Getting close

This weekend Matt and I inched a bit closer to full throttle for the Warehouse gardens. We fertilized the remainder of the large garden with chicken manure, our neighbor rototilled it with his tractor - and it looks professional! I also transplanted some of the seedling to bigger containers as their homes were getting too small. I lost a couple of seedlings in this process, but it really isn't the end of the world because I had SO many of them.

I am also proud to say that a few more asparagus popped on through the terra firma.

This week I will create rows and mulch between rows in the last garden. Once I do that I will plant the remaining veg. Below is a diagram I did for the final garden. It's just a rough sketch, but I didn't want to miss anything. I apologize, it is cut off in a few parts.

Happy Eating and growing! Do a rain dance (just one day of rain and then we can go back to lovin' the sun!)

--Annie

A little help, even in PJs!

YES!

Well, blog readers, today was a good day in the Warehouse Gardens. My first asparagus popped through. Check it out:



For those of you unfamiliar with the growing of asparagus, here is how it works: You get these things that look like dried up octopus and you dig trenches. You put the dried up octopus things in the trenches with a thin layer of dirt to cover. As the asparagus shoots through the dirt, you add more dirt until the trench is filled in.

This little asparagus was really needed today. I was feeling down about the gardens. Things just didn't seem to be going right, it looked liked doom, in fact. I corresponded with Matt (who is working in Vancouver during the week) and he gave me a pep talk.

Things are turning around. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that it wasn't so stinkin' hot today. Who knows? The pumpkins look better, the whatever I planted (squash of some variety) look better. All in all, I just feel more positive. Thank you, Asparagus.

Today I dug little trenches with the hoe and sprinkled some chicken manure in; Just to give the earth some more yummy feed for the plants. The chicken manure is 10-12 years old and mellowed out. I do NOT advise doing that with a newer product. In fact, in my readings, I found that it is not good to use chicken manure until it is AT LEAST 9-12 months old. The nitrogen will surely kill all the plants if used new and fresh. Not to mention the fresh stench is enough to kill humans too!

Back to today. So, I also used old grass clippings to mulch. In doing so, I am keeping the weeds down and creating an insulation barrier for the moisture so the soil doesn't dry out as fast.

The next asparagus spear you eat (which if you live in the Northeast, it's in season! Go and eat asparagus. Support your local farmer!), think about the first time that asparagus plant yielded a spear and the joy that farmer must have felt.

YAHOO!

--Annie

HOW DO YOU SPELL MORON?

Because I spell it: A N N I E

Remember this morning how I told you I didn't plant all zucchini because I was an idiot and planted two from the cucumber row of seedlings?

Oh, it's more amazing than that. Idiot turns to moron. I can't even read my own written key to the seedling tray. I actually planted 0 cucumber and 0...? zucchini. I planted 2 acorn squash and 4 butternut squash and potentially a zucchini somewhere in there, but I am not sure?

My, my this is going to be an adventure! All Aboard!

Storm's rolling in, I think, gotta go shut the windows.

Ugh,
--Annie

HeatWave!

I guess the meteorological definition of a heatwave is three consecutive days over 90 degrees. So this technically is not a heatwave BUT yesterday my outdoor thermometer (not in direct sun) registered at 91 degrees at around 4:45 in the afternoon. Needless to say, I gave the plants a good soaking.

I messed up a bit and planted two cucumbers on accident when I was planting the zucchini and now I can't tell what is what. I guess it will be a surprise!

The remaining cucumbers, squashes and zucs are aching to get out of their seedling containers. This weekend, my delciousnesses.

I can't find the tops of the onions in the garden, which is worrisome and the pumpkins are struggling a bit. Everything else is rocking the Garden Party.

Stay cool and give those plants a nice big refreshing drink!
--Annie

"Easy like Sunday morning..." I don't think Lionel lived on a farm.

Situation: Your fiance is leaving for a week but does NOT want to give you a hug/kiss goodbye and not because he's chicken shit, but rather, because you smell like chicken shit.

And that just happened moments ago. You'll be delighted to hear that I have since scrubbed and showered.

A few parcels over from us used to be a HUGE chicken operation. When the chicken business left the state, our neighbors sold it and it was later torn down. However, left behind are two GIANT mounds of chicken manure. Let's call it "manure" and sound a little less crass, shall we? Long story short, Matt and I were ankle deep in three-year-old chicken manure hours ago. We filled up the back of the Tacoma and were able to spread it over half the big garden. Sure smells like a farm around here now!

Due to time constraints, we'll have to finish the other half next weekend. Stay tuned for more "Manure Updates".

In other news, our same AWESOME neighbor has offered the rototiller on his tractor to churn the manure into the garden next week. So, the indentured servant offer is off the table. The B&B still welcomes you with GIANT, chicken-manure-smelling, arms but now you'll have to pay for our hospitality.

Cheers to a beautiful Sunday!

--Annie

Photos from today:

The BIG garden:

















In the ground May 22, 2010:

A Busy Little Saturday.

Crops are in the ground.

But first, a seeding update: The following are pictures of the seedlings that are still in the house and waiting to go in the big garden. The picture of the three lone stalks are watermelon. Watermelon, I have come to learn, is very picky. I am happy to report that I have three plants!



In the ground today: Fennel, Roquette, Butterhead Lettuce, Celery, Leeks, Onions, Pumpkins, Zucchini (a third of the supply).

The leeks were interesting in that they require one-inch wide and six-inch deep trenches that they are then put in with just a bit hanging out the top. It took nearly an hour to dig all of those. Fortunately, they don't require a TON of room, so I was able to plant a lot and still have some left over for my sister's garden.

It was a lot of fun to plant the onions. It smelled like onions the entire time! And at the base of the seedling, one can see the formation of the onion bulb begin to form.

The celery and the fennel I am a bit more pessimistic about. They didn't come out of their seedling container with ease and I am worried that I might have destroyed their root structures.

The Lettuce Report is that the Roquette (Arugula) and Butterhead are rocking and in addition to seedling transfer, I planted some seeds to keep the lettuce-a-comin'.

Next year I need to wait a little longer to plant the zucchini indoors. The Z's were busting OUT and I could have waited a bit to put them in the ground. I planted them today because I feared they were going to die in their container sooner rather than later though they appeared huge and healthy - much like the pumpkins.



I've heard that pumpkins require a lot of TLC. I am prepared to give them that, but I think I grew the seedlings in the wrong containers and destroyed the roots. We'll see?

Finally, (I told you it was a busy day at Snow Meadow Farm today) I began hand-tilling and removing unneeded weeds from the big garden. OH MY GOD! WHAT A CHORE! I am unable to explain the back pain and fatigue from this undertaking.

I told Matt I need some indentured servants. Before you get all upset about this, I run the house like a B&B (No less than 400 thread count) so it wouldn't be that bad, and Matt makes really yummy and delicious food, of course we'd share. We are starting a wine cellar. What more could you want? So, if you're interested in tilling fields for free, let me know! ...it would more like being paid in room and board.

This is a very tired sign-off, but happy growing and eating! AND remember to inspire someone to grow.

--Annie

Oh and one more thing. My sister said the Farmer's Almanac suggested planting between the New and Full moons for a better crop. Have done that today, we'll just see.

Auntie Annie wants you!

I am thrilled to say that my gardening endeavors and willing admittance of clueless-ness has inspired my (very busy!) friend Caroline to plant a small container garden on her Condo balcony of tomatoes, lettuce and basil. It got my gears going and so I would like to start:

Project: Inspire to Grow

All you need to do is inspire one person to grow ONE thing. Just one! Buy it for him/her if you need to. There are no excuses about not having a yard for a garden. You need one container...it can even be as simple as chives.

Why? What's the point? You're asking. Well, it's kind of like paying it forward to some degree. The payment is really reconnecting us all to our food sources and appreciation for the love, care and attention to grow real raw and good-for-you foods.

Whatta ya say? Caroline promised to give me updates of her successes and failures. (There will be failures!) and I want to hear from the rest of you should you decide to take on this project as well. Inspire just ONE person.

Happy growing and eating,
--Annie

The first ribbon was cut today!

It was a big day for Warehouse gardens. The first plot was finished today with a futile attempt at keeping critters (big and small...and flat-coated) out. I finished the fences and deep-weeded for the last time - and it looks pretty good. After mixing in some compost, the first crop went into the ground at 14:00 today. Asparagus. Are there any ALF fans out there? You know who you are, and you're singing the Asparagus song. I planted ten plants in all, which in their first year are supposed to yield 10-20 stocks. And then it just kind of expands from there.

Oslo was a tremendous help today. He was very patient while I was in Home Depot, spending WAY too much money. And then he systematically took each tool I wasn't using while gardening and hid them around the yard.

...pictures to come.

Asparagus, asparagus, I put you on my table.
Asparagus, asparagus, you make me feel more able...

--Annie

Frosty!!

The coast's last frost day (LFD) was yesterday and last night we had a frost. Where I live, in Durham, we are looking more like the 15th for LFD. A lot of people were overzealous and planted before LFD. Fortunately, I did not. Mother Nature has an odd sense of humor. I guess all she got this year for Earth Day and Mother's Day is a super awesome oil spill... which is supposed to go on until Father's Day. Let's hope Father Time doesn't play any tricks!

Grow...carefully, --Annie

Serfs Up!

If you aren't one to enjoy play-on-words, this is also not the right blog for you.

The large garden we tilled is technically not on our property. But I got permission from the woman who owns the land and she was thrilled that I would be doing something with that parcel of land. But she didn't communicate this to her father-in-law, who also lives on the property. He paid me a visit. He was "concerned", but when I offered some of our bounty (fingers crossed), he perked right up!

Seedling update: Everything is growing really well. The Parsley is taking longer than I expected to poke through, but it's happening. I have also been successful in finding a few people to take some of the seedlings. If you're interested in any (probably ready Memorial Day weekend), e-mail me at annieornatek@yahoo.com

Also, this website was in the paper this morning. Though it is from the University of Maine, it is helpful to growers anywhere and there is a place to ask questions about your garden. I think I might be tapping into that.

http://extension.umaine.edu/gardening/grow-maine-grow/

Happy growing! --Annie

"You tell me it's the institution, well, you know, you better free you mind instead."

http://www.hulu.com/watch/136381/jamie-olivers-food-revolution-episode-1

Check it out. This is a very comprehensible and moving discussion on food in our culture. It's Jamie Oliver's "Food Revolution". All six episodes are currently on hulu.com. Just because this West Virginia town is alleged to be the unhealthiest town in America, doesn't mean that the rest of us can look down on it because we are really no better no matter where we live in this country. I am proud to say I've never eaten in my school's cafeteria and I am also sad to say that I REFUSE to eat in my school's cafeteria. The chicken nuggets shaped as french fries, served often, is just the tip of the iceberg.

Happy eating, happy growing. --Annie

He loves me? He loves me not...? He loves me!!

This morning Matt and I rented a rototiller in Lisbon Falls. It was a rough go at first, but Matt didn't get a sweet college education for nothin'. And he must have tapped into his Stonefield Farm roots, and got that puppy up and running. As I type this he is still busy at work. Extra special love to him from me, as he is recovering from a very bad stomach bug and still making this garden work. We got mouths to feed, yo.