I am so sick and tired of guns. Every time I turn on the news there is something about guns - someone being killed - usually kids. Here is an interesting little fact - each year more preschoolers are killed by guns than police officers in the line of duty. Today I started a bucket course and I did not know when I signed up for a WWI classs that I would end up watching videos made by some gun whacko (think Palin) who was suspicously passionate about explaining the mass killing abilities of machine guns. Ugh. Overall though it is a good course and it is a good reason to get out of the house and spend some time with more creatures with two legs. I think my dogs have gotten sick of my trying to talk their ears off while they are napping.
This is a site about gardening and feeding people tho, so let's stick with that subject. I started a small terra cotta container of arugula today. I have a pretty bad back so the more I can shove into containers the easier it will be on me come harvest time. Arugula also grows fast so we should be able to get a salad out of it and then reuse the container.
Two years ago at a farmers market I purchased round cucumbers. That's right - ROUND cucumbers. I tried to find a picture online but I do not recall them being yellow, which is what most of the pictures online are - yellow. Well, I saved the seeds from that round cucumber and dried them on a paper plate. I put them in a glass jar and labeled them but I have never tried to grow them until today. It has been a couple of years and to be honest I do not even know how long the seeds stay good under perfect conditions much less being moved around in and out of cold, wet, and dry conditions. So we are going to hope for the best.
I also put some zinnia seeds into a 6 pack (2 into each) and we will see how those turn out. Last time I tried to grow them (last year) it took a long time for them to germinate and when they finally began to grow they became very lanky. They were also chewed to bits by irwigs. At the last house we experienced a very wet summer - very wet - and there was nothing we could do to control the irwigs. Speaking of flowers - the lupine only had about a 50% germination rate but those that did germinate are doing really well. They have their second set of leaves and I will start fertilizing with fish emulsion next week. The Mrs. Pickler Pioneer cucumbers are starting to come up already after just a few days.
At the last minute we grabbed some of the potted flowers before leaving the last house and in one of the pots is a Crane's Bill Hardy Geranium that is coming up. I brought it in last week during the 60 degree weather and put it under the growing lights and it is coming up pretty strong. A euonymous that I did the same with is not doing as well as the geranium - I am pretty sure it is toast.
That's it for today. The high tomorrow is 33 degrees but Mr. Man tells me that I will be able to sign up for three more sociology courses tomorrow and that is very exciting. Something to keep me busy while he is working and I am waiting for the warmer weather to come around.
Oh - and at the class today I met a very nice man from town who informed me that there is a lecture on prairie burning over at Grinnell College tomorrow. I am hoping to learn more about proper burning for the land. Eventually I would like to replace all of the grass with natural prairie grasses that do not need to be mowed. A girl can dream.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
ARRGHH - I cannot TAKE IT anymore!
It is cold and I am bored - really bored. Actually I fear I am losing my mind. I am going stir crazy in this house and it is WAY too cold to go outside. Even the dogs are going nuts. Everyone wants to get outside and play in the dirt (albeit in different ways of course). I am itching to garden but I cannot do that so I am occupying my time waiting for some IRS money to come in so I can register for my final classes for my degree (YEAH!) and researching homes to put out on our land. We had not planned on moving so soon - after all we just bought this house last fall - but our land is calling and it says it wants a house on it, so we are looking at options.
The indoor seed starting project is going along fine. The Tom Thumb Peas are growing well - 3 out of 4 seeds germinated right away and I replaced the 4th for good measure. The broccoli and cabbage seeds are sprouting already and I have already divided most of the tomato plants and put them into larger containers so they can go to town between now and summer. I also took a very large terra cotta pot and planted it with 1/3 thai basil, 1/3 dark opal basil, and 1/3 genovese basil. It will be pretty if it fills out the way I planned it. The rainbow heirloom seeds have had a germination rate of only 50% so I am going to give it another couple of days and then replace the "dead" seeds if necessary. I am trying something new this year and planting pickling cucumbers in a container. They are Parisian Pickling Cucumbers and they are ugly little things but if they taste like the sweet pickles my grandmother used to put on the table I am all for ugly! Here is a picture:
Other than that just sitting here waiting for it to warm up - could be another two weeks before I can do anything else outside. Mr. Man had to cover the spinach with plastic and we are hoping it makes it through the next few super cold nights.
I am starting a new "bucket course" tomorrow at the Drake Community Library. It is a class on World War I and it should be interesting. I love all of the older people in town who attend these lectures. They are such a great group of funny people and they think that it is hilarious that I attend a "bucket course" (everything you want to learn before you kick the bucket) at my age - which to them is young. NOT! (And no I am not going to list my age).
Oh - and it goes without saying that we are rethinking a move to New Zealand after the horrific earthquake yesterday. What a tragedy! We are certainly in the mood for a new adventure but buildings falling on top of me is where I draw the line.
The indoor seed starting project is going along fine. The Tom Thumb Peas are growing well - 3 out of 4 seeds germinated right away and I replaced the 4th for good measure. The broccoli and cabbage seeds are sprouting already and I have already divided most of the tomato plants and put them into larger containers so they can go to town between now and summer. I also took a very large terra cotta pot and planted it with 1/3 thai basil, 1/3 dark opal basil, and 1/3 genovese basil. It will be pretty if it fills out the way I planned it. The rainbow heirloom seeds have had a germination rate of only 50% so I am going to give it another couple of days and then replace the "dead" seeds if necessary. I am trying something new this year and planting pickling cucumbers in a container. They are Parisian Pickling Cucumbers and they are ugly little things but if they taste like the sweet pickles my grandmother used to put on the table I am all for ugly! Here is a picture:
I am starting a new "bucket course" tomorrow at the Drake Community Library. It is a class on World War I and it should be interesting. I love all of the older people in town who attend these lectures. They are such a great group of funny people and they think that it is hilarious that I attend a "bucket course" (everything you want to learn before you kick the bucket) at my age - which to them is young. NOT! (And no I am not going to list my age).
Oh - and it goes without saying that we are rethinking a move to New Zealand after the horrific earthquake yesterday. What a tragedy! We are certainly in the mood for a new adventure but buildings falling on top of me is where I draw the line.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Magnus Lovage
Magnus Lovage is an herb that is used in soups, dips, and as garnish. I was pleased to find it because they say it tastes just like celery but is much easier to grow than celery - well, in Iowa at least. I started the seed indoors in a container so that I can keep it on the table right outside the kitchen door for easy access. I am new to this herb (along with a few others I am trying this year for the first time). Let's hope it is disease and pest resistant.
Tom Thumb Peas are the cutest thing you have ever seen. They are a dwarf pea plant and look so darn adorable in containers. Pretty pea pods that form after white flowers grow on dwarf plants and they are so stunning. I put four seeds in one small terra cotta pot and I am hoping it will fill in and provide a nice centerpiece for the outdoor table. We purchased the seed from Seed Savers last year and they are typically sold out so we were lucky to get our hands on some. I would like to buy some more this year but I have really pushed my gardening budget already. (I might break down and do it anyway tho). Here is a pic.
Last night Mr. Man was sweet enough to come home after working all day and jump right in to help with the yard work. The garden was wet with standing water because of the accelerated snow melt and he dug trenches to let the water run off and away from the spinach that had survived over the winter (under the snow). I am going to sow another row of spinach today right next to the existing spinach and hope for an early crop.
We just purchased this home last August and we were delighted by how well spinach and lettuce did in the garden area. The summer before we purchased the home the backyard had flooded a lot do to an excessive amount of rain. The sellers of the house were just devastated to be selling the house with a big brown patch in the yard. Turns out it made the perfect garden and the dirt is like black gold. We could not be happier.
Today I started Broccoli Calabrese (6), Mammoth Red Rock Cabbage (6), Celebrity Tomato (6), Sweet Cherry Tomato (6), and Cucumber - Mrs. Pickler (6). I am going to try pickling this year because I literally have so many canning jars that I do not think I could grow enough food (even in a 75X25 garden) to fill them all with tomatoes and beans. Besides, sometimes I like pickles.
There are posts on the maple tree we put in last fall and those need to come out today as well as moving houseplants from terra cotta pots into plastic pots so they can get sold at a spring garage sale or at the annual gardeners club plant sale. I want the pots outside full of veggies and herbs this year and I have plastic pots galore so this will free up some of my terra cotta.
Well the garden is not going to take care of itself so, no time like the present.
 |
| Magnus Lovage |
Tom Thumb Peas are the cutest thing you have ever seen. They are a dwarf pea plant and look so darn adorable in containers. Pretty pea pods that form after white flowers grow on dwarf plants and they are so stunning. I put four seeds in one small terra cotta pot and I am hoping it will fill in and provide a nice centerpiece for the outdoor table. We purchased the seed from Seed Savers last year and they are typically sold out so we were lucky to get our hands on some. I would like to buy some more this year but I have really pushed my gardening budget already. (I might break down and do it anyway tho). Here is a pic.
 |
| Tom Thumb Pea |
We just purchased this home last August and we were delighted by how well spinach and lettuce did in the garden area. The summer before we purchased the home the backyard had flooded a lot do to an excessive amount of rain. The sellers of the house were just devastated to be selling the house with a big brown patch in the yard. Turns out it made the perfect garden and the dirt is like black gold. We could not be happier.
Today I started Broccoli Calabrese (6), Mammoth Red Rock Cabbage (6), Celebrity Tomato (6), Sweet Cherry Tomato (6), and Cucumber - Mrs. Pickler (6). I am going to try pickling this year because I literally have so many canning jars that I do not think I could grow enough food (even in a 75X25 garden) to fill them all with tomatoes and beans. Besides, sometimes I like pickles.
 |
| Broccoli Calabrese |
Well the garden is not going to take care of itself so, no time like the present.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
It's A Record
I am not so sure that it is a good thing that Iowa set a record for high temperatures today. Supposedly it is going to reach 72 degrees today. It is February and it is 72 degrees. What global warming.....Last week there was a 100 degree swing within 48 hours in one of the southern states. Wow! Maybe dumping two feet of snow on Georgia will get some people on board with the concept of global warming. If not - screw 'em, let 'em can get buried alive.
As for me, I spent the day taking my final exam (think I did pretty well) and playing in the dirt. The back is not holding up very well but I push it anyway, I simply cannot help it. I played with the dog and she was good about staying the yard until the neighbor's cat came into view and then all bets were off. She took off after that cat like a bat out of hell. Idiot - doesn't she know a cat can take a dog! Well, this one decided to take off through the side neighbors yard and Wolfi went right after it. I had to drag her back home (which was NOT easy at all) and thank goodness my son came around the corner right when I needed him to. She was so excited to see him she forgot about the cat - for about 10 seconds - and then she was off again. Hubby is putting up fencing as soon as we can squeeze it into the budget.
Cut back the brown portions of the Siberian Iris and raked some of the leaves from the backyard. The kid was good enough to help me put the yard waste into containers. Gotta love when your kids are old enough to help out! Cleaned up a little around the hostas and spent alot of time scraping the mud off of my boots. When will I learn patience! (hint: never).
Tomorrow it is supposed to be 50 degrees or so - hopefully the garden will dry out a bit more. The spinach is still under water.
Saturday at 1:00 pm at the Drake Community Library in Grinnell there is someone speaking about heirloom corn and it's uses - decorations, popcorn, etc. We may attend the lecture - hubby and I are concerned about heirloom seed and saving the food supply so it might be interesting.
As for me, I spent the day taking my final exam (think I did pretty well) and playing in the dirt. The back is not holding up very well but I push it anyway, I simply cannot help it. I played with the dog and she was good about staying the yard until the neighbor's cat came into view and then all bets were off. She took off after that cat like a bat out of hell. Idiot - doesn't she know a cat can take a dog! Well, this one decided to take off through the side neighbors yard and Wolfi went right after it. I had to drag her back home (which was NOT easy at all) and thank goodness my son came around the corner right when I needed him to. She was so excited to see him she forgot about the cat - for about 10 seconds - and then she was off again. Hubby is putting up fencing as soon as we can squeeze it into the budget.
Cut back the brown portions of the Siberian Iris and raked some of the leaves from the backyard. The kid was good enough to help me put the yard waste into containers. Gotta love when your kids are old enough to help out! Cleaned up a little around the hostas and spent alot of time scraping the mud off of my boots. When will I learn patience! (hint: never).
Tomorrow it is supposed to be 50 degrees or so - hopefully the garden will dry out a bit more. The spinach is still under water.
Saturday at 1:00 pm at the Drake Community Library in Grinnell there is someone speaking about heirloom corn and it's uses - decorations, popcorn, etc. We may attend the lecture - hubby and I are concerned about heirloom seed and saving the food supply so it might be interesting.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Okay...okay.....I caved.
I said earlier today I would not go out and dig in the dirt because it is too cold and wet but I caved. It was really the dogs fault - she was at the door begging to go out and play ball so I did - and while I was out there I saw the pathetic wilted leftovers from last seasons hostas and iris and I just HAD to cut them back.
I also trenched next to the spinach in an effort to get some of the standing water to run off. Seemed to work - let's hope for the best.
OH - and the BEST news today - my red aparagus bean seeds arrived in the mail YEAH! Cannot wait to get those puppies in the ground.
Speaking of mail - my sis sent me books for my son (which he loved) and a book and map on New Zealand, ouur next vacation destination, and they also arrived today. Cool! Thanks Mer!
I also trenched next to the spinach in an effort to get some of the standing water to run off. Seemed to work - let's hope for the best.
OH - and the BEST news today - my red aparagus bean seeds arrived in the mail YEAH! Cannot wait to get those puppies in the ground.
Speaking of mail - my sis sent me books for my son (which he loved) and a book and map on New Zealand, ouur next vacation destination, and they also arrived today. Cool! Thanks Mer!
Damp and Chilly
53 degrees today - so they say - it just seems damp and chilly to me. I would love to go out and play in the dirt but it is just too wet. Tomorrow is supposed to be even warmer so maybe I will get a chance to go out and sow some spinach if things dry out a wee bit.
Today I started peppers. Most of the packages tell me that I should be heating the bottom of the planting trays with warming blankets and keeping things at 80 degrees but that is not an option for me right now so mother nature is going to have to suck it up! I am doing the best I can. I water them, give them plenty of light and I talk to them - ALOT (hey - being in Iowa in the house by yourself can lead to some pretty crazy things.)
Starting off our pepper line-up is something new for us this year. Marconi Red Peppers. This is an Italian pepper and it has a heat factor of 0. Apparently they are good raw in salads or skinned. I started 9 of them in small cells. We purchased these seeds from Seed Savers (http://www.seedsavers.org/) and we are really excited to try these. Hubby just tried raw red pepper for the first time recently and really enjoyed it. High in vitamins A and C. I think they are also a pretty plant so let's hope for a large crop!
Banana Peppers are one of my personal favorites and I am hoping to learn how to can them this year. When I lived in the Chicago area and used to order pizza - which I would never do in Iowa - ugh - I used to love banana peppers on my pizza. Good thing I am gluten free now - makes going without good pizza a little more tolerable. We started 9 banana peppers.
Thai Hot Pepper - started 9 of these as well. (If you have noticed a pattern it is because the cell packs are packs of 9 and it is easier this way - but I am trying to keep good records. Sorry if it is redundant). Mr. Man and I LOVE thai food. A somewhat new passion we both share. We are hoping to grow alot of veggies used in thai dishes and experiment with making Thai at home. There are a few decent Thai restaurants in Des Moines but the one here in Grinnell, IA is HORRIFIC! Just awful. The funny thing is that everyone knows it - and says it - but it does not change. Grinnell College is right here in town and has a pretty decent amount of college students that I am assuming would love some good Thai - no such luck.
Also started Joe's Long Cayenne peppers - guess how many? That's right boys and girl - 9! These are nice and long and they dry really well. We can either hang them on a string (using needle and thread) or simply dry them up and crush them. Then into the shaker - just like the red pepper you find at the pizza place that I do not go to anymore. There is no question that peppers grown and crushed at home are better tasting than red pepper from the spice isle at the grocery store.
Last but not least the staple of the pepper garden - the Big Bertha Bell pepper. We all like stuffed green peppers in this house and we especially love putting bell pepper into asian stir fry. BUT - our very favorite dish is sliced potatoes, green pepper, mushroom, and onion tossed in a little olive oil and spices (paprika, onion powder, salt, dried pepper, etc) and baked in the oven at 400 degrees until everything is a little brown around the edges. YUMMY! We started 9 Big Berthas (of course)
That about wraps it up. More tomorrow.
Today I started peppers. Most of the packages tell me that I should be heating the bottom of the planting trays with warming blankets and keeping things at 80 degrees but that is not an option for me right now so mother nature is going to have to suck it up! I am doing the best I can. I water them, give them plenty of light and I talk to them - ALOT (hey - being in Iowa in the house by yourself can lead to some pretty crazy things.)
Starting off our pepper line-up is something new for us this year. Marconi Red Peppers. This is an Italian pepper and it has a heat factor of 0. Apparently they are good raw in salads or skinned. I started 9 of them in small cells. We purchased these seeds from Seed Savers (http://www.seedsavers.org/) and we are really excited to try these. Hubby just tried raw red pepper for the first time recently and really enjoyed it. High in vitamins A and C. I think they are also a pretty plant so let's hope for a large crop!
Banana Peppers are one of my personal favorites and I am hoping to learn how to can them this year. When I lived in the Chicago area and used to order pizza - which I would never do in Iowa - ugh - I used to love banana peppers on my pizza. Good thing I am gluten free now - makes going without good pizza a little more tolerable. We started 9 banana peppers.
Thai Hot Pepper - started 9 of these as well. (If you have noticed a pattern it is because the cell packs are packs of 9 and it is easier this way - but I am trying to keep good records. Sorry if it is redundant). Mr. Man and I LOVE thai food. A somewhat new passion we both share. We are hoping to grow alot of veggies used in thai dishes and experiment with making Thai at home. There are a few decent Thai restaurants in Des Moines but the one here in Grinnell, IA is HORRIFIC! Just awful. The funny thing is that everyone knows it - and says it - but it does not change. Grinnell College is right here in town and has a pretty decent amount of college students that I am assuming would love some good Thai - no such luck.
Also started Joe's Long Cayenne peppers - guess how many? That's right boys and girl - 9! These are nice and long and they dry really well. We can either hang them on a string (using needle and thread) or simply dry them up and crush them. Then into the shaker - just like the red pepper you find at the pizza place that I do not go to anymore. There is no question that peppers grown and crushed at home are better tasting than red pepper from the spice isle at the grocery store.
Last but not least the staple of the pepper garden - the Big Bertha Bell pepper. We all like stuffed green peppers in this house and we especially love putting bell pepper into asian stir fry. BUT - our very favorite dish is sliced potatoes, green pepper, mushroom, and onion tossed in a little olive oil and spices (paprika, onion powder, salt, dried pepper, etc) and baked in the oven at 400 degrees until everything is a little brown around the edges. YUMMY! We started 9 Big Berthas (of course)
That about wraps it up. More tomorrow.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Not so fast.....
Well, here I went and got all excited about the spinach in the garden (green as can be by the way) and now the two feet of snow on the garden is melting and the spinach is swimming. The warm weather is great - 45 degrees today - but this fast snow melt is leaving puddles everywhere. I guess I will have to be patient (not one of my strengths).
A couple of more lupines popped up under the growing lights today and I had to thin out the dark opal basil seedlings. I think every seed I put in the pot germinated. Basil genovese and thai basil are going strong as well. Oh - and one of the six packs of rainbow chard are looking great and the other is doing absolutely nothing. Planted them on the same day - strange.
Squirrel drama today. Looked outside the window while vacuuming the house and saw this sad little squirrel that was missing alot of his fur limping along in our backyard with a flat (i.e. non-fluffy tail). Another squirrel came running down a tree and attacked the poor little thing. I was able to scare them both off but then the sickly one almost got hit crossing the street. Ugh - I feel bad for the little guy. I hope he is somewhere safe and warm tonight. He might want to stay clear of the neighbor across the street - I hear he shoots anything that moves.
Tonight and tomorrow I will study for a final exam and then I will start some more seeds. School is finally wrapping up - it has taken years to finish this bachelors degree but graduation is just around the corner. Probably time to get serious and get it done. This would be a good time to say I love my husband - without him I never would have made it through it - financially or emotionally. What a guy!
weather.com says 53 degrees tomorrow and 63 degree on Thursday. YIPPEEE - maybe the garden will dry up a little. Then it will rain of course - oh well, such is life in Iowa.
A couple of more lupines popped up under the growing lights today and I had to thin out the dark opal basil seedlings. I think every seed I put in the pot germinated. Basil genovese and thai basil are going strong as well. Oh - and one of the six packs of rainbow chard are looking great and the other is doing absolutely nothing. Planted them on the same day - strange.
Squirrel drama today. Looked outside the window while vacuuming the house and saw this sad little squirrel that was missing alot of his fur limping along in our backyard with a flat (i.e. non-fluffy tail). Another squirrel came running down a tree and attacked the poor little thing. I was able to scare them both off but then the sickly one almost got hit crossing the street. Ugh - I feel bad for the little guy. I hope he is somewhere safe and warm tonight. He might want to stay clear of the neighbor across the street - I hear he shoots anything that moves.
Tonight and tomorrow I will study for a final exam and then I will start some more seeds. School is finally wrapping up - it has taken years to finish this bachelors degree but graduation is just around the corner. Probably time to get serious and get it done. This would be a good time to say I love my husband - without him I never would have made it through it - financially or emotionally. What a guy!
weather.com says 53 degrees tomorrow and 63 degree on Thursday. YIPPEEE - maybe the garden will dry up a little. Then it will rain of course - oh well, such is life in Iowa.
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