And We're Off!

Happy Sunday Afternoon!

Today is the day to get some seeds started.  So I got my area finished off and ready to grow.  Did you like that?  Ready to grow?  Bueller? Bueller? Ok then.

I got the northeast corner of the basement finished.  This is where I have all the lights on pulleys above the 6ft table.  I closed off this area with a tarp and a towel.  It's not a perfect set-up, but it'll work for now.  I have a space heater down there.  I hope to get that corner's temp up in the 70's.  I this heater on a timer and a set temp.  I'm not sure if the corner will get that hot.  I'll let you know.

I have two 22"x11" seed trays started.  They aren't totally full.  I have the following:

Roma Tomatoes
Red Brandywine Tomatoes
Green Zebra Tomatoes
Black Krim Tomatoes
Tomatillos
California Wonder Bell Peppers
Scotch Bonnet Peppers, Red
Aji Limon Peppers
Jalapeno Peppers

Plus some left over seeds from last year that didn't germinate that well last year:
Scotch Bonnet Peppers, Orange
Thai Sun Chilis
Anaheim Chilis
Long, Red, Slim Chilis
Pakistan Chunky Chilis

What I'm really concerned about is the temperature of the basement corner.  I could get some heat pads, but they aren't cheap.  I'll have to monitor this for the next few days.  I'll let you know.

Worm Castings and Seed Starting

Hello Again,


I'm getting things together for my small seed starting operation.  I'm setting out the garden map, reading my companion gardening books to see what works together, pricing out trays, domes, fertilizer, pots.  It's all very exciting!  I hope to purchase a lot of supplies this weekend.  I'll let you know where I get my goods.  There is one thing I did get yesterday: WORM CASTINGS!  Ah yeeesss, worm poo.  As I mentioned in an earlier blog entry this year, I'm getting these castings from Sophia Organic.  I have their link on the right side of this page.  Yesterday, I met Michael, one of the guys who started this company, and I purchased 10lbs of castings.  Interesting guy.  You might run into him at some of the farmers markets around Indy.  I have some quotes from his site:

 About Worm Castings

Earthworms digest large quantities of organic matter in our soil as they feed, which they then expel as a residue known as worm castings – in short, worm pooh.  Gardeners know this to be the most nutrient-dense organic matter available.

• GROW: Earthworm Bounty™ 100% organic earthworm castings is an excellent soil builder and can be used as an additive to your own favorite potting mix.
• In soil, castings retain water and release nutrients in a form that is easily used by plants.
• They are safe for children and pets, even immediately after application – and no odor!
• Most importantly, GROW: Earthworm Bounty™ provides beneficial bacteria which is the key mechanism to all healthy plant growth.

Pretty cool!  I'm ready to put my Big Mac overalls on and get to bidness!  eh huh, I mean business.  I do have to inform you that I have been listening to a lot of 90's R&B lately.  So I've had Return of the Mack stuck in my head for weeks.  Anyway, you should definitely give Sophia Organic a look-see.  Their worm castings might be what you need.  I'll be documenting my results so you can see how it worked for me.  

A side note:  Miss 38th Street and I became engaged this past weekend.  That was on another level exciting! She's still my Miss 38th Street, though.  

Till next time, take care everyone!

Flower Update

I just wanted to comment on something strange.  As of January 26th, Miss 38th Street's daffodils are popping up!  Global warming is confusing her flowers.

Indiana Organic Gardeners Assn. Meeting Today

Hello All!

Today was the first meeting of the year of the Indiana Organic Gardeners Association.  It was a nice meeting, as usual.  It was held at the Greenwood Public Library, which is south of Indy.  These meetings start with a pitch-in meal, which I have not participated in, yet.  I feel like the Cubs on this pitch-in; wait till next meeting.

Anyway, we always start with introductions.  This time we also said where we were getting our seeds from.  Me, I got mine from Nature's Crossroads.  You will see the link on this blog, but the site is not up at the moment.  RAMBLING, AGAIN!  Ok, we learned about organic pesticides from a woman named Laura Karr from KG Acres Farm Featherwerks.  She also spoke about chickens, which isn't my bag.  Baby.

One of the members of IOGA was giving away all of her gardening books.  She is moving away.  It was kind of sad, but I appreciated the books.  They will be used.  I got a nice book about flower for Miss 38th Street.  I hope she likes it!  I also got a wonderful gardening catalog which I intend to use here soon.  I need some seed growing supplies.

Now the best thing to happen at the meeting, which I'm totally psych'd about is a guy I met there who sells worm castings.  Worm pooh, basically.  Michael's his name and he was telling the group about how he used worm castings to start seeds.  He said they germinated quicker and were, on average, healthier plants. I got his info and I'm going to get some worm castings for my seeds!  It is from a site called Sophiaorganic.org.  Can't wait to try this out!  I was telling all this to Miss 38th Street this afternoon.  Then I was listening to myself say that I was psych'd about worm castings?  I can't believe I just said that.  Garden Geek!

I'm drinking wine, by the way.

Thank you for reading.

Good night, and good luck ;)

Happy New Years!

Hello, Again!

My first entry of the new year!  I hope everyone had a great 2011 and will have an even better year this time around.  Welcome back to my garden blog.  I made a few changes to the blog for 2012.  I might make a few more.  I hope everyone will enjoy this year's version.  I also hope I get some more advice, too!  I need all the help I can get.

If you're like me, the garden is already on your mind.  In fact, I got some new garden books for Christmas. Mainly from Miss 38th Street's lovely mother (Kathy, you're a peach!)  I have a lot to read.  Check this out:

 I got "Carrots Love Tomatoes," by Louise Riotte.  I studied some companion gardening from several internet articles last year, but I still wanted this book.  I just like having books handy, you know?

I got "The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Pest and Disease Control," which is a Rodale book.  And it has such a catchy title, huh?   Rodale rocks, so I wanted this book.

Last, but not least, I was given the "Seed to Seed," by Suzanne Ashworth.  This will be a valuable book in the long run, I hope.  I have read a couple segments from it on a website last year.  I liked it.  We gotsta keep it realz.




















I have a lot to read, as you can see.

Now, I've already started on my first garden project.  Last year was the second time I started seeds indoors.  I had mixed results.  I thought the whole experience was great.  Miss 38th Street and I got excited when we came home from work or woke up in the morning to find new sprouts.  Last year, I attempted to start around 50 seedlings or so.  The seed growing set up was a set that I adjusted as I went. It was pretty ugly, but it worked, kinda.

This year, I have taken the next step in my seed growing endeavours.  I have moved the operation to the basement.  My Dad gave me a heavy duty 6ft table last week.  I'm using it as the seed tray table.  But that's not the best part.  Check it:

I installed five sets of grow lights on pulleys!  I have three 4 foot duel lamp fixtures, and two 24 inch duel lamp fixtures.  

I am using tie-line to hang the lights.  I installed 2x4s, plywood, hooks and pulleys.  

I've got five lights that I can adjust as needed.  It's not perfect, but it's a start.  

I still need to run the power to all the fixtures, which I hope to have finished this week.  I am also looking to add some storage to hold all pertinent items to this operation and an oscillating fan.  Possibly a space heater.  I'll have to see the how warm it is down there.  This is really exciting!  It was great when I showed Miss 38th Street.  She was a little stunned at the operation, but was confident in what I was doing.  After looking at this, if anyone has any suggestions.  Please let me know!  

Alright.  That's all I've got for now.  I'm glad you read the blog!  I can't wait till I get some seeds started!

38th Street out.

The End and the Beginning

Yesterday,

I pulled up most of the garden yesterday.  It had to be done.  I had a lot of green tomatoes, which I gave to my neighbor.  His woman likes fried green tomatoes.  All that's left is a few things here and there.  I did see a couple onions starting for some reason.  I thought they were all dead!

I have a pile of dead plants in the corner of the property.  I haven't decided what to do with them.  Some of them are slightly diseased.  Most are healthy, though.  I could chop them up and throw them in the compost bin. 

Last week, I got an email from Nature's Crossroads saying that they were have a sale on all their seeds, which are all USDA organic.  50% off!  (Most of these seeds are adapted to Indiana's weather.)  So I got some.  I really haven't totally planned the garden yet, but now I have plenty to play with now.  Hey, if I don't use them, maybe my Sister and my Dad can.

So here is what I got!

Chanteney Red Carrot
Purple Plum Radishes
Snowball Cauliflower
Walthum Butternut Squash
Sugar Baby Watermelons
California Wonder Bell Peppers
Jalapenos
Red Scotch Bonnets
Aji Limon Peppers
Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce
Purple Orach Greens
Freckles Lettuce
Red Winter Kale
Red Brandywine Tomatoes
Green Zebra Tomatoes
Tomatillos
Tendergreen Green Beans, bush
Kentucky Wonder Green Beans, pole
Garlic

And I got Miss 38th Street some flowers, too:
Pacific Beauty Calendulas
Bee Balm (Monarda)
Bachelors Buttons
Aunt Honey's Black-eyed Susans
Columbines (native wildflowers)

So the garden has some options.  I'm already dreaming of the garden.  But I have a lot to do before I'm ready for that.  I have some winter projects you'll have to see.  It's going to cool!  Well, I think they're cool.

And I know what you've been saying, "Why doesn't Rafael have a gardening hat?"  I know, right.  Well, problem solved!

I think I need to get darker to wear this hat.  I'm a little too lite and not enough Mexi.

Garden Update!!!

Ok,

I haven't written in a while.  A WHILE!!!  Ok, so...

We harvested the carrots.  We had a few good ones.  Most were puny, but good.  They definitely tasted different.  Kind of soapy.  Good though. 

We've had a lot of Pakistan, Anaheim, and Scotch Bonnet peppers, still.  I've made some really hot dishes.  Holy crap!  Man. 

So I've been cleaning up the garden box a bit.  I've pulled out the watermelons, radicchio, green beans, cherry tomatoes and some other tomatoes. 

I also planted MORE BABY SPINACH and MORE BABY ROMAINE!!!  I prepped a patch of soil with Garden-tone and some organic garden soil.  This is another first for me.  I've never planted a fall crop.  I can't wait to see if works!  Undercover Garden Brother.

38th Street!