A New Garden Spot

Getting started.

Testing soil:

1. Scoop some soil into a container. Then, add a half-cup of vinegar. 
2. If the soil bubbles or fizzes, it's alkaline.
3. If there's no reaction, scoop a fresh soil sample into a second container. 
4. Add a half-cup of water and mix. Then, add a half-cup of baking soda. 
5. If the soil bubbles or fizzes the soil is highly acidic.
6. Amend your soil with wood ash or lime, if it's acidic. Amend your soil with sulfur or pine needles, if it's alkaline.

A Potter's Shed

I want one.

Dirty Words

"All my hurts my garden spade can heal"
~ Ralph Waldo Emmerson

"Gardening is the only unquestioningly useful job."
~ George Bernard Shaw

"Every gardener knows under the cloak of winter lies a miracle...  a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb opening to light, a bud straining to unfurl.  And the anticipation nurtures our dreams."
~Barbara Winkler

Gardening in January

So, I'm sitting here with my foot propped upon a pillow and Jorja on my lap.  It's an old sports  high heel injury that just isn't cooperating.  Torn tendon maybe?  I dunno  but my foot is swollen and it hurts.  So, I'm sitting here with my foot propped upon a pillow and Jorja on my lap.  I've trolled facebook so much that I have everyone's clever status updates memorized and tucked away for future use.  I've watched all the Netflix movies I can stream to the computer --well,at least all that I can stand.  (There are some really dumb movies out there.)  I've read my copies of MaryJane's Farm and Country Living.  Twice.

My thoughts are turning to gardening.  I didn't have a garden last summer.  I put up a lot of produce I bought at farm markets but this year, I'd like to grow some of my own too.  I know I won't be able to grow enough to sustain my family for the winter but hopefully the zombie apocalypse will prove to be a rumor and if the world really does end with the Mayan calender then I won't need food for the winter anyway.

In the mail the other day I received the Baker Creek Heirloom Seed catalog and just yesterday I got a catalog from "The Oldest Seed House in America~Purveyors of Fine Seed Since 1784" also known as "D. Landreth Seed Company."   Such beautiful photos of produce!   Who knew a picture of a turnip could be so pretty?

So, in my mind today I'm planning a summer garden.  I'd like to start some seed soon--but deciding which variety of what is proving to be more than challenging.

How Many Plants?

400 tomato plants, 1,200 beans, 4,000 pea plants to feed a family of six for the winter!  Plant them all together in (4) 4x25 foot beds by companion planting...allow the peas to grow up the tomatoes and plant the beans around the outside of the beds with tomatoes in the middle. The peas and beans will both supply the tomatoes with much nitrogen...and there is still room to plant basil right donw the middle...about 2-4,000 seed to have enough to harvest for dried herb all winter long!