Showing posts with label seedlings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label seedlings. Show all posts

Monday, March 29, 2010

I wanna be a garden...


So, here is one of the plots of land that we will be farming this year. Yeeehooo! We are currently waiting for a soil test to return (the professional kind this time), and we need to work with the owner of the land to get a fence up to keep the sheep from eating the goodies that are going to grow as well as work out the logistics of such a venture, plus tilling the land and adding whatever nutrients might be needed.

Other than that, the seedlings have required a lot of work lately. I've learned a few things since I began such as: some seeds require warm soil to germinate and so it makes good sense to plant them in the same tray so they can be placed on a warming mat...so, I've moved around my seedlings to ensure that peppers (four different kinds), melons, tomatillos, and cucumbers are together to get the warm start they require. I have moved broccoli and brussel sprouts and beets off of the warming mat to see what happens for them (not sure if any of these would do better with the heat). I also have a pretty nifty shelf unit set up with lights on both shelves and I have raised the seed beds so they are within 3" of the lights. Also, I put a fan on the lowest setting a couple of times a day to help the seedlings grow strong and not be too leggy. Some of my peppers are off to a good start! I hope to have a picture to show you the progress in about a week.

I also promise to put a picture of Sprinkle's tomato seedlings on here. They have done so well (as Sprinkle says, "they are not going to be spoiled"--that means I pamper mine too much in Sprinkle's opinion). The tomato seedlings have already made it into larger pots and they get moved in and out of the front porch daily (who says they aren't spoiled?!) Ooooh and they smell so good...

Sunday, February 7, 2010

everything leads back to farming....

...and I know this isn't sustainable. It's hard not to be overzealous, obsessed and constantly planning in my head. I have tried not to talk about it as much as I am thinking about it (although people around me may be surprised by this statement as it may feel this is all I am talking about!) I just finished reading the book On the Farm by Jimmy Doherty. He's a bloke in England; a friend of the famous chef, Jamie Oliver. It was fun, inspiring and got me thinking about raising pigs. PIGS!

There is a good chance that I could get a small parcel of land to farm this year. Yes, true! I am currently working with a local agency that helps new farmers find land to lease. I will be papering the city with posters looking for any landowners/farmers who would like to participate. Keep your fingers crossed for me that the perfect parcel will appear soon. Can you believe it...farming this year...oh goodness. See why I might be obsessed?

My seed order has not been put in yet. It will be. I am just a bit stuck about how much to order. I am not exactly sure how to figure this out, and so this will be my task for this week. Sprinkle kindly dragged one of the shelves from the shed to the greenhouse. My plan is to plant some left over seeds from last year and see what happens. Some will be in a seedling tray out in the greenhouse and some will be in a seedling tray kept in the house. I want to compare the outcomes of both and see if I can deduce any good tips/strategies for glorious veggies. I will keep you posted!

By the way, thanks for visiting. Thanks for following.