tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65695914203474494332024-02-08T18:13:10.504-08:00Caley's Kitchen Garden - where humor meets potatoesHilarious observations with a surprising amount of solid plant growing knowledge!Caleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15400422677669871587noreply@blogger.comBlogger196125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569591420347449433.post-54320525967926315472017-04-21T09:30:00.000-07:002017-04-22T11:51:02.672-07:00Get To Gardening Already!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADlUu_EFfAeWLXUzb0C-J-OSxWO6utlo8MYhN331rPl6YeZjN21z43pS3iXeWO3aXzw-2uR9fjavRvcQkWKsGrddzZlRO3yyNbe7p2hXIrwPA5iX2OVyJzVnEzBPiXy24RfDlyDO6vPmM/s1600/veggie+worm+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADlUu_EFfAeWLXUzb0C-J-OSxWO6utlo8MYhN331rPl6YeZjN21z43pS3iXeWO3aXzw-2uR9fjavRvcQkWKsGrddzZlRO3yyNbe7p2hXIrwPA5iX2OVyJzVnEzBPiXy24RfDlyDO6vPmM/s640/veggie+worm+010.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Plant something! Spring has sprung and it is never too late. At the farm we are still planting cool weather crops and have started direct seeding the warm weather veggies too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">If you have any planting questions, leave them below and I will answer them!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Gardening Love to all my readers who have hung on this long!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/1dHdLB6fnpU" target="_blank">Caley's On YouTube</a></span><br />
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<br />Caleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15400422677669871587noreply@blogger.com86tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569591420347449433.post-67873702729004568612017-01-28T04:55:00.001-08:002017-01-28T04:55:53.124-08:00The Little Vegetable That Could - live through anything<a href="http://www.caleyskitchengarden.com/2013/12/the-little-vegetable-that-could-live.html">The Little Vegetable That Could - live through anything</a>: Caleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15400422677669871587noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569591420347449433.post-65806930024794844682016-06-14T10:07:00.001-07:002016-06-14T10:07:13.967-07:00Better at Beets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRH7IT4aSsAKJXmdP-IpI1xoW5SishAQ_v5ziKzhc5XfQzAH9sGN5wkES7p3ifkd094gkZNyYximevSe5sbMOerNAjCbEqYrKeaK-NPaUyeDQgsDwSq-pgx07K-COR3VCoSIG2wYNDQYtb/s1600/squash+npatio+090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRH7IT4aSsAKJXmdP-IpI1xoW5SishAQ_v5ziKzhc5XfQzAH9sGN5wkES7p3ifkd094gkZNyYximevSe5sbMOerNAjCbEqYrKeaK-NPaUyeDQgsDwSq-pgx07K-COR3VCoSIG2wYNDQYtb/s400/squash+npatio+090.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Beets just made our list of favorites. Not even kidding. My kids went back for seconds of <i>beets</i> and nothing else.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Here's how it played out:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I pulled the beets and hosed them off. Then I scrubbed them with a soft vegetable brush. Chopped off the leaves, but left a couple inches of stems. <a href="http://toriavey.com/how-to/2010/02/how-to-roast-beets/" target="_blank">Two different</a> sources <a href="https://youtu.be/KMfmTEGZFKY" target="_blank">told me</a> that would keep them from bleeding out like before.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Then I set them in a casserole dish, covered them tightly with foil and baked them. At 350 degrees, they were in there for way too long. I got busy and didn't check them for over an hour. I was cooking some chicken too, and for some reason chicken takes a long time for me. So they were both in there for over an hour.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I finally got them out...</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> and they were very cooked. I was kinda worried they would be mush, at least the little ones. They were very soft.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexBMiOhTOdeEnoL8M0pnwj8yQl9ITVdbN5zUrNFok2upbRVtw7wNYKEZFDmiDofbVuJhLmCdo4_Yr90Oa8tp55mLejD1kbILS-dY24HHt-eebTMnj_5vlm3x3xIs9G2Co7SIBhqfN6cwG/s1600/squash+npatio+093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexBMiOhTOdeEnoL8M0pnwj8yQl9ITVdbN5zUrNFok2upbRVtw7wNYKEZFDmiDofbVuJhLmCdo4_Yr90Oa8tp55mLejD1kbILS-dY24HHt-eebTMnj_5vlm3x3xIs9G2Co7SIBhqfN6cwG/s400/squash+npatio+093.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;">Peeling beets in the past has been a chore. These were easy! I kinda followed the directions I found <a href="http://toriavey.com/how-to/2010/02/how-to-roast-beets/" target="_blank">here</a>. For some reason all the directions I found said I was supposed to line the baking dish with foil or bake them individually wrapped in foil. That's more work and foil than I am expending. I just put them in the dish. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">When they came out, they had indeed stained the glass casserole dark burgundy. I figured I'd put that problem off for a while by ignoring it, so the beets went into the fridge. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The next day I decided to take a teensy step toward responsibility and try to peel a beet. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Surprise! When I pulled the casserole out, all the stain was gone from the sides and there was a thin layer of beet juice in the bottom! Yeah!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://toriavey.com/how-to/2010/02/how-to-roast-beets/" target="_blank">The directions</a> said to peel them under running water and they wouldn't stain my hands, much. It worked! Turns out I didn't really even need the running water! Cold, cooked beets with their tops and roots still on don't make much mess!!! The skins slid right off, and even the stems and roots came off without a knife!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoSQWda9vCaZzR9oSlxua9weIsraMT311Tqa-vGIZxxRR2vVWfoQ5cbv-qAetVmd-3DZurofOzI2EyTE4-NvcuPb108nAnfdZ5_qsJYglOYe0iuK6rQWa0exUFtTwndOFn5Jcio310bV7/s1600/IMG_20160605_24493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoSQWda9vCaZzR9oSlxua9weIsraMT311Tqa-vGIZxxRR2vVWfoQ5cbv-qAetVmd-3DZurofOzI2EyTE4-NvcuPb108nAnfdZ5_qsJYglOYe0iuK6rQWa0exUFtTwndOFn5Jcio310bV7/s320/IMG_20160605_24493.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Remember this mess? No more!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">And they weren't mushy!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now the flavor - beety. My kids were more creative. They salted and peppered theirs. They went back for more, so I tried the salt and pepper thing. Wow. That. Is. Good.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">You gotta try this. </span>Caleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15400422677669871587noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569591420347449433.post-61840972005043565962016-06-13T12:11:00.002-07:002016-06-13T12:11:59.725-07:00Balcony Farm Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVGIrawPc0swHjPk2H6PaYd53yNST1xDMIdf2JKDcfERR2HZxa4S3iZbPSCPjbMGx4m3wBWc4GeVjsaaXBqf1l7_Zpcbai4slET8dcKX2JClS3UVAqkrY-RTkaAgi0i4GugnAgb73PLvX/s1600/IMG_20160613_9407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVGIrawPc0swHjPk2H6PaYd53yNST1xDMIdf2JKDcfERR2HZxa4S3iZbPSCPjbMGx4m3wBWc4GeVjsaaXBqf1l7_Zpcbai4slET8dcKX2JClS3UVAqkrY-RTkaAgi0i4GugnAgb73PLvX/s640/IMG_20160613_9407.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">The balcony farm is growing, but not getting enough light. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">This is what it looks like and you can tell it needs more light two ways:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">The plants are leggy. That is garden talk for floppy and stretched out.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">The plants toward the back are pale, like they need nitrogen. I put a few more pellets of fertilizer on them, but I feel like they should not need it. The fertilizer we put on initially is a 3-4 month fertilizer. I guess we'll find out if more was too much pretty soon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I also felt like the squash plants should be larger. That is another reason...</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> I added more fertilizer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">So far, my young friend has harvested a bowl full of cherry tomatoes, most of which were on the plant when we bought it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">My son really, really wants to pick some of that lush, green basil, even though he has 500 plants of purple basil ready to harvest. I had to drag him away to protect that basil, since it is not ours. Although, I don't think my friend knows how to use it anyway. Still not ours.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgItuxLcW5ZojWMxRxXmeoAZZ2Fsc-usQbYylrfx9ap_VW-h1S6La_7RwE7zF07wO8peu7czRz9_nbF47EOipfJmnNyutb4Lk4LT2WsPv5nVTabqIzCnRcZkMONJG9-6bmfWUeZYq1L0UFF/s1600/IMG_20160613_3317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgItuxLcW5ZojWMxRxXmeoAZZ2Fsc-usQbYylrfx9ap_VW-h1S6La_7RwE7zF07wO8peu7czRz9_nbF47EOipfJmnNyutb4Lk4LT2WsPv5nVTabqIzCnRcZkMONJG9-6bmfWUeZYq1L0UFF/s400/IMG_20160613_3317.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The tomato plant shows a really perfect example of what not enough light looks like, because half of it is getting enough! See how the side toward the sun is bushy and green? And the side toward the wall is long? The wall side is not getting enough sun.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">This problem could have been mitigated by turning the tomato plant every day, but that didn't happen. What's more is, if the tomato plant had been turned every day, the whole thing may have gotten long and floppy instead of just one side.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">These are all really great learning experiences, but alas, they will have limited impact on the growth and harvest of the vegetables.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Absolutely, the plants will not produce as much under these conditions, BUT! My friend is a beginner. This is probably the best she was going to get on her first try, even with more sun.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">And don't be mistaken, she <i>WILL GET VEGETABLES.</i> </span>Caleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15400422677669871587noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569591420347449433.post-39674157523768239532016-06-05T16:11:00.002-07:002016-11-06T11:43:30.825-08:00That's Not Blood<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRmMxUvRy9F9wzfxsD509bL22lvvBbs8rRaR2tBxqwG9nmIi1jRANVCYymgw-70Xw72Kx3_OD_bEnIfS6eLpAPGSQLMWF0aEjIiMIcqFuP4885zSqCOMinQZO9w4lJl4V7PyWvwlVK7fd/s1600/IMG_20160605_24765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRmMxUvRy9F9wzfxsD509bL22lvvBbs8rRaR2tBxqwG9nmIi1jRANVCYymgw-70Xw72Kx3_OD_bEnIfS6eLpAPGSQLMWF0aEjIiMIcqFuP4885zSqCOMinQZO9w4lJl4V7PyWvwlVK7fd/s400/IMG_20160605_24765.jpg" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Scrubbing with a Brillo pad removed most of the skin, and soil.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">That's not blood. It is beet juice. Wear gloves. Beets are the new kale. Right after the broccoli greens. Hipsters are going to be so healthy! And broke! A small bunch of beets, meaning 3 beets, at the grocery near my house, is $3!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6iCD1rUCd_j-bjTu_gPkBa4QWwCrVZeHBLy5uu3XOWtCjcczIcPKBZle8sJJ0QJSDhN0zXms7HoK9MHAtbaeWfv-Ik3DIQP4bkM2TDBbTxOZ7Tot32if9RWDAJ1ByUcxj3KY_4Ip3m7CJ/s1600/IMG_20160605_24493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Peeling</i> the beets though, <i>that's</i> what they are hiding. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">You'll have to look it up to find out that peeling beets is equivalent to peeling moon rocks. </span><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/495184921505823647/" target="_blank">All those beautiful Pinterest recipes</a> only show the pristine, tempting, amazing-looking dishes filled with shining, deep red, super-foods that will make you live forever! They gloss over the peeling-the-beets part. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaL3qeSrSKHJ4bewPFW7p26pQC_ib2aH3zIaF83bm7RoyxDO-LRLlclay6oQpa_8FVcam-V-BcqKBJqVUoXxPUtcrzaqoQqEhrK0FxwNY7xfQGK_7LlUktagULWAloUhB_0pn3-7qlaUvx/s1600/IMG_20160605_24493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaL3qeSrSKHJ4bewPFW7p26pQC_ib2aH3zIaF83bm7RoyxDO-LRLlclay6oQpa_8FVcam-V-BcqKBJqVUoXxPUtcrzaqoQqEhrK0FxwNY7xfQGK_7LlUktagULWAloUhB_0pn3-7qlaUvx/s320/IMG_20160605_24493.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It also released their bloody essence.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Essentially, folks recommend cooking the beets first. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Have you seen that <a href="http://pinterestfail.com/" target="_blank">Pinterest Fail</a> website? That's how that worked for me. </span>The beets bled...</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> out. All their color and nutrition - gone. They were pale pink. My healthy dinner had boiled into anemic chunks of unrecognizable vegetable matter. It was years before I tried again, and then only because the beet seeds were marked down to 25 cents a pack.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKihFxN5fLxO97n18v-kSg4NE-UjsEsYtmukKMoojeO9TFEd1nUIJX1Ai9jMnH8d-q0p5FISeMTd9y7aBakLKGLqPGoEinfm2_B8mGieYf1wC4Ew1sjvfzisAm8oPcO8dE1JwCk9PX4sT/s1600/IMG_20160605_358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKihFxN5fLxO97n18v-kSg4NE-UjsEsYtmukKMoojeO9TFEd1nUIJX1Ai9jMnH8d-q0p5FISeMTd9y7aBakLKGLqPGoEinfm2_B8mGieYf1wC4Ew1sjvfzisAm8oPcO8dE1JwCk9PX4sT/s400/IMG_20160605_358.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">At least I got some beets! The third year I planted them!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I just couldn't bring myself, with my quest for efficiency in all thing housework, to cook AND THEN prepare the beets additionally by slicing, dicing, canning, whatever. Let me tell you, when you make pickles, they go in raw. It's the boiling brine that cooks them, and they aren't peeled first. Even canning tomatoes seems like less work than anything you can do to eat a beet.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I'm going to try this <a href="http://www.wellandgood.com/good-food/gwyneth-paltrow-easy-cookbook/slide/4/" target="_blank">Beet Chips recipe</a>, since the broccoli leaf chips turned out so well. My foodie, preteen son bought himself a mandolin slicer last year. He said I could borrow it. (How pathetic am I? Borrowing cooking equipment from my kid?) I'll try to ignore that it's <a href="http://www.wellandgood.com/good-food/gwyneth-paltrow-easy-cookbook/slide/4/" target="_blank">Gweneth Paltrow's recipe</a>. I don't know her, but her condescension in interviews toward people who are too exhausted to cook their kids' healthy food every single night is enough. I don't want to know her. I'm two-faced enough to use her recipe though. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Tomorrow. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Today I cleaned a couple beets. That's it for me. Chocolate for dinner.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Check back soon! I'll have more pictures!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGwaDBfWvHgy2KR8Df8X7uZDwW7mxwGFUe1U54wM_PjKwJaymgf4bfGtG4UPoi_Ewwx5_O7qbO-w5L9tDa5PvRUOtAm6X93Y_squXtrATDq8iNmAXHtTxJsLSsWwSt7h3pXWbEdNmyhDJ/s1600/IMG_20160605_1517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>Caleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15400422677669871587noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569591420347449433.post-85771293790892891162016-05-26T12:36:00.002-07:002016-05-26T12:37:57.761-07:00Kitchen Garden in a Bag!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIj24LTeIBMzJLL3qsJbH8ie2pls93IOIjHbJirMusAJY0p4dTUH-QK1GfT_6TBHdmtP5XZ7CDU8N0Zkz8RVvIG_PpXlp7M4IRsvPDvPvj31jRXr6uW2afAsLUx3EPwLMppAcQ9-SmauHn/s1600/May+19%252C+2016+040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIj24LTeIBMzJLL3qsJbH8ie2pls93IOIjHbJirMusAJY0p4dTUH-QK1GfT_6TBHdmtP5XZ7CDU8N0Zkz8RVvIG_PpXlp7M4IRsvPDvPvj31jRXr6uW2afAsLUx3EPwLMppAcQ9-SmauHn/s320/May+19%252C+2016+040.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our sophisticated way of drilling drainage holes.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Once there was a tiny, tiny patio, without a plant growing on it, although a number of plants had died there.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">The patio belonged to a twenty-something woman, who ate a lot of drive through food, but yearned for better health. The young woman had an old friend who knew how to grow food. They decided to plant vegetables on the tiny patio.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">They were working with a budget the size of the patio, so buying containers was out of the question. They decided to plant the kitchen garden right in the bags. They bought...</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> a couple plants, a few seed packets, a cheap, wire trellis, one cheap window box, a big,cherry tomato plant in its big-boy container, with little tomatoes already on it, a tiny container of fertilizer and four bags of soil. They spent $100.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">The patio is about the size of a twin mattress, split lengthwise. It is just big enough for the door to swing open. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRBDwmp58tJbu57viKHzoEegaxT_AVLznVSe8duqMPTFmlOpYXlsiwkNC6cCsrmLN3FtQp5bV7oOASJEZNMZKtJUMPHMX-FkZqZzzNYJD1G2mmVRLUWpGei6Vbp0OVsKf3twNCVxN_V26/s1600/May+19%252C+2016+044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRBDwmp58tJbu57viKHzoEegaxT_AVLznVSe8duqMPTFmlOpYXlsiwkNC6cCsrmLN3FtQp5bV7oOASJEZNMZKtJUMPHMX-FkZqZzzNYJD1G2mmVRLUWpGei6Vbp0OVsKf3twNCVxN_V26/s640/May+19%252C+2016+044.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The humble beginnings</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Caleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15400422677669871587noreply@blogger.com61tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569591420347449433.post-4505631265001608612016-05-23T08:26:00.000-07:002016-05-23T08:26:46.269-07:00Broccoli Leaf Chips!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VbNMw9SaoJ9A8VH1xh35-dsTZ8qqPatK_sumqtSxJ4luYxTzXXYiAM2yYoTnlHTol_RvnJIc9AIvhyphenhyphenQYW8SGjRwmQilwEdDvKw02QSfaOWQoHJJtSd1APw83EpdwEVsR8eLo1nS8xLPW/s1600/IMG_20160521_0855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VbNMw9SaoJ9A8VH1xh35-dsTZ8qqPatK_sumqtSxJ4luYxTzXXYiAM2yYoTnlHTol_RvnJIc9AIvhyphenhyphenQYW8SGjRwmQilwEdDvKw02QSfaOWQoHJJtSd1APw83EpdwEVsR8eLo1nS8xLPW/s400/IMG_20160521_0855.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Broccoli lost its head.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">These broccoli leaf chips are some kind of delicious.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Here is how to make their salty, melt-in-your-mouth, delicate tastiness:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Cut the leaves off and toss them with olive oil and sea salt.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Bake them in the oven at 400 degrees for 5 minutes.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Take out the crispy ones and put the others back in the oven for 5 more minutes.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Repeat this until all the broccoli leaves are crispy.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">They may be brown. At first they might look like they have turned to soggy mush. They crisp up though.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Yum.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Yum.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Yum. </span>Caleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15400422677669871587noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569591420347449433.post-65512757376160123932016-05-22T15:59:00.000-07:002016-05-22T15:59:31.784-07:00Great Headless Broccoli, Batman!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCh-bN0qTZBH9i9TmIGotLFdKKagVDKw7leWOgMKLOYhJRs0FyttEbM5FAfijYuPIIYtysMJ9mndN5y1cV91MLqApTvj8sNXHgkl30yvOw9xLWSCyR1IPwg7bgwcrP8ozBXqQji23lbqDf/s1600/IMG_20160521_0855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCh-bN0qTZBH9i9TmIGotLFdKKagVDKw7leWOgMKLOYhJRs0FyttEbM5FAfijYuPIIYtysMJ9mndN5y1cV91MLqApTvj8sNXHgkl30yvOw9xLWSCyR1IPwg7bgwcrP8ozBXqQji23lbqDf/s640/IMG_20160521_0855.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Headless, broccoli failure made the day!!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Today was the greatest.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Maybe just very, very good, but VERY VERY good.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Maybe it was the two chocolate bars, but it <i>was</i> a very, very good day.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">First, I got stood up.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">The only person who showed up for work day at the farm was the friend who had organized it, because she wanted to work for food. So that was...</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Fine by me! It gets me moving to have a helper. Her very young daughter also came, and was a surprising amount of help. I don't get why people write off the help of children. They are generally pretty competent, until they quit.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">We got the spinach pulled. It was so far gone, it had flowers. A lot of flowers. It filled the entire dump wagon. Bagged to take home, we got two tall kitchen garbage bags full.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4q3ntSq50p3H_3OpDeiwuZtjrcUk3ifALsloVcVgSXYJjr7gDU4YzstXVQQEjCubtZXNT-z6zaeavtdJhZYdBwqHeDPjwQ8DIuTL9AqzPCf_WotoCqMKXVrgcPm5xbiPeQjjrnLCLNfs-/s1600/April+2016+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4q3ntSq50p3H_3OpDeiwuZtjrcUk3ifALsloVcVgSXYJjr7gDU4YzstXVQQEjCubtZXNT-z6zaeavtdJhZYdBwqHeDPjwQ8DIuTL9AqzPCf_WotoCqMKXVrgcPm5xbiPeQjjrnLCLNfs-/s320/April+2016+013.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">We were going to pull all the radishes, but I didn't have the courage. They are starting to bolt too (a.k.a. make flowers for seeds.) We pulled about 50, which was maybe a fifth of one bed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Then we cut arugula and lettuce. We used the 5 gallon buckets: 3 and a half buckets full would be what? 16+ gallons?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">It was enough, so we quit harvesting, but we hadn't made a dent in the lettuce yet.</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKNw3aKb51dGtMN9VGa_1qBqpeE3RxQE_x95lGNE2XxYQHU2UbCaqz2ae1p3brjGVSP7JJO0qvrbxa-y7emBchwLby-nK07QfWBYAE7RfRCjLmXwwtzNEm2WQUKb3hTzas98jbn0qiWyk/s1600/May+19%252C+2016+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKNw3aKb51dGtMN9VGa_1qBqpeE3RxQE_x95lGNE2XxYQHU2UbCaqz2ae1p3brjGVSP7JJO0qvrbxa-y7emBchwLby-nK07QfWBYAE7RfRCjLmXwwtzNEm2WQUKb3hTzas98jbn0qiWyk/s320/May+19%252C+2016+026.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">3 lbs of arugula per row. Oh my.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Then we bickered about how to split it, since neither of us wanted to take more than we could use. So, maybe we should have laid off the cutting earlier, eh?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Sometime in there we planted a second crop of squash and beans.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Seemed like we got a lot done, so we called it a day!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">About 30 minutes later, the neighbor kid shows up to play. His mom comes to check on him, and spends a little time weeding the beets. Then we discuss the broccoli that never made heads, and decide to try using her kale chip recipe to make broccoli leaf chips. OMG!! They were so good! Salty, with olive oil, I gobbled them up like popcorn! Thinner than tissue, they just dissolved into crunchy goodness as soon as you put them in your mouth! My kids had gone bike riding, so they missed the first batch. Then they missed the second batch. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I went to plant more broccoli.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">The recipe tab at the top has this, and a bunch of other healthy, cheap, delicious recipes for lazy people who don't like to cook. I'll see you there! </span>Caleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15400422677669871587noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569591420347449433.post-37849580564046547712016-04-20T08:07:00.000-07:002016-04-29T12:37:08.085-07:00Orange Creamsicle Flavored Spinach Smoothie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-d3l7eulTJy-ZwMiVtgzgMOIgXRs1dcu_Y5rqsIwP851P0_UrQo7VlnhINXrMBEIb-fxpMiteGIq0DbiOPz66xpbE9x0KLLt0uMK04viWhM6cncnXPcg9Mswpwx2DhvLs-EIxcPpuX0JL/s1600/IMG_20160420_49902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-d3l7eulTJy-ZwMiVtgzgMOIgXRs1dcu_Y5rqsIwP851P0_UrQo7VlnhINXrMBEIb-fxpMiteGIq0DbiOPz66xpbE9x0KLLt0uMK04viWhM6cncnXPcg9Mswpwx2DhvLs-EIxcPpuX0JL/s640/IMG_20160420_49902.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Purists are going to hate me, but things went wrong and all I had was some aging, orange <a href="http://gatorade./">Gatorade.</a> So, I used it. Spinach has never tasted so good.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">(BONUS: This smoothie turns your teeth and tongue blue!) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks to every healthy-living guru who has ever touched a computer, we all know that for optimum health, one must drink smoothies for breakfast. Since I planted roughly 600 <a href="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=calskitgar-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00RNHYJYG&asins=B00RNHYJYG&linkId=B2HXWQ3QM46ZEJ2N" target="_blank">spinach seeds</a> last fall and we had a mild, wet winter, about 20 of them grew. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Waste not, want not!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I couldn't bring myself to actually eat the spinach, so I bought some frozen blueberries and vanilla ice cream. <a href="http://www.orangejulius.com/" target="_blank">Orange Julius,</a> at the mall, blends blueberries and a big scoop of ice to make the smoothies I buy there. By twisting their concept, I thought frozen blueberries would...</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> be more efficient.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">So, I washed the spinach and packed it in the blender on top of a cup of frozen blueberries. Packed down, it was about one and a half cups of spinach.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Here's where you can learn from my mistake: frozen blueberries don't blend. The blade spins around, chopping up the bottom few, and the rest stay in a clump above it, untouched. The spinach sat, completely irrelevant. I've made this mistake as many times as <a href="http://adele.com/" target="_blank">Adele</a> has called that guy. <a href="http://adele.com/" target="_blank">Adele</a> and I have this in common: we never learn from the last time. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">So I added the ice.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2atP3pX9NM60W16rorL0If3bbHkq1-tTIbcp_ZL6jPnrulphF2hoSYwnGu2JHqIcv5Kj4DnHzu8zWfL_fPzKEAzfuZ0GZTUFTFitxOKBzc2KfM_UroBmWHOJL4iGLhBiGTgPoY4Du9Jam/s1600/IMG_20160420_25341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2atP3pX9NM60W16rorL0If3bbHkq1-tTIbcp_ZL6jPnrulphF2hoSYwnGu2JHqIcv5Kj4DnHzu8zWfL_fPzKEAzfuZ0GZTUFTFitxOKBzc2KfM_UroBmWHOJL4iGLhBiGTgPoY4Du9Jam/s320/IMG_20160420_25341.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Still a clump.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I pounded down everything but my children with a wooden spoon. (Don't pound too much, unless you want to drink wood pulp.)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">It obviously needed more liquid and nothing was melting quickly enough to do the job. The orange juice in the fridge may have passed its expiration date. Waste not, want not. Right?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Somebody drank the OJ.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Beside its empty space was some even older orange Gatorade.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Healthy people drink <a href="http://www.gatorade.com/" target="_blank">Gatorade,</a> and it was orange <i>flavored,</i> so I used that.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">The result was pretty good. It tasted like orange Gatorade, with a hint of freshly mowed grass.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">But I bought the ice cream to sweeten the smoothie, and although the Gatorade really did the job, I added a small scoop of ice cream anyway. After all, if the smoothie was too healthy, I might lose weight.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqaDSnRWg2ozMUi9eAuRtQDTSqNsLz1jkiMMgAgtAJD6yyI29226yU5jcMYVbLO4-gOTVl-oOAiJD8DZNyIObXUuhXSQxQz7C1z9fQnATol4awixzFrlwBOBiz9cwdBrmLbx_vYeQ7d9y/s1600/IMG_20160420_10549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqaDSnRWg2ozMUi9eAuRtQDTSqNsLz1jkiMMgAgtAJD6yyI29226yU5jcMYVbLO4-gOTVl-oOAiJD8DZNyIObXUuhXSQxQz7C1z9fQnATol4awixzFrlwBOBiz9cwdBrmLbx_vYeQ7d9y/s320/IMG_20160420_10549.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">The result looked a lot like bird droppings, so don't put yours in a transparent cup.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">But the taste...WOW! Orange Creamsicle Flavored Spinach Smoothie! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Just leave the hate mail in the comments section. That way, it still counts as traffic and boosts my SEO. Questions go there too. And love from all my Plant Junkie friends! Heart you!</span>Caleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15400422677669871587noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569591420347449433.post-35320676894291451492016-04-14T11:56:00.000-07:002016-04-29T12:41:53.566-07:00About That Tampa Bay Article<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXCWAspYlDJwGSRYJzL1fvjpBLAxtoeJYrYKOFLttY7mq45WLd5Tws4972XiRVzOdPDmV26PDec1m4Xrli_kcPpcB2U7lwQ1nXQo7nn5IjxEsN57I8FnhJ0Am0GDlTv9aDD-ai8_OvBU0/s1600/basil+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXCWAspYlDJwGSRYJzL1fvjpBLAxtoeJYrYKOFLttY7mq45WLd5Tws4972XiRVzOdPDmV26PDec1m4Xrli_kcPpcB2U7lwQ1nXQo7nn5IjxEsN57I8FnhJ0Am0GDlTv9aDD-ai8_OvBU0/s640/basil+011.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you look closely, and you know a lot, you can see this basil is about to die.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span data-offset-key="917fe-0-0"><span data-text="true"><a href="http://www.tampabay.com/projects/2016/food/farm-to-fable/restaurants/" target="_blank">This article about Tampa Bay restaurants</a> is blowing up the internet. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span data-offset-key="917fe-0-0"><span data-text="true">As a small farm owner, I can say this is probably true in most places. </span></span><span data-offset-key="917fe-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span data-offset-key="917fe-0-0"><span data-text="true"><br /></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span data-offset-key="917fe-0-0"><span data-text="true">When I have discussed growing schedules with restaurant owners, one big problem is: if you buy locally, you will be eating the same thing all summer. How many squash specials can they sell every week? Additionally, all the restaurants would be serving squash all summer. Seasonal veggies last the whole season. And if it's a good okra year, all the farms will have plenty, and all the farms will be having a bad tomato year simultaneously. Americans no longer eat things they don't like just because that's what's available. Try getting somebody to have a radish special because that's what's growing well this week. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span data-offset-key="917fe-0-0"><span data-text="true">From a farm perspective, growing...</span></span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span data-offset-key="917fe-0-0"><span data-text="true"> 50 different crops requires 50 different growing schedules, harvesting schedules, equipment, plant knowledge, knowledge of all the diseases that attack the 50 different crops, etc. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD88YfZIsrIcozx2hkZzYStA9rBdoX1L-Y-mB1z9_xzQHgwYz142wgIjF0YYnEpwlySNThZCWn3PDT7tHALxVub2kJJlHFN8G8YnoEpbifMRxNRPYzV1amoOnhR6bCtzqY6UG4m3ZJQRp3/s1600/477183_316592818409556_771788928_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD88YfZIsrIcozx2hkZzYStA9rBdoX1L-Y-mB1z9_xzQHgwYz142wgIjF0YYnEpwlySNThZCWn3PDT7tHALxVub2kJJlHFN8G8YnoEpbifMRxNRPYzV1amoOnhR6bCtzqY6UG4m3ZJQRp3/s400/477183_316592818409556_771788928_o.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Same Basils</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span data-offset-key="917fe-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span data-offset-key="917fe-0-0"><span data-text="true"></span></span><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span data-offset-key="917fe-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span data-offset-key="917fe-0-0"><span data-text="true">Sourcing produce is a job too, like farming or owning a restaurant. Nobody can do all jobs at once. Farmers in one area where I lived all got a snide letter from a man trying to start a farmers market. He was angry because the farmers didn't want to come sell produce. What he didn't get was: retail sales is a job too, and it's not the same job as farming. Can't do them both at once. I can't take two days to pack, unpack, build displays, sell or maybe not sell, break it all back down and carry it all back home, in hopes of making sales. A LOT of the farmers you see at the popular markets could really be classified as gardeners. They have other jobs to pay the bills. Some of the ones that don't, get government assistance to stay afloat. </span></span></span></span><span data-offset-key="917fe-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span data-offset-key="917fe-0-0"><span data-text="true">If radishes and okra are all that is ready that week and you don't buy
them, that farmer will be eating them for breakfast, lunch and dinner.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXONit6hEp-kU-mFRgbSjkt_ouPwQZJq0-cwL48VBEWsR6lPf7HzJj0e-BwOFUab7emD4W0mFYbYu-pdytXMswwjrMW6aerfkZ5YPLB_2Ej5KYpM7cMPuZ6rNv6uROghilkN60gLtmonA/s1600/K%2527s+pic+%2526+whtgrass+3-18-13+077.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXONit6hEp-kU-mFRgbSjkt_ouPwQZJq0-cwL48VBEWsR6lPf7HzJj0e-BwOFUab7emD4W0mFYbYu-pdytXMswwjrMW6aerfkZ5YPLB_2Ej5KYpM7cMPuZ6rNv6uROghilkN60gLtmonA/s320/K%2527s+pic+%2526+whtgrass+3-18-13+077.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Same basils</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span data-offset-key="917fe-0-0"><span data-text="true">It is hard
to make people understand that if they want seasonal food, they have to
be willing to eat some things they don't like. Basil and tomatoes don't
grow year-round unless you live at the equator. Even there, sometimes
the basil gets downy mildew and the tomatoes get Fusarium. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span data-offset-key="917fe-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span data-offset-key="917fe-0-0"><span data-text="true"></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="917fe-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span data-offset-key="917fe-0-0"><span data-text="true">You can't have your ideals and expect your favorite foods at the same time. That's not how life works on a farm. Or in a restaurant. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkpr_e7ofkG8wMHGULVznZubqh5ukXJzitvHn_dgKze1_nHItotbw3BFYBSOpBPNzfgm1hTemZ82rksyo807wIQSOdle_uwABPpUoqgbzfcOSKLPgJz1sZxxhNYq2bX7tudq65GP6s7AQ/s1600/883446_454622007939969_2018502711_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkpr_e7ofkG8wMHGULVznZubqh5ukXJzitvHn_dgKze1_nHItotbw3BFYBSOpBPNzfgm1hTemZ82rksyo807wIQSOdle_uwABPpUoqgbzfcOSKLPgJz1sZxxhNYq2bX7tudq65GP6s7AQ/s640/883446_454622007939969_2018502711_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Same basils. This was the crop, our main crop that year, and it got a disease.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></span></span>Caleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15400422677669871587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569591420347449433.post-4504969778787771302016-04-13T09:45:00.001-07:002016-04-29T12:43:47.104-07:00Grow Vegetables In The Window<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDUO22abrJ0VWk2qlFI8Fv6igshUOWeLFMHo75O-14Wy0LQlC_S7Q4DuKtQWu7efPU4GdZCxecoaIz-SzcwjWyqZvwVs3hQDpr8qH3uF4zMPororCQUzYyILOTJYuAgb0mDpQ7gLrdznO/s1600/IMG_20160413_749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDUO22abrJ0VWk2qlFI8Fv6igshUOWeLFMHo75O-14Wy0LQlC_S7Q4DuKtQWu7efPU4GdZCxecoaIz-SzcwjWyqZvwVs3hQDpr8qH3uF4zMPororCQUzYyILOTJYuAgb0mDpQ7gLrdznO/s400/IMG_20160413_749.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lettuce. Two weeks old.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Growing plants, herbs and vegetables especially, in a window is quintessentially charming, but can it be done? How much of a hassle is it to water, trim, turn etc?</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTS8C8cyGCeTfJ_UBYgiLpnLkk8-6ZyNirNLDYcSQlzS0VUPw1yjcnA5SIilrtynIBGxxt5DOfpOsGTs2B17VE2tkZTufjgeAyUnUwqo2Ym3Qk38zoDtPUb7hui3DsVrZuJMO8mlM1Lys/s1600/IMG_20160413_43385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTS8C8cyGCeTfJ_UBYgiLpnLkk8-6ZyNirNLDYcSQlzS0VUPw1yjcnA5SIilrtynIBGxxt5DOfpOsGTs2B17VE2tkZTufjgeAyUnUwqo2Ym3Qk38zoDtPUb7hui3DsVrZuJMO8mlM1Lys/s400/IMG_20160413_43385.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Radishes planted the same day. See what I'm saying?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Take a lesson from <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/meals_ready_to_eat" target="_blank">NASA</a> and start with the vegetables that are easiest to grow. Even seasoned gardeners have to relearn some things when they are growing in a new environment, so start with the can't-be-killed vegetables first:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Lettuce - NASA started with lettuce for it's <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/meals_ready_to_eat" target="_blank">Growing Vegetables In Space </a>Program. Lettuce germinates in a day. You should have sprouts in 2-3 days. You can start harvesting the lettuce in about 3 weeks. The astronauts on the space station harvested theirs at 33 days. It wilts when it's thirsty, so you have some warning before it's dead. Of coarse, that's if everything goes right. If you don't...</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> have at least little, green sprouts on 10 days, dump the whole thing, including the soil, and start again. Wash the container if you are going to reuse that. Start with arugula (spicy) and red romaine. NASA started with Red Romaine.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sruaQrg4ZVGmdELHnF0OSmW41UooFEZraTDeEtXfJi6hem4OLsjPfL8F2IOlJE4Y9K4g8viRf_1rq7qnTxXbUOs5utlXUYFo0RDxZaJ305XCSjlw0uSqBHgbE0X0Hc4uDTiAl1Q5wPq2/s1600/IMG_20160413_7747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7sruaQrg4ZVGmdELHnF0OSmW41UooFEZraTDeEtXfJi6hem4OLsjPfL8F2IOlJE4Y9K4g8viRf_1rq7qnTxXbUOs5utlXUYFo0RDxZaJ305XCSjlw0uSqBHgbE0X0Hc4uDTiAl1Q5wPq2/s400/IMG_20160413_7747.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lettuce. One week old.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Radishes - Quit whining. Radish plants prime the pump. They get things going. We plant them as a first crop every time one of our beds has been fallow for a while. Additionally, you should be willing to eat the vegetables you grow, and you won't be farming black beans on the window sill. If you don't like radishes, it is because you have never had good ones. These will be good ones and you absolutely CAN NOT KILL radishes. Pink Beauty radishes have been the overall winner every time we have had several varieties.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8es4UMXuFYgiDM-tDer4yaBROFSxRL1hsJRIaJWePUEspk7o8d8DbfTgKKg-Tg3gBlGG3KoItNaM-tx9DM_e-nIIINXHN335EMd9blIStqEVBI33YHLE7_v_5w3XD4w6vbpQmQp6X-SC/s1600/IMG_20160413_24434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8es4UMXuFYgiDM-tDer4yaBROFSxRL1hsJRIaJWePUEspk7o8d8DbfTgKKg-Tg3gBlGG3KoItNaM-tx9DM_e-nIIINXHN335EMd9blIStqEVBI33YHLE7_v_5w3XD4w6vbpQmQp6X-SC/s400/IMG_20160413_24434.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Arugula. Planted the same day, same seeding thickness.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Herbs - Growing herbs indoors is tricky. Stick with basil and parsley. (Warning! Parsley can take a long time to germinate!) Soft, green leaves grow more quickly and require less sun than piney-looking plants like rosemary or lavender or silvery things like sage. Chives will co-operate for a while, but they are perennial and need a cold season to live indefinitely. Besides, pesto takes so much basil, it really can be considered a vegetable for our purposes. You can buy the parsley plants, but basil sometimes has trouble acclimatizing, and it's easy to <a href="http://www.hometalk.com/2847964/start-seeds-like-a-pro" target="_blank">grow from seed</a>. Grow the basil from seed. You can harvest some of the seedlings as microgreens too. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Leftover onion and celery stumps - good luck with that. Stumps happen. Folks get them to grow. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Tomatoes - One of my earliest memories is the tomato plant, "Ruby," that had tomatoes at Christmas in our living room, before bush tomatoes had even been invented. The pot was a black,
plastic nursery container, about a 2-gallon size. It can be done. Start with a smaller variety like cherry or pear shaped. Smaller tomatoes make smaller, more manageable plants.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now the growing:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Let's assume you have started the seeds (lettuce, radish, arugula, basil) or gotten some plants (tomato, peppers, parsley.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">They need direct sunlight at least once a day. The sun has to hit the leaves directly.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Water them when they wilt. Don't over water the plants. This is far and away the most common mistake.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Turn them a quarter turn a day so the entire plant will get light and the stem will not lean to one side.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">If you have questions, post them below and I will answer them! You got this!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
Caleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15400422677669871587noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569591420347449433.post-31271867327770355812016-04-10T07:01:00.003-07:002016-04-12T14:58:45.158-07:00Feed That Addiction, Plant Junkie!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ004oG5nA33IZ5kRB05wbwSosV-QGkLBqIuAPsVrWJOAnMuvQWOKj7IDkEFBRc6T9MWgbLKCH6DFme0mSQUNcjH2lWMTtE0b0TCEuXI7M0ZjQD9uCyGYDOtIPg-MRoLfKNuev0DUnSpxo/s1600/IMG_20160410_3540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ004oG5nA33IZ5kRB05wbwSosV-QGkLBqIuAPsVrWJOAnMuvQWOKj7IDkEFBRc6T9MWgbLKCH6DFme0mSQUNcjH2lWMTtE0b0TCEuXI7M0ZjQD9uCyGYDOtIPg-MRoLfKNuev0DUnSpxo/s640/IMG_20160410_3540.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nobody else was taking pictures in the cemetery, or I would have retaken this contraband photo.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">Feed that addiction, Plant Junkie! You know you want to!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If you missed the <a href="http://www.hallmastergardeners.com/#!spring-expo/c1cp5" target="_blank">Hall County Master Gardeners Spring Expo</a>, you still have time to enjoy these: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://atlantabg.org/visit/events/gently-used-plant-sale" target="_blank">The Gently Used Plant Sale</a></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">(Display models being sold at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<a href="http://atlantabg.org/visit/events/herb-society-plant-sale" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Herb Society Plant Sale</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(also at the <a href="http://atlantabg.org/" target="_blank">Atlanta Botanical Garden</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<a href="http://www.norcrossgardenclub.org/Norcross_Garden_Club/Plant_Sale.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Norcross Garden Club Plant Sale</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">(I was a speaker there one year!)</span>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In case the cold weather kept you home: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.oaklandcemetery.com/?event=spring-plant-sale-2016" target="_blank">Oakland Cemetery</a> is an Historic Atlanta landmark, and they let me in anyway! The GPS got me to the ornate gate that they picture on their website. I was worried. The website makes it sound enormous and my hiking skills are beginner level. Bring a cane if you aren't steady on your feet. There has been a little settling int he last 200 years.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: purple;"><span style="color: lime;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: purple;"></span></span>But WOW!</b></span></span> This place is...</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: large;"> great! You can see from one detailed, ornate, intricate, impressive, well-kept end to the other stunning, herbalicious, cheerful end. Did I mention this is a cemetery? It's actually kinda hard to get lost, since the visitor's center is the only sizable building and it's in the middle, standing just high enough to see from most of the property.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There are also a number of beautiful, stained glass, architecturally intricate, chapel-like crypts that are tall enough to use at landmarks. Just don't stand near them in a storm.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And a busy railway runs within inches of the back wall, making enough noise to raise the dead, but it didn't. Maynard Jackson and Margaret Mitchell seemed fine with it.(Hi Guys!) A small price to pay to be covered in roses and irises for eternity. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As I approached the Visitor's Center, looking for the plant sale, I saw the sign: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Plant Sale </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">To the Left</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Down the Hill</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">At the Greenhouse </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And by "To the Left, Down the Hill" they mean: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Down the Hill</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">To the Right</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">At the Greenhouse </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The greenhouse <i>was</i> on the left, after I went down the hill and quite a way to the right. That was after I went down the hill, to the left, to the left again, back up a hill, marked my progress by one of the very tall, beautiful, unmistakable crypts, and went back to the gift shop to read the sign again. The clue was the in the "At the Greenhouse" part. So I wondered around, passed picnickers and tourists, an enormous ivy shaped into draped bunting, centuries old trees, sculpted benches and thousands of little violas, until I found a greenhouse. Did I mention this is a cemetery?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I really wanted to take pictures of all this stuff, but nobody else was, probably because it's a cemetery.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The plant sale was a good one, and I've been to a lot of plant sales.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The vibrant, greenest-rosemary-I-have-ever-seen hedge just inside the entrance reminded me that I need a new rosemary, and they had 5 varieties to choose from. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">An enormous, deep purple iris hung over a one of the corner tables. Lured me in. Purple. I bought an iris. This is the first one I have ever purchased, although I own a few. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Whoever was in charge of signage (plant signage, not directional signage) was a master. Each plant had a full-page, laminated sign, with a picture and attached so well the ocean-fairing winds could not dislodge them. Good work, Sign Wizard.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I also bought a hardy orange. Turns out I've had them before, when I killed off my other citrus trees. Hardy Orange root stock is used to graft less-hardy citrus trees unto. Learn something new every day. And I would not have known it, if it weren't for the Sign Wizard.</span>Caleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15400422677669871587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569591420347449433.post-27496816562503548722016-04-09T07:32:00.000-07:002016-04-09T07:37:21.109-07:00What to Plant in APRIL!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQaCc9gzJzaH-tzGGh452yu6skGprMftAiLpb45-5zXWqx-8y-R6jpyZ-ahoUmOJl2cdl8sHwS98nnC4IPoP5StleF3hn0jEp9ATeqfVs4AK8VrcUs73x8GKcXefYtWanj_acCo1BajI4/s1600/luffa+pizza+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQaCc9gzJzaH-tzGGh452yu6skGprMftAiLpb45-5zXWqx-8y-R6jpyZ-ahoUmOJl2cdl8sHwS98nnC4IPoP5StleF3hn0jEp9ATeqfVs4AK8VrcUs73x8GKcXefYtWanj_acCo1BajI4/s400/luffa+pizza+012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">What to plant in April:</span><br />
<a href="http://www.caleyskitchengarden.com/2014/04/if-got-em-plant-em.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-large;">EVERYTHING!!</span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Here's a breakdown:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">If it's still cold, plant cole crops. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">If it's not going to frost again and you are cheap, direct seed your entire summer crop now. If you want to get a jump, buy bedding plants. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iicYjmB5a4" target="_blank">Here</a> is one of the most boring videos ever (mine) about how to plant tomato plants. And here is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9s_KCxBTrY" target="_blank">Bonnie Plant's video about it.</a> (Hi Bonnie!)</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2aCQDdJpGZZVDQCj4N7GR7og_azVPyUEozr2V4kc9JKMWCTCAxKEzQZFml8Ynr-rx-udShQJR2IfpeFLWfcJPRTnawUdml7GL2kK33Q4Mw9sqAEOVQ2b8m4Fgt3BQtBw-KGRz2MIlYtp/s1600/12072649_898529973549168_8958928087530675987_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2aCQDdJpGZZVDQCj4N7GR7og_azVPyUEozr2V4kc9JKMWCTCAxKEzQZFml8Ynr-rx-udShQJR2IfpeFLWfcJPRTnawUdml7GL2kK33Q4Mw9sqAEOVQ2b8m4Fgt3BQtBw-KGRz2MIlYtp/s640/12072649_898529973549168_8958928087530675987_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">See how easily they could be stepped on?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">One more thing...</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> sometimes things grow faster when they are <a href="http://www.caleyskitchengarden.com/2013/02/6-steps-to-starting-seeds-and-tips-from.html" target="_blank">grown in pots</a> and then transplanted. You also get the added benefit of being able to see your plants, so you don't step on them the way you might if they are seedlings in the garden. Here are the directions.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Of coarse, you can do both of these things if you are a go-getter and you live in my zone (7B) where it seems like it is never going to warm up.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.caes.uga.edu/topics/sustainag/documents/GOplantingcalendar.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Here is your link to Georgia Organics planting calendar (again.) </span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now GO FORTH! And get your garden on. You know you want to. </span>Caleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15400422677669871587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569591420347449433.post-55847008400330659222016-03-22T09:41:00.000-07:002016-03-22T09:43:13.630-07:00What to Plant in March<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdAEj1qkAprf7hWql8SFY6bd6Md9QpFu_XtTGCQIzL5VIEWphZK6yKDsNhpkeKWcH-q0dYycTZLb6QcZHo5qypqb_qEU-0MTSeo6yweW3HLNWZhpFKYf5caHi_SGP7s3JkeKy2i6aJv9q/s1600/new+micros%252C+fla+beetles%252C+regrown+lettuce+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdAEj1qkAprf7hWql8SFY6bd6Md9QpFu_XtTGCQIzL5VIEWphZK6yKDsNhpkeKWcH-q0dYycTZLb6QcZHo5qypqb_qEU-0MTSeo6yweW3HLNWZhpFKYf5caHi_SGP7s3JkeKy2i6aJv9q/s400/new+micros%252C+fla+beetles%252C+regrown+lettuce+001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MLFtzO38sUo8MgoCMUwFpvCAZJHftCrx1TY9n0V30flzN6LdHg8BMqrOlqB30aK1cqhJEYzzA_QggdO6Iq84uXOYguZx72jJmDtfvZSvBhhXgG3iV3v0z6EQJrAnWs0pQEudRZiDHUF9/s1600/477183_316592818409556_771788928_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MLFtzO38sUo8MgoCMUwFpvCAZJHftCrx1TY9n0V30flzN6LdHg8BMqrOlqB30aK1cqhJEYzzA_QggdO6Iq84uXOYguZx72jJmDtfvZSvBhhXgG3iV3v0z6EQJrAnWs0pQEudRZiDHUF9/s320/477183_316592818409556_771788928_o.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Plant Everything</b> in March! This is the month you've been waiting for! </span><a href="http://www.caleyskitchengarden.com/2013/02/6-steps-to-starting-seeds-and-tips-from.html" style="font-size: xx-large;" target="_blank">(Here's How to Start Seeds)</a><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">If you live in the mountains or "Up North" plant some spinach and Swiss Chard. If you aren't expecting any more snow, plant lettuce, beets, carrots and radishes. If you live in the tropics, plant tomatoes.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">.</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Non-tropics dwellers: plant tomatoes anyway, <a href="http://www.caleyskitchengarden.com/2013/03/tips-from-pro-for-hard-to-start-seeds.html" target="_blank">just do it indoors.</a> It is time to...</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> start seedlings of anything that is an annual like basil, peppers or eggplant. (Just plant like 3 eggplant seeds. One plant will be enough to feed your whole family for the year.)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">PLANT IT ALREADY! Plant something someplace! It's March! Time to plant and grow!</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">If you aren't ready, that's fine too. Truth be told, I haven't planted much: a small raised bed of lettuce and one of radishes. There are a few spinach plants in one bed where I dumped no less that 6 packets of seeds! Spinach does not love Dixie. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OBHsxP4VHBzqPAWbvQWq-lIT6QrKewbxCWpCCNp9SyjIh-Y3E1ifB-K1jDFhTl03Tg7ARs9-nr9BHw-2ozcjk8d_lQ4nKzl5GdHJUmuA-ZkE61KgOINDCBlCDr6jtKLDZo9KMZpUKNKZ/s1600/734028_936902336378598_2869518603433003702_n+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OBHsxP4VHBzqPAWbvQWq-lIT6QrKewbxCWpCCNp9SyjIh-Y3E1ifB-K1jDFhTl03Tg7ARs9-nr9BHw-2ozcjk8d_lQ4nKzl5GdHJUmuA-ZkE61KgOINDCBlCDr6jtKLDZo9KMZpUKNKZ/s320/734028_936902336378598_2869518603433003702_n+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CaleysKitchenGarden/photos/pb.249812438420928.-2207520000.1458664239./936902336378598/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">The onion sets I got on clearance</a> are growing. That's about it. Yesterday we dug the last of the carrots and I tilled some beds.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtbESi7fber8BEKu9wpsYkkI3GVB4mtFSZcAwHObYjwWWX3rUdeKShslvgd_1bfURJx-jcTvMXi080JP2OPzJMfcfl6lWK4V8oOcsT4UIMTh30vv0zjxB7nIaw94M01HW7yjZ0UE6YYHrG/s1600/2012-07-06_09-00-38_914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtbESi7fber8BEKu9wpsYkkI3GVB4mtFSZcAwHObYjwWWX3rUdeKShslvgd_1bfURJx-jcTvMXi080JP2OPzJMfcfl6lWK4V8oOcsT4UIMTh30vv0zjxB7nIaw94M01HW7yjZ0UE6YYHrG/s320/2012-07-06_09-00-38_914.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">And guess what? My 90-year-old neighbor hasn't even done that! The neighbor who is always months ahead of me and has corn knee-high by Mother's Day?! He says this year, it's too early.</span></div>
Caleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15400422677669871587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569591420347449433.post-43740739079058597082016-03-06T05:04:00.000-08:002016-03-22T09:49:09.158-07:00<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://youtu.be/1dHdLB6fnpU" target="_blank">Happy March!!</a></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQLEPxBVPX6i6ZBgb4qnGkad7qdaH6sqCw9m-_EWKqEKX3MxcgdMIboUzCSNUYieID39J_AXFLqrpxV6gndJuKNwzRdVxrtVaV99dKxf7tapyTilPskD18E7tBzehRQeTzqq9OkjFolKf/s1600/Four-leaf+super+plant%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQLEPxBVPX6i6ZBgb4qnGkad7qdaH6sqCw9m-_EWKqEKX3MxcgdMIboUzCSNUYieID39J_AXFLqrpxV6gndJuKNwzRdVxrtVaV99dKxf7tapyTilPskD18E7tBzehRQeTzqq9OkjFolKf/s640/Four-leaf+super+plant%2521.jpg" width="540" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/1dHdLB6fnpU" target="_blank">Found a four-leaf clover!</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Caleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15400422677669871587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569591420347449433.post-27285265787134106652016-02-19T06:45:00.001-08:002016-03-22T08:54:43.575-07:00Garden Plan: What To Grow<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydh5KK0FE8_0654D85gCz8xAgeKbfm4AXC4tJUvvO36dbAg6UoRh-OrKZOni71xfH-OHTAEC41qZ0LVICDM5cJs6lQ8d7fEkGA2u7nmjJVgqfH3wlOCMLsejXqxlFjma5cFd-CvSTgwbr/s1600/oto+X+First+downlaod+631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydh5KK0FE8_0654D85gCz8xAgeKbfm4AXC4tJUvvO36dbAg6UoRh-OrKZOni71xfH-OHTAEC41qZ0LVICDM5cJs6lQ8d7fEkGA2u7nmjJVgqfH3wlOCMLsejXqxlFjma5cFd-CvSTgwbr/s640/oto+X+First+downlaod+631.jpg" width="638" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Procrastination Pays Off!</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Growing compost isn't my idea of time well spent, <a href="http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/what_are_the_physical_and_mental_benefits_of_gardening" target="_blank">although psychologists might argue</a>. The food pantry gets a good bit of our crop each season as well, but it's the stuff I keep and never use that lingers in my conscience. So, seed and plant selection is becoming more important as I get older and less willing to grow compost.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Plants and seeds are safe, or getting the boot by these criteria:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>1. What do we eat when it's laying around the kitchen?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Or in the "Go Rot" drawer of the fridge?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Lets face it...</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> if I bought or picked that type of veggie three times, and it went bad before we ate it <i>three times</i>, well, it gets cut from the list. Even if we love it when it is cooked. We'll buy it cooked from somewhere else.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>However: </i>It can stay IF I can find someone to give it to <i>and</i> they will give some back. COOKED.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>2. What would we eat more of, if it was not so expensive?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Basil and shallots. Leeks and beets. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjheptOUCBVvDdwSkvdXTbxF1dENsdpZDUoxmNRh44fjDxtAyW_Ffb9HP-obS-zJTtAEktIbA6sHvDU6a0qW8JMy3Ck3yk2ijgUwF1Bltz7jLbqyiSZw6-17md5uG2s4OTCalDrCjgle0v_/s1600/12729317_963044600431038_7915722003126303796_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjheptOUCBVvDdwSkvdXTbxF1dENsdpZDUoxmNRh44fjDxtAyW_Ffb9HP-obS-zJTtAEktIbA6sHvDU6a0qW8JMy3Ck3yk2ijgUwF1Bltz7jLbqyiSZw6-17md5uG2s4OTCalDrCjgle0v_/s320/12729317_963044600431038_7915722003126303796_n.jpg" width="180" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>3.Things that aren't tasty when they are bought from the store</i>, like radishes.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>4. What will grow here?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Live this advice: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">There is an equivalent chart for your area:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.caes.uga.edu/topics/sustainag/documents/GOplantingcalendar.pdf" target="_blank">Growing Calendar for Georgia</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>5. What will the thieves not touch? </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">This information has gotten me invitations to 4 Prepper Networks:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Nobody steals radishes. Thieves are to lazy or pressed for time to pick beans. So am I. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Thieves don't go for high end foods like arugula and shallots. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Tomatoes and watermelon don't stand a chance. You could put a GPS tracking device in them and they would still get stolen. In fact, that's a pretty good idea!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>6. Thieves <b>will</b> steal basil.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>7. What things do we only eat a few at a time and most of the package goes bad?</i> Like potatoes? I grow this stuff because it rarely goes bad in the ground. So, I only dig what I am going to use. Ta Da! No waste!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>8. Is it perennial? </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I am some kind of lazy, let me tell you, and I just don't always get around to planting all the things I dream of growing. Solution: Perennials! </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMuRyOC7KOsDwxsq2lUCEwJeouXkWhIZKVicDTuYDqc_P7_OHnH45TYT1y3sc9eUrvgTTmol_k-rvbeHZSBf3hz3o4igcNiTMh0hg6NkuPI4PvRM7R8TwUC-TttieS3B4-YmvjHiuaTEV/s1600/oto+X+First+downlaod+632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMuRyOC7KOsDwxsq2lUCEwJeouXkWhIZKVicDTuYDqc_P7_OHnH45TYT1y3sc9eUrvgTTmol_k-rvbeHZSBf3hz3o4igcNiTMh0hg6NkuPI4PvRM7R8TwUC-TttieS3B4-YmvjHiuaTEV/s400/oto+X+First+downlaod+632.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Arugula grows year round in many zones!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Yes, there are some edibles that only have to be planted once, weeded occasionally, fertilized just like annuals and they grow vegetables AGAIN! Every year! No more planting! Well, since there is not a perennial tomato, some things will have to be planted. But asparagus, fruit bushes, trees, or vines, Jerusalem Artichokes, some herbs...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">You get the picture. Sounds like another post for another day.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I'm exhausted. Time for my nap.</span>Caleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15400422677669871587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569591420347449433.post-44456305186647167542016-02-03T14:05:00.001-08:002016-02-03T16:23:26.116-08:00What to Plant in February<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JRujSd8ppdLH3LHm6S1qiAnzcq1ZH1pUxPzO_vECwco22eXkeEz51yqFy4Xfz1ZqmUsB7XqJ7SfjmFwla5x2Hi_uUUJluvaXZYzHU_mVJ07S5OpFZLVahNEQdla6a3TBixBZ_c9vIqhr/s1600/2014-02-14_07-59-16_380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JRujSd8ppdLH3LHm6S1qiAnzcq1ZH1pUxPzO_vECwco22eXkeEz51yqFy4Xfz1ZqmUsB7XqJ7SfjmFwla5x2Hi_uUUJluvaXZYzHU_mVJ07S5OpFZLVahNEQdla6a3TBixBZ_c9vIqhr/s640/2014-02-14_07-59-16_380.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yeah, same photo every year!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">
</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">The inventor of Valentines day was not a gardener. Who would dream up addressing envelopes with the new Spring light streaming through the windows? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">February is a month of potential. Just not the kind where somebody else is going to fulfil your romantic dreams. Only you know your dreams. <a href="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=calskitgar-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B003776YNA&asins=B003776YNA&linkId=R6APOWJNXZUIRBUC" target="_blank">Buy your own candy</a> and quit expecting other people to read your mind.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now, for the garden... a great topic for February. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Seeds. Start them. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I know you
haven't planted your seeds yet. If you had a field full of winter
veggies, you wouldn't be reading this. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Plant them...</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> now. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Plant things that can withstand the last freeze, because it is February and there is going to be at least one more freeze.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span> <br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Plant:</span> <br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=calskitgar-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B0046I3H4S&asins=B0046I3H4S&linkId=IIIP2H3FH6D5LYMX" target="_blank">Broccoli</a> and <a href="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=calskitgar-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00AWKVAA2&asins=B00AWKVAA2&linkId=A3NXG7EGPMHQXXI6" target="_blank">red romaine</a>; indoors. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=calskitgar-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B001ESOMIS&asins=B001ESOMIS&linkId=QCUASFCGX6MCXWR2" target="_blank">Radishes</a>, <a href="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=calskitgar-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B006OUILPG&asins=B006OUILPG&linkId=D3TTCBKSCI5IWQJG" target="_blank">carrots</a> and <a href="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=calskitgar-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B007Q0FV1A&asins=B007Q0FV1A&linkId=5FO6RLDCWXQCJDMB" target="_blank">spinach</a>; outside. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=calskitgar-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B00NFZ1PRY&asins=B00NFZ1PRY&linkId=GRODFRRMWHBDTQWM" target="_blank">Chard</a>, if you like it. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=calskitgar-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B006OUIMB4&asins=B006OUIMB4&linkId=QV4XGCRYGSJ4VJPX" target="_blank">Collards</a>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Check the <a href="http://www.caes.uga.edu/topics/sustainag/documents/GOplantingcalendar.pdf" target="_blank">GA organics chart</a>.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Don't jump into the tomato seeds yet. There is still a lot of time left before Spring really means it and tomato seedlings need care. Care that I'm not going to give them for more than a couple weeks. So, just cold weather crops this week. Plant the above mentioned seeds when the weather is calling for several days or a week of non-freezing temperatures.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Then when it is cold, sit by the blazing fire and eat the <a href="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=calskitgar-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B003776YNA&asins=B003776YNA&linkId=R6APOWJNXZUIRBUC" target="_blank">candy</a> you bought. </span> Caleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15400422677669871587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569591420347449433.post-42400200322071913172015-10-08T17:47:00.001-07:002015-10-08T17:47:44.031-07:00Sprout Dead Seeds In The...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJlAlcimMSGEcp0gnoWf3UsmDzT555bqxgMOs6e4iEiyQh6Yfha6dVKQZF_6VOX5DThoYm0CJtlUAvxk1sydfg7ysqBLhPELr_nrGjhs50oQ3YU55vP0xhUVFyf-G1Fv3twWIT4dwb2bB/s1600/Old+spinach+seeds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwJlAlcimMSGEcp0gnoWf3UsmDzT555bqxgMOs6e4iEiyQh6Yfha6dVKQZF_6VOX5DThoYm0CJtlUAvxk1sydfg7ysqBLhPELr_nrGjhs50oQ3YU55vP0xhUVFyf-G1Fv3twWIT4dwb2bB/s1600/Old+spinach+seeds.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Rain is your garden's best friend, best fertilizer, most
exhilarating growth producer. Seeds that don't stand a chance of
growing, stand a chance in the rain.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Spinach seeds are sprouting on the remains of a dead...</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> rootball that I threw in the garden. I dumped them there because the rootball was black, so if anything sprouted , I'd be able to find it against the black backdrop. See those seeds in the very first picture of this post? The spinach seeds sprouted after three years in my refrigerator. BTW, spinach hardly ever grows in Georgia gardens.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I had a quarter pound of beet seeds that were 5 years old. I planted them, sort of, in <a href="http://www.caleyskitchengarden.com/2015/10/not-grave.html" target="_blank">the bed formerly known as strawberries</a>. That garden bed is officially the spinach bed. I planted this year's spinach seeds, with the seeder, in rows, in that bed. Then it rained for two days. The rain barrels filled and I watered my spinach with that water too. Guess what I have now? A. Lot. Of. Beets. Good thing the greens are edible too! I heart beets.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Seeds heart rain more. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I dumped a quarter pound of carrot seeds that were 4 years old. I sprinkled them between almost every vegetable row on the entire farm. <i>Carrots. </i><a href="http://www.caleyskitchengarden.com/2015/10/how-to-grow-carrots.html" target="_blank">Carrots are the pirates of the vegetable world.</a> Even when they are new, they can be disagreeable. It rained here everyday for almost a month. Boy, do I have carrots!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Maybe if I put my wallet out in the rain...</span><br />
<br />
Caleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15400422677669871587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569591420347449433.post-9595530683198285112015-10-05T04:37:00.001-07:002015-10-12T12:29:50.594-07:00It's a Garden, Not a Grave<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexD379PEX4ZnMQPtBJ_ig8fhBErZy9NdzDyfgyGJYDrr9xgM_kMox21XrVhQr9kfcA1XDbnEvWNKEUEq0TjPpCfghCCkRZ_wSB0u0zxcGWEc7uAhs6-aKJkE9uFVcE-jlmjY00Gmf7fKr/s1600/weed+bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexD379PEX4ZnMQPtBJ_ig8fhBErZy9NdzDyfgyGJYDrr9xgM_kMox21XrVhQr9kfcA1XDbnEvWNKEUEq0TjPpCfghCCkRZ_wSB0u0zxcGWEc7uAhs6-aKJkE9uFVcE-jlmjY00Gmf7fKr/s320/weed+bed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It started like this...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">The strawberry bed was gone. Even the wooden edging that framed the raised bed could not be distinguished.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">But the rain had come.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">It rained again.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">And again.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">And again.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">It rained so much, the lettuce was pale and stringy like it had been grown in the dark, because it was. No sun for weeks.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">So the strawberry bed must be soft, right?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Oh yes. The strawberry bed was soft. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Soupy oatmeal, the kind my kids skip breakfast about,
with way too much water, is almost...</span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> exactly the texture of this soil.
Georgia clay had turned into slip.</span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">We dumped wood chips into every watery hole we left when we dug a clump of weeds. Cookie dough is way thinker and not as heavy as this soil. Calling it soil is being generous. Even cake batter was thinker than this stuff. When my son (who was only helping to earn airtime for his phone) tried to shake the soil off of one clump, it looked, literally, like the mud hitting the fan.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUeBLAmdqswwGuE6-BJ41g7t6wIxbPi_qHGeqZq3nUJa_dM4fGW7vsf0cyeJJ3d9U4D7lApc7aYPXL1i-OllwO1HCOZqu_x-AP-D9qnrtJFqcVPRnaxn16_h6ZOFgIyNQFssezxRYtq8s6/s1600/mulch+mound.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUeBLAmdqswwGuE6-BJ41g7t6wIxbPi_qHGeqZq3nUJa_dM4fGW7vsf0cyeJJ3d9U4D7lApc7aYPXL1i-OllwO1HCOZqu_x-AP-D9qnrtJFqcVPRnaxn16_h6ZOFgIyNQFssezxRYtq8s6/s320/mulch+mound.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chipping Away!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">We used two big wagons full of chips. Now, instead of a mound of weeds, it looks like a freshly filled cemetery plot.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Let's plant! <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivFkY0PjD8fVw-uBw5j6nYtuVivpZQIf7j064K-ZcxTIpwaMJ3lIWWJ2LQUlZpv4VzEIgVRydfTB9n07aAKXgHe1uY79BvHsFbQECC4p_e0zWghvXre4byQRHRcM63K5BQesAK4mKdhnn/s1600/weeds+gone+bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivFkY0PjD8fVw-uBw5j6nYtuVivpZQIf7j064K-ZcxTIpwaMJ3lIWWJ2LQUlZpv4VzEIgVRydfTB9n07aAKXgHe1uY79BvHsFbQECC4p_e0zWghvXre4byQRHRcM63K5BQesAK4mKdhnn/s640/weeds+gone+bed.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's not a grave.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<br />Caleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15400422677669871587noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569591420347449433.post-23905190693257942232015-10-04T06:54:00.001-07:002015-10-05T04:31:54.559-07:00How to Grow Carrots<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GVcKaAPxfJPapieri86qYehCAvOCKvbpFcgPb3PBA30RcQbsEJaisjNHN8_fvauVUm7FFcQYsFguH45DBM7rnAWWAamyDkeG23HUy7EMApR_lqCcZV9CgP3aOqeNJS9V2Eh_OVvqEtm1/s1600/carrot+in+ground.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GVcKaAPxfJPapieri86qYehCAvOCKvbpFcgPb3PBA30RcQbsEJaisjNHN8_fvauVUm7FFcQYsFguH45DBM7rnAWWAamyDkeG23HUy7EMApR_lqCcZV9CgP3aOqeNJS9V2Eh_OVvqEtm1/s640/carrot+in+ground.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Notice all the grass? Carrots don't mind.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Carrots grow easily, when they grow.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">They can be finicky though, so if you are having some trouble, <b><i>it's not you</i></b>. It's the carrots.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXW5XX3cuzpyKj714yVMFGZIoav6l8dtusYvROen6_bDZNd9UiCTCuGQlFprHcufEmpmU9IUqswu85k73dRhNTqb6xom5SK45qrrYXDtK-APoTMsO8_t9oh21kA-Cf39EuVFJswLaeWZr/s1600/Carrot+seedlings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXW5XX3cuzpyKj714yVMFGZIoav6l8dtusYvROen6_bDZNd9UiCTCuGQlFprHcufEmpmU9IUqswu85k73dRhNTqb6xom5SK45qrrYXDtK-APoTMsO8_t9oh21kA-Cf39EuVFJswLaeWZr/s320/Carrot+seedlings.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Whole field of carrots!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">You know that part in <a href="http://pirates.disney.com/" target="_blank">Pirates of the Caribbean</a> when <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Sparrow" target="_blank">Jack Sparrow</a> cheats in a sword fight against Will? And when Will gets mad, Jack shrugs and says, "Pirate." As if Will should assume that if he has any interaction with a pirate, it's a buyer beware kind of situation?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Yeah. Carrots.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">They grow from seed, because they are root crops.
Transplanting root crops is supposed to be unsuccessful. Don't believe
that either, but start the carrots from seeds anyway. Right where they
are going to live forever. Because it might take that long.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Or it might take six weeks. Carrots.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I thought they were dead, so I planted squash in the beautifully prepared bed. I did all that work, right? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">The squash came up. I was about to weed them....carrots. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Carrot Growing Directions:</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Put some loose organic matter where you are going to plant the carrot seeds. We have used mulch, grass clippings, kitchen scraps, whatever...</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Top the loose stuff with a half inch or inch of dark soil. This is a great help to the carrots, but mostly it is to help you find their bright green, needle-thin leaves when they sprout.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Do all that before it rains. Sorry, I should have told you earlier.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Water the fool out of them on the days it doesn't rain.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Stop soaking them when you see the tiniest of green slivers, because that is all you will see for a long time.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Water them when the soil looks dry.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Sprinkle some organic fertilizer on them once a weeks, OR Osmocote 10-10-10 once in their life.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Weed them if you need an excuse to get out of the house.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">If they aren't carrot sized by winter, leave them alone until Spring.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Pull them. It's easier if you losen the soil from a few inches away with a shovel.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">EAT CARROTS! </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">They deserve it. Carrots are the pirates of the vegetable garden. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1OfQ8AjoaC4cpk5fnWHD5HGOTzunjNl3qCzflee-eK7EdEXyQv6kkAAUgtWc2gOEgct9kuzCP194tP4mErFyp22zDdW0kiPNz2krr67qnM60xfptgLnnAIZ4GLypB5Mz6V98WqP7BMZS/s1600/one+carrot+seedling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1OfQ8AjoaC4cpk5fnWHD5HGOTzunjNl3qCzflee-eK7EdEXyQv6kkAAUgtWc2gOEgct9kuzCP194tP4mErFyp22zDdW0kiPNz2krr67qnM60xfptgLnnAIZ4GLypB5Mz6V98WqP7BMZS/s640/one+carrot+seedling.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">One carrot seedling</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<ul>
</ul>
Caleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15400422677669871587noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569591420347449433.post-27003306620994247332015-09-25T19:29:00.001-07:002015-09-25T19:36:02.894-07:00Vampire Gardening<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX3cfeda6aXOIxQfjf7XmqVAvL0rI8aprmh3djxvIiY-BBUTmZ3CKnq7dhz6SmvjIp_iDX_Qts4hLw8Q_i1ekEW5x_e-KeD52wv6hnaZSisEujRNBE8FxuccREWaGMAGeKvCi2fP_WqZ3Y/s1600/rainydaypumpkinsandbeets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX3cfeda6aXOIxQfjf7XmqVAvL0rI8aprmh3djxvIiY-BBUTmZ3CKnq7dhz6SmvjIp_iDX_Qts4hLw8Q_i1ekEW5x_e-KeD52wv6hnaZSisEujRNBE8FxuccREWaGMAGeKvCi2fP_WqZ3Y/s320/rainydaypumpkinsandbeets.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Vampire Gardening. That is what my son calls my method, because I rarely go out in the sun. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Any gardener worth their salt has some pre-cancerous spots, so Vampire Gardening is the way to go. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cQk8C2xiWWQVpK9fx59jb3kRW2LuwnfywK_alxynxKBptKLgL2U1M1JCmBzCcFG4uRPF0GMYCjs0DXQ5_w2sVch2OiesGbza_HD6LqecgCWYLF8eHRFoLrvuT2MaURsh48Mw-Ww49RO_/s1600/ranydayradishbeds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cQk8C2xiWWQVpK9fx59jb3kRW2LuwnfywK_alxynxKBptKLgL2U1M1JCmBzCcFG4uRPF0GMYCjs0DXQ5_w2sVch2OiesGbza_HD6LqecgCWYLF8eHRFoLrvuT2MaURsh48Mw-Ww49RO_/s320/ranydayradishbeds.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Cloudy days are the best, but light rain is OK too. After the break of dawn, but before the rays come searing over the trees....Vampire Gardening. After the sun has passed the tree line, but before it is dark....time to mow!</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">And I don't get sunburned. Much.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">You will still get a little sun, so don't garden if you are on a sun-sensitive medication. For real. Really. I mean it. Those hives...</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> will take forever to go away. If you know you can't live in a cave, ask for something else.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCOW4OQ5sLJvQvrgbRu5-Zl3i8gO0sC1HFRRXRJ_5IVV6evE1RCTp2UJkXXcd3HvaX3bdGMM3Dx0DMCIGGCc0x72VySyE_GG_V2geEHGHKFSIcCxASBLmGVRe_MDDLlrFxWXpN119b_Su5/s1600/rainyuglypumpkinleaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCOW4OQ5sLJvQvrgbRu5-Zl3i8gO0sC1HFRRXRJ_5IVV6evE1RCTp2UJkXXcd3HvaX3bdGMM3Dx0DMCIGGCc0x72VySyE_GG_V2geEHGHKFSIcCxASBLmGVRe_MDDLlrFxWXpN119b_Su5/s320/rainyuglypumpkinleaves.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Yesterday it rained, and this morning too. This afternoon it is beautiful and warm. I might bundle up and mow a little grass. It is fall planting season here and I use a lot of grass clippings as mulch. Tomorrow, sun again. I need more seeds, because in two days - MORE RAIN!!</span>Caleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15400422677669871587noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569591420347449433.post-13941366385624855262015-09-17T17:25:00.001-07:002015-09-17T17:25:37.536-07:00Raised Bed a Star Producer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYi4wl68h28Vl8KMLSLsJtk3180yEelw4FDHSBCzuhcgwAiVI1UpLnoc_8lLPYp0xmErADRK9UdzMF32JJpjLe2Jz8hfgWxbk0kWwr5nRJThBNu-zl8vfg7K12iOabjgJMZ_4PIzPzzMKj/s1600/Fast+easy+raised+bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja9qwt_CR4R_i_Cn4pEjUZM4Pun1eGyO3SjJtE9Dj7Md-nYpNK9szlFdfx5BCjY_A4AlmGilbRMO7qhHSoTEwCy_CuL6EkBmAm00xsO6hW_9SSAm4DKf-wZSsLoTrVcC-XxYdxKRWFPPp4/s1600/Zinnias+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja9qwt_CR4R_i_Cn4pEjUZM4Pun1eGyO3SjJtE9Dj7Md-nYpNK9szlFdfx5BCjY_A4AlmGilbRMO7qhHSoTEwCy_CuL6EkBmAm00xsO6hW_9SSAm4DKf-wZSsLoTrVcC-XxYdxKRWFPPp4/s320/Zinnias+2015.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volunteer zinnia. They were in the same bed in 2013!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.hometalk.com/2460055/raised-garden-bed-for-winter-plants" target="_blank">The Fast, Easy, Cheap Raised Bed</a> that I posted two years ago is all grown up! And WOW has it! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">The original raised bed has become such a dependable, prolific produce generator, we built 9 more!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Two or more crops come out of the raised bed each year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga15GSlLxlnN2nWqE6BT7B-t9eK7TCZAukxF0-n555L44Zbkxuse1_2wWrRIh1tVPe47WnbiCMKd37F8omQ-xD3tBhA944_h3ejku1econeAAR8-vn-8RjIwzui6mEZRG5pJavuaWMSsuH/s1600/Bell+Peppers+in+raised+bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga15GSlLxlnN2nWqE6BT7B-t9eK7TCZAukxF0-n555L44Zbkxuse1_2wWrRIh1tVPe47WnbiCMKd37F8omQ-xD3tBhA944_h3ejku1econeAAR8-vn-8RjIwzui6mEZRG5pJavuaWMSsuH/s320/Bell+Peppers+in+raised+bed.jpg" width="320" /></a>We pile...</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> on the grass clippings as mulch until it's spilling over the sides!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVbHWYF4tAy4ljeEk83pD7XXPNlW9mV-4r_ScZNYRNdP0CzWb0dq-7pCdfMWAcHHVVy0eB3LQ0ph250OOq1fFfScmOlL61wygn1F6TRYLKqQwWsJvzSOSp2AkqsI4exZcINXEeWzWAaGq/s1600/Alliums+in+raised+bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVbHWYF4tAy4ljeEk83pD7XXPNlW9mV-4r_ScZNYRNdP0CzWb0dq-7pCdfMWAcHHVVy0eB3LQ0ph250OOq1fFfScmOlL61wygn1F6TRYLKqQwWsJvzSOSp2AkqsI4exZcINXEeWzWAaGq/s320/Alliums+in+raised+bed.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FjunYryWKK93VlsBNaDEHfJenPGZHWUdFroXnA6OAn6v7ibvYZA6E6c2TSozvIcP6Qdjo9sqjMCVXa5GnslnI04RFDH5xfvA-M1l-A4ym4wsaE0vbc5NSdHKCy4Dsd9D4DuaYEwZkOkR/s1600/Onions+from+raised+bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FjunYryWKK93VlsBNaDEHfJenPGZHWUdFroXnA6OAn6v7ibvYZA6E6c2TSozvIcP6Qdjo9sqjMCVXa5GnslnI04RFDH5xfvA-M1l-A4ym4wsaE0vbc5NSdHKCy4Dsd9D4DuaYEwZkOkR/s320/Onions+from+raised+bed.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;">Between plantings, I pack the grass clippings and top the whole bed with whatever cheap compost is available.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">A few times each season, chicken manure is sprinkled over the soil.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUWUUNakaNri3k1K9ZTO1u8zmM259NK5_dZYMpkzJFPCZXk42ACO6Zw_is9NBU8RP-aoBy3ElWgRwMb2zNgCGDaQ9v3FkffLTTPOorj4ClnRd4auBAbmSh7fsuOD5T3crZLSI06Ti4V7A/s1600/Bell+peppers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUWUUNakaNri3k1K9ZTO1u8zmM259NK5_dZYMpkzJFPCZXk42ACO6Zw_is9NBU8RP-aoBy3ElWgRwMb2zNgCGDaQ9v3FkffLTTPOorj4ClnRd4auBAbmSh7fsuOD5T3crZLSI06Ti4V7A/s320/Bell+peppers.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;">Since bell peppers don't can or freeze well, we dehydrate whatever we aren't going to use right away!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYi4wl68h28Vl8KMLSLsJtk3180yEelw4FDHSBCzuhcgwAiVI1UpLnoc_8lLPYp0xmErADRK9UdzMF32JJpjLe2Jz8hfgWxbk0kWwr5nRJThBNu-zl8vfg7K12iOabjgJMZ_4PIzPzzMKj/s1600/Fast+easy+raised+bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYi4wl68h28Vl8KMLSLsJtk3180yEelw4FDHSBCzuhcgwAiVI1UpLnoc_8lLPYp0xmErADRK9UdzMF32JJpjLe2Jz8hfgWxbk0kWwr5nRJThBNu-zl8vfg7K12iOabjgJMZ_4PIzPzzMKj/s640/Fast+easy+raised+bed.jpg" width="358" /></a></div>
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Caleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15400422677669871587noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569591420347449433.post-50839512248340747642015-09-10T09:08:00.003-07:002015-09-10T09:16:58.664-07:00Motivation<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pW2hAgrNiEMeb5IWMND8G6hdnM-xfxIRtsDoD7F6HRgAPwuYkn6mL3UJYeDa4Y39U_1QGLKqEFOG-AauC_bbMPuNWDKYSvEP0Y6NZM5HAUm1GP6NX1msDvY-AkB2nPSn5MnsCcPwB7LF/s1600/2012-07-06_09-00-38_914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pW2hAgrNiEMeb5IWMND8G6hdnM-xfxIRtsDoD7F6HRgAPwuYkn6mL3UJYeDa4Y39U_1QGLKqEFOG-AauC_bbMPuNWDKYSvEP0Y6NZM5HAUm1GP6NX1msDvY-AkB2nPSn5MnsCcPwB7LF/s400/2012-07-06_09-00-38_914.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too Much. Not motivational.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChDK4XEPblwgsYqfN_MmgjegHW9oaGFwT4nZYT13GeqecAtZm2AGF57aUnnWx0XxJEaUS9yhyphenhyphentEWIzXkHG7RYJUULlfXFWXbMiUUq78LROW_7RfNf1w7f0reocWTvcr2IOcS-RpmA6DJ3/s1600/basil+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChDK4XEPblwgsYqfN_MmgjegHW9oaGFwT4nZYT13GeqecAtZm2AGF57aUnnWx0XxJEaUS9yhyphenhyphentEWIzXkHG7RYJUULlfXFWXbMiUUq78LROW_7RfNf1w7f0reocWTvcr2IOcS-RpmA6DJ3/s320/basil+011.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aww no. Can't get that much done.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Get outside. You know you will feel more like getting
things done when you've had some fresh air and come face-to-face with
all the things in the garden that will only take a second to finish.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">You'll need to go outside when you </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">are supposed to be doing something else or </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">have some place else to be. Motivation increases 100x when there is a worse chore calling.
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">But seriously, set...</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> a couple of small goals and just aim to finish them. My small goals were to clear the old garden area by mowing it - with the lawn mower - and then to dump some compost along the edge and plant some sunflower seeds in it. Accomplished! Celebrate! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1HzrIH2ihaLvD7ESDeOSuxtqCz0GZLZjeoFEpfpygH3Nd1xO1nlBMI_RzK8pxTHP2BiS-kqy3qSfTkk5NY9tQOF3HPKTnc8Y5u8LhSI_ENZrdCG8HrcQUjQMGxQ9Ky43mM1qMfOPydxj/s1600/Boy+and+girl+flowers+061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1HzrIH2ihaLvD7ESDeOSuxtqCz0GZLZjeoFEpfpygH3Nd1xO1nlBMI_RzK8pxTHP2BiS-kqy3qSfTkk5NY9tQOF3HPKTnc8Y5u8LhSI_ENZrdCG8HrcQUjQMGxQ9Ky43mM1qMfOPydxj/s320/Boy+and+girl+flowers+061.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah. Like maybe that much, I could do.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">My next step, for tomorrow, is to buy more compost. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">UPDATE: The deer ate the sunflowers when they were about 6 inches tall. </span>Caleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15400422677669871587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569591420347449433.post-82911458707558828752015-08-20T12:30:00.000-07:002015-08-20T12:34:31.562-07:00Seed Order<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OQ-9otN1PKYzNlbuaz6Z4V_HZJLZ3XlLS8x2B6clJW0NOGtmFI2HBhIAXB1FQVPwyQIjNubmHNVGLS_Oye85IXWhkbIqCsUKGixP_7AgNUaFOo4wfXKX039QbTUUezj-ETr2AmHaS1sd/s1600/rows+of+greens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OQ-9otN1PKYzNlbuaz6Z4V_HZJLZ3XlLS8x2B6clJW0NOGtmFI2HBhIAXB1FQVPwyQIjNubmHNVGLS_Oye85IXWhkbIqCsUKGixP_7AgNUaFOo4wfXKX039QbTUUezj-ETr2AmHaS1sd/s320/rows+of+greens.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">On your mark...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The real seed order is sitting in the virtual cart. $70 <i>seems</i> like too much to spend doing something that is supposed to save us money. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">This is how I am going to rationalize it:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">My mother will be thrilled to have a bushel of rutabaga for Thanksgiving!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Jerusalem Artichokes are perennial, pretty AND food! 3-way pay-back!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Ordering is the only option for...<a name='more'></a> some of these seeds, since they are not available in shops at this time of year, although this is the season they grow in my zone.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">The broccoli seed packet is supposed to have 100 seeds. If I get 50 heads of broccoli, at the grocery price of $1 per head (I buy non-organic, on sale) then I am <b>saving $46!</b> (50 heads at $1 each, minus $4 seed packet)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">Some items, like kohlrabi and bulbing fennel are not regularly available in markets and they will add variety and nutrition to our diets.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-large;">I could never afford bulk shallots any other way.</span></li>
</ul>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Get Set...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Truth be told, I plan on pay-back by salad. If each salad is worth $1 (a price in between <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AWL36PI/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00AWL36PI&linkCode=as2&tag=calskitgar-20&linkId=BO3OR424ARMWZKSZ" target="_blank">iceberg</a> and <a href="http://www.subway.com/subwayroot/default.aspx" target="_blank">Subway</a>) then we have to eat <b>70 salads</b> to pay for this seed order. Underestimating at 3 salads per meal....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">We have to eat salad at 24 meals. If we have salad at every meal.... </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">24 meals @ 3 meals per day.... This seed order has paid for itself in 4 days!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">And it can now come out of the grocery budget!! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDaVjCNGRdjPj0Dw8fdklK2H0wScIQaifyZ3Y2F_pvJ_xd6ufI9TOPHtwpQGBtRvG8kZgvlgM6GlSvgBEIXdcMJ9fctVrlsFKJLariLel4ZwxNlttZ1sodv3-aTYXWX_7yHInkFVApAAgL/s1600/salad+n+pumpkins+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDaVjCNGRdjPj0Dw8fdklK2H0wScIQaifyZ3Y2F_pvJ_xd6ufI9TOPHtwpQGBtRvG8kZgvlgM6GlSvgBEIXdcMJ9fctVrlsFKJLariLel4ZwxNlttZ1sodv3-aTYXWX_7yHInkFVApAAgL/s640/salad+n+pumpkins+010.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">SALAD!</span></td></tr>
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Caleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15400422677669871587noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569591420347449433.post-75923416661392349662015-08-17T08:23:00.000-07:002015-08-17T08:31:40.847-07:00What to Plant in August<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6WCGonBtmY-D35a6J3x4AC8n779z13BY7HjM8LRtXueAKph32Ero5qZZ7-oyCLyhvf0IE6hF0plgQymWaWSMU4-TtgoGUwd_duANXyzpcFmE0i-NPqsFNGvAmo7xM4ItyQkH-iyaDWdV/s1600/542135_328830987185739_1778623665_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6WCGonBtmY-D35a6J3x4AC8n779z13BY7HjM8LRtXueAKph32Ero5qZZ7-oyCLyhvf0IE6hF0plgQymWaWSMU4-TtgoGUwd_duANXyzpcFmE0i-NPqsFNGvAmo7xM4ItyQkH-iyaDWdV/s320/542135_328830987185739_1778623665_n.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Beans and dill for Dilly Beans.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">August in Georgia seems too hot to move, much less garden.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">But there is room in my garden, and the mercury only climbed to 76 last night, so when I woke up, I was under a blanket! I had to check to be sure I hadn't set the thermostat to "Broke Before I Retire" temperature.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I'm up for some gardening, since I have some room. I checked out the <a href="http://www.caleyskitchengarden.com/2013/09/end-of-september-what-to-plant.html" target="_blank">What to Plant in September</a> post and it was WAY motivational, with all those beautiful pictures. (Sometimes, I impress myself .)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Since my last post was at the end of cool-weather veggie season, you can also scroll down and get some motivation to plant lettuce and shallots!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now, for the motivation to eat the lettuce... </span><br />
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<br />Caleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15400422677669871587noreply@blogger.com3