Kirby Hat

Compost Problem

Problem with one mouse - it quickly becomes 4. We're going to have to find some icky solution although I'm willing to try more regular turning to try to convince them that it's a lousy nest location. I don't want mice trying to find their way into the house. Aren't the babies oh so cute though? Stupid genetic predisposition to care for small furry things.

Signs of Spring

Crocuses came up, seemingly overnight

Blueberry leaf buds, we need to do the first fertilizer this weekend (1 oz. blood meal/plant)
BTW - "blood meal" only adds to the illusion that gardening is some sort of black, alchemical magic

Garlic loves this weather.

The lemon balm is starting its new growth.

Brand new mint sprouts. I'm so glad it's in a sectioned off bed. It can't spread any farther than it already has without some serious evolution.

I didn't kill it during division!
(Even though I've heard that it's well nigh impossible, there's always the fear.)

At least 5 plants "took" and are starting new growth from the two, too close together original plants.

The flowering quince by the cherry tree, just outside our bedroom window.

First Sprouts

I think I've become a very big fan of heated seed mats and covered flats. I planted the celery and onions last Saturday.

Celery "days to emergence" is said to be 10-20 days. I already got tiny little sprouts yesterday!
Similarly, many of the onions were up by Wednesday, even though their germination time is supposed to be 6-12 days.

This gives me high hopes that I'll have decent sized seedlings for transplant to larger containers by the time I want to reuse the flat at the end of the month for the next starts. Yay!

Still too small to get decent pictures, but soon.

Garden Plan

Spring is coming fast. The blueberry bushes have leaf buds (above). The flowering quince at the side of the house is about to bloom. I planted our first seed starts this morning.

The plan for seed starting is...
1/30/10 - 6 celery (Utah 52-70) and 50 onions (Talon)

2/27/10 - 12 cabbage (Derby Day), 12 basil (Sweet Basil), 12 tomatoes (10 Nova, 1 Oregon Cherry, 1 Siletz), 4 peppers (California Wonder 300), 2 eggplants (Millionaire), 2 cauliflower (Snow Crown), 2 broccoli (Thompson)

4/3/10 - 14 squash (2 Black Beauty zucchini, 2 Yellow Crookneck, 4 Mesa Queen acorn, 2 Fairy, 2 Banana Pink Jumbo, 2 Small Sugar pumpkin), 2 melons (Tigger), 4 cucumber (Wautoma)

To be direct sown are green beans, edamame, fava beans, black-eyed peas, carrots, corn, garlic, lettuce, snow peas, peas, beets, radishes, spinach, and potatoes.

We're also putting in asparagus crowns in about a week. We also hope to get the grapes in this early spring - Interlaken or Niagara, Elizabeth or Fredonia, and Gewurztaminer.

Baking with Spelt

I got busy today and baked one of our remaining pumpkins. The resulting quart of mashed pumpkin was quickly turned into bread. Hopefully, some of it will make it into the freezer, although it's disappearing at an alarming rate. (There was an additional small loaf that never made it to the photo shoot.)

I also found out that Q really loves toasted pumpkin seeds, so I'll have to get into the making those when I have a pumpkin. I think I'm going to try it on our next acorn squash as well. I can't imagine that it really matters what winter squash donates the seeds.

I also made a loaf of sandwich bread for Q's lunches this week. After so many months of trying to learn to bake gluten-free, using a grain that contains gluten seems like cheating. Bread just rises, no fuss, no muss. Brilliant.

Craft Hope for Haiti

Craft Hope for Haiti is a project where crafters from all over have donated goods to be sold in their special Etsy shop. All proceeds are going to relief efforts in Haiti by Doctors Without Borders. I've sent in a donation but apparently they can't keep up with donations so we'll see how long it takes for mine to get listed. :) Donate or shop or just look and send good thoughts. In two days they've raised $7000. Not bad. Good stuff gets brought out by heartbreaking situations.