how i spent my summer- and other such tales
March 25th, 2008 | by Betmo | Published in Daily Featured, Environment | 5 Comments
i decided to get into gardening as a way to lose weight initially. i thought being outside and tending my harvest with the digging and tilling and pulling weeds was good exercise. problem was- i didn’t really have a yard. what to do? i did what i always do- i started googling like mad! and i actually came up with a few really good ideas. who knew you could have a compost bin in the city? not only did i make a rubber maid bin full of lovely compost from shredded junk mail, toilet paper rolls and veggie peelings- but i had a porch garden that actually produced veggies. i was very proud. it was my grand experiment. i have to say, living on the second floor was tough when i had to haul bags of dirt in order to plant- but i felt like mr. green jeans- that’s for sure. 
this year, i am going to till up a part of my mother’s backyard- and i already have a bigger, better compost bin ready to go. i have been looking into heirloom seeds in order to save them year to year- i would rather not have any of monsanto’s genetically modifieds thank you very much. i have also looked at catching water in a rain barrel- and may add that in when i actually get something planted. what i thought was a good idea- especially for folks who don’t have much room- square foot gardening. my gardening cohort, jim, tells me not to make raised beds from pressure treated wood- as the chemicals can leach into the ground. i did not know that- so thank you jim jim also pointed me in the direction of weaseldog- who is making a go of permaculture. take a peek at his videos- it’s kind of cool.
March 25th, 2008at 8:48 am(#)
We bought and renovated an old farm house. It’s located on two acres of land so we have grass clippings, leaves. and other goodies to feed our compost heap. This year we too are planning a garden.
Since I do most of the cooking in our house I had one of my older friends show me how to jar foods like tomatoes, chili sauce, mincemeat, jellies and other goodies. I’ve been warned about sterilizing jars and working under clean circumstances. We also have a small deep freeze (which explains why so many of our GOP neighbors are disappearing and why my meat pies are so greasy–shhhhhh) so we can freeze some veggies too.
We’re planning a rather large garden. I’m a type 1 diabetic so we’re planing a good share of leafy vegetables: Spinach, Swiss Chard, Beets (the greens taste like spinach), cabbage, Kale, Mustard greens. Kelli prefers tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, beets, carrots, green and yellow beans. So we have a wide variety to choose from. We’re also looking into older varieties of veggies, heirlooms, to be certain we’re not eating genetically engineered slop.
Sooooo we’ll keep on reading to see how you’re doing with your gardening. We take tips where ever we can get them.
Peace
PraetorOne and Donatra
So if this is what you feel like doing we’ll at least check in to find out how you’re doing. Th
March 25th, 2008at 12:57 pm(#)
I have used square foot type gardening in the past and it is the best! this year i am doing two types of tomatoes,some herbs,a few eggplants,onions,garlic,squash,and a pole bean or two..
March 25th, 2008at 1:56 pm(#)
Okay Betmo!
you have something here. As you know, at one time I canned, froze, preserved, pickled, smoked, made a root cellar to keep for the winter, you name it. I haven’t for a while but you know where my vocation is!
I see people are interested in this and maybe becoming somewhat self sufficient, at least supplementing. I use to have in my garden a three in one miniature pear, a three in one miniature peach, 5 in one miniature apple, 2 different varieties of seedless grapes. It is a lot of fun as you know.
I don’t think I told you but my Aunt and Uncle own some greenhouses in Derry, New Hampshire not far from here. My Uncle grew up on a large farm there. Anyway they always grew there own potatoes and had a pile sitting on the cellar floor. I always wintered carrots but they have to be kept differently. everything is unique. my sons loved it.
Can’t wait until you get things going. Let me know if and when you want to talk and I will make you and this my priority!
March 25th, 2008at 4:13 pm(#)
We’re planning on some winter squash just as soon as we decide which green leafy vegetables we want to plant. This will be a communal effort with relatives and in-laws. At some point we want to plant some sweet cherry bushes. Bushes are easier to manage than trees, and sour cherries don’t do well in our climate zone.
March 26th, 2008at 3:01 pm(#)
Donatra
Butternut, Acorn, and blue Hubbard store well, even pumpkins. Swiss chard is my favorite green and is prolific. It is large, very tasty, and you don’t pull it out you cut it about an inch from the bottom and it will grow new leafs to cut.
Get some catalog’s. They are fun to look through! You can buy 3 or 5 in one dwarf fruit trees etc. Have fun!