Posted on 05/19/2009 5:11:40 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
Yes!
Going to read this later! I need guidance in composting! The maintenance guy at the courthouse in which I work saves the grass clipping for me! So far, I’ve gotten eight big bags of freshly cut grass to start a compost pile!
I’ve never heard of the book you mention, but I make a mighty good lasagna out of my garden and the only thing I have to buy is the cheese.
Lengthwise sliced zucchini, yellow squash or eggplant replace the noodles :)
btrl
I must have screwed up the HTML yesterday, but if you are sick of rain Diana, please send it to Texas.
Yes, that they are. I told the wife those reminded me of growing up on the farm.
Actually, I have an old 85 gallon trrash bin that I use for compost. It was abandoned near our current home. I cut a hole in the very bottom, added some strips to keep it in place when being filled, and drilled several holes in the front, back and sides. I just toss everything into it and open the bottom to turn it and get out the finished product.
Those guys will never decompose; we’ll never be free of them, LOL!
Looks like the weather has really turned for good.
Time to get the tomatoes in today.
WHOO HOO!!!
I’d recommend borrowing Lasagna Gardening. Once you read through it, you’ll get it. I’ve made a number of planting beds using that method. If you’re patient, it works like a charm. “No digging, no tilling, no kidding!”
I’m still not trusting our weather. I have Saturday off (miracle of miracles!) and will get some things in that day, but save the tomatoes and peppers for last.
For our area, the Accuweather long range (15 day) forecast looks wonderful. That puts us solidly in June and it’s exceedingly rare to have any frosts much after Memorial Day.
My garden is not so big that I can’t cover everything adequately if we do get another frost anyway.
37 degrees here at 6 this morning. Hubby actually lit a fire. Temps like that in mid may are utterly ridiculous :(
Mmmm ... sounds good. This is the first year I am planting eggplant. Never ate it growing up, but had my 1st taste this past year. Eggplant parmegiana. It was very good, so decided to try growing some.
We are putting in the biggest garden ever and hubby is actually helping big time this year. Problem is, I think we are going to have more to put in than what we have tilled. We are probably going to have to till another area. The good thing is, we have the space to do it. This will be my 1st attempt at canning. I hope I can keep up with all we are planting. Due to all the rain here in IL, we are putting the majority of our plants/seeds in this week. It’s been too wet to get in the planting beds.
Marking for reference. My mother managed to produce the best compost...she could grow anything. Sure wish I had paid more attention. And chicken manure was the prized ingredient.
I love eggplant. It is really easy to grow, in fact it is easier than tomatoes and peppers, IMO. It’s also easy to cook with. I use it in the same way as zucchini or crookneck squash.....baked, grilled, sauted, fried, etc.
I put in eggplant seeds this morning.....now I’m thinking I might have to start some more :)
**I assure you I will never forget sitting on a pile of them**
You told me! I’d a been comin out of those clothes! Got into a ground hornet nest when I was about 5. I don’t think they ever did find all my clothes. LOL
Once again that green-eyed monster is haunting me!!! LOL!
My compost pile is just that, a pile. Hubby did nail together 3 old pallets back behind the barn in order to (semi) contain it, but I just basically toss anything and everything back there in the general vicinity.
And with that, I've got to run. Need to go to the store and then go cut more grass before hubby gets home. Hopefully I can coerce the 10yo into raking up grass clippings to toss into the pile, along with the 2 coffee cans of stuff I have on the kitchen counter!
Later.
“I remember seeing a program years ago on PBS about a woman who had a greenhouse attached to her chicken house. She vented the chicken air, which was very warm, into the greenhouse and had free heat all winter. I believe the her property was somewhere in the northeast but cant be positive.”
Sounds like what’s described in Solviva. Its a book on solar greenhouses and integrated food production. It has some good ideas, but you kinda have to hold your nose in some chapters, the author gets a bit political.
Thanks for the ping Red.
Good to read all the good reports about gardening success from
fellow freepers! We’ve had some greens (turnip) yellow and acorn squash, radishes and carrots from our little patch so far this spring. Lot of
good rain in the Hill Country.
Get yourself a copy of 'The Ball Blue Book' and you can't go wrong. It's my bible when it comes to canning anything. Borrow it from the Library for this season, but then you'll want a copy for yourself, I'm sure.
Gabz? Which reference book is your favorite?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.