For those of you considering growing some Veggies this year
Several of my friends are starting to grow some of their own food and have lots of questions, so I write and include links with them in mind. A few of my friends also like to read about our Gardening Adventures each year, even though they do not have space or the ability to grow for themselves just now, so......

We decided to make permanent Beds last year, and are now sticking with the tried and true methods we've learned through experimentation over the years. Since we are both in our late 60's, we are becoming aware, we can not increase-experiment with our Garden Beds as much. We may try one or two new veggies though, just for fun. We love hands on learning and trying new things. Hubby will be experimenting in the Greenhouse though, as he's adding an additional Hoop House and has some ingenious ideas he wants to try out; we look forward to using it as a Sunroom in the Fall, Winter and Spring in days to come.

A friend who manages a Farm, treated us with lots of composted Mature and we filled our freshly made Raised Bed and Plastic Barrels with it last season. We left the bottom open to the ground and made 3 beds out of each barrel. If you plan to move-pull them around, do not cut out the bottom. You may be able to find them through Craigslist or a local Horse Vet, who receives meds in them, Vets usually give them away and some local farmers are willing to give away or sell composted mature for a good price and some will even load it in the back of your pickup with their Tractors, saves on the back. Co-ops such as Southern States will often sell broken bags for half price, perhaps Lowes or Home Depot will as well???

Here is a picture of one of our Barrel Container Beds, this one has some lettuce growing in it.
Just like with our own Spiritual Life, the right amount of Light, Water and healthy Soil is very important and keys to an abundant crop and Spiritual Growth. Not only does it produce larger and a more productive harvest, but the plants are able to receive nutrients from the soil that our body needs. If you do not Top-Side Dress or add nutrients to the soil via Manure Tea and the like, the soil can become depleted and that will affect the amount of nourishment you put in your body, through the food you grow. That is one of the reasons to grow your own, if you can, even if it is just a Patio Tomato, Pepper or Lettuce during cool months. It is one of the reasons we Top or Side Dress some of our plants with composted mature when possible, as each season begins anew and a new plant is placed in the ground. We grow organically and frugally for food, not for how the Garden looks, so you will notice our gardens are simple and hopefully, efficient.

Plastic Barrels like the one below are also a good place to start seedlings in a Greenhouse, rather than a Cold Frame or something similar. We can transplant directly from there if we want, as they usually do not need to be potted up. Below is a barrel with seedlings and straw, from last season. These Plastic Barrels can be used in the Hoop house or elsewhere.


We started our 2017 Tomatoes and Peppers indoors in early January and our White Eggplant in early February this year. The earlier we start them, the sooner we can have a harvest. I prefer White or Rosa Eggplants because they do not need to be salted and rinsed before using, as they are not bitter like some of other varieties. We grow mostly Heirlooms from seeds I harvested the previous season.

I have planted our Sugar Snap, Petite French and Snow Peas outside already and have side dressed and mulched the Chard which is coming back, outdoors. I also weeded and top dressed a few Raised Beds and Plastic Barrel Container Beds, with the plan to come back and lay a thin layer of Newspaper and Straw on top to stay ahead of the weeds and keep them down all season. Our weather is unusually warm and dry at this time, here in Zone 7, in the USA and unwanted growth in the Veggie Beds as well as Bulbs elsewhere are already coming up. We've had a pretty dry Winter thus far, which could be an indication we may have a dry summer too. Experience has taught us that method will also help the beds to stay moist, whether we have drought or not. I tried that method when I first began Vegetable Gardening, here on our one little acre and was glad I did, because we had a rare drought that year. While our Neighbors plants died due to lack of moisture, ours survived.

A great Facebook Page, for those in need of Gardening Tips and who like to find links through Facebook as well as Youtube is called 'It's Grow Time'. Below I will add some links posted there that can be found of Youtube too.

Facebook also has some excellent Groups you can join and learn from as well, I like the Growing Winter Food and Preserving Food Groups, personally, at this time, as I am interested in learning more about Fermentation. We want to be able to grow in our Greenhouse all year long when possible, in days to come. Our smaller half Hoop House, attached to our Home, is mainly being used for over wintering plants and our Hot Tub.  Today my hubby sat out a few seedlings on trays in the Greenhouse, that now need to be potted up. We will be bringing them back in, in a few days, as the Temps will be dropping again.  The mass and heat from the Hot Tub and the walls inside, that are attached to our Home, (painted a dark color to absorb heat) help to maintain the heat in there. We also have a well pump area we open up, so the colder temps can drop down there and keep the room from freezing. We have a small fan we use to blow-pipe in warm air from inside our Home.  I tried over wintering a mature Eggplant in there, but it did not make it.  We also lost our Ferns this year, as we had some record breaking cold snaps too. This fall and winter has had a highly unusual weather pattern, with record breaking highs and lows. 

 Here are two sample post links from Youtube that were Posted in 'Its Grow Time', for those who are not on Facebook. EnJoy!

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc4ecvD_rMM&feature=share%20

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mDvsTlaTJc
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Something to think about, that could cause you to have a change of heart...
The extinction of too many bees and other pollinators could have disastrous consequences for our food supply and there is some simple, loving things we can each do at home, to help stop that from continuing to happen. 
           
The easiest way is to begin by educating others and ourselves. Honey Bee Colony Collapse Disorder ... 57 different pesticides found in poisoned honeybees

One way we can do that is by asking ourselves some questions that might make us stop and think and make new choices, such as:

Why would 'I' really 'need' or want to use poisonous insecticides and weed killers, now that I know it is destroying living creatures who are important when it comes to the cycles of our Eco System and the well being of all of life?

Here are a few more questions that might make you stop and think ... Did you know Dandelions and Clover and some other so-called weeds and wild flowers are a Source of nutritious FREE food.
 
 
Did you know our Grandparents us to collect Herbs and Wildflowers for medicinal purposes?  They called it Wildcrafting. Big Pharma uses a lot of these resources too and they charge us a lot for the convenience because we've become dependent upon them, due to that knowledge being less common in our present Generation. As of late, people are buying Medicinal Herbs, and we can plant them in our own yards, not just for us but for the Pollinators.

Did you know when you use insecticides in your Home Garden, you also kill beneficial insects, pollinators who are needed to provide us food?
 



Did you know when you use herbicides, not only do you destroy potential nutritious, wild food, but you destroy the food our Pollinators need also?
Now that you know this, would you like to know of some simple suggestions as to what you can do to be a important part of changing the world into a better place, in your lifetime?
                                    
Obviously, for the most part, you can begin by choosing to no longer use Insecticides and Herbicides as your first option ... after you see this can work for you, you can challenge your Friends to be 'Insecticide and Herbicide free', with you by sharing what you've discovered on your new path! (share this blog too please)

 



If you have too many predatory insects eating up your veggies, a possible solution is, you could bring in additional Beneficial Insects like Lady Bugs, Praying Mantis and Mason Bees. You can plant Companion Plants nearby to draw them in. You can Plant more than you need for the sake of the local Wildlife and the Eco System, as well. Sometimes Humanity forgets we share this Planet with other Creatures.  




It is important to teach our children and friends to respect Bees and other Pollinators and encourage them not to be afraid of them. We can take them to a local Beekeeper as part of an outing this summer. Some of you may decide you can become a BeeKeeping Family, with your own Apiary having done so.



We can support our local Honey Bee Keepers. We need not limit ourselves to simply buying local Honey, (local helps with allergy’s best). Some Bee Keepers (and ‘want-to-be’ Bee Keepers … join a local Bee Keepers Association if you are a ‘want-to-be’) are in need of extra land for additional Hives. They will often share Honey with us in return for the use of a small portion of our property.

We can plant our Gardens with 'organic' heirloom plants that benefit them ... Bee Friendly Plants are important to have scattered about in every Community, (Bee's will travel a 10 mile radius per day), but they are important for other Pollinators as well. Attracting-pollinators, plants that encourage bees butterflies and birds to visit


Bees prefer flowers that are blue, purple or yellow. They love Clover and it enriches our soil and is an excellent ground cover. They enjoy buttercups too ... a field of buttercups is a remarkable sight, would you agree? I have fond memories of the joy buttercups brought us over the years, I bet you do too!


Pollinators also like Herbs, to include medicinal, such as Sage, Oregano, Lavender, Purple Cone Flower (echinacea,) Thyme, Yarrow, Hyssop, Bee Balm and Golden Rod. They also like Salvia, Alfalfa, Edible Sunflowers to name a few more. Yellow jackets, wasps and hornets aren’t bees and won’t be attracted by bee-friendly plants, btw.

A small Garden or Meadow of wild flowers is a lovely sight that draws in pollinators. 

       


Flowering Trees, especially Fruit Trees are an excellent choice. Pollinator - Plants - People, A Partnership for Life

Allow a few leafy vegetables in your home garden to "bolt," (go to seed) Seeding plants are a bee's best chance to stock up on food before winter comes. Plants will bolt in the late fall as well.  If you want to harvest some of your own seeds, there will usually be more than enough to share.

       


Create shallow ponds in your yards to supply Pollinators with water. They will also use a shallow bird bath as well.

      


Create a habitat for Bees, (besides the Hive Boxes for Honey Bees). Mason Bees are good to have around, so create a Do it yourself Insect Habitats from found material for them (and other Pollinators) so they do not bore into yours. 
                   
                        

Natural bees make use of many kinds of Shelter: abandoned animal burrows, dead trees and branches and underground nest tunnels, so keep that in mind when you are pruning or plowing your land for a Garden. If you have extra soil, (having brought in freshly composted), leaving a mound around near a water source as a potential nesting area for some natural bees, will bring you a good feeling.

Insect Hotels come in many sizes and varieties, depending upon who you want to house.

                       

As a side note I'd like to end this Post with this little tidbit, which inspired me to post this today ... A few years back Organic Roof Top Gardens and Roof Top Bee Hives  on top of Commercial Buildings and High Rises began as a movement worldwide.

That movement has spread to Home Owners as Los Angeles plans to let homeowners keep BEES on their roofs 

Did you know Roof Top Bee Keeping was around back in 1918?                   
                      
Do you have other suggestions or links or perspectives you would like to add? If so, please add them in the comment below or in the Add Links Here section on the Column to the left.

enJOY!
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Homemade Garden Markers and Labels
 Decoupaging A Marker



You can mark your Marker of Choice with a variety of Items. Whatever you choose, may I suggest you cover it with Clear Nail Polish or Varnish, to help keep it from fading.

 Permanent Marker Pen


   

Wood Burning or Hand Carving Letters
 
       
    
Be Creative ... think outside of the Box! Be the unique you that you are...
    

         

Ask around, friends may have items laying around they do not plan to ever use again.

You may also want to check out  Attic's, Thrift Shops, Estate and Yard Sales or Surplus Shops.




 


The use of craft materials is always fun!










Paints




Whether you just want a simple temporary marker to mark seedling or a long term marker,
there are lots of ideas and resources which can be used to mark your plants. 
 Grease Pencil or China Marker

Pop-cycle sticks soak up water as they are short and ink from a permanent marker will quickly become a blur.
Painting a paint stick before using a Permanent Marker Pen could be a better choice.



Tutorial:



Want more ideas?
20 DYI Plant Markers and Labels

More Garden Plant Markers
 Have you come up with a Marker or Label Idea you'd like to share?  
If so please tell us in the Comments Below.
enJOY!
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Yummiliousness ... Ginger Carrot Cake Flapjacks and Breakfast Bars

I found this to be yummilicious ...  This was a Gift (in more ways than one!) as I normally cook from scratch; am delighted to have tasted this recipe. I plan to use it as part of my ingredients when I make Homemade Breakfast Bars at a later date ... will add some OJ and carrot juice as part of my wet ingredients when I do. Part of my joy of cooking is to be creative....

Have Dehydrated some grated Carrots and froze some Ginger in cubes previously. On another occasion I will freeze the Ginger in OJ or Carrot Juice.

If you have not already done so, you may want to try growing both Carrots and Ginger in your garden this season. Most Ginger from the Grocer will take root, pick ones with the nobs starting to grow.






enJOY! 


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"If that is what you think....."

"I can't grow any food in our yard, we have too much shade." If that is what you think, think again. These vegetables only need 4 hours a day of direct light.  28 veggies that grow in partial shade
"I can't grow any veggies or fruit, the deer and birds eat them all."  If that is what you think, then try covering them with recycled 'sheer curtains', easy to find at Thrift Shops.  It worked for me when I covered my bush beans one season. I left the sheers on and only pulled them back to harvest. The rain and sun went through and they gave me an abundant Harvest. The Curtains are easily held down by a rock or handful of straw at the corners which enables pollinators to enter in.  You can use them with hoops or stakes for taller plants as well. This works on any veggie or fruit that can be easily covered .... if you have Chickens, it will deter them from eating your tender seedlings.   Framed in Gardens work well too. 



"I don't like the idea of seeing curtains in my Gardens."  If that is you you think, dye them GREEN, not only will that make them less conspicuous but perhaps it will make it less obvious to other curious wildlife. Plus, you may only need to put them on one or two beds  This year we are planning on taking some of the Bamboo from our Garden (often people are willing to give it away for free), and using them as a well spaced out Fence.  We plan to tie clear fishing line around the stakes, as we were told the deer will feel it and not jump over. Otherwise a TALL or Electrical Fence is needed to keep them out. We will let you know how it works...
     


"We don't have enough land to grow any of our own Food."  If that is what you think, consider the fact that one bed is enough to grow some of your own food. Some Veggies and Herbs like Basil, Lettuce, Tomatoes or Peppers, grow well in Containers (add the inside of a baby diaper to absorb the moisture and keep the soil from drying out quickly). The containers do not need to be many or fancy, and whimsical can be fun. Let yourself be creative.   ***Micro Greens, which grow indoors all year. 




"I can't grow a Garden, I can't use a Tiller.", If that is what you think, try double digging or simply use Straw Bales for your Garden Beds. One bale works too. You can also use them in containers. They will decompose and become compost, which provides rich soil for the next season.  
                             
   

"We can't grow our food because we have too many weeds to deal with each year and we do not want to use chemicals." If that is what you think, try covering the area you want to grow, the previous year and leave it covered with heavy dark plastic or tarp till next Spring; it is called Soil Sterilization. The heat from the sun will kill weed seeds and the grass. IF there are any weeds seed left deep below, please note tilling may bring them to the surface, so if you can, till or double dig before covering, that works best. Also, some Weeds can be beneficial a weed is only a weed if you do not want it in your Garden and there are ways to keep them down, such as mulching with Newspaper and Cardboard covered with straw or leaves.  




"We can't grow a Garden due to Drought and our soil stays dry."  If that is what you think, try covering the area with Newspaper and Straw, (hay has seeds), leaves or other bedding material. Mulching also keeps weed down and the soil cooler.  Once you have a bed established you can just pull the straw back the next year and plant the plant and add additional Straw, as gradually that which is below will decompose and help create healthy soil; which means you will not need to Side Dress your new plantings year after year. 

"We can't grow in our area, the season is too short."  If that is what you think, try using plastic Row Covers, or make Cold Frames, they extend the Season. You simply need to open them up during the day when the weather is still cool out or cold in the evenings, so the heat does not build up during the day and close them again at night.
                         
If you want to know more about 'Winter Gardening', or 'Gardening all Year Long' you may want to begin by checking out this Book: Backyard Winter Gardening  I read Caleb Warnock's Book from the Library a while back, when we were wondering what we might be able to grow in our Greenhouse. 

Caleb Warnock also has a Facebook Page:  Facebook Page Blog  and Website where he sells rare seeds from around the world he has collected, which grow in a variety of Climates. 

He also has some Great Video's on Youtube. This is the first one I watched: Fantastic Winter Gardening Video



Do you have anymore reasons you think might be keeping you from growing some of your own food? Ask us, perhaps I or someone else will have a solution to share.... 

Do you have an obstacle you've overcome?  Please share your thought and solutions with us in a comment below....

NOTE ... the highlighted words above or in my other posts are either Links, Articles or Video's which may help you further. Enjoy!

***Micro Green (How To Article in a previous post on this blog)    
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