Edible Landscape at Austin Wine Merchant – Update September 28, 2010

Last week, we planted the first of the Edible Landscape at the Austin Wine Merchant.  Part of the back garden is still shaded by a big tree: but the sunlight will change as the tree begins to lose its leaves.  So, the West garden, which is the 3 Lettuce, Mesclun mix and Arugula garden is coming up.  Most seeds take closer to 10 days to come up, but many have sprouted after just 8 days.

Preliminary Lettuce

Based on where the lettuce seedlings had emerged, I filled in all the gaps with new seeds.  This will fill out the entire area with food, and will look really great as well.  I also planted Beet seeds at the far North end of this space.

The Spinach had started to come up, in spite of several  young ladies scaling the wall behind the garden, and trampling the seedlings before my eyes.  They were unimpressed when I fussed that they were trampling a garden full of food.   They continued their trampling on their way back through their garden shortcut, and I aimed the high powered hose at them, to make a point, but did not pull the trigger.  Wish I had.

Spinach

The Broccoli seedlings look great, but the seeds are just starting to emerge and hard to see in light of falling leaves.

Broccoli Seedlings

In all honesty, it is too early after initial planting to be taking pictures and hailing successes.  I think I’ll wait another two weeks to document the progress again.   So far, all is going great, and I’m as pleased as I can be with this, my favorite garden project.

Green Living Home and Garden Show Starts Today! April 23, 2010

The Austin Green Living Home and Garden Show starts this afternoon at 2:00, in the Austin Convention Center.  Come on down and say howdy.  Austin Urban Gardens has a big booth set up right in front by the front doors, and sustainability stage.  We will have drawings to give away garden seeds, some garden gloves, and an Earthbox, and will be selling Earthboxes.

There will be lots of interesting food, Green Building things, Chicken Coops, Better Bites of Austin, and really cool landscaping booths.  Edible Austin will also have a big presence.  I was set up early, so I’m not sure who all is there this weekend.  If you come, please come by and say hi, I’d appreciate it!  Today, 2-7, Saturday 10-7, and Sunday 11-5.

Mid-April in an Austin Urban Garden April 17, 2010

I hadn’t seen my garden in a couple of days and knew there were strawberries to pick, so first thing this morning I headed out back.  There were lots of strawberries to pick!

Everything else looks amazing, the rain has really made everything happy.

Picked strawberries, minus what I ate

The tomatoes are all getting huge and bushy and the cheater plant I bought at Sledd Nursery has 7 or 8 tomatoes on it.

They don't call this Celebrity for nothing!

More tomatoes

It is hard for me to say, as a promoter of raised garden beds, that the tomatoes in my Earthbox are bigger than those in my raised garden.  I also promote and sell Earthboxes, but I’ve never been a bigger fan.

The black bean and corn bed is rocking along as well.  The cheater tomato is in there too, where Nandina once mucked up my landscape.  I planted corn from seed, then found some little transplants and got those.  Then after Carol Ann at Boggy Creek Farm told me I planted a couple of weeks late, and to be wary of worms in June, I found a couple of transplants that were further along.  So, I have corn at three levels of growth.

Black Beans and Corn

I found some lemon cucumber plants the other day and planted those.  That sounds good, lemon and cucumber.

lemon cucumber

And the onions continue their slow march toward maturity.  At least the bolting has halted, with the cooler weather.

Onions, shallots and garlic

The herbs on the patio are happy as well.  I just bought more basil with pesto in mind, and some cilantro, with salsa in mind.

Basil

Thyme

Mint

Statesman Article – update April 3, 2010

http://www.statesman.com/life/gardening/

Yep, there we are.  The phone started ringing at 8:30 and didn’t stop for a long time.  I missed the farmer’s market for all intents and purposes, and so my food supply will be from the freezer this week.  No complaints from me!  It was a great day, and I’m worn out.  Funky Chicken Coop Tour photos to come.   Big thanks to Buck Moore Feed and Supply for sponsoring the Tour as well as the Sustainable Food Center.

Interview for Austin American Statesman March 24, 2010

I was interviewed for an article profiling my garden company (Austin Urban Gardens) and one other yesterday.  I don’t take the Statesman, because I’m not really a sit down, be still and read for a while kind of gal, although I’d love to be.  I think the article likely will be in the Saturday gardening section, but I don’t know when.  If you happen to catch it, please holler so I can check it out.  I found out about my last mention in the Statesman from a neighbor, and had no idea.  Our website was down being worked on that day, so way to screw that up.  Thanks!