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garden dreaming

By on February 18, 2014 in Farm and Garden, Uncategorized

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I’m once again back at the library until our internet problem is resolved.  It has been quite profitable to not have internet access at home.  I have made much progress on plans for this year, reading books that have been sitting playing second fiddle to my laptop and spending time out though it may be cold.

Gardening for me is a consuming passion.  It is all encompassing, mind consuming and enthralling, until the weeds take over and then I have been seen running for the hills.  Though the area for my new garden may be covered in snow and ice, there is much to do.  So.  much.  I kind of already feel behind.  I never did find garlic to plant and so am now ordering some for the better late than never garlic planting, not the best start to my gardening this year but I am giving myself some leeway for having just moved here and all.

This week, I had the boys find my metal shelving that was somehow unloaded before everything else and has been covered by a mountain of boxes.  Yes, boxes.  Oh, I may be unpacking boxes, at the rate I’m going, until the baby is in college.  The shelves are being set up down in the play room by the sunniest window I could find.  Lots of seeds will be started as soon as I’m done with my plans, at least some rudimentary plans for now.

I am going through and making a list of all the seeds I already own, Seedaholics anonymous?  Why no, I’ve never heard of it!  To that list I am adding all the things I have always wanted to grow but could not being in zone 9.  Oh goodness, this could be dangerous.  I must keep in mind though that I have a very small budget to work with and so I can’t get too naughty but I have it on good word that a fellow seed-aholic (of the most pretty kind) will be sending me the seeds she too was day dreaming she could plant in zone 9 and so I will grow them for both of us.  Yes I will!

I am not allowing myself to wallow in all that we left at our farm in Florida.  I am turning my face to the ever sure sun and moving forward.  This is a new challenge, a blank canvas that we can paint with all the possiblities imaginable.  For now I am going by this quote.

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for”

-Epicurus Greek Philosopher (341 BC – 270 BC)

The surest sign that I am being bitten by the spring bug is my reading basket.  Even the cookbooks are farm and garden related.  I just finished Paradise Lot by Eric Toensmeier and I really enjoyed it.  It is the story of two plant geeks (like me) who buy a duplex together after years of being farming partners.  They meet wives and build an edible paradise in Massachusetts.  I figured that with it being so cold there, I might find lots of perennials and edibles that I can grow here.  Oh, so much to research.

I was out walking around yesterday planning out things and as soon as I think I have it all figured out, I all of a sudden change my mind on where the chickens will go, where the garden will be.  How to put up the greenhouse on the back of the existing potting shed?  This is really the part that un-nerves me right now because I don’t have a year to watch and plan.  I need to get out there and I don’t want to make too many mistakes though in the mistakes are the adventures.

 

 

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romance and seeds catalogs

By on January 30, 2014 in Farm and Garden, Real Food on a Real Budget

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You might think those two don’t really go together but for me they oh so do.  I have said it for many years but during winter I can be caught romancing a seed catalog or two.  This year it really is true.  I can’t do a darned thing outside, unlike in Florida where winter is the best time to garden.  Actually last week, I decided my farm would be in my kitchen, that counts right?  Say. yes.

I drove to 5 different stores and could not find one store that had a bag of compost or soil for sale.  Dorothy, I don’t think we are in Kansas anymore…  I finally went to a big box home improvement store and almost got frostbite in the 10 minutes I was outside in the gardening section.  It was silly of me not to wear gloves when the temps outside were in the negative but I honestly didn’t think being outside for a few minutes would cause me so much pain.  The pain in my fingers was so bad I could barely think straight.  Anyhoo, I’m getting off the subject here.  So I bought 3 large terracotta pots and 2 big bags of compost.  Took them home and was so happy to set up something living in dirt where I could play with it but the second I put those bags down in the kitchen, I knew this was not going to be an instant gratification sort of deal.  The soil was frozen solid.  I tried banging them on the ground, massaging to loosen and the only thing that happened was frozen fingers again.  So they sat there in my kitchen next to the warm air vent for the next two days.  Having that little area to grow something in is really helping me get through this winter.  I never knew how important being connected to soil is to me before.  It is as important as eating real food or feeding my crafting soul.  Yes, very important in deed.

I have spent the past week in full planning mode.  Needing to start a new farm is somewhat of a daunting task but oh so fun at the same time.  It is like decorating a new house except with the beauty of nature.  I am pouring through more than just seed catalogs though these two are my favorites for the past few years, this one and this one which is full of rare orientals that I just love.  I have been reading a slew of gardening books.  This one is really good, Paradise Lot.  Two plant geeks (hey I’m one too :), who start an urban farm and with their vast knowledge of perennials truly create a paradise in the city on just one tenth of an acre.  It is most important to me because they live in the north, so I know many of the plants they are growing might live here, especially the semi-tropicals and edibles that they have experimented with.  Really a great read.

This is going to be some learning curve for me in the garden.  This year I will be getting started when I am usually almost finished with most crops.  I am psyched about growing garlic, onions and shallots, oh shallots how I love thee so.  These things do not grow in Florida.  There are a few many fruits and veggies I have never had the opportunity to try either but slow and steady will be the plan.

I forgot to share my finished embroidery project with you all and it has now been on the wall for over a week but I guess it fits in with today’s post.  Grow Life and Love.  That says it all.

I am really excited (and a bit nervous) to share my Real food on a real budget with you tomorrow!!  I have been putting together all my techniques whenever they come to mind.  The other day I was driving to the bank and a few thoughts came into my mind.  Not wanting to forget them but not being able to write them down, I grabbed my phone and started recording a memo.  That memo turned into quite a long conversation, I have had to break it up into two 8 minute recordings on how we eat on a budget.  I got so into it that I missed the bank by a few miles.  Once home, I told the kids about it and after hearing it and laughing quite a bit, they thought you might want to hear it too.  No idea why anyone would want to hear what I sound like but the kids thought it would be a good idea.  I have Erica working on trying to figure out how to add that recording to tomorrow’s post.  I hope she can get it done because I am no good with those types of things.  I guess we shall see but either way, I will see you all tomorrow!

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