Each seed I started took, so I have extras to sell at this Saturday’s farmers’ market. Tomato seedlings are Black Cherokee, Amish Paste, and Black Cherry. Chili seedlings are Jalapeno and Cayenne.
first farmers’ market
Growing sunflower greens and pea shoots has been a success, so decided to dip my toe into selling at the local farmers’ markets. I wanted to be sure I had at least a couple reliable crops to sell through the summer and into fall, especially since my big garden ambitions were downsized this year. I applied to three local farmers’ markets, and so far have a reserved space at the largest one in Kalispell, Montana. I’m selling the sunflower greens and pea shoots, as well as any extra tomatoes and chilies from the garden as they come into season. In addition to produce, I’ll be selling skincare oil and my bison
April 26, 2015
seedlings popping up
Amish Paste, Black Cherry, and Cherokee Purple tomato seedlings are growing fast, as are the Cayenne and Jalapeno peppers. They should be ready for planting in a couple weeks.
straw bale starter garden
Ambitions for a full-size garden this year have been downsized to a small straw bale starter garden. I learned our soil is poor for growing all but the hardiest of plants, and will need some work to make it garden healthy — unless I wanted to buy a few thousand dollars worth of soil and amendments, that is. Deer are a second issue. We have a couple herds that cruise through several times a day eating everything edible. I’d rather not put fences up everywhere if I can avoid having them clutter up the landscape. So, this year I’m starting with a straw bale mini-garden in a 8’x 2′ container on
April 10, 2015
growing spring greens
Sprouts and microgreens are a healthy addition to the early spring menu, especially as the veggie supply frozen from summer dwindles. My favorites — and the easiest to grow indoors — are pea shoots and sunflower greens. Soak the seeds for a day, rinse and drain them for a couple of days until they’re sprouted, and spread the sprouted seeds on an inch of good soil in a container. Pea shoots and sunflower greens easily root themselves. Mist with clean water 2-3 times per day to keep the soil moist, but not too wet. I add 2 tablespoons of food-grade 3% hydrogen peroxide to 1 liter of filtered water in
March 8, 2015
winter – pruning time
Couple weeks of rain and relatively warm weather have cleared most of the snow. Now that the trees are dormant, it’s a perfect time to prune untended trees that came with the property. The scraggly plums from summer got a serious haircut. I have hopes the lone maple “bush” will start looking more like a proper tree after a few years of clearing suckers, sawing off thin trunks and deadwood, and pruning waterspouts and weak branches. Here’s the after shot: Brush pile from a single tree… Nice to have Tika helping clear branches.
spring garden planning
Playing with ideas for the spring garden. There are several cool garden planning programs online. I tested a few and settled on GrowVeg.com. I like the ability to put in structural elements like walkways and raised beds, pergolas, and irrigation (not yet in the plan above). You can also plan for crops in succession and filter by month to see what will be in ground at that time. You can also filter fruits, flowers, vegetables, and herbs to show only those that are typically easier to grow in your zone. 2015 will be the first year with new gardens at Planet B, no doubt accompanied by a huge learning curve. Will keep
January 26, 2015
hacking the garden
By “hacking the garden” I’m talking hacking as in technology here. Every technique used to grow healthier crops more efficiently and sustainably since the advent of the blade and the Farmers’ Almanac is, of course, an example of technology. Given advances in communication technology with the internet, social media, embedded sensors, augmented reality, robotics, among other innovations in the last 20 years, I’m fascinated by the possibilities for creating a better system of communication between us as human stewards of the land and our plant and animal cohabitants. The better technology we have to detect what they’re telling us about what our plants and animals need, when they need it, and how they
December 25, 2014
what’s SPIN farming?
“SPIN” stands for Small Plot INtensive farming. The basic idea is to grow high-value crops — i.e., those in demand by local restaurants, farmers’ markets, CSAs, and groceries — that can be planted and harvested quickly. You plant and harvest a crop to make room for the next high-value crop on the same plot of land. The goal is to turn as many high-value crops as feasible given the length of the local growing season. Listening to a podcast a month or so ago, I heard Curtis Stone, owner of Green City Acres, talking about how he makes a very decent living on less than an acre of land using the
October 15, 2014
orchard inspiration
My friends’ orchard, vineyard, and gardens are blow-you-away beautiful and an inspiration. Here’s what was ripening today: Peaches Grapes Apples Plums and Pears. Plus the bounty of their garden gifts:
September 26, 2014