Progress

We worked like a couple of moles this weekend.  Lots of digging.  Ugh, I don't know, I couldn't think of things that dig other than moles and those bugs that dig and push around poop.  I chose the more glamourous of the two.

all 3 beds dug out, new fence (not in the original plan), and all of the concrete/trash/random bones the previous owners left all raked and hauled out.

The plans have changed a bit- everyone who reads this has pretty much nixed my hopes of strawberries, so we'll fill that bed with some more veggies.

And!

The flower garden will make its debut in the next few days!

20 days until daylight savings.

That time I learned how to use a pickaxe

When we moved into this sweet, little house in August, I immediately started dreaming up the garden.  In fact, I started dreaming it up while we did our time in Houston sitting on our patio looking out into the lush, beautiful, breath taking...parking garage.

We did our best though.  We did small gardening.  Tiny plants in coffee cans.  Barely enough sunlight.

Oh sweet little garden.  You frustrated me straight into inspiration for years to come.

The side yard at our new home was the previous owner's dog yard, so it has a nice metal gate sectioning it off from the rest.  This will keep Bird out of the garden and away from my delicious plants that she loves to eat.

In my mind, this garden will look pretty much exactly like this:

and this

but, for now, this is where we started:

Let me tell you briefly about the journey in learning how to use a pickaxe.  You can only do it on one side, not the other.  You meaning me.  So the next day, every muscle on my right side from my cranium to my pinky toe had a little ache to it.  It's hard, y'all.


We dug out 2 of 3 beds after we measured out and created our master plan.  Here she blows!

We're working with an organization here in Austin to give a portion of our fruits away to promote healthy eating!  So, green thumbs crossed, we will be picking fruits from our garden by early Summer!

A garden update; because you care about my plants. Right?

Dev had to build some lattice work-ish thing to hold our cucumbers this weekend.  They are shooting all over the place and I'm pretty sure I can blame them for taking over the other window box and killing the strawbs.
Don't mind the breath-taking parking garage in the background.
Vom.

Basil = weed.  We can't use it enough.  I love that.

We bought a new cherry tomato plant that is already fruiting.  We're probably most excited for this one.

 I lied.  Peppers.  I am PUMPED FOR ALL OF OUR PEPPERS!!

We picked our first hot banana pepper this week and fed it to Grammy (D's grandma).  She approved.  Garden success.  Clear picture fail.

I'll just go ahead and get out my salsa canning supplies

Because we have a tomato, people!!!

Small Space Garden Update

Living in an apartment, with limited sun exposure and a random sprinkler schedule, has proved rough for our little garden

Once I moved the pepper plant up to the top shelf, it really took off

As always, we are growing onions in cans like crazy

Our Basil is doing really well

   

And my semi-illegal Lady of the Night plant is pretty much taking over.  I don't know what got into her- I have had her for 3 years and she is just now deciding to grow taller than me.  She has so many leaves.  Does anyone want any??  Put one big leaf in a jar of water until it makes roots, plant it, and she will be the easiest plant you own

Other than those, our garden is failing times a million.

There's always next year.  Maybe by then we'll be in a place with a plot for me to play in

Would someone like to explain THIS?!?!?!

Why are the pepper plants making mushroom friends?

No, seriously, someone help me.

I want them gone.

I don’t care if they’re really fun guys…I hope someone gets that.

It’s Friday, party people!

Small Space Garden, Stage 2

Short and sweet

We planted our seedlings in their permanent homes

and cleaned up our patio in the process, so we might actually want to hang out there this summer

The little onions in the small can...I grab one and munch on it every day.  Best snack ever.

The leeks are amazing to me.  I just shoved those bulbs in there from a couple of weeks ago, and they took off.

We got some Peony bulbs, some strawberries we'll experiment with, and we planted our Basil in a window planter thingy.  We're mostly excited for the Basil.  We love it, use it all the time, and can never buy enough.

Growth

We have sprouts!

Happy Monday!

Small Space Garden, Stage 1

Ya'll, we just cannot wait until we have a home with a big fat lush yard, so we can make plots to grow vegetables and herbs, but alas, we just re-signed with our apartment complex.  So for now, we have to learn how to grow what we want in a small space.

I picked up this book to teach me a little about planting and organically growing everything in pots, cans, etc.

It is spectacular.  If I could have described exactly the information I was seeking for our apartment garden, this book would have completely covered it and then some (it's full of recipes too)

Ms. Trail describes each plant's favorite environment, container, sun exposure, watering preference, and anything else these Prima Donnas might need or want.

Oh what the hay.  Let's do a giveaway.  Comment on this post and tell me about what you have planted this season.  If you haven't planted anything, you are lame (sorta kidding), so tell me why you have chosen to make multiple trips to the grocery store's herbs and produce section instead of planting things to have at arms reach whenever you please.  I'll pick one comment at random to receive a copy of Grow Great Grub.  Giveaway ends Thursday, March 18th at 12:00pm central time.

Moving on.  Last night, DC and I did stage 1 of our garden planting.

Hokay.  So.  We bought these biodegradable pots, organic potting soil, and whatever seeds we wanted.  The little pots are excellent because you can plant them right in the container you plant to keep the herbs in later.  No need to transplant.  I have also heard of people using egg shells for the same reason.  I am sure there are plenty of different ways to do it.  We filled up each pot leaving about 1 1/2 inches from the top.  Then we put the seeds in according to the directions on the package, and covered with the appropriate amount of soil on top.  Make sure you read those directions.  Not every seed is planted the same way.

I did a little bit of research, and this is the organic fertilizer we chose.  You mix it with water according to the instructions, and just water your plants as you normally would.  We put our tray of seeds up by a window that we know gets medium sunlight throughout the day.

This fertilizer is to be used every 3 weeks, so our seeds will get their next juice fix about a week after we plant them in their permanent homes.

For the life of us, we could not find mint seeds.  We went ahead and got a pot of mint and planted it, hoping it will spread and grow into a huge bush of deliciousness.

So, this is what we have sprouting:

Oregano

Cilantro

Peppers

Tomatoes

Chives

Onions

Sweet Basil

and Lavender for my migraines

and the mint plant

It will take about 14 days for our seeds to be ready for pots.  If our garden doesn't work, I totally take back the comment I made about frequenting the grocery stores being lame.  If it does work, I still mean it.

Spring has sprung and #21 is done

This weekend, DC and I ran the Bayou City Classic.  It was DC's first running race eva eva eva and my first 10k.  Mark #21 completely off of my list.  Amazing!  When I made that list in October, I was totally kidding about the 10k.  Do you understand that I started running in October and in the first days could not run more than 2 minutes at a time?  If I can do it, anyone can, I promise you.

What's next?  DC has signed us up for Tour de Houston next weekend.

Ay caramba.

After the race, DC and I hit the local farmer's markets as we do every Saturday.  The produce was abundant and there were plenty of new delish things to buy.  So exciting to have Spring back.

One of the booths had fresh cut flowers.  DC bought me some.  Swoon.

I finally doctored my orchid enough for her to stop being dramatic and start growing

The Hen and Chicks are just busy being awesome

I love me some cacti.  Especially these.  I like to pull their petals off and squish them.

Maybe I should leave that part out.

Last but certainly not least, my exotic possibly not supposed to have it in the states plant is totally digging this weather

I stay up until midnight every night to make sure I don't miss her blooming.  Going on 3 years now.

Wait.

Hopefully we will get to plant our organic herbs and veggies this week.  I got a great resource for planting everything we wanted in an apartment atmosphere.

Happy Monday!