Today it was rainy from morning until evening. The pretty Star Magnolia is in bloom right now and looks great from the window. This is its’ first year and will be delightful for years to come.
The daffodils also came out this week and they are looking good. It would be so nice to be able to see them from the front without getting wet though!
It is a long time since I grew mushrooms, but in an effort to grow more of our food, I ordered one. This one was an organic button mushroom and we set up about 2 weeks ago. It hides in a closet off the study so is not disturbed. Earlier this week I noticed a few little mushrooms peeking through and harvested the first 4oz this morning. Lots more are coming along too!
I am doing the vegetable beds this year as Square Foot Gardening and found some great raised beds on sale in February. They were so so cheap that I bought a bunch and I am now assembling them, one by one. The “Mel’s Mix” that goes into the beds is hard to mix, but I hope it is worth it. Between three nurseries and one box store I picked up peat moss, vermiculite and 5 different composts. The first batch was 30 cubic feet and the next batch is 60 cubic feet.
I think I have everything set to make the beds this weekend, but still have a bunch of trees to put in as well, so we will see how the weather holds up. Anyway first bed is done and ready for the peas and potatoes and the cool weather seedlings are doing well.
Saturday was the big seed swap in town and something that I had looked forward to for several weeks. It was hosted by the Botanical Garden and Toledo Grows and started at noon. Classes and workshops were arranged around the events and local group – Petal Shop- did the music for the first hour, when I was there.
The tables inside the swap were hosted by different garden groups so I could get to know the local herb society ladies, the native plants society and some local farmers. The best thing about the swap was that you didn’t need to bring any seeds into the room to swap, which was great because my seeds are so old that they are not reliable any more and need to be thrown out.
I was given 12 tickets and each pack of seeds in the room were 1 ticket each, with the exception of some Baker Creek and native seeds which were 2 tickets. I came away with sweet peas, native butterfly weed, sunflowers, marjoram and a few other packets. Better yet, I met with some people who I knew as well and we are all getting itchy for spring.
Last week was a busy one for me on the social side of gardening. I was asked to be on a panel of Master Gardeners to answer questions from the public. This was great fun and a terrific way to enter into the new Master Gardener group. The evening was held at the local library and we had about 15-20 people in the room to ask questions. The panel included another Master Gardener , a compost specialist, the Extension Educator and me.
Questions ranged from general pruning, to specifics to the area. Soils and climate are something I am still learning, so I was not able to do that, but most questions were general enough that I could approach them.
The weather for the evening was the best of the week which started with an ice storm and ended with a snowstorm, but Wednesday was between the two events.
All in all fine way to spend an evening.
Last night we had yet another snow event, which went through until this morning causing some chaos but now melting. Earlier in the week we had an ice event which really did a number on the shrubs.
The ice hung on these conifer needles:
and the larger conifer huddled against the wind and cowered with the weight of the ice:
Last week I had a great couple on the show talking about Vertically Integrated growing systems. The basic of the system is that you have fish on one level and plants on a second level. The fish provide a nutrient rich water that is pumped to the plant level where the roots are able to benefit from it. Any excess water is then filtered back down to the fish. This totally enclosed system is being used by Anya and Christopher in their New York, one bedroom apartment to grow vegetables and fish for their table. Great idea and subtly different from the hydroponic way of growing.
Listen to the whole show : Vertically Integrated Farms
Other show can be accessed via the podcast button – down there on the RHS ‘America’s Home Grown Veggie Show’
Last Saturday we had Michael Nolan on the show talking about his new book I Garden:Urban Style. Michael shared his stories of color in urban gardens, and the problems with very limited space. We also talked about the importance of self watering containers or drip system so that you can keep your plants healthy when you go out for the weekend, or get too many to conveniently water by hand every evening. The pictures in this book are terrific and show everything from a pretty balcony to plants overflowing onto a fire escape. Creative people find places to grow everywhere! Click the link below to listen to the show.
I Garden: Urban Style with Michael Nolan
Other shows can be heard by clicking the podcast button on the right.
Last week’s radio show was about women and farming. My guest was Leigh Adcock from WFAN (Women, Farming, Agriculture and Nutrition) and we talked about the changing role of women in the farming community as well as the role of women in farm policy making. Women now make up the majority of farm ownership but the farms tend to be smaller, and more diversified than the traditional model of hundreds of acres devoted to one commodity.
The show is now online on itunes as well as Women and Farming . A copy can also be found, along with other shows at the station page:
http://www.radiosandysprings.com/showpages/veggieHour.php
Friday I had a nasty attack of cabin fever, and as at least one nursery opening on Feb 1st, I decided to make a call there after my visit to the botanic garden. Not surprisingly I was the only customer, and the store, Black Diamond, was somewhat in disarray, but I knew what I wanted and the friendly owner knew exactly where to find it.
My list included some new bird feeders because the old ones had difficult tops to open and were starting to rust. The feed inside was cheap from box store stuff and the birds really didn’t care for it, so feeders and new bird food was on the first stop in the store. I found two really good quality feeders for a decent price and a good mixed bird food that we thought would attract a good variety of birds.
Next I went to the seed stands for some hardy annuals that I could sow this week. I came out with delphiniums, lupines and Canterbury Bells and of course some fresh potting mix because all mine is frozen solid!
I found time on Friday afternoon to set up the new feeders, and I was delighted to find that the birds enjoyed the new food right away.
Saturday was a snowy day – the storm had been predicted to just glance by us with maybe an inch of snow. The storm had other ideas and by mid afternoon we had in excess of 6 inches.
The deer are having problems walking and finding food with the snow depth now measuring about a foot which is almost up to their knees.
I was able to shoot some video through the day of the birds and the deer in the snow storm.
