Accomplishment

Temp: 49*
Humidity: 33%
Feels like: 41*
Wind: W@25mph

I cannot believe that it has been a week since my last post! A lot has changed and gotten done here on the "homestead", or so it feels to me nonetheless.

We have made some investments and gotten some construction projects done, in addition to welcoming some new plants into the world.

We currently have 24 tomato seedlings that look strong and healthy. We have about 54 little celery seedlings that are still tiny, but vigorous. And 3 bell pepper plants have poked their heads through the dirt this week. We have 8 heads of garlic growing with foliage about a foot tall. Also, we planted 6 jalapeno plants and 6 ancho pepper plants yesterday.

About the garlic: we were able to sprout heads using cloves from grocery-store organic garlic. I don't know yet as to whether the cloves will turn into bulbs, but we will see. It is my thought that if they are able to sprout, and grow significant foliage, and develop strong root systems (which they are) then they should also likely produce. I have read the warnings against using store garlic (which is not bred for disease resistance or anything) but at 5-10 bucks a bulb for gardener's garlic we just can't afford to plant our garlic crop entirely from those sources. I haven't yet found a source to buy garlic in bulk.

I have found, however, a few sites to buy bulk garden seeds, which for crops that we are growing a lot of, and that are sown in succession every two weeks (like peas, beans...). I think this is something I will consider for future years! It dramatically cuts costs for those quantities for sure. Additionally I found a source for rare, and non-traditional herbs and flowers. I am slightly apprehensive because this company also sells opium poppies, ephedra plants, and other highly regulated and/or toxic plants. It made me slightly nervous to say the least. However their herb selection is unparalleled.

Today, the bed for the corn, peas, beans and curcurbits was built. On the calendar for today was to buy more soil, but financially we are unable to do that and get the bed constructed. So to me, getting the bed built took priority.

In other news, the Dervaes farm pulled just over 7,000 lbs of produce out of their yard this last year. Congratulations for them!

I was planning on digging out the sod along the back fence, but haven't gotten that done yet, so I feel slightly behind. I am sure I will catch up though!

Talk to you all soon!