tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507829329403685696.post4064500027064779150..comments2023-12-09T02:34:01.121-06:00Comments on Veg*n Cooking and Other Random Musings: Garden Update #14 - This Is A Long OneJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01760009169211682230noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507829329403685696.post-6438648838615959422012-06-16T08:11:40.033-05:002012-06-16T08:11:40.033-05:00Thanks so much for your post, pretty helpful mater...Thanks so much for your post, pretty helpful material.ofertas de muebleshttp://www.camobel.com/ofertasmueblesjuveniles.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507829329403685696.post-47858822346158753452008-08-03T17:58:00.000-05:002008-08-03T17:58:00.000-05:00Make sure that you prepare the soil correctly. Thi...Make sure that you prepare the soil correctly. This factor can come between you and the success you make out of your garden. Different plants need different soils – an important point to remember. For growing vegetables or herbal plants, use organic fertilizers as they would not affect the natural flavor of the food. Use any good compost or wooden chip mulch instead of ordinary fertilizer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507829329403685696.post-8599782300419322742008-07-09T15:14:00.000-05:002008-07-09T15:14:00.000-05:00Erin - I'm glad you enjoy these musings and garden...Erin - I'm glad you enjoy these musings and garden updates. It's better to post it to the world than yapping Brett's ear off about it more than I already do. :-)<BR/><BR/>You should! Don't say that, I kill things that are "impossible" to kill, like cacti, they just do not like me. Start small, with herbs or something. It took us three years before we ever got a decent yield of peppers - and that year was this year! I used to think I had a "black thumb" too, but you just have to understand what the plants you are growing need. I would either tend to them too much or not enough, basically, whatever type of care they needed, I would inadvertently give it the opposite.<BR/><BR/>And living simple is very easy and rewarding. I have all sorts of tips and hints, even though I am still only a "beginner". If you ever have any questions or want ideas, need to rant about your journey, please just email me. I'm here to help. I refused to follow my calling and become a "real life" psychologist (Didn't want to dammit! And screw the APA!), so whatever way I can help people in their daily lives is something I am always up for.Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01760009169211682230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507829329403685696.post-73832210415586490952008-07-09T13:51:00.000-05:002008-07-09T13:51:00.000-05:00I'm very interested to follow your progress as you...I'm very interested to follow your progress as you try to move toward a simpler life, it sounds so appealing. I am so wanting to try my hand at gardening after I move, but I'm SO BAD at growing things. Or keeping them alive, I should say. I'm hoping some good solid research will lend me a hand, but sometimes I get sad to think there might be nothing I can do about my black thumb! You are clearly blessed with many green thumbs.Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14532890894030753470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507829329403685696.post-20591174809771234092008-07-08T16:03:00.000-05:002008-07-08T16:03:00.000-05:00Courtney - You can't grow a whole lot, and they ha...Courtney - You can't grow a whole lot, and they have to be things that can tolerate cooler temperatures. If you have a lot of sun, there is more you can do, if you don't, you are limited. As far as fruit trees go, you want dwarf fruit trees, and apparently citrus grow best indoors, and do even better if you can put them outside over the summer.<BR/><BR/>I know about the snap peas, I could just eat and eat them!<BR/><BR/>I think, deep down, a lot of people want that. We just have to be willing to give up some things in certain areas, but we don't have to see it as a loss, I can say at least myself, I have gained as I've also sacrificed. And I am lucky with my job, I work with a great group of folks too, so even though I have to stay in the "regular workforce" right now, I couldn't think of anywhere I'd rather be.<BR/><BR/>I DID!<BR/><BR/>Veggie - Haha, thank you. The plants do most of the work, I just try to keep the bugs off of 'em and make sure they don't stray too far.Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01760009169211682230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507829329403685696.post-85614253470201879842008-07-08T15:54:00.000-05:002008-07-08T15:54:00.000-05:00You must have a green thumb! Everything is growing...You must have a green thumb! Everything is growing so nicely.Veggiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12348201244978560908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507829329403685696.post-32643379468845841682008-07-07T17:48:00.000-05:002008-07-07T17:48:00.000-05:00Your indoor gardening is intriguing...I am going t...Your indoor gardening is intriguing...I am going to have to look into fruit trees now! It never occurred to me that you might be able to have one inside. <BR/><BR/>Your garden looks like it is doing great! And your CSA--yum! I bought some snap peas this weekend at the farmers market too, and they are so sweet and good to snack on!<BR/><BR/>I agree about wanting to live a simpler life and not have to work full time--it is my dream. At least you have a job with good vacation time that you are actually able to take! I hope you enjoyed your very looong weekend!<BR/><BR/>CourtneyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507829329403685696.post-55323040910720631322008-07-07T13:14:00.000-05:002008-07-07T13:14:00.000-05:00Shellyfish - I'm kind of obvious aren't I? ;-) I...Shellyfish - I'm kind of obvious aren't I? ;-) I spent a good portion of my time last night "nerding out" as Brett calls it, researching soil conditions, requirements, lighting, temperature. I enjoy it so much.<BR/><BR/>I will, in the coming weeks, I will probably add the winter garden to the regular outdoor update. I might even try to convince Brett to get on here and discuss his design and all that stuff too. Small spaces shouldn't limit us in most efficiently using the space we have. Ooooh, I bet gardening would be a wonderful activity for a toddler, with close supervision of course!<BR/><BR/>Lisa - Thank you! I hadn't heard that about jalapenos! Geez, so many problems, probably mostly a result of such a large scale homogenous food system, another testament to the "buy local/grow your own" mentality.<BR/><BR/>Jessy - I really am so far. Gonna go to the library tonight so I can "nerd out" (see above comment to Shelly) a little more, stop by the farmer's market, have some simple, good food.<BR/><BR/>HAHAHAHA! I laughed out loud when I read the phrase "go a little banana pants", can't say I've ever heard that one, you are too funny! I didn't realize how nuts they would go, if it keeps growing at this places it's going to have to be wound around the plot and back around again!<BR/><BR/>Did you ever notice that gardening isn't as hard as you thought it would be either? It's so rewarding and I truly enjoy it too, it's a very peaceful activity for me, and I love my plants, it's so neat to watch them "do their thing"/<BR/><BR/>Dwarf fruit trees are fairly difficult, but,especially citrus, will do fine inside, as I noted in the post, the yield will just be fairly minimal. There is a variety of avocado that has been bred for growth in a container now. <BR/><BR/>You guys should plant a fig tree, how fun! And imagine how great it would be to go out to your yard and get fresh figs!<BR/><BR/>I've seen the Cornell gardening site, but not the food preservation one, so thanks very much for the link. How did you get the link in a comment?!<BR/><BR/>Me too, I didn't realize there were so many different kinds and they'll eat just about anything.<BR/><BR/>Oh, thank you for enjoying it, I really never thought there would be an interest in them. Most of the time when I try to talk to friends, family, co-workers, etc about gardening, their eyes glaze over and their boredom apparent. :-)<BR/><BR/>M - Thank you! I'm quite proud of them this year, it's the best Brett and I have ever done with peppers. The peppers on the porch are flourishing, but the banana peppers we planted in the ground are about as far along as yours are. I think it's all rain we've had this year and the mild weather.<BR/><BR/>Selina - You are so sweet! Hahaha. I do like the Colts.... ;-)<BR/><BR/>Do not feel like you were ranting, I didn't think you were. I would be more than happy to provide you with tips, any experience I have, and resources about indoor gardening, dwarf fruit trees and simple living. If you wouldn't mind, could you email me your email address (for your privacy's sake), otherwise I will be leaving a ten page long comment here.<BR/><BR/>On living simple, a couple of things to start thinking about. For one: look at your spending habits, what categories of consumption requre the laregest expenditures? What "fun" stuff do you spend your money on? Are there services that you pay others to do for you that you could do yourself? Would you have time to? Would the savings of money be worth more than the time/energy expended in doing said thing yourself?<BR/><BR/>Also, the best advice I can give to you for being able to support yourself in an "untraditional" way is to look at the skills you have, no matter how simple or menial they seem to you. Can you garden? Cook? Sew? Repair things? Play music? Anything like this, whatever it is, strengthen it, those will be your commodity - your skills, what you know how to do that others won't. Especially if the folks talking about peak oil, climate change, and our population being too large and affluent are right, our society will be forced to contract and it will need to relearn the basic skills they contracted out to others for so long - this is where you could come in. And gardening in particular done right, can be done in small areas, provide enough to feed yourself, and have some left over for a bartering tool for goods you want but don't produce yourself.<BR/><BR/>Alice - Thank you. And THANK YOU! I was so nervous at the beginning of the year that each week I would be bringing you guys another dose of failure. I think the fertility of the soil we have at the community garden has a lot to do with its success, and the container garden, well, we are finally learning what they need.<BR/><BR/>Again thank you, I just feel its the right thing to do. I enjoy it and Brett and I are happier people since we've been going down this path. <BR/><BR/>Cookiemouse - Thank you! I'm blushing with all this praise being heaped on me, when I feel I've had very little to do with the success of the gardens. They do most of the work themselves and the conditions have been really good this year.<BR/><BR/>You're right, it does taste better. You know what went into it, and almost have a connection with the fruit since you watched the plant grow and prosper.Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01760009169211682230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507829329403685696.post-73292833887219083372008-07-07T12:56:00.000-05:002008-07-07T12:56:00.000-05:00As a city girl you seem to be doing just fine with...As a city girl you seem to be doing just fine with your garden. The peppers look lovely. Growing your own food is a very satisfying thing to do. Somehow the taste is always so much better.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15888732615181532548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507829329403685696.post-48058583088955178832008-07-07T12:54:00.000-05:002008-07-07T12:54:00.000-05:00I've loved this post. Not only I admire you for ha...I've loved this post. Not only I admire you for having such a great beginner's garden, but also for wanting to live better with less. I really like your point of view of life!Aliciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02113123607750114167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507829329403685696.post-37221611528297908482008-07-07T10:42:00.000-05:002008-07-07T10:42:00.000-05:00you are seriously the coolest person ever. i thin...you are seriously the coolest person ever. i think you need to move to indiana. :)<BR/><BR/>i love the idea of a winter garden. i've been thinking of ways to make one work for me. unfortunately our house only has 1 south facing window. really i'd love to build an inground greenhouse in our back yard. <BR/><BR/>what resources have you been using in your research? i'm very interested in attempting it this winter. i'd definitely be growing salad greens in the winter garden because i could eat a salad every day. and the idea of an avocado tree sounds awesome. also... broccoli is one of my faves so i'd like to try that. and piper eats carrots as treats vs. doggy biscuits so i'd like to try those as well. not too much as i don't have too much space. <BR/><BR/>also... i've been trying to figure out ways for jason & i to live with less as i'd like to not have to work at a desk 40 hours a week. i'd like to be able to make money working from my home. and when it's time for a family, i don't want to have to be away at work all the time. <BR/><BR/>well this comment is kinda ranty, so i'm done. :)Selinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11472362080588949377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507829329403685696.post-43218015560742927202008-07-07T10:18:00.000-05:002008-07-07T10:18:00.000-05:00Your pepper plants are gorgeous! Here I was getti...Your pepper plants are gorgeous! Here I was getting all excited at finding a couple of hot banana peppers growing in my garden, when you're in pepper nirvana. I can't wait until mine are laden with as many as your plants. Darned shorter growing season. Heheh.Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15800153451645970774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507829329403685696.post-52199768808143950342008-07-07T09:00:00.000-05:002008-07-07T09:00:00.000-05:00i hope you enjoy your days off! :) and hooray for ...i hope you enjoy your days off! :) and hooray for another garden update. everything grow'n like crazy - happyface! we have some vining squashes that go a little banana pants, too! they do seem to creep all around and get into things. i'm always directing them in the garden so they don't take over too much! <BR/><BR/>you're so right on growing your own food. it's so sustainable & earth friendly and it really is one of the best things you can do! i love growing veggies (and i love eating them, too)! a winter crop sounds awesome, and i had no idea dwarf fruit trees would fruit indoors. maybe i can have avocados. hmmmmmmm?! :) i need to talk to dan about planting a fig tree outside though - i love figs so much! <BR/><BR/>i'm sure you've checked out <A HREF="http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/ " REL="nofollow">cornell's gardening site</A> and this great site on home <A HREF="http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/" REL="nofollow">food preservation</A> - but if you haven't they're both full of some awesome information!<BR/><BR/>happy gardening! i'll keep my fingers crossed on those aphids not returning, and thanks again for another wonderful update, Jennifer!jessyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01239751125232117374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507829329403685696.post-46979929996789040102008-07-07T08:09:00.000-05:002008-07-07T08:09:00.000-05:00Your indoor garden idea sounds fascinating. I look...Your indoor garden idea sounds fascinating. I look forward to following your progress. And lucky you for growing jalapenos, with the new scare that possibly they are the salmonella culprit.Lisa (Show Me Vegan)https://www.blogger.com/profile/06222499189852950447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507829329403685696.post-2145936118172480232008-07-07T07:21:00.000-05:002008-07-07T07:21:00.000-05:00Oh how exciting! I can feel your enthusiasm throug...Oh how exciting! I can feel your enthusiasm through your post! Please do keep us up to date as to the practical aspects of your indoor garden- I have been thinking about doing something similar for a while now, but with a toddler and a matchbox apartment, haven't found the perfect solution...yet.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com