Our Victory Garden

We did it!  Our first week of no bags to sit by the curb on garbage day!

The entire family did a fantastic job of recycling or composting everything possible.  There’s only a scant amount of garbage on the bottom of our liner (mostly chicken bones from Sunday that I would otherwise put in the  compost if we did not back to an area with many nocturnal critters!)   So far, so good they have not tampered with the composter and let’s keep it that way!  I never thought our little suburban family could do it!  See my link to create your own composter for your home and tips on what can and can not be recycled.. and remember, many household discards can be donated!

* Update - I tried this and overnight it turned some of the leaves of my herbs black! 

Homemade Organic Fungicide/Insecticide/Fertilizer

2 oz. of liquid seaweed (kelp)
2 tbsp. baking soda
1 tsp. liquid hand dish washing soap
1 quart (litre) water

Mix the ingredients above and spray on your Roses, or other plants,
once a week.

Explanation
Liquid seaweed provides nutrients to keep the plant healthy
Baking Soda changes the leaf surface PH to Alkaline. Fungal
Molds need an Acidic base to grow
Soap helps the solution stick to the surface and acts as a mild
insecticide

Credit:  http://www.gardenwatersaver.com/15.html

Look what's sprouted!

Sharing some photos of some of the sprouting of seeds.. plus rows of transplanted spinach and broccoli seedlings really showing signs of growing.. !

Sweet Basil

Cucumbers sprouting

One of the transplanted Spinach seedlings taking off!

Transplanted Broccoli seedings taking off..

A neglected landscaped area on the other side of the back patio.  There’s a gutter downspout right next to it that can be modified for rain collection and watering.. and in the dryer months, we do have another water hose on that same side of the house (hopefully, rain collection will provide majority!)  There was a dead, dead, dead rose bush that literally came right out of the ground when my husband pulled on it.  The other small flowering tree must stay, as the landlord likely wouldn’t want it taken out.  But, we’re going to built out the area slightly and this will house more beans, carrots, cucumbers, and edible flowers that will help add color to this side of the property.

Cardinals, finches, woodpeckers and other birds call our side yard home.. They take flight between our yard and our neighbors, enjoying the black oil sunflower seed and several trees.   The two feeders and bird bath are in view from our kitchen window.  I’m still on the hunt at the local thrift stores for wicker chairs or comfortable garden benches to place in that eat in kitchen area, so the family can enjoy watching them while we eat a snack or have coffee!  The birds know that we’re there, but they seem to be growing comfortable with our moving about inside the house.

*Some of the stepping stones will be shifted to make room for more seeds..  I’m currently planting a little a night!

I've moved all of the terra cotta planters to the ground for easier watering

Side yard bordering the garden (line in yard is the recent addition of drainage system)

From the driveway looking into my 'bird sanctuary trees' that our cardinals, finches, woodpeckers, etc. call home

The other side yard which gives the kids 'greenspace' to run (the new area I want to plant is the back corner where the gutter downspout is visible in this photo)

Rain collection.. how simplistic is that?  We currently reside in an area that has water restrictions.  That coupled with trying to keep our water bill in check and desiring to conserve the best we can – I’m hoping to locate a barrel to convert for rain collection.. Checking our local home improvement and farm supply stores also, as it may be more cost effective to purchase a barrel new vs. an ‘official’ one.  There’s a seller locally that makes them for $65.00 and it’s tapped into a downspout for collection.. if all else fails, I think this is a reasonable cost for a brand new one that will yield us up to 55 gallons at a time that would other wise be wasted opportunity.. While the weather is still mild, Summer will soon hit, and having a stockpile of rain water will be a HUGE help to keeping the garden operating.

When a family gardens together..

Tomorrow I’ll be harvesting from my ‘test’ planter of Mesclin Salad Mix!  If you’ve been to the house, you likely saw it!  It’s come a long way in the past 2 months despite it’s hurdles. This was my ‘oops’ planting and I sowed too many seeds, too closely together.  Adding insult to injury – I never thinned the seedlings and it’s first week was overwatered due to heavy rains while I was out.  Still, I have about 2 cups of very tasty lettuces!  With blueberries already on hand in the freezer, I think I’ll make a simple blueberry vinaigrette, to sweeten our dinner tomorrow night!  Not a huge yield.. but each family member will have a 1/2 cup each of greens fresh from our family garden..  with many more to come!

HOMEMADE BLUEBERRY VINAIGRETTE

1/2 cup fresh blueberries
1 small clove garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon onion
2 tablespoons good vinegar
1/2 teaspoon sugar
2 – 4 tablespoons good olive oil

In a blender, whiz the berries, garlic, onion, vinegar and sugar until berries are liquified. Drizzle the olive oil through the top while the blender is running until the desired consistency and mouth feel are achieved. Serve drizzled over lettuce greens with fresh blueberries, peach slices and blue cheese crumbles.

Credit: http://kitchen-parade-veggieventure.blogspot.com/2008/08/homemade-blueberry-vinaigrette.html

• Spinach
• Lettuces
• Broccoli
• Green Beans
• Cucumbers
• Tomatoes
• Green Peppers
• Green Onion
• Greek Oregano 
• Italian Parsley
• Sweet Basil
• Edible Flowers
• Berries
• Cantelope
• Wildflowers for indoor decorating
• *One hopeful Watermelon at my husband’s request

What we’re using…

• Organic Choice Garden Soil
• Organic Plant Food
• Homemade Pesticide solutions http://www.essortment.com/all/homemadeorgani_renu.htm
• Marigolds
• Composted Soil

What I’m working on..

• Planting of deterents that will keep ‘bad’ insects and bugs away, as well as plants that will encourage ‘good’ insects to call my garden home.. Great tips found on the below web link!

*Sheridan Nurseries Gardening Tips on Companion Planting –

http://www.sheridannurseries.com/GardenSite/subGARDENTIP25mainframe.htm

Selecting edible flowers to add to our produce, as well as color for the garden area:

http://whatscookingamerica.net/EdibleFlowers/EdibleFlowersMain.htm

Getting my husband on board with constructing a few ’Upside Down Buckets’

http://www.minifarmhomestead.com/gardening/tomato.htm

Seeds sowed and Seedlings Transplanted

Terra Cotta planters now house seeds for Spinach and Lettuce

Greek Oregano

Green Peppers with cage in place when they're larger

Tomatoe Plants with cage in place

Have to include a close up of these fragrant roses!

Please check out the following pages on the left side of my blog, for updates:

• Dinner Reinvention
• Composting
• Love It! …  <– a new addition of my favorite places, products, and thrift finds.
• Green Tips That Worked For Me!

Others:

• What’s in Bloom?  – seasonal photos of flora from our garden
• Nature Preservation – photos from our backyard

The deck on our back porch has 4 existing benches.   This should be a great help in replanting or working with my containers!!

Crossing fingers that the movement and reflection from these butterflies, helps to keep the birds away!!

The gate and fence is secured in place.   He added in a garden quality soil to fill in the area where the sod was pulled from.  Stepping stones were added, in hopes that will give me versatility depending on where I plant everything!   He went ahead and freshly mulched the back area.  Because our area is home to many varities of birds, I’m adding in shiny movement in hopes of discouraging birds that may be attracted to the garden.   The fencing gives us the option of adding mesh if needed, if we have an issue with critters.  (Of course, that doesn’t help those that will be willing to climb over it!) Surrounding the garden, I have a few flowering bushes and 2 rose bushes (one that is in bloom now!) .  It back to the pond and has benches, and is in view of the dining room window where we can look out.  I thought it would be nice to be able to see the garden from the dining room, and have a better appreciation of our efforts to bring fresh vegetables to the table..

The area is tilled up.  He removed Saint Augustine from the area to use as sod in another area.  Leftover pieces of grass and soil will be tossed in the composter.  We used wrought iron (non permanent) fencing, purchased from Home Depot.  This type of fencing is available for purchase in sections, to allow for room to grow or reconfiguration.  We also liked that we were able to purchase a gate, as well as have the option of expanding.  Because we are renting, this type of gating is not permanent and can be taken down when we move. 

In the meantime, my son helped me with watering everything and moving our containers to the backyard to prepare for planting! 

We currently have tomatoe, green pepper, green onion, spinach, broccoli, lettuces, Italian Parsley, Sweet Basil, Greek Oregano.  To add color, the kids choose wildflowers for planters that will be staggered. 

In an attempt to reduce insects, we have marigolds and will stagger the basil on both sides of the garden.

I’ve also read online about Thai Lemon Grass, and may try that out to see if it helps any with mosquitos!! (Especially, since we back to a pond and preservation!)