilizer.

Spring Harvest 2007

2007-05-11T09:12:00.000-07:00

Bronze Arrow, Emerald Oak, Butterking, and Red IcebergHarvest home grown lettuce as "cut and come again". As you harvest the larger leaves, new leaves will keep growing, for a continued harvest. Remember to pick early in the morning when its at its sweetest. (Later in the day, the lettuce will shoot up a bitter mucus through its leaves, as protection from predators.)

Look who's hanging around as I pick some lettuce.

Cucumbers 2007

2007-05-01T14:10:00.000-07:00

Cucumber's are so quick and easy to start from seedI planted these seeds directly into this container with soil. Just be sure to poke holes in the bottom of your container for drainage. I kept them indoors on a windowsill until they germinated, then I moved them outdoors since the weather was warm enough. 5 out of the 6 seeds I sowed, germinated. They should be ready to transplant in about 3 or 4 weeks from the start date. I'll then start a another flat, for a continuous harvest throughout the fall.

My favorite variety is one from the Mediterranean called Garden Oasis, I purchased the seeds fromRenees's GardenIt's a Hybrid, so I can't save the seeds, but it is so worth growing.

May 22 - transplanted seedlings outdoors. I like to grow them vertically, using curly willy branches for support. I can cut them to whatever height I want, and they have lots of nooks and crannies to hold the vines. I actually like to wrap the vines around the branches, as they make their way up to the top, creating like a cucumber teepee.

JulyThe cucumber vines are produing cucumbers daily for me to eat as a snack.

July 7thFirst Cucumber of the season.

My Home Organic Sustainable Mini-Farm 2007

2007-04-28T16:26:00.000-07:00

What a title. Sounds like a lot to live up to, but actually its very simple. My backyard is approximately 30' x 100'. I am permitted to keep 3 chickens on my property, according to my city ordinance. I live in Northern California, where the weather is mild year round. I plant a cover crop in the winter with fava beans, to add nitrogen back into my soil. I have been composting and improving my soil for 10 years. I don't use any pesticides or chemical fertilizers. I grow many flowers and herbs to attract beneficial insects. I don't have any disease problems.

Keeping Chickens - each chicken lays a delicious organic, free range egg daily (except during the shortest days of the year, between November and February). My chickens eat lots of insects and kitchen scraps, to produce the perfect combination of protein and fat, the healthiest food for me to eat.

Composting - decomposing kitchen and garden scraps to improve my soil, by adding nutritients back into it

Raised Beds - with copper barriers to keep snails out

Raised Beds - protected with bird netting to keep chickens out while growing vegetables

Spring Flowers 2007

2007-04-28T16:16:00.000-07:00

Lavender, Climbing Rose, and Roman Chamomile.

Pansy - edible volunteer from last years heirloom seedlings

This bed has Stock, Cornflowers, Borage, Calendulas and Thyme in Bloom in April

This bed has Calendula and Sage in bloom in April

These Sweet Pea's were started from seed in March

These Cornflowers were started from seed last fall and over wintered inthe garden and are starting to bloom in April

These trailing nasturtium are volunteers every year.

This Rose Geranium was planted last year from a 2" seedling purchased at a nursery. It is huge now. I will be propigating this next fall, and spreding throughout the garden next year.

I don't know where this rose came from, just showed up last year in bed and I transplanted it to this container.

May 22California Poppies are finally blooming in this bed.

Fruit Tree's 2007

2007-04-28T16:13:00.000-07:00

This Dwarf Variety Cherry tree is being protected from birds with cd's and rubber snakes this year, in hope of a decent crop.

Herbs 2007

2007-04-28T15:51:00.000-07:00

Aloe Vera - this plant is starting to spread, yea!. Its fantastic on a sunburn, just split it open and rub directly on burn.

This dill seed was sown directly into this bed in April.

UPDATE: MAY 22The dill is filling in and seems quite happy.

Chives seeds were sown in a flat in April

CHIVES IN JULYI am so happy I was able to grow these from seed. I can't wait till next year, when I will start many more flats. I love chives. I make potato salad with only mayonaise, chives, salt and pepper. Simple and delicious. And I discovered I can eat it, without going into a flare!

Cilantro seeds were sown in this pot in April

May 22Should I transplant??

This lavender was propigated over the winter and has been transplanted into the garden and it growing quickly

This rosemary was propigated over the winter and has been transplanted into the garden and it growing quickly

This spearmint is left to spread throughout this area year after year

This in my favorite variety of Thyme

This Milk Thistle was a volunteer. They grow so huge, I usually only let one volunteer grow, the rest get pulled. This is a host plant for Monarch Butterflies.

These calendula were started from seed last fall, and overwintered in the garden

This sage was a volunteer last summer, and has grown to a beautiful specimen now.

Tomatoes 2007

2007-04-28T15:37:00.000-07:00

Starting Tomatoes from seed is done in 3 steps:

Step #1 - germinate seeds indoors between wet coffee filters using Uncle Tom's Method.

I was not too conserned about individualy labeling all my varieties this year. I figure when they are ripe, I will be able to tell which is which. What I did was separate them according to type; cherry, early, deciduous, indeciduous - so I can decide where is the best place to plant them. I usually put cherries in containers. I'll plant deciduous ones together in one bed, and indeciduous ones in another bed. I am experimenting with early varieties this year, to see if I can plant them late, and harvet them later, as the weater starts to cool, thus extending my season.

Step #2 - transplant germinated seeds into a deep flat, spacing a few inches apart, cover lightly with soil, keep moist, in a few days the seedlings will appear above the soil.

May 11 - less then 4 weeks later

May 22 - ready to be transplanted

Step #3 - transplant into individual pots when they outgrow the flat, or directly into the ground if weather has warmed up.

This Cherry was transplanted into a wine barrel around April 15th. I also have some oregano growing, and have planted some nasturtium seeds. Over the winter I grew fava beans in this container, to bring nitrogen back into the soil. As soon as the plants start to flower, you cut the plant at soil level, leaving the roots and nitrogen in the soil, adding the green material to your compost pile to decompose.

May 18 - one month later

June 16th

These 6 determinate varieties were transplanted into a bed around April 15th, spacing 2' apart. Determinate varieties don't grow as tall as indeterminate varieties, so are easier to stake. This bed already has some thyme and oregano growing, and I directly sowed some dill and nasturtium. Interplanting vegetables, flowers and herbs in the same bed will attract beneficial insects, preventing disease.

May 18 - one month later

June 16th

July 15thThese decidious tomatoes are perfect for growing in my beds, because the hoops and bird netting prevent growing things with much height. I am amazed at all the tomatoes in clusters, on such a small plant. Fantic discovery, perfect for gardening with chickens!

MAY 18TH - MORE TOMATOES PLANTED OUT

Add 1/4 cup side dressing at transplanting, and continue working 1/4 cup into containers every month. I use "Down to Earth" All Purpose Fertilizer.

Another Cherry in a Basket

June 16th

A Cherry in a large container

June 16th

Lettuce 2007

2007-04-28T15:28:00.000-07:00

This year I am growing many heirloom varieties of lettuce, including; Red Iceberg, New York Head, Bronze Arrow, Emerald Oak, Red Ridinghood, Barcarole, Butterking and Carmon Red.

Starting Lettuce from seed is done in 3 steps:

Step #1 - sow seeds directly into small flat. I use recycled food take out containers.

Step #2 - transplant on the diagional, spacing 2-3", into second larger flat. I use black plastic nursery flats, lined with newspaper.

Step #3 - transplant into permanent bed on the diagional. Planting on the diagional, allows you to fit more plants in less space, and it looks really neat and pretty when they fill in.

May 11 - The lettuce has filled in quickly, in only 2 weeks time, ready for first sping harvest. As you harvet the larger leaves, new leaves will continue to grow, for a long harvest season.

May 18 - Planted another lettuce bed this week. Red Ridinghood, Barcarole, Carmona Red and New York Head

July 15th - started some more lettuce (and Chard) seedsI am out of lettuce now in the garden. I would have started some more sooner, except I was away for 2 weeks, and had to wait till I returned to get more seeds started. They do take a little more attention.

Uncle Tom's Birthday

2007-03-24T17:57:00.000-07:00

In remembrence of Uncle Tom's Birthday, today was a good day to transplant my Black Eye Susan seedlings that I started earlier this year. They seem to be happy so far. My seeds were originally saved from his garden in Maine, so they will always remind me of him.

This is what they looked like last year.

Have you ever considered gardening by the moon? It sounds like it could take my gardening to another level, or at least make it more interesting.......or just complicate things, I'll find out.

The best time to sow seeds or transplant seedlings is during the first two quarters, or the time after a new moon, up until the days leading up till the full moon, because the new moon brings in an upsurge of energy. So right now happens to be a good time for these activities. If you want to get real specific, the first quarter, new moon to half full, is ideal for planting crops that grow underground, such as potatoes and carrots. The second quarter, half full to full moon, is for planting crops that grow above ground, such as corn and peas.

So today I transplanted my Black Eye Susans , lettuce, and some tomatoes that were ready for transplanting. And I sowed some cilantro seeds and more lettuce seeds. I did some weeding too! (even though the best time for these activities is during the 4th quarter when the moon is going from half full to new moon. This is the barren time of the lunar cycle so it is an optimum time to weed and cultivate as well as harvesting) I got a lot done today. Thanks to my new lafuma lounger. I can do a little work, then recuperate in my chair, then do a little more work. Its ergonomically designed and very comfortable for me.

I wish I could find the charger for the camera battery...........until then........

2007 Seeds

2007-01-17T10:12:00.000-08:00

The catalogs started coming in the mail, so I placed my orders (online) and have received my seeds. Its a good idea to order early, in the past I have been disappointed to learn they run out of some varieties if I wait to long.

Renees's Garden - Crimson Carmello, Pompeii, Black Krim, Persimmon and Costoluto tomatoes. Vanilla Berry, Cherries Jubilee and Creamsicle Nasturtium.

Bountiful Gardens - New Sun, Marmande Super, and Cherry Mix tomatoes. Dill and Basil.

Seeds of Change - Early Red Chief, Yellow Perfection tomatoes. Red Iceberg, New York Head, Bronze Arrow, Emerald Oak, Red Ridinghood, Barcarole, Butterking and Carmon Red lettuces.

I am modifying my garden this season, and limiting the variety of vegetables I will grow. Since being diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis a few months ago, I have learned to modify my life so I can avoid being in pain all the time, and stop progression of the disease. I think if I just cut back a little, I can still enjoy spending time in the garden.

I decided to stick with tomatoes, herbs and lettuce. I thought these would require less daily maintenance. We'll see.

First Rain

2006-10-04T16:00:00.000-07:00

I can't remember the last time it rained. It always amazes me.
Our rainy/cool season requires little attention in the garden. It basicly can maintain itself. Hopefully I can continue picking lettuce for my salads, and enjoy looking out at some cool season flowers from the window.

Cover Crops

2006-10-03T10:47:00.000-07:00

Cereal Rye

These seeds were directly broadcast into this bed on September 24, and starting germinating on September 28. I will have to do a lot of thinnng out, as they should be grown on 5" centers, as most grains.

Black Emmer Wheat

These seeds were started in this flat on September 24, and are now ready to be transplanted into a larger flat with more room.

Fava Beans

These seeds were sown directly into this bed on August 28th, then thinned on 8" centers.

Seed Storing for next year

2006-10-02T09:57:00.000-07:00

I am storing my seeds that I saved on a shelf in my dining room, where the temperature is the most consistent and no direct sun light will hit them. In the years past, I have just forgotten about them, and left them outdoors in their paper bags, still hanging and thankfully protected from direct rain.....and they survived and germinated. But I decided to get organized.

After they are completely dry, you can put them in a mason jar or an envelope. Just be sure to label, with name and date.

The last of my seed saving this season, Uncle Tom's Black-Eye Susans.

Volunteer Greens in my Yard

2006-10-01T11:42:00.000-07:00

Arugula, Curly Frisse and Dandelion Greens If you let one of these go to seed, you should never have to plant again.

They make a great salad. Pick early in the morning for the best flavor.

Mayonaise, Honey and Lime dressing
Whisk together about a Tablespoon of each for a fresh tasting dressing. Great with greens, dried cranberries, walnuts and gorgonzola cheese.

Pineapple Sage............

2006-09-30T07:25:00.000-07:00

Just started to bloom a few days ago. One of my favorite fragrant herbs, and the hummingbirds feed off the flowers all winter long. I started out purchasing one 2" seedling a few years ago, now I have divided it each year, and have at least 5 huge bushes of it throughout my garden, and have given some away.

Fall Citrus

2006-09-29T08:08:00.000-07:00

Not ripe and ready to pick yet, but had some good growth over the summer months.

Lemons
Limes
Oranges

Problems with ants?

If you have a problem with ants, like I did near this orange tree, you can protect the tree by putting a layer of Tanglefoot on the bottom. It is a sticky substance that prevents the ants (and other insects) from crawling up the tree, carrying disease with them. You don't apply it directly on the tree, first wrap the tree with some stretchy support tape, then apply the Tanglefoot over the tape. This can easily be removedd each year, and re-applied. Now is the time to do it, before the rain starts, and the ants start looking for higher ground.

Complete-Diet Mini-Farmin

2006-09-28T09:08:00.000-07:00

A GROW BIOINTENSIVE® Class taught by John Jeavons at Common Ground

Does your desire for better nutrition have you wondering if you could live off your land? This class will show you how to plan a garden or mini-farm that will produce healthy, nutritious food and be highly productive as well as truly sustainable, in the smallest space possible.

John is the Executive Director of Ecology Action and the author of our book How to Grow More Vegetables, which has been translated into 7 languages and is used in over 100 countries.

I don't have enough land to live off of, but I like to think that maybe one day I may (or one life is more like it), so for now I am just having fun practicing and getting ready for that day.

I took this class recently, and it's really a very simple plan:

To feed one person, you will need 40 beds that are 100 square feet each.

60% of your crops will be Carbon or Calorie Crops (Grains). So choose 4 of your favorite crops from this category and grow 6 beds of each, for a total of 24 beds.

30% of your crops will be High Calorie Root Crops (potatoes). Choose 3 of your favorite crops from this category and grow 4 beds of each, for a total of 12 beds.

10% of your crops will be Vegetable Crops (Salad Crops). Choose 4 of your favorite crops and grow 1 bed of each, for a total of 4 beds. 3 of these beds will be used to earn money by selling the crop, only 1 will be needed to feed yourself.

Of course this formula will not work for everyone. I recently discovered that I cannot tolerate starches. This includes potatoes, dried beans or grains of any kind. So I might plant some Almond trees, fruit trees and lots of berries, in my beds.......or grow clover to graze farm animals. But it is still a very interesting concept.....which may just require a little creativity.........and definetly a lot of hard work.

For more information on how to design a diet with the recommended amount of vitamins and minerals please refer to Designing a GROW BIOINTENSIVESM Sustainable Mini-Farm – A Working Paper

Fall Plant Propagation

2006-09-27T10:32:00.000-07:00

Fall is the best time to propagate some of your favorite perennials.I have chosen my favorite lavender, rosemary and a climbing rose. Just snip off about a 5" piece, remove leaves from the bottom 2-3" which you will stick into soil and keep moist over the cool season. I put them in a flat, and will leave it outdoors. Next spring, I will be able to transplant the little plants into my garden.

If you want to get even simpler, just wait till the rain starts, and put your cuttings directly into the soil where you want them to grow, and they will establish themselves over the rainy season. I would recommend putting some kind of protection around them, so they don't get stepped on, etc.

UPDATE: FEBRUARY 17TH

Lots of good root growth since starting cuttings, about 5 months ago. In my mild climate I left the flat outdoors, but protected from the cold with remay cloth. I did water them occasionally, since we haven't had any rain this winter.

New Rosemary plant ready to transplant

New Lavender plant ready to transplant

I'm so glad that I thought ahead to do this. I have now transplanted about 15 new plants throughout my garden, at no cost to me. I can't wait till next fall, so I can propagate some more. These plants will be very low maintenance for me, and the flowers and fragrance will be fantastic.

UPDATE: MAY 18TH

New lavender plants are taking off and growing fast.

Cool Season on its Way..........

2006-09-26T10:32:00.000-07:00

Their are a lot of things we can grow to eat in the San Francisco Bay Area during our cool season. My raised beds will be in full use:

Bed #4
Stock Flowers were started from seed using
Uncle Toms Method. Thats a dill plant going to seed in the center. Thyme plants are established in the front corneres. Cereal Rye(cover crop) seeds were directly broadcast into the rear half of this bed. I should have started them in a flat, then transplanted on 5" centers, but I skipped that step. Just being lazy really............but I like to call it an experiment.

Bed #5
Lettuce seed was broadcast in a flat, then those seedlings were transplanted into a second flat on 1 1/2" centers, then when they were about 3" tall they were transplanted into this bed. Calendula Flowers were started from seed using Uncle Toms Method. Basil is still producing in the rear. Thyme plants that I started from seed last fall, were transplanted to the front corners.

Bed #6
Parsley seed were broadcast directly into the right/center portion of this bed. Balck Emmer Wheat seeds are being started in a flat, to be transplanted into the back half of this bed in a few weeks. Lemon Basil is going to seed the the front left corner, and a few volunteer calendula are getting big in the right front corner, hiding another oregano bush, which will go dormant for the winter.

Bed #7
Fava Beans were sown directly into this bed on 8" centers. Stock flowers were started using Uncle Tom's Method. I have a sage bush growing in the back left corner, and some oregano in the right front corner, and some basil still producing.

Bed #8
This is where I broadcast Beet and Scallion seeds a few weeks ago, but it looks like the volunteer's dandelion, arugula and curly frisse are taking over, and I decided to let the more determined veggies win. Maybe I'll get a few beets here and there. I forgot that beet seeds, are actually little containers with multiple seeds inside them, so I am doing a little experiment right now, starting some beet seeds using Uncle Toms Method, to see how many seedlings come out of each seed. I know beets are recommended to be direct sown, but I will attempt to get these seedlings transplanted into a bed, and hopefully get some beets this way.

Bed #9
Fava Beans (sown on August 25th and already about a foot tall), Carrots, Cilantro seeds (just about 1 " tall now) were all direcly sown into this bed.

Fava Bean Germination

2006-09-05T19:04:00.000-07:00

Fava Bean SeedlingsThese seeds were planted on August 25th, and have just about all starting coming up now. A lot of other volunteers to weed out as well......

Cool Season - Starting Seeds II

2006-08-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

I have updated my post on seed starting last saturday (only 4 days ago). Check out the progress:

Cool Season - Starting Seeds

My battery pack for my digital camera needs to be replaced. It keeps running out of power. Hopefully I can get a new one quickly.

Cool Season - more sowing...

2006-08-28T12:41:00.000-07:00

Beets and Scallions sown today Bed #8 was sown today, 1/2 with Golden Beets, and the other 1/2 with Deep Purple Bunching Onions.

Each of my 9 raised beds range in size from 21 square feet up to 32 square feet, for a total of about 235 square feet raised beds space. Not enough space to stock up and store, but just enough for something fresh daily year round.

ParsleyI direct sowed some parsley into bed #6 two weeks ago, and so far only some volunteer morning glory are coming up. I know parsley is slow to germinate, but I thought I'd sow a few extra in this pot/flat that could be transplanted around the yard later, just in case.

UPDATE SEPTEMBER 5

Parsley sown in bed #6 has finally germinated

UPDATE SEPTEMBER 29

Parsley seedling are ready to transplant into individual pots

Cool Season - Starting Seeds

2006-08-26T18:35:00.000-07:00

Bed #2 - Temporary seedling storage My seed starting efforts are safely stored behind bird netting, waiting to be transplanted. The Fall is my favorite time to start seeds........nights are still warm, days are cooling a bit, no rain. I don't have to protect them or bring them indoors, like I do in the spring. It's so much easier.Some seeds have best germination rates using Uncle Tom's Method........ stock, calendula and cornflowers. Some seeds are best sown directly into a flat of soil..........lettuce, greens, leeks and scallions. Some seeds are best sown directly into the garden.........carrots, beets, cilantro, parsley.

Stock, Cornflowers and Calendula - started between coffee filtersThey took about 10 days to germinate. They dry out really fast, some days I sprayed them water at least 2 or 3 times. It helps to place them in a baggie if its really hot and dry out, then they don't dry out so fast. After they germinated, I transplanted into the dixie cups you see in bed #2.

Calendula - germinatedI check everyday, and transplant those that have germinated into dixie cups. Deepending on their size, I might bury the seedling completely, or leave the little green tip above the soil. Either way they do great. Experiment.......be brave........thats how I learned. This is only my second year starting my own seeds, I used to be totally unsuccessful, until I learned Uncle Tom's Method.

AUGUST 30TH - UPDATE Progress has been going nicely for the past 4 days. Looks like my transplanting of germinated seeds and broadcasting of seeds in flats, was successful. If you look closely, little green seedlings are breaking above the soil in the dixie cups, and the small flats.

I have been watering them daily, with a very gentle hand watering can. They are in partial sun/shade.

Stock Seedlings

Cornflower Seedlings

Calendula Seedlings

Lettuce Seeds Germinating (directly broadcast in soil)

Lettuce Transplants (seedlings in second flat)

Cool Season - 1st sowing

2006-08-25T17:05:00.000-07:00

The garden has only required watering and harvesting during the month of August, good thing, because I was too busy doing other fun things.Bed #9 This is my first direct sowing for the cool season. I am going to grow fava beans for eating, for the first time........I did grow them once as a cover crop, but never to eat. Today I sowed fava beans seeds (unknow variety - I got the seeds in bulk at Common Ground) in the back 1/2 of this bed; carrots (purple dragon and saint valery) and cilantro were sown in the front 1/2.

In the front corner you can see a volunteer oregano plant that I am letting grow. It's helpful to have herbs and flowers mixed throughout your beds in organic gardening, to attrack beneficial insects.

I plan on reserving at least 1/2 of my beds for cover crops. I have cereal rye and emmer wheat, and some fava bean seeds. If I want to grow fava beans for a cover crop, I have to harvest the stalks just as they start to flower, before they grow the pods. At that point, they have brought nitrogen into the soil, but once they start producing the beans, they will use up the nitrogen in the soil, so are useless as a cover crop.....but great to eat!

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 5TH

Fava Beans have germinated

Fall Seed Starting

2006-08-04T14:09:00.000-07:00

Half Dome in Yosemite Valley
Now that I have returend from my trip to Yosemite, I am ready to start germinating some flower seeds for my fall/winter garden.

If you live in the Bay Area, it's time to start some of your fall seedlings too. I am using Uncle Tom's Method to start some flower seeds. This method works really well in the fall, when it is too hot to germinate the seeds outdoors. I collected these Calendula, Stock, and Corn Flower seeds from the plants I grew last fall, so we will see how well they germinate.

Stock seeds

Cornflower seeds

Calendula seeds

Spray a coffee filter with water, sprinkle some seeds on half of it and fold it over to cover the seeds, then spray the top with water again. Place it in a labeled, plastic bag. I keep them on my dining room table, where there is no direct sunlight, and a consistent temperature. Check daily to make sure they don't dry out. Spray with water if necessary. In about 10 days they should all germinate.

Butterfly Metamorphosis

2006-07-29T18:32:00.000-07:00

I noticed this beautiful caterpillar on this dill stalk a few days ago, and it was still there today, and growing larger, so I decided to take a photo, and am hoping I can witness and document, the metamorphosis into a butterfly.

I am really excited, because after seeing the Swallowtail not able to get into the other dill bed the other day, due to the bird netting, I was somewhat distressed. But when this dill went to seed, the stalk shot up, through the bird netting, and developed its umbel, which the butterfly would have been able to land on, and lay it larva.

Once it turns into a chrysilis, and then a butterfly, I want to be sure and release it (it will be trapped in the bed because of the bird netting thats covering it). It should be safe to observe for a few hours, without having to worry about killing it.

I have collected butterfly caterpillars before, so I have confidence all will turn out well. When my kids were little, we collected caterpillars we found out on the parsley, put it in a fish bowl, feeding it fresh parsley, covering the top with a coffee filter (so it couldn't crawl out, but got air, and had a place to hang from when ready) until it turned into a chrysilis, and then a butterfly. I have a great photo of my daughter holding the beautiful swallowtail butterfly when she released it. It's a wonderful learning experience for kids to witness.The best picture book on the subject is The Caterpillar and the Polliwog, by Jack Kent. We read it at least a million times. I wish I owned a copy, we would renew it at library constantly.

Dill Umbel
Collecting the seed of the dill is a little more tricky for me, then the cilantro or parsley. As you can see in the photo, most of the seed has already fallen and scattered. Hopefully I will get better at recognizing the precise time to collect. There are a few seeds left on this umbel, so I bagged it and hung it, to finish its drying. I'll take whatever I can get.

Collecting Lettuce Seed

2006-07-27T13:59:00.000-07:00

My lettuce that was planted in the early spring has gone to seed and is now ready to collect. Hopefully you left a few plants in your garden to go to seed as well.

It does seem to take a long time to let things go to seed. First you will notice your lettuce shoots up a tall stalk. Then it will bloom.

Finally, it will all turn to fluff, at which point you want to collect it before it all scatters. I just cut if off, and put it in a paper bag to catch the seeds as they fall. I'll keep it hung out of direct sun where it won't get wet for a few weeks.

July Blooms

2006-07-26T14:08:00.000-07:00

Marshmallow

Uncle Tom's Black-Eyed Susans

Carnations I started these seeds last August. I thought they were a cool season flower, but they did at least over-winter, and are finally blooming.

Frightful Heat in the Bay Area

2006-07-24T11:51:00.000-07:00

We have been having record breaking temps here in the Bay Area. We have always had cooling off in the evening, which is the best part about living here, but this year, we are getting NO relief from the heat whatsoever at any time.

Hardly anyone has air conditioning, because we are so used to mild temps. But this is getting unbearable. Yesterday, we set up our screened in tent, so we can sit outdoors in the evening, without any mosquitos getting us. The house is just way to hot (and its really not much better outdoors). We even had the fan on us last night in the tent! And didn't get up to go for a walk with the dogs till nearly 10PM.

I have been watering twice a day, to keep things alive.

Black Swallowtail Butterfly

2006-07-22T12:03:00.000-07:00

This butterfly wanted to get at the dill so bad, it wouldn't give up, so I finally opened the netting and let it in, of course then it wanted out.

Pickling

2006-07-20T07:15:00.000-07:00

I have never canned cucumbers before, but I picked all these in the morning, so I thought I'd give it a try. I have canned strawberries, beans, and hot pepper jelly in the past, so I had all the supplies necessary. We're having some unusual hot weather here, so I waited till evening to get started.

For the first time, I have actually coordinated the dill to be ready to harvest with the cucumbers. This is a milestone for me.

I decided to go with the one part vinegar to one part water formula. This is the minimum ratio you should use to be safe. I noticed the Dilly Beans I made, were made with 2 parts vinegar to 1 part water, and they were really tart.

I only wanted to make one batch (didn't want to be up all night). I fit 4 quart size jars, and 3 pint size jars in my canner. I used 7 1/2 cups vinegar and 7 1/2 cups water, and had enough left over to probably fill one more pint size jar.

I used all the cucumbers in the photo. I probably could have stuffed the quart size jars with more cucumbers. The pint size jars held about 1 cucumber each sliced in chips. The quart size jars could have held 2 cucumbers each, quartered lengthwise.

I had a spice packet for making dill pickles that I added to the quart size jars, to which I also added fresh dill and garlic. I added salt, dill and garlic for flavor into the pint size jars. I thought about putting in a jalapeno pepper, but didn't. Maybe next time. I processed my pickles in the hot water bath for 18 minutes, being sure the jars were covered by about an inch of water.

It really wasn't too much work. I knew from previous experience, I like working in small quantities. So one batch was just right, didn't kill me. I started around 8 PM and was done I think by 10:30. It just takes so long for the big pot of water to boil.

These web pages were very helpful:

Colorado State University Cooperative Extension

Foti Farm

FYI - Last night Whole Foods had a beautiful display of gourmet pickled items in 15 oz jars, on sale for $6.99 each (reg $7.99). They had green beans, cucumbers and beets in small jars. They looked really good, like the ones we make ourselves at home. I'm going to try pickling my own beets next time, they had ingredients like brown sugar and cinnamon, pickled in apple cider vinegar.

Garden Motivation...........

2006-07-17T10:59:00.000-07:00

just when I need it.The NOT SO CUTE ANYMORE, little chickens got in my lettuce bed! I will be so careful from here on in, when attaching the netting, not to leave any unhooked. Not a one! This just goes to show how smart the chickens are.

Anyway, I came across a link to this Edible Landscape web site yesterday, and I found it so refreshing, so motivating. Sometimes I get a little burnt out on gardening, and need to be reminded of what a good thing I am doing, and why I am doing it. Please check this out:

Edible Estates

And if you haven't yet seen this one, it should surely help get you in the gardening mood as well:

Garden Rant

Uncle Tom's Blooming Black-Eyed Susans

2006-07-15T12:50:00.000-07:00

These plants were started from seed saved from my brothers garden in Maine. I started them on March 24, in memory of his birthday. They just started blooming yesterday. They are beautiful. Thanks Tom.

See my March 24th post, to learn more about Uncle Tom's fantastic seed starting method.

July Harvest Photos with some recipes

2006-07-13T06:51:00.000-07:00

July 29
Cabbage Crunch I received a head of cabbage in my CSA basket, the cilantro and the scallions are from my garden. One of the nice thing about home grown veggies are the varieties you can choose. I love these Deep Purple Bunching Onions. I got the seeds at Johnny's Select Seeds

Salad
1/2 head cabbage - thinly sliced
1 large bunch cilantro - chopped
6 large scallions - chopped

Nuts
1/2 cup sliced almonds - toasted
2 T sesame seeds - toasted

I just heat the almonds and sesame seeds together in a pan till golden, then store them in a jar if your not using till later.

Dressing (enough for 2 batches of cabbage crunch salad):

1 cup oil
6 T seasoned rice wine vinegar
2 T sesame oil
4 T sugar
1 t salt
pepper

Combine all ingrediens and shake in a large jar.

I made my first batch yesterday, we ate the entire thing, so I made the second batch today. I won't put the dressing or almonds and sesame seeds on till I am ready to serve. But it is all ready to go.

This salad is so fresh tasting and smelling. Try it.

July 27th
Cherry Tomatoes Picking enough tomatoes everyday now for our salads, and a few extra to share. They like the heat we've been having.

Spearmint This mint is on the northern side of the house, so it is in shade most of the day. It has not yet bloomed, like my spearmint in the sun. Another good reason to plant things in more then one spot.

Cilantro This bed is in a cool micro climate, due to the proximity of the Curly Willow Tree. It's a natural air conditioner. So I am hoping my cilantro won't go straight to seed.

Hummus

1 can cannelini beans
1/4 cup sesame tahini
couple cloves garlic
1/2 of a roasted red pepper
1/2 lemon juice
1/2 to 1 tsp cumin
olive oil
salt & pepper
fresh chopped spearmint or cilantro or both

Food process all ingredients except herbs till smooth, stir in fresh herbs. Serve with pita chips.

I was able to give away my first bag of squash, cucumber and basil yesterday.

Basil

Pasta with Basil Chiffonad

Olive oil
garlic
lemon juice
pasta
basil
pine nuts
tomatoes

Chiffonad is the way the basil is chopped. Just stack the basil leaves on top of each other, roll, and slice very fine. You end up with long thin slivers of basil.

Heat enough olive oil in pan (depending on how many servings of pasta you are making), add lots of chopped garlic and saute for 2 minutes. Add the juice of 1/2 - 1 lemon and saute for 1 more minute.

Serve over your favorite pasta tossed with lots of fresh basil chifinade, toasted pine nuts (put in toaster oven for 5 minutes till golden) and a chopped fresh tomato or sundried tomatoes.

Pesto on polenta

4 cups basil leaves - blanched in boiling water for 30 seconds (to retain green color)
4 cloves garlic
salt
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts

Food process all ingredients together. I like to put my pesto on fried polenta slices. I buy the precooked polenta in the roll and slice it into 1/2" pieces, fry one side first to golden brown in a very little olive oil, then flip and add a spoonful of pesto and some parmegian cheese on top, cover pan and fry for a few more minutes, till melted. I also like to put a few extra toated pine nuts on top.

Cucumbers

I could live off of these recipes everyday, during the cucumber season, and don't seem to get sick of them........and I don't have do any canning (not that I wouldn't mind.....especially when its so hot outside):

Greek Salad

1 cup Quinoia
1 cucumber
1 tomato
1 red onion
lots of fresh dill
Feta Cheese
Olive oil
Salt & pepper

Rinse quinoia 5 times, to remove the natural protectant (from birds) coating. Add to 2 cups boiling, salted water, simmer covered for 25 minutes. Cool.

Add peeled, seeded, and chopped cucumber, chopped tomato, chopped red onion, and chopped dill, some feta cheese and olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss and chill.

Swedish Cucumbers

2 cucumbers
1 cup vinegar
1 cup water
1 cup sugar

Boil the vinegar, water and sugar till disolved, refridgerate over-night. In the morning, peel and slice the cucumber as thin as you can and marinade in vinegar syrup till dinner. Best eaten that night, they don't hold up to well (not usually a problem).

Squash

Golden Scallopini Bush This is a nice compact bush, not sprawling or requiring too much space.

Summer Zuchetta Squash This is turning out to be my favorite squash. I like that it is a vine, that is easily trained up vertically, so it doesn't take up much space, and it is prolific.

Crookneck Squash This squash is best picked tiny and grilled whole, unlike the big lumpy ones. This bush plant is sprawling foward, requiring a lot of bed space.

Penne Pasta
This is really quick, but tastes like it simmered all day, and is heavy on veggies.

3 Mild Italian Sausage - take out of casing
2 red onions - thinly sliced 1/2 circles
2 cloves garlic - chopped
3 summer squash - sliced into good size/chunky 1/2 moons
2 red pepper- 1" cubed
1 large can tomatoes - pureed
1/2 box penne pasta - cooked

In a large stock pot, saute the sausage, breaking it up into small chunks, add the onion and garlic and saute some more, add the squash and red pepper and saute some more, add the tomatoes and simmer for about 20 - 30 minutes. Toss in the pasta and some fresh basil chifinade.

If you like creamy sauces, add 1/2 cup sour cream with the pasta and basil and stir well, you won't be sorry!

Lettuce, radichio and endive salad

Good Thing.......

2006-07-12T07:01:00.000-07:00

those chickens are so cute!

This was a Harbinger Tomato Plant, I guess Daisy thougt it was lunch. I had it protected, but removed the wire to use somewhere else last week, and forgot to put it back, and she finally found it.

Bueller

Henrietta and Bueller

Collecting Seeds

2006-07-11T18:04:00.000-07:00

Some of my annual herb plants have gone to seed are dry enough to start collecting. They would just self sow, but I want to collect some of the seeds and save them so I can do some successive plantings, when and where I want them.

I want to collect them when they are starting to turn brown, but before they all fall to the ground, and its too late to save.

Parsley seed heads ready to Collect

Cilantro seed heads ready to collect

Before storing them in a jar, I will let them hang dry in a paper bag for a few more weeks, some place where they are out of direct sun, and where they will stay dry.

At least I have more herbs on the way..........I'm learning!

Lemon Basil

Dill

Cilantro

Shade Cloth

2006-07-10T08:35:00.000-07:00

My strawberries do not like all the hot weather we have been having. They starting frying during the last heat wave................I guess this is why they grow them commercially along the coast.

I thought maybe some shade cloth would protect them. I had a small piece left-over from another project, but it didn't cover the whole bed, so I just kept rotating it over portions, giving some plants a break from the sun each day. I think it might have helped some. I started to get some beautiful strawberries again, instead of brown ones.

So yesterday when I transplanted some basil seedlings and other herb plants, during another heat wave, I decided to protect the plants with the shade cloth. It worked great. I usually try to wait till evening to transplant seedlings in the heat, but I'm so tired by then, and I keep putting it off, now I can just do it in the morning or during the day, and use the shade cloth to protect them from burning. This is fabulous. What are you waiting for..............go get yourself a piece of shade cloth!

My husband picked up a new piece of shade cloth yesterday. It looks more like burlap or potato sack material. I'm using this over the entire strawberry bed now. If this doesn't help, I guess I'll just have to leave the strawberry growing to the people on the coast, who have all that cool foggy weather, that the strawberries prefer.

A Gardener's Kitchen

2006-07-09T07:18:00.000-07:00

I was away from my garden again this past week, but it survived thanks to the attention of some wonderful neighbors. Only one hanging tomato basket was dried up, but who's complaining.....not me.......the chickens, dogs and cat are all still living. While away.......

I picked-up this cool pot rack in Santa Cruz. I found it on Craigslist before I left, and it was still available when I got there. If you haven't heard of Craigslist, its a wonderful place to buy or sell your wanted or unwanted items. Check for items in your local area.

Very important for gardeners to have a place to store all your dried herbs. This wall above my kitchen sink was wasted space until my husband built these beautiful shelves out of salvaged redwood. With a little effort he designed his own stencil and cut the wood to make it look like a work of art.

And a place to hang your dried flowers or dry your herbs. This was a great use of space to hang up a drying rack. It's both pretty and functional for gardeners. My husband made it from pegs purchased from our local craft supply store.

As you can see from the photos I like a little color. We never completely remodeled our kitchen, but updated whatever we could do ourselves over the years. It's amazing what paint can do. Just imagine the wood veneer cabinet doors, and red brick back splash when we bought this place. Something had to be done, and it had to be quick and inexpensive. (Well maybe not too quick, I think it took me about six months to paint the cabinet doors, a few at a time due to kids nap schedule and limited work space, out in the garage. But my husband did lay the nice tile floor in a weekend.....nearly cost him a finger.)

Hanging Baskets

2006-07-02T16:13:00.000-07:00

Heliotrope
This plant is not edible, but it smells like it is. It's vanilla scented. I bought this plant last summer at the farmers market. It died back over the winter, but I pruned it and repotted in fresh soil this spring, and it has made a nice comeback.

Since were talking about vanilla.......

did you know you could make your own vanilla extract? Just add 5 fresh whole vanilla beans (slit down the center) to a bottle of vodka and let it infuse for at least 6 weeks. Use in baking just like vanilla extract.

Potato Harvest

2006-06-28T06:29:00.000-07:00

These potatoes were planted on February 24th
Yellow Finn, Colorado Rose, and All Blue

All Blue

Colorado Rose

We left a few plants in the bed to let them continue growing. And I still have my other bed of Yukon Gold, that got planted a month later, so I will let them continue for a while longer.

I am going to try and store a few potatoes for replanting next February, so I don't have to continue ordering in the mail. I am going to put them in a mesh bag, and hang them under the house from one of the rafters. It's always so cool under the house, so hopefully they will be happy and protected. We'll see. I wonder if I could just leave them in my refridgerator? Any one have any suggestions? I guess I should have planted them in succession. I could have planted them throughout March in my area, instead of planing all of these variety in February. Live and learn.....next year.

For more info on growing potatoes see my March 27th post, You Say Potato

So now I have an (almost) empty bed....I think I may plant that "catch crop" Amaranth, since I already purchased some seeds, and wanted to give that a try. It's supposed to be very ornamental, and a good carbon crop for the compost.

FAVORITE VEGAN ROSEMARY AND GARLIC MASHED POTATOES WITH CANNELONI BEANS

3 large Baked Potatoes
3 T Olive oil
3 - 5" sprigs fresh rosemary
3 - large cloves of garlic
1 can canneloni beans

When potatoes are baking, chop rosemary and garlic and saute in olvie oil for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, and let infuse, pan covered till potatoes are done.

Remove potatoes from skin, mash, add infused olive oil (leaving a little in the pan), salt and pepper.

Heat drained canneloni beans in same pan that you infused the garlic and rosemary. Serve over the mashed potatoes.

White Beans with Sage and Garlic

2006-06-24T12:13:00.000-07:00

I found this interesting recipe on a new way to prepare beans in a book called, My Brother's Farm: Reflections on Life, Farming, and the Pleasure of Food.

How cool! I'm testing it today, so I will report back on how they came out.

I soaked 2 cups of white beans last night. Rinsed and drained them this morning. Layered them in a very large canning jar...1/3 of the beans, lots of fresh elephant garlic, lots of fresh sage, and fresh ground pepper and a splash of olive oil, continuing for a total of 3 layers. Fill with water. Place the jar in a large stock pot 1/2 full with water. Simmer for 2 to 3 hours.

It sure looks pretty cooking on my stove.

UPDATE: SUNDAY 6/25

I cooked the beans all day, not just for 3 hours, and they still never got quite tender enough (but the kitchen smelt wonderful), so I finished them off in the pressure cooker adding a little more water, 15 minutes at high. Then added salt to taste, and removed the large peices of garlic and sage.

Maybe a bigger jar would have worked, they were pretty tightly packed. Or I could try cutting the recipe in 1/2 and use the same jar, since I don't really have a bigger one. The recipe in the book called for a fish bowl (would that really be able to stand the heat?).

They are delicious! Great flavor. And the water base has become like a rich gravy. This would be perfect served over egg noodles. I think it would be a great vegan substitute for turkey gravy on Thanksgiving, with all the sage, and it turning out so thick, its exactly like turkey gravy.

It's the perfect time to try this recipe, with garlic and sage in abundance.

Sunflower and Bee Balm

2006-06-23T11:42:00.000-07:00

I started this sunflower from seed on 2/6. On 4/8 I transplanted it into a bare spot in the potato bed. It just started to bloom this week.

This Bee Balm has just started to bloom this week as well. It is an edible perennial flower that can be added to your salad, or used with the leaves to make tea.

UPDATE JULY 9TH:

The show goes on........more sunflowers and bee balm blooming

July 12:

Miriam Edible - Massive seedhead!

Compost

2006-06-16T13:09:00.000-07:00

After our really rainy winter, which we did not cover it, it got way to wet and stopped cooking. But now its working really well.

Ideally, your compost should be 2 parts mature material (carbon, woody, slower to decompose stuff), 2 parts immature material (green, quick to decommpose stuff), and 1 part dirt, water and oxygen. If you had space in you garden, you would make a few piles, consisting of multiple layers of these materials, and let it sit for 3 to 4 months, being sure to keep it evenly moist and then it would be ready. No turning required.

Our compost is made up of a combination of kitchen scraps, weeds, clippings, prunings, straw, and chicken manuer. Every time I double dig a raised bed, I remove a row of soil (to make room for adding fresh compost), and keep that in a pile near the compost, so it can slowly be added when needed. Usually we might put a shovel full on the top, to cover all the green kitchen scraps, trying to keep to the formula. As home gardeners, we only have room for one pile, and we add to it daily. We turn it to give it oxygen and water it frequently in the summer. Most items decompose fairly quickly within 4 - 6 weeks.

This winter I am planning to focus on cover or carbon crops, so I can work towards keeping my home mini-farm sustainable, not having to depend on outside sources of compost, keeping a closed system, which is healthier for the whole environment, not just my backyard. Goods winter cover crops in my area are cereal rye, fava beans, oats, wheat, one variety in particular I am intereted in trying because of its unusual beauty is Black Emmer.

Good summer carbon crops would be comfrey, corn, sunflowers, amaranth, quinoia, sorgum or broom corn. One I am particularly interested in trying is Amaranth. It is what you call a "catch" crop. In the middle/end of summer, when your summer crops are done, and it too late to plant a new summer crop, but too early for fall crops, you can plant amaranth for your compost. It grows very quickly.

Garlic Harvest

2006-06-16T12:51:00.000-07:00

When the garlic turns brown and looks dead and dried up, its ready to harvest.

I am real happy with the harvest from this bed. I got some really good size heads of garlic. Now I will leave it in the shade to cure/dry for about 2 weeks. Then I will invite my mother over to make some garlic braids for me. She's done it for me before and is pretty good at it.

I'd really like to try and save a head or two to replant next fall, so I don't have to keep purchasing it. Does anyone know the best way to store garlic so it will keep till Fall? This is one of those times I wish I had a cellar for cold storage.

This is one head of elephant garlic that was given to me to plant last fall. I'm not sure what to do with it, so I haven't pulled it out of the ground yet. It has developed this huge seed head, so I was wondering if I let it go to seed, maybe I will have some seed to increase my yield for next year? Does anyone know anything about growing or harvesting Elephant Garlic?

Successive Gardening Beds

2006-06-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

In hope of having a continuing harvest this year, I refrained myself form filling all my beds in the beginning of the season, and left them open for trying this successive gardening. The plants I am trying to have a continuing harvest with are squash, cucumbers, and annual herbs...like basil and dill.

I need to plan out my successive plantings of cilantro and parley as well, right now I just one patch of each, and actually have no parsley harvesting right now, only whats going to seed.

I'd really like to fit successive scallions in as well, I can grow them year round.

This bed was planted on April 21st and has tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, and a sunflower.

This bed was planted on May 3rd, and has tomatoes, squash, cilantro, calendula and nasturtium.

This bed was planted on May 31st, and has tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, sweet marjaram, calendula, chives and nasturtium.

This bed was planted on June 17, and has tomatoes, cucumbers, scallions, dill, cilantro, thyme, coconut geranium, and nasturtium.

I did the same with my lettuce beds. I have three, one is currently going to seed, one is just starting to pick, and the last is not even planted yet, but I have seedlings that will be ready in about 3 weeks to transplant.

Summer Squash Success

2006-06-14T11:01:00.000-07:00

I was so excited this morning to see the first Summer Zuchetta Squash on the vine. This is my experiment this year with vegetables in the front yard (I wasn't sure if there was enough sun) AND my first try at saving squash seed last summer (doing the isolation and hand pollination, etc). I am so happy to see they have grown this year TRUE TO FORM. Which means it is possible for anyone to save seeds...............if I can do it, you can do it!

Squash seeds will remain viable for six years when stored in cool, dry, dark conditions.

For more info see:

My April 8th post, The Cucurbitaceae Family

My May 2nd post, Vegetables in the Front Yard..........

Golden Bush - already picked a few of these.
* This variety liked to sprawl, at least 8', and probalby would have kept going if I didn't pull it out. It was not a vine, that I think it would grow vertically, it was just one huge main trunk, sprawling forward on the ground. It took up way too much space. It really needed a bed all of its own. Maybe I could try growing it verically up a tomato cage. It sure was the most delicious, very nutty tasting.

Crookneck - first on the bush to pollinate. This one is a sprawler as well.

You may notice that the first squash on your bush/vine does not mature, it rots. You would also notice that it was because your plant didn't produce any male flowers yet, to pollinate the female fruit.

Basil

2006-06-09T10:38:00.000-07:00

A little here, and a little there.......spread it around the garden.

Snuck some in the corners of the Strawberry Bed, where strawberry plants were lost to chickens.

Transplant some in pots.

Same pot a few weeks later...the chickens got 2 of the plants....so I stuck a few nasturtium seeds in place, waiting for them to sprout.

Sharing a bed with mostly lettuce.

Lemon Basil diretly sown into pot about 2 weeks ago.

A few basil plants sharing this bed with tomatoes and cucumbers.

Fever-few

2006-06-09T10:27:00.000-07:00

I love this plant. I planted a very small seedling in a 2" pot last fall, and now it is huge. I think I will try and save the seeds, so I can spread it around the garden. It is a medicanal herb used for migraines and arthritis. I was told you can just eat a leaf for relief. The taste is very bitter, and is almost like eating a christmas tree. The fragrance is very strong.

Roman Chamomile

This plant is just starting to bloom, and it smells so good you just want to eat it, or drink it, or wash you hair with it or something. I started it from a small seedling in a 2" pot last spring, and it is spreading like ground cover. And I love it, so thats OK.

Kitcheree.........

2006-06-08T10:42:00.003-07:00

with Cilantro

My cilantro is ready to start harvesting. I have been craving a bowl of Kitcheree, waiting patiently for the cilantro to be ready. I seem to make it mostly when I can go out a pick the fresh cilantro for the garnish.

Kitcheree - the "chicken soup" of Ayurveda. Great cleanse to remove toxins from the body, or while recovering from illness. I enjoy it anytime I'm in the mood.

1 T ghee (clarified butter) or butter
2 tsp ground cumin (or used seed if thats what you are familiar with)
1 tsp ground turmeric
1/2 cup mung bean (soak for 4 hours)
1/2 cup brown basmati rice
5 cups water
grey sea salt to taste
fresh chopped cilantro leaves

Saute the spices in the ghee for a minute, then add the beans and rice and saute for another minute, then add the water. If using a Pressure Cooker, bring to high pressure and cook for 12 minutes. Or else, bring to a boil and simmer covered for 40 minutes. Add grey sea salt to taste. Serve with fresh cilantro.

If your ever in the Santa Cruz area, stop in Dharma's for a bowl. They serve it with a salad, try the Lemon Tahini Dressing. Its the best.

Community Supported Agriculture, June 1

2006-06-01T16:52:00.000-07:00

My 1/2 Share Basket
"as we always caution, the baskets may look skimpy early on, but my mid-summer they will be so heavy and full you will need help getting them in the car!"

I was so excited, today was my first pick-up out at the farm. My basket was a work of art, as you can see from the photo. The lettuce was beautiful, the fava beans (filled the bottom) were the best I've had this season, and garlic and onions were so fragrant!

I only discovered Fava Beans this year, and I am addicted now. Some say they are labor intensive, but to me, it's more exhausting to drive to the store for some convenience food. The gal at the farmers market told me the easiest way to prepare/eat them. You first remove the beans from the pods. Then you drop them in boiling water for 4 minutes (to remove the skin), drain and cool. They pop right out of the skin, and you pop them right in your mouth. Try some.

This is the very simple salad I made with the lettuce and green garlic from my basket. It was especially delicious, these farmers really know what their doing.............

Large bowl lettuce
1 large head/stalk chopped green garlic, tough leaves discarded
1 can mandarin oranges
1/4 cup candied pecans

Sweet and Sour Dressing:
1/4 cup oil
2 T vinegar (I used cider, but red wine is great too)
2 T sugar
salt & pepper

We had never eaten green garlic before. We grow garlic, but never picked it green. It was amazing.........really great in this salad.

A Break from the Garden

2006-05-29T11:12:00.000-07:00

Great campsite overlooking the Pacific Ocean. That's my 100 year old grandma, who came to enjoy the view and have dinner.

Can't take too much of a break from the garden...........always something happening, don't want to miss........

Yarrow in bloom - great plant to have to attrack beneficial insects.

Rose Geranium - this plant went through major shock when I transplanted it last month, but I am happy to see it recovering. Also glad to see at least one volunteer sunflower has survived the chickens kicking about.

Passion Flower - transplanted this as well last month to a new location, so very happy to see it blooming.

Ladybug stopped for a visit on the Monarda, Bee Balm, which is not blooming yet but looking very lush.

View from Rooftop or......... how big is your garden?

2006-05-28T17:32:00.000-07:00

My 9 raised beds total about 235 sq ft. Plus I have the borders with fruit trees, the chicken coop (providing eggs) and other edibles. But in order to be completely sustainable, eating a vegan diet, I would need about 4,000 sq ft (using sustainable biointensive practices) to feed one person. In comparison, the average U.S. diet requires 30,000 sq ft of land to feed one person. Those eating high meat diets use up to 60,000 sq ft (using conventional farming practices).

So yes, I still go to the farmers market every week and belong to a CSA. But I know I will never starve, having what I have available at home.

I encourage everyone to try and grow something to eat!

Zephirine Drouhin

2006-05-28T17:09:00.000-07:00

I think this rose deserves a post of its own. It's climbing, thornless, with a nice fragrance. Rose's have edible petals, and are great for the skin. I ordered this one from Heirloom Roses

I can't wait till it fills in this steel rod trellis, which is supporting it, in my front yard.

Nasturtiums

2006-05-28T16:51:00.000-07:00

These are all volunteers. They come in so many colors, are edible, and attract beneficial insects. A must in your vegetable garden.

Orange Creamsicle (I am making up most of the names, so don't go looking for them in the store)

Cherries Jubilee..........my favorite color (and mounding type)

Blood Red (with black near the center)........amazing........don't remember ever seeing this color before in my garden. It's growing out of our french drain.

Pale Yellow (love the foliage color, a little more grey/silver to it)

Orange (I don't care for this color, and I usually pull it out at first bloom, unless it volunteers in a charming place like this, then I let it grow.

This batch comes up every year, to conveniently cover this ugly wall behind my trellis. Just as my annuals take off up the trellis, the nasturtium are dying off, so I let it go.

Clean Green

2006-05-18T10:26:00.000-07:00

With a few common household products, plus some essential herbal oils, you can make your own environmental friendly cleaning products. Herbs such as lavender, eucalyptus and tea tree are antibacterial and antifungal, and smell much more pleasant then toxic cleaners. Your house will smell like a spa on cleaning day!

Germ-Buster Scrub + Shine

3/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup borax
3 Tablespoons liquid castille soap
3 Tablespoons white vinegar
20 drops eucalyptus essential oil
15 drops lemon essential oil

Combine all ingredients in a pint size/wide mouth canning jar and shake till blended. It's like a soft scrub, with a natural clean smell. Great for cleaning kitchen and bathroom surfaces.

Germ-Killer

1 teaspoon lavender essential oil
1 teaspoon eucalyptus essential oil
6 drops tea tree essential oil
2 cups filtered water

Add ingredients to a spay bottle. Use on sink, tile, counter tops, etc.

Window Wash

Juice from 1 lemon
1/2 teaspoon spearmint essential oil
1 tsp cornstarch
2 cups filtered water

Add ingredients to a spay bottle.

HAPPY HEALTHY CLEANING!

Summer Squash...........

2006-05-17T11:21:00.000-07:00

looking good. All the heat this week has caused a growth spurt!

Scallopini

Ronde de Nice

Crookneck

Golden Bush

PM update: Look what I noticed when hand watering this evening........3 yellow Zucchini on the golden bush.

PVC Bed Hoops

2006-05-16T11:58:00.000-07:00

Easy and inexpensive project. I need them to keep the chickens out with bird netting attached, and also to extend the season with reemay cloth attached during the cool season.

You can either cut the pvc pipe to the height you desire, or just push them deeper in the soil to the desired height. Mine are 1/2" x 10'.

In some beds, a 1/2" bracket was placed inside to secure the pvc pipe in place.

In this bed, a lag bolt is holding the pvc pipe in place. They are 5/16" x 3 1/2" long. It is attached to the top of the sides of the raised beds.

Notice the nails are slanted upside-down, really no need for that large nail head to keep netting secure, and much easier to remove without getting tangled on the head.

Saturday Farmers Market

2006-05-13T19:10:00.000-07:00

Our local farmers market, which goes from April to November, is still not going full swing this year. Due to all the rain, our local farmers didn't get much of a spring crop. But I was able to get some organic green beans today, and with my dill doing so well, I decided to try making some dilly beans.

My first crop of dill was started indoors and transplanted out, but you can see the second crop that was direct sown has sprouted now, among the first crop, and should keep me going with dill for a while.

I just made one jar, kind of a test batch, to see if I even like them.

The recipe sounded good, and should make a good snack, since I am trying to eat mainly a plant based diet now, I'm looking for new ideas.

2 cups green beans
1 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup water
3 garlic cloves
5 fresh dill springs
1 teaspoon grey sea salt

Boil the vinegar and water. Stuff the jar with garlic, dill, salt and beans. Pour the hot liquid over the beans and cap. Refridgerate for 6 weeks to infuse flavor.

I do have to wait 6 weeks to see if I like them, but that brings us to the end of Junce, still plenty of time to can lots of green beans for the winter (if I like them).

If I decide to make more and store them, then I will have to can them properly in a hot water bath.

UPDATE: JULY 1

I let them sit for 6 weeks, and finally seved them friday night when I had some friends over, and the little jar went very quick........they were a hit. So on saturday I went to the farmers market and they had some nice organic green beans, so I got one produce bag full of beans and made 5 more jars, large this time.

I used 5 quart size jars, 10 cups of vinegar, 5 cups of water, 2 tsp of grey sea salt per jar, lots of fresh garlic and dill. After I filled the jars, I put them in a water bath for 10 minutes to can them properly, so I can store them on the shelf. I think I will probably make a batch this size every couple of weeks throughout the season, so I have plenty the eat all winter.

More May planting....

2006-05-12T12:16:00.000-07:00

I just realized I have not purchased one seedling from the nursery this year! I have started all my plants from seed! This is a remarkable accomplishment for me. Thanks Uncle Tom......speaking of.......those Black Eye Susan seeds that came fom Uncle Toms Garden in Maine that I had started back in March are ready to transplant out to their permanent location. They really did great, what a relief....I'm really happy about that.

Basil ready to transplant out into its permanent location.

Valarian is ready to transplant out. These seeds were left in the refridgerator in a bag of soil over the winter. On 2/9 I noticed a few had sprouted, so I transplanted them into a pot, and this in the one survivor. Valarian is a medicinal herb, great for the relaxation border, can be used in a tea at bed time.

These are two Echinacia ready to be transplanted out, that began life just as the Valarian did, and only two survivors out of six.

More Calendula is ready to go out (so easy to start from seed, very reliable medicinal herb, great for the skin, and a great edible flower to add to your salad).

Super Size Flat

2006-05-12T11:55:00.000-07:00

Always trying out new ideas........experimenting in the garden.........this is one of my salad beds, that I am not ready to add salad to for a few more weeks, so I decided to transplant some of my squash and flower seedlings into it. They were getting to big for their little flat, but not ready to be planted out in their permanent location for a few more weeks.

Strawberry almost ready to be picked (does this mean some critter will come along and eat it tonight?)

Finally got to staking and stringing my Yulon Gold Potato Bed today.

Daylillies are blooming

Simple Seed Saving

2006-05-11T13:16:00.000-07:00

You can make a screen like this out of some salvaged screen and wood. I just leave it outdoors on the table, under the pergola, where it is protected from direct sun. These are calendula and some blue cornflowers. The brown seed to the left are calendula already dried and ready to be stored. The green flower heads are fresh picked calendula, and will take a few weeks to dry before I store.

See the paper bag in the back with the dried up stuff in it, thats my cilantro plant from fall, it was stored all winter in the bag. I just planted some of the seeds a few weeks ago, and they germinated and are growing fresh cilantro in my garden.

Or you can pull entire plants out of the ground and hang in a large paper bag to dry, away from direct sun light. These are stock, I just seperated them by color into different bags.

Or you can just put flower heads in a small paper bag and hang them as well. These are Deja Vu Calendula. The seeds were green when I first picked them, now they are turning brown and drying nicely. After they are dry I will store them in envelopes or glass jars.

Growing Tomatoes

2006-05-10T15:11:00.000-07:00

Wow! I didn't realize how much they grew, until I compared with last month's photo's.....

Gold Current

April 10th

May 10th

July 2
The foliage is not healthy on this tomato, but the fruit is delicious. This was the first tomato to ripen this summer.

Yellow Pear

April 10th

May 10th

July 2

Black Cherry, Chadwick's Cherry and Yellow Pear and Calendula Flowers in wine barrel

April 10th

May 10

July 2

I had such great success last year, experimenting with growing tomatoes in containers, I can't wait to see how prolific they are this year. I watered them at least once a day, sometimes twice, gave them a foliar feeding at 50% rate once per week, and a side dressing once per month.

May 17 - Japanese Black Truffle and Polish Pastel

I grew these two varieties last summer for the first time and loved them. They did great in my yard. Started producing very early and stopped producing very late; prolific and very delicious. I saved the seed, choosing one of the earliest and best specimens. I tagged it, and let it stay on the vine until way over-ripe. I then squeezed the tomato into a cup...........seeds, flesh, skin and all, to ferment for a few days. Then i rinsed well and dried.

July 2
Polish Pastel and Japanese Black Truffle in bed #6

Photograph Your Seedlings

2006-05-04T13:53:00.000-07:00

This year I am going to take pictues of all my seedlings that I am hoping will self-sow in the future. This way, when I am weeding I will be able to recognize what I want to keep and what I want to pull.

Cilantro Seedling

Cilantro looks like a tomato seedling at first. Last year I actually starting weeding them, thinking they were tomatoes. Won't make that mistake again!

Be patient, and in a few days you will see the third leaf appear, and it will resemble cilantro more then tomato.

Calendula Seedling

Borage Seedling

Basil Seedling

May Gardening Calender

2006-05-03T11:16:00.000-07:00

Start in Flats this month:
Cucumbers, lettuce, melons, squash, sunflowers.

Plant Directly this month:
Beans, carrots, corn, dill, sunflowers

Transplant this month:
Basil, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, melons, squash, sunflowers.

Winter Squash is growing verticle

Red Kuri (transplanted on 4/8)

Kaboocha (transplanted on 4/27)

Kaboocha July 2

Spaghetti (transplanted on 5/9 and 5/31)

Cucumbers are NOT growing verticle (for a change)
Streight 8 and Armenian (transplanted May 3)

Mediteranean Garden Oasis (transplanted June 1)

July 2

I squeezed these extras growing verticle:

Vegetables in the Front Yard..........

2006-05-02T09:47:00.000-07:00

I am really going over the edge now........,no, no, no, I'm just running out of space. I need a bigger yard. I really just want to create a completely edible landscape (that darn class I took convinced me lawn is bad for the environment), so its only natural a few veggies will start finding their way into the front yard. It's not full sun, due to a tree with a very large canapoy, but I think lettuce and herbs would do fine. But that won't stop me from at least trying cucumbers, beans and squash, because you never know till you try, and I just like to experiment. Who know's, maybe one year raised beds will replace the small lawn area.

This trellis is just too perfect for the long vines of summer zuchetta squash, an heirloom that can grow up to 25'. Thats why I couldn't resist. I saved the seeds from last year. It was my first try at hand pollination and isolation, so we'll see if they come back true to form.

They were prolific; you could pick the flowers along with the fairly already large mini squash attached, and stuff with goat cheese, drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and roast. If you let them grow, they qucikly get very long, but stay relatively thin, and tender and delicious.

Runner Beans, Summer Zuchetta Squash and Armenian Cucumber

The chicks don't hang out front, so I have to be very protective of snails. Don't want my little babies, who I nurtured from seed, to disappear over night. So, I put the left over copper barrier to good use.

UPDATE: JUNE 2

UPDATE JULY 2

The front yard trellis turned out great to grow vegetables! Glad I gave it a try.

July 12:

Community Supported Agriculture

2006-05-01T10:13:00.000-07:00

is a small-farm marketing strategy and a community philosophy. When shareholders subscribe to the farm's harvest, they share in the bounty of its success while minimizing the financial impact of crop failure.

To find a farm in your area go to Local Harvest and search for a CSA using your zip code.

I was very surprised to find one close to my home, and I am very excited about being a share holder at Hidden Villa Farm in Los Altos Hills. I bought a small share at $500. This will get me a box of Organic Fresh Produce weekly (enough to feed 2 or 3 people), during their growing season which usually last 7 months, from May to Novemeber. It's a 20 minute drive from my home. Its much more environmentally friendly to eat locally grown food, then have it delivered from Mexico and beyond.

Its great to be able to support local Organic Farming.

Beautiful California Poppy

Pick a Salad Everday

2006-04-30T08:32:00.000-07:00

If I could do that, I would say my garden was a success. Such planning it would require, but that is my goal now. I need to start by keeping track of germination dates, transplanting dates, harvesting dates...that's where these online garden journals come in handy, they are a perfect place to store all this important information.

I just picked my first salad this morning from lettuce started on 2/6. I first broadcast the seeds in a flat on 2/6, then I transplanted the little seedlings 1.5" apart, into a new flat on 2/17. On 4/8 I transplanted those larger seedlings into their raised bed (they were ready sooner, but with all our rain I had to postpone transplanting). It took me nearly 3 months to harvest my lettuce this spring. That's way longer then usual.

I started another batch of lettuce on 4/18, which was transplanted on 4/28 into its second flat. I think it should be ready to transplant into its raised bed much more quickly now that the rain has stopped.

Don't wait till lunch or dinner to pick your lettuce. Harvest lettuce as early as you can in the morning when it is the sweetest, before the bitter mucus (natural protectent) enters the leaves.

Calendula, Cornflower, Nasturtuim, Borage and Viola's

I like to pick some edible flowers to add to my salad, they make it look so pretty and appetizing (especially in the winter and spring, when we have no tomatoes for color). I like to add sliced strawberries to my salad when they are in season as well (instead of the dried cranberries that I used all winter), and some candied lavender pecans add the finishing touch.

This is my favortie Raspberry Vinigarette:

1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup seasoned rice wine vinegar
2 Tablespoons Raspberry Enlightenment
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
fresh ground pepper

Candied Lavender Pecans:

1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 Tablespoons Lavender Sugar (2 cups sugar with 2 Tablespoon dried lavender flowers stored in a jar)

Heat in a small skillet, stirring, till sugar melts, coating nuts. Remove nuts from pan and cool on a plate. Transfer to jar for storage.

UPDATE: June 2

My second bed of lettuce (and herbs, and edible flowers) this season, transplanted on May 24th. Some Radichio, Endive, Red Snails, Nancy's, Basil, and I sowed some mounding type nasturtium seed along the borders.

Started some more lettuce seed in a flat on 5/27. I just broadcast the seeds in a little plastic food tray I recycled, and left it on the kitchen greenhouse window. After all the seeds germinate, I will transplant them to a larger flat, giving them more spacing, then when they grow out of that, they will go out into their beds.

April Garden Improvements

2006-04-29T09:36:00.000-07:00

I removed the reemay cloth from my raised beds and put up bird-netting for the summer. I am so happy now I can see whats growing in my beds, since I am outdoors all day now. It looks much nicer, and the birds can't get at the veggies.

I decided my potatoes needed some stronger staking, so I cut these redwood stakes instead of using the willow tree branches (that actually took root and starting growing). The diagional string pattern is much tighter now, so potatoes will have good support as they grow.

April is Time for planting........

2006-04-28T09:47:00.000-07:00

Squash

This is my Kabocha Winter Squash. To save space I will grow it verticle, using this large, sturdy tomato cage. This squash is the best to make soup. I mix it with the Red Kuri and its amazing. Butternut can't compare.

Tomatoes and Calendula

These Cherry Tomatoes (black, chadwick and yellow pear) and Calendula (triangle flashback) were transplanted into this wine barrel earlier in the month (4/7) and are growing real fast. The seedlings in flats are scallions and pole and bush beans waiting to be transplanted out next month.

Sage Harvest

2006-04-23T08:18:00.000-07:00

The Sage is at its peak in my yard, just starting to bloom. This is when it is at its most potent, so you want to harvest it now. It's very difficult, because it is so beautiful, you want to keep it and enjoy it just where it is. I will save seeds from my other sage bush, because I start a few new plants every year, and remove old ones after a few years.

When preparing bundles, take off the top few leaves, so they have good air circulation, and you don't have to worry about any mold. Remove any leaves that are brown or eaten. Use a good quality rubber band to keep them together. I just use push pins, to hang them from my pergola, where they will be out of direct sunlight. They should be dried and ready to store in about 2 weeks.

All those leftover leaves won't go to waste. I will sprinkle them around my new seedlings to help ward off pests like earwigs. Somehow they stay clear because they don't like to strong scent. This is a good way to use up any left over dried herbs from last year also. Sprinkle a little each evening.

Another great place to dry your herbs is to set up your screened in tent that your normally only use around a picnic table when out camping. Now you have another great use for it. Set it up in your yard, and hang the herbs to dry inside.

And if you can't do that, you can always hang them in a large paper bag, where they will stay dry and out of direct sunlight, maybe under your patio umbrella. Or even try putting the bag in your car for quick drying, keep an eye on them, as if it is really hot, they could dry up really quick. Experiment and have fun.

Beside great in cooking, Salvia officinalis has wonderful Medicinal Properties:
Sage is especially useful for thin copius mucus that occurs after eating dairy or a bout of the cold. It strenghtens and tones the digestive system while eliminating excess mucus. Also useful as a gargle for sore throats, when mixed with honey and a slice of lemon.

If you live locally and your interested in learning more about herbs, I highly recommend the herb classes given by Darren Huckle at Common Ground in Palo Alto

We learned how to make a herbal salve

Finally...........Sun, so I am infusing Arnica, Calendula, St John's Wort, and Self-Heal in Olive Oil, outdoors in the sunshine. After about 3 weeks, I will strain it, then melt some grated bee's wax in it, and I will have enough Amazing Sore Muscle Salve to last me a few months. Great for my arthritis.

Sage update - May 14

The sage is dry when you break the stem and it snaps. I like to use a big bowl, and wear disposable gloves to protect my hands....this could be rough. Hold each stem by the tip, and run your fingers down to remove the flowers and leaves from the woody stem.

When done, you are left with a large pile of woody stems for the compost, and some fragrant dried sage for storage.

I will use my sage in a relaxation herbal bath, combined with dried Rosemary, basil, thyme, and lavender flower. Add the herbs to a muslin bag, add to a quart size mason jar, and fill with boiling water, then cover and infuse for at least 1/2 hour. Pour the infused water along with the muslin bag of herbs into your bath water......and relax.

UPDATE: May 28
These sage blooms are now pretty dried up, I'm going to prune it back, and put all the cuttings in a paper bag, and save the seeds for future plantings.

Chicken Proofing.........

2006-04-22T15:35:00.000-07:00

its just like having toddlers around again.

I transplanted 2 tomatoes and 2 summer squash into this bed, and had to figure out how to protect it from the chickens. We had this wire left over from building the chicken coup and it will be perfect for protecting young seedlings from being kicked out of the soil.

I liked it so much, I decided to to trade in the stake and string barrier I put around my Strawberries.

Copper Snail Barrier

2006-04-21T17:25:00.000-07:00

Since I practice organic gardening, I don't like to use any snail bait, and going out every night with a flashlight got old quick, so I invested in this copper barrier. I get it for .55 per sq ft, so each raised bed cost only about $13. I still haven't done them all, but I'm working on them one at a time. Now I have a use for the small left over odd and end pieces.

I left the bean seedlings out unprotected for 3 nights and they had some very minor damage. Could be snails, slugs or earwigs. Last year, I remember planting seedlings, and the next morning they would be COMPLETELY gone! Anyway, I decided to surround each seedling with the left-over copper barrier that I use all around my raised beds, to keep snails and slugs out. I figure once the beans are established, I can remove the barrier and use it to protect other seedlings that are ready to be transplanted.

I think the copper electrocutes the snails when their antenna's touch the folded over part at the top. I never see dead snails lying around (like you see with snail bait), they must just go home and rest.

But here is my favorite protection against snails:

Organic, Free Range Chickens - its good grub for them.

I had the area blocked off so the chickens wouldn't damage the new bean seedlings, but I decide to remove the barrier, so they could kick around in the soil and eat any earwigs that might be out and about.

Everythings Going to Seed

2006-04-20T09:09:00.000-07:00

In the San Francisco Bay Area we have a cool crop season, which is now coming to the end of its cycle. Always leave a few of your favorite plants in the ground to go to seed. Most likely they will become a weed, or you will at least have a large number of seeds to start again next year, not having to keep purchasing them.

Sometime you may even be surprised by a beautiful flower, like I was last year when I let this Curly Endive go to seed, and I was rewarded with the most amazing periwinkle blue flowers. This is only the first flower, but it must have produced thousands from just this one plant. I vowed to plant endive everywhere so I can let it go to seed, just to have the beautiful flowers in my garden.

This is the first year I grew stock, so I am surprised to see the long, slender seed head it produces. I like it. A nice little package to store its seeds in, similiar to California Poppies. And look at all those seed heads! This is just one plant here.

Parsley is also beautiful going to seed. Leave only one plant in the ground for many seeds.

I also have my favorite Cilantro, Lettuce, Arugula and Calendula to save for another season.

Be sure your original plants/seeds were open-pollinated or heirloom varieties, so they come back true to form. If they were hybrids, they probably won't come back as the original.

Beautiful Bird Bath

2006-04-19T11:05:00.000-07:00

What a sight........chickens finally bathing in the sunshine, instead of running for cover from the rain and hail.

I love that the cat and the chickens are sharing the yard. I wasn't too sure at first, and felt like I had to babysit the chickens, but it was quickly apparent that they would live in harmony.

My Favorite Annual Herbs...........

2006-04-18T10:23:00.000-07:00

If you like to garden, you probably like to eat or cook what you grow, so you gotta have lots of herbs. They make everything taste better, each herb adds a new level of flavor to your dish.
Cilantro

Last summer I purchased some really nice plants at my farmers market and I let them go to seed, so I had another crop in the fall that lasted all winter. Yesterday I cleaned up the bed, added some compost and tossed in some seeds I had saved from last fall. I decided I better protect the area with tomato cages to keep the chickens out. Notice I left a few plants in the bed to go to seed again.

Hopefully I will get a new crop of cilantro before too long............because I love cilantro, I want it growing year round. I put it in Salsa, and use it as a garnish on some of my favorite foods; Kitcheree, Hoisun Pork and Spring Rolls.

Treat Parsley the same way and it too will become a weed in your garden.

Cilantro Update
May 4

The cilantro seeds have sprouted, so I am looking forward to a new crop soon.

May 28

It's coming along. Some borage and calendula have volunteered in the bed. I need to weed them out, maybe transplant them somewhere else.

Basil

I started these seeds on wet paper towels on 4/1. On 4/8 I transplanted them into flats, today I transplanted them into individual dixie cups (3 plants per cup).

(I tried to start some basil seeds indoors in february, but none survived, I was able to germinte them, but then they got too saturated in all the rain, because I left them outdoors, unprotected).

Usually I can't plant basil seeds directly outdoors till June 1 around here, they won't germinate any earlier. But this year I tried Uncle Tom's Method indoors to get a jump start.........because I love basil, and can't wait to start picking it. So far, so good with the batch started in April. I just have to be careful and not leave them out in the rain.

I haven't figured out how to get basil to volunteer or even save the seeds yet.....something to work on this year.

Garlic

Garlic is planted in the Fall, I planted these last October. I expect to harvest them sometime in June/July. I interplanted my beds with herbs and flowers to make them look nice and stay healthy.

After the rain......

2006-04-13T09:37:00.000-07:00

the Painted Lady runner beans not only survived, they thrived! These seeds were started between wet paper towels on 3/27, then transplanted to dixie cups on 4/5.

they were kept outdoors during the entire storm, under the protection of the house over-hang ........if you don't have a green house, you have to get creative.

The potatoes didn't seem to mind all the rain......
they grew enough to start pushing the dirt around the stems, this will make them stronger. They were planted on 2/24.