Yay, Spring Garden Underway March 14, 2010

This is the time of year I spend so much time getting gardens in for customers, I barely have time for my own.  This morning I took the time to get some stuff done.  First on the list, making way for the peppers.  I had to harvest a boatload of lettuce.

Boatload of Lettuce

I had already worked on and amended part of the garden, but now had to amend the space taken up by lettuce all fall and winter.  I turned the soil, dumped in some worm castings, Actinoiron, Hill County Soil, Ladybug general fertilizer, and Sylvan compost and mixed it all together as if I was making a mudcake.  Next I planted the peppers, a bell, 2 serrano del sols, and a jalapeno.

Peppers

Next in were the tomatoes.  A Mortgage Lifter, a Celebrity or two, two Chocolate Cherries, a Black Krim, a Yellow Brandywine, a Cherokee Purple, and a a Striped German.  The Brandywine, Mortgage Lifter, and Striped German are new varieties to me.

Tomatoes in the big raised bed

I weeded the Watermelon Radishes, which still need a couple more weeks.

Watermelon radishes, almost done

Tossed some Ladybug fertilizer on the strawberries, which are looking good, putting on new leaves and starting to set fruit.

Strawberry patch

strawberry flower

Weeded the smaller bed, half filled with lettuce and radishes, and ready to receive more plants.

Smaller garden

Next I watered the whole lot with rainwater.

Then went around to the side gardens, and said howdy to the onions, garlic, and shallots.

onions, garlic, shallots

Next, I poked around at the taters growing in their bags.

potatoes sprouting in grow bags

Planted some basil and thyme in a pot.  There is never enough thyme!

Not enough thyme!!

Then I watered and pondered my next garden moves.  I think this will suffice for this lovely Sunday.

No Grocery Store Challenge, Day 39 February 9, 2010

Almost 40 days now, that I have not been in a grocery store.  That seems so strange, because the grocery store was like entertainment for me.  At least, Central Market and Whole Foods were.   I always left both stores with things I didn’t intend to buy.   I do miss the grazing on Saturdays, I must admit.   And, I’m realizing now how much I relied on already prepared food.  Chicken salad, salad bar salad, rotisserie chicken, soups, pre-made pizzas and whatever else looked good at that moment.  I have not reheated anything in the microwave for weeks.   Now, I shop with more purpose, and more of a plan.  Still not enough of a plan however, and I need to get better about that.  I was gone all day today, got home late, was grumpy and didn’t feel like cooking.  I don’t have much besides lettuce that doesn’t require cooking.  This was an evening that I typically would have picked up something already prepared from Food Food, or a P. Terry’s burger.   Not that doing either would have gone against my challenge, I’m just trying to reserve eating out for social activity with friends and family, not just laziness or convenience.

I ran out of toilet paper and dish soap this morning, and had to stop at CVS for the toilet paper, then go to Breed & Company, for the Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day dish soap that I use.  I used to get the TP at Costco, and the Mrs. Meyer’s at Fresh Plus.   A typical grocery/sundry shopping day might have included 3-5 stores.  Seriously.

So, for breakfast I had 2 slices of Kocurek paprika bacon, already cooked.  I ate it cold, standing in my kitchen, while waiting for my coffee.  Too lazy.  Lunch was a sad little salad of my garden lettuce, some hydroponic tomato from the Farmer’s Market, and some Full Quiver Mozzarella with Texas Olive Ranch olive oil and Pomegranate Basalmic.   I was rushed and ate that standing in my kitchen as well.   Dinner was Kocurek Roasted Garlic Sausage with stir fried garden broccoli and Farmer’s Market green onions.   I ate that while at the computer writing the prior blog post and answering emails.  Not really proud of that.

Do I have a meal plan for tomorrow?  No, I don’t.  Tomorrow is a busy day trying to make some progress on a large garden and rainwater collection system installation that has been on hold due to rain.  And more rain is coming.  And more jobs are on hold and stacking up.  The soil is wet and heavy trailers and wheelbarrows trench wet lawns, and we don’t want that.   The irony of having to put a rainwater collection job on hold, on account of endless rain does not escape me.   But rain is good, so I’m not complaining.   We’ll catch up.  Off to make a plan for food tomorrow.

Oh yea.  Antonelli’s Cheese Shop (unless I missed contrary news today) is opening in 2 days!  This Thursday, they will open their doors on Duval in Hyde Park.  I’m excited.  John and Kendall are great folks, and I think they are going to be a huge hit!

Rainwater collection March 13, 2009

Now that it has finally rained, my rain barrels are full! I’m wishing I had a larger collection system since more rain is on its way. The ultimate goal is to hook up a soaker hose to the rain barrels to water my raised garden. I have the pump, just need to hook it up and I’ll be watering the garden with rain. Rainwater makes such a huge difference on plants. Its amazing.