Tag Archive for: garden

My Naked Garden

Alright. I’m dying here. What’s the deal? It was 71 yesterday and it’s going to be near freezing again on Tuesday? By this time last year, I had my entire garden planted.

 


By May of last year, my garden looked like this. I had already envisioned salads full of goodness, nights of canning the booty and grilling anything grill-able.

 


Even my winter squash was discovering the topside of soil. Pretty, little dainty leaves smiled back at me each morning.

 


Biceps and I were eating spinach salads like nobodies business.

 


And my tiny, green tomatoes were just starting to ripen.

 


I’m hoping it won’t be too late to get my plants in the ground before the Okie weather shoots from a balmy 65 degrees to 104 degrees.

However, this is what is staring back at me each time I look through the french doors. Naked dirt. Void of anything green or edible. I’m trying to be patient, but it isn’t happening.

Has anyone else been impatient and planted already? Should I continue to wait? I’d love to hear what you have to say.

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Gardens, Sprays and Morning Shows

Guess what I’ll be doing tomorrow morning?

I will be LIVE on Fox23’s “Great Day, Green Country” showing how to make Non-Toxic Garden Pest Deterrent Recipes, including:

Non-Toxic Insecticide Spray,
Non-Toxic Bunny and Critter Deterrent,
Non-Toxic Ant and Gnat Deterrent 


Yep. Once again, I will be pulling out the industrial strength deodorant, the nail polish and the hair curlers. Tune into Fox23’s “Great Day, Green Country” at 10 am and watch me fumble, spit and act like a moron.

Later that day, I’ll post the live video for all of you out-of-towners, along with all of the recipes for your creating pleasures.

It’ll be awesome, I guarantee you!

Here are the links to my other LIVE TV appearances on Fox23’s Great Day Green Country:

Here are links to my Homemade Household Cleansers and Beauty Products:

And here are a few Homemade Food Items to easily replace store-bought items:

Thanks so much for stopping by and spending time with such a weirdo. Make sure you become a Facebook Fan or a Linky Follower to keep up to date with what this weirdo comes up with next. Have a great day!

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Planning and Planting a Spring Garden

It’s that time of year again. Can you feel it?

The soil is calling, the bunnies are ready to nibble on seedlings, and the compost is ripe. Ah…springtime. Time to plant the garden and reap the harvest.

 


I start off by drooling over seed magazines-literally. Then, I move on to my mental “wants” vs “needs”. I’m partial to Baker’s Creek Heirloom Seeds, (thanks to the introduction by a lovely reader, Janice). The variety of heirloom plants and seeds that can be found in this magazine is utterly amazing.

Do you want purple cauliflower? Striped tiger carrots? Marbled tomatoes? Done.

 


Gurney’s Seeds also has a great variety of seeds and plants offered-they’re just a bit more mainline and most are not heirloom seeds.

 


Next, I make an in-depth spreadsheet (because I’m a nerd) with what I absolutely need for the garden, price it all out and keep it all under $100 utilizing coupons and online discounts.

 


Spending less than $100 for an entire summer of produce-plus canning, dehydrating and freezing options-just makes sense.

Take that Whole Foods.

 


I save money on water by using Rain Barrels, making my own garden critter deterrents and utilizing my kitchen scraps to create compost.

 


I also save money by growing as many seedlings as my naughty cats will allow. Let’s just say we’ve had two instances already this morning. Wet paws, dirt and fur were flying.

 


Next comes the soil test (which can be bought at Lowes & reused multiple times for about $5). I’ll usually need to add cow poop, ground up shells or bones-along with my winter compost. I also save money each spring by renting a tiller for about $15, instead of a hefty purchase price and then storing the dang thing.

 


Once the ground is warm enough (the “zone board” is fighting about whether we are a zone 6 or a 7, so I just go with my gut), I’ll either transfer the seedlings or plant directly into the soil.

Using soaker hoses conserves water and slowly offers the plant a dribbly drink rather than a monstrous monsoon. Dribbly drinks creates deeper and more established roots for the plant. I also like to cover my soaker hoses with weed-free, grass clippings, which helps to conserve water and keeps the soil moist.

Moist. Moist. What a weird word.

 


And wouldn’t you know…these little stinking seeds do what they’re supposed to do! It’s like there’s a God or something.

Before long I have more tomatoes than I know what to do with, zucchini coming out of my ears and a steady diet of fresh, pesticide-free produce and herbs.

 


Typically, with the first harvest, I do a little green clog jig in the garden while the neighbors watch on with bewilderment.

Ah…springtime. I love this time of year.

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Getting Ready to Garden-Bunnies Beware

I know-it’s only January 3rd. But, it’s never too early to start planning your garden. I’ve been thumbing through my Gurney’s and Baker’s Creek Catalogues, spending hours plotting and scheming.

 


I’m such an organizing freak, that I made an excel spreadsheet outlining what plants and seedlings I would be buying, along with the planting schedules, cost and soil needs.

I know-I’m a Class A Nerd. And I’m ok with that.

 


A wonderful reader-Janice-sent me Baker’s Creek Heirloom Seed Catalogue last year-along with a bunch of seeds. I was so ecstatic to try things last year that I normally wouldn’t, that I went about my garden tossing seeds *to and fro.

Who knew that Biceps and I would love okra so stinkin’ much. I’m planting double this year. And, I’m adding cauliflower. Yum.

 


(*Actually, all seeds were carefully placed into the soil and no seeds were harmed during my skipping and frolicking while wearing these cute green clogs.)

 


Look at this beautiful soil, just ready and willing to grow yummy vegetables.

 

 


My Spinning Composter is filled to the brim and ready to fertilize my soil-naturally.
My Rain Barrels are full and ready to offer free rainwater for the garden.
The dutch clover is protecting my soil from erosion and is going to be a lovely green fertilizer come this spring.

Now, all I have to do is wait and soon, I will have this. But for now, I will enjoy the canned produce, yummy salsa and jalapeno jelly from last year’s harvest.

And, I will wait patiently (somewhat) for the new planting season-when I brush off aforementioned cute green clogs and get down and dirty with my seedlings.

 


So, bunnies-BEWARE. Your time of bouncing through my vacant garden willy nilly is coming to an end. Enjoy it now, furballs. Enjoy it now.

How are you planning for your garden?

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