Organic Garden

Seeds of change

Well if this darn rain just doesn’t stop, I’m never going to get my dream garden started! It’s been a soggy month here in the PNW and my garden is a mud pit still. I’m scanning the weekly temperatures hoping for those rays of sunshine :-/

To get into the gardening spirit, without having to go outside, I’ve planted a few starter seeds in two mini greenhouses. I thought I would do a bit-o-experimenting – I used eggshells (thank you Pinterest) in one tray and these premade coconut husk disks in the other. Seeds include broccoli, cauliflower and kale. The best sunlight in our house is in our living room, so I’ve rigging up some temporary shelving next to the big window so these babies get some good sunlight.

Um yeah, about that….after a few days, I noticed a total funk in our house and it smelled, wait for it, like rotten eggs! Those darn egg shells stanked up my house! I can’t sit on my couch without smelling them. Fellow gardeners, if you are going to use egg shells to start your seeds, make sure you do it outside… in a green house…that’s well ventilated. And not only did they smell, the seeds did not sprout in a good 40% of them while my coconut disks has a 90% sprout rate (is that even a thing?)

So lesson learned: eggshells DO NOT make for stellar seed sprouting containers.

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Seattle Seed Co.

Hello cute packagin!

And my garden obsession continues……I’ve been researching local companies that sell organic, non-GMO seeds and so far the Seattle Seed Co. has fit the bill. I’ve placed one order with them so far and they are q-u-i-c-k. I swear, I received the seeds the next day!

I also ordered this handy growing chart thingy. It will be a nice reminder come spring when my head is spinning with seeds and starter plants (oh, and a 1,100 person Luncheon)! I felt I was very restrained in my order – I only bought 8 seed packs even though I wanted to put every single one in the cart. I do want to try out one or two other companies, you know, to spread the love a little. I’ll report back on those companies at a later date. Stay tuned……

Gotta love good marketing!

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That’s Plum Crazy Nuts!

Yesterday, was my first day exploring our new house. After a quick walk through, I high tailed it out to the yard to check on the large, private blackberry patch located just behind our fence. Priorities, I know……I also knew it was just about time for those berries to be ready!
Let’s just say I was not disappointed. Maj blackberries going on in the “BS Black Berry Patch” (Brown/Sugiura – duh!) I harvested a few cups but I suspect I could have picked a few gallons if I’d had more time. As I was wandering back to the house, I noticed a few other interesting trees with some killer fruit growing. Holy jackpot! Italian plums? Figs?! Grapes? (OK, not as cool as the other two, but they look neat)
Man. Mature fruit trees. How could I be so lucky? I was really hoping I’d have a few….but when we saw the house last it was over a month ago and nothing was really in bloom. And, as my mom walked through the yard later that afternoon, she pointed at a tree and said it’s a hazelnut tree. I think I just about fainted. How freaking cool is that?
I do plan on adding both an apple and a pear tree next spring to round out my fruit tree collection and a big ole garden will also be in the works. Screw the farmer’s market, I’ve got my own backyard full of treats! This is one excited urban farmer.
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Harvest.

OK, so maybe it’s not so bad living at home. Fresh raspberries straight from the vine! Take that farmer’s market. Ha!
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How does your garden grow?

I’ve had zero time to work in the garden this spring, but regardless of my lack of effort, my flowers still bloomed! Love these pale pink clemantis. Hopefully, once we’re back from vacation, I can find some time to get my hands dirty again.
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