Done With the Dirt, For Now...

So the rest of the dirt is in the corn bed, and the bed is planted. It was pretty windy, however, and a tray of our seedlings got knocked over, and mixed up. So for now, they are all planted in the ground and will be transplanted once I know what they are.

I replanted the okra, I know it's late, but I am hoping that we can still make it. (It is a hot-weather crop, you know.)

I started a business page for the Homestead on Facebook, and wrote City Roots about an internship. I am hoping to generate some interest (and hopefully some money) so I can continue to build the Homestead. I am hoping to find someone to design us a website.

I think we have a lot to offer to the community, and right now I am charged to do that. I had to scale back my hours at the Grill because I can't afford the childcare costs. So, hopefully this is some divine direction to stay home and build this.

I am sure that Richard (and my Mom even moreso) are going to be worried about the scale to which I am pushing this. But my thoughts are that for me to really plug myself into thismovement, I have to be out there. And beyond that, if I fail, I fail. I will live and so will they. But if I don't fail, this could be such a blessing for both us and the community. And you and I both know that I need to be out in the community slightly more than I am.

I figure, that yes, you may be more likely to fail, the bigger your dream. But is it worth it to settle? I am just going to push this as far as it will go, and then be happy with whatever the outcomemay be. I am not doing it for money, or fame, or success. I believe in the Homestead movement, and in sustainability. I will continue to do it whether it is successful or not.

Tale of the Radish Treasure

Minor standstill

I am starting to realize how rarely I am able to post with everything going on in life, but I will try to keep you guys as up to speed as I can. Posts probably will be once a week at best. Most likely once or twice a month or so.

So, we got dirt last Monday (a week ago) and it is only half dispersed. I lost a packet of black bean seeds because I started soaking them the night before, thinking we would get it knocked out like we did before.

I ended up having to buy a couple packs of ladybugs because I noticed black bean aphids all over our lima beans. They're gone now though (both the aphids and the ladybugs).

We also had to use a copper fungicide (still organic from what I read) because I started noticing signs of blight on the largest blue potato plant. I pulled it and repotted it separately (in case I can save it). I also noticed back spot on a few strawberry leaves. But hopefully this will treat the problem.

We have harvested a couple heads of lettuce, out of plants that were planted too closely together for their mature size. It was about 4 salads worth. And they were tasty! We have also thinned a couple radishes that Zen got ahold of. (There are radishes everywhere)

We got a blackberry bush and Concord grape vine. Now all we need is sweet potatoes, hot peppers, and blueberries. (and a fruit cocktail tree)

Things are doing well and growing strong for the most part, and our broccoli, cauliflower and cabbages make me smile. They are so big and strong.

The last few days, I have been polishing our routines for the houehold binder. That and worksheets to track our harvest yields, although we will be short a couple salads ;)

I will try to get a garden walkthrough done this week. If I can I will post pictures this evening, despite the wether being cold and drizzly.

daffodils are blooming

So, I failed slightly at sticking with one new skill per year. In the last month I took up soap making and chocolate making. I justified it of course, by the honey-buns called me on it. So, I have let those go, despite selling about 10 bars of soap out of approx 12 made. But I will refine it at a later point in life.

We will be getting another load of soil on Friday, so it will be a big planting day. And I have come to the realization that, for now, I suck at seed starting. I am not sure what I am doing wrong. I think I put them out early because they have inadequate light inside. But they aren't big enough to handle the cold, so they die. We will have to buy pretty much all of our plants at the garden center. I am not happy about it, but I will keep this in mind for next year, and try to correct it. I also think that I, quite possibly, started things too early and set them up to fail.

Anyway, recent plant purchases include:
-a Columbine (with the Rocky Mountain coloring) as a tribute to home
-a rabbiteye blueberry bush
-a mystery strawberry plant with the flower growing on its own stalk about 4 inches off the ground
-2 jalapeno plants
-a bell pepper plant
-cilantro, thyme, rosemary, oregano
-a red snacking grape

Recent sowings include: some climbing nasturtiums by the bleeding hearts, lavender along the back fence, dill in the asparagus plots, corn, curcurbits and beans in the half of the corn bed that has dirt, and chamomile in the cabbage bed.

Zen got ahold of some cantaloupe seeds (and radish too, apparently) and the same seeds I am struggling to keep alive are sprouting by the tens through the cracks in the patio. And I am finding radishes everywhere.

The narcissus and the daffodils are blooming, which according to old wives tale means it is time to plant the corn. Surprisingly I have been seeing corn in garden areas at Wal-Mart, Lowe's, etc. I have never seen corn in these settings before. I know that on Friday or Saturday I will be going on a slight shopping spree, to plant all the beds that will be full at that point.

Happy planting and lots of sunshine to you!!!