Saturday, April 2, 2011
We Made the Front Page!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Think of it as a construction site.
But, yes, we have digging to do. It will be good exercise, and once it's done, we have excellent soil for our vegetables to thrive in. Sail into the wind, as they say. The only way to get through it is to do it.
Update about our fertilizer: thought I'd share with you what is going into our vegetables. We're using ingredients that, together, make a safe and balanced complete organic fertilizer.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
On-site babysitting for the wee gardeners, lettuce seedlings up, pre-sprouted beets and cabbage in!
The hail last night wrecked some of the lettuces (well, the hail, plus a vagary or two). So we'll put some more in the ground. They're already working on pre-germinating in a jar.
Some of our first pre-germinated beets and cabbages are in the dirt, too, and I'll be adding some broccoli seedlings to those two beds, and dill (these are all great companion plants) when it's just a little warmer. We made some great progress digging beds this (long, 4-day) weekend, and Tom will probably be setting up the rain barrels tomorrow. Meanwhile, Sarah is researching everything we need to know about irrigation so that, eventually, we don't have to worry about watering and we can use the barrels for growing potatoes.
About babysitting! Well, turns out that a sweet woman who lives in a retirement community is not permitted to have a garden, but LOVES gardening and canning tomatoes. She wants fresh, healthy food to eat, and in exchange for it is willing to babysit our little ones for us while we work! Apparently she has a few fellow sweet-old-lady like-mindeds. They can basically sit and read stories, keep the kids happy drawing and blowing bubbles and so on. Awesome news, yes, fellow parents??? Three cheers for all-ages gardening!!!
Final note, Tom and I watched the movie Dirt! the other night and were truly inspired. This is definitely YRCG movie night film material. We're looking forward to hosting a movie night to feature Dirt! when the busy season has settled down.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Just more good stuff
Lettuce Seeds, Growing Beds and Walking Paths, Oh, My!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Seeds Have Arrived! (Part 1)
Without further ado and in no particular order - the seeds so far.
- Piricicaba Broccoli
- Red Drumhead Cabbage
- Egyptian Spinach Greens
- Cracoviensis, Stem Lettuce
- Bronze Arrow Lettuce
- Marvel of 4 Seasons, Butterhead Lettuce
- Merlot Lettuce
- Winter Destiny Lettice, Romaine
- Monstruex de Virolay Spinach
- French-Sparky Marigold
- Buckwheat
- Bull's Blood Beet
- Early Wonder Beet
- Chantenay Red Core Carrot
- Shin Kuroda 5" Carrot
- Rosa Bianca Eggplant
- Red Wonder Wild Strawberry
- Sugar Snap Peas
- Harris Model Parsip
- Melrose Pepper
- Quadrato D' Asti Giallo Pepper
- Black Futsu Squash
- Musquee De Provence
- Emerald Evergreen Tomato
- Genovese Basil
- Rutgers Tomato
- Tappys Heritage Tomato
- White Queen Tomato
- Yellow Icicle Tomato
- Golden Midget Watermelon
- Demi Long Root Parsley
Friday, March 4, 2011
How to root cellar
http://oldfashionedliving.com/rootcellar.html
Here's an excerpt, below. Look at that! You can store carrots for 4-6 months. Tomatoes? 1-2 months. Makes me wonder if Tom and I should scrap our refrigerator.
APPROXIMATE STORAGE TIMES:
Cabbage.......3-4 months
Brussels Sprouts.....3-5 weeks
Jerusalem Artichokes..1-2 months
Carrots........4-6 months
Chinese Cabbage...1-2 months
Eggplant........1-2 weeks
Parsnips........1-2 months
Rutabagas......2-4 months
Squash........4-6months
Radishes........2-3 months
Tomatoes.......1-2 months
Cauliflower......2-4 weeks
Broccoli.........1-2 weeks
Beets........4-5 months
Pumpkins......5-6 months
Potatoes.........4-6 months
Turnips.......4-6 months
Thursday, February 24, 2011
We're on Google Groups!
Homepage: http://groups.google.com/group/yrcg
Group Email: yrcg@googlegroups.com
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Updated Plant List
BEANS (BUSH)
(Also need to order inoculant if getting bush beans.)
Dragon tongue wax 60 days juicy and sweet even when large. Heavy producer.
BEANS (POLE)
Rattlesnake 70 days best of all for flavor and 100-degree heat didn’t stop them from producing lots of beans.
Romano 70 days creamy flavor stringless high-yielding unfazed by heat, drought, cold nights, and most pests.
Razorback Cowpeas - great for snap peas, shell peas and drying.
BEETS
Bull’s Blood tops 35 days; roots 58 days a staple in salad mixes. Easy even with chilly evenings and poor soil.
Early Wonder Tall Tops 45 days. Ultra-easy to grow, early, great flavor, and lots of greens for cooking – a favorite in home gardens for years.
BROCCOLI
Di Cicco 48-85 days Compact 2-3’ light-green plants. Harvesting the central 3’4” central head stimulates production of numerous smaller side shoots. Quality and long harvest period make it the best broccoli for home gardens. Freezes well. 110 seeds $2.00
Piricicaba 56 days halfway between standard grocery store broccoli and a raab, large plants produce lots of small green heads. Stalks, leaves, also sweet and tender. Good frost tolerance. hot-weather performance. Produces at 90 degrees. 110 seeds $2.00
Buckwheat (to repel insects from squashes)
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Fayetteville Community Seed Swap - TOMORROW!
FAYETTEVILLE COMMUNITY SEED SWAP
Sponsored by the Fayetteville Community Garden Coalition (FCGC), the University of Central Arkansas’ Conserving Arkansas’ Agricultural Heritage (CAAH!) Project, and the Washington County Cooperative Extension, the second annual Fayetteville Community Seed Swap will be on Sunday, February 20, 2011, from 1:00-4:00 pm at the Fayetteville Senior Activity and Wellness Center.
Anyone may attend to trade and distribute open-pollinated seeds of food crops, herbs, or ornamentals. Hybrid seeds will also be traded and distributed during the last thirty minutes of the event. If you have no seeds to swap but want to learn more, come mingle with gardeners, farmers, and seed savers. There will be an informational presentation about seed saving at the beginning of the event, followed by a seed savers exchange and seed distribution. Help us conserve the heritage of Arkansas while we share good stories, beautify our yards, and, of course, save seeds.
WHAT: Second Annual Fayetteville Community Seed Swap
WHEN: Sunday, February 20, 2010, 1:00-4:00pm
SCHEDULE: 1:00pm – 1:30pm Seed Saving Presentation
1:30pm – 3:30pm Heirloom Seed Swap
WHERE: Fayetteville Senior Activity and Wellness Center, 945 S. College
WHO: The Fayetteville Community Gardening Coalition (FCGC), the University of Central Arkansas’s (UCA) Conserving Arkansas’s Agricultural Heritage (CAAH!) Project, the Washington County Cooperative Extension Service…and of course--any interested farmers, gardeners, and community members.
WHY: Arkansas farmers and gardeners have a long legacy of using heirloom seeds. These plants are in danger of being lost. Sharing seeds encourages the production and longevity of diverse varieties for posterity, and increased sustainable living in the present.
HOW IT WORKS: Anyone can bring seeds to swap or share. If you don’t have seeds, you can donate envelopes, garden tools, or knowledge to FCGC.
COST: FREE!
For more detailed information, you may also contact Katy Deaton at 479-409-4431 kathleenhdeaton@gmail.comor Dr. Brian Campbell at 501-450 3178 brianc@uca.edu
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Plant List, 2011 Spring and Summer Seasons
Notes From 2/15/11 Meeting
We've Added Commenting
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Thanks and we're looking forward to some great discussions!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Produce prices at the stores to rise, effective immediately
This is just one more reason that it's time to kick it into gear with our community garden. Fortunately, we'll be starting with some quick-growing early-spring crops. Let's have a good turn-out this Tuesday at Q'doba! We'll see you there at 6:30 p.m.
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