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Looks good!
Why not do more than one thing? Lilac AND another vine for off-lilac-season color and or flavor?
We lost one large tree in last wind storm and nearly a second. However, yesterday, we planted three new trees. This time we chose edibles - Desert Gold peach, Anna apple and a Bonanza Miniature peach. We even tore up some of our grass to plant one o…
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- About Me:
- Still a beginning gardener and beg.-int. cook in this new lifestyle that is learning to shed her brown/black thumb. I'm a natural healing, organic, fermentation (Nourishing Traditions), bread-making and earth-friendly nut. I'm the wife of a wonderful, hard-working man that is the backbone of our life, yard and garden and the home schooling mother of two beautiful boys, almost 7 and 9, that love to garden and work with our worm farm (when we have them...er, when they are put into the compost heap when we travel). We live in the NW (Happy Valley/I-17 area) part of Phoenix.
Local area REALTOR: Phoenix/Glendale-Peoria/Deer Valley - http://RealtyChix.com. Appreciate any referrals for ones interested in new video phone, satellite TV, wireless extension or new cell phones, etc. http://dchiordi.acnrep.com
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Tree planting
We lost one large tree in last wind storm and nearly a second. However, yesterday, we planted three new trees. This time we chose edibles - Desert Gold peach, Anna apple and a Bonanza Miniature peach. We even tore up some of our grass to plant one of the trees. I'd love to tear the rest out and put in a net-patterned orchard.
We are anxious for them to grow large and fill in some of the empty spaces left by our larger, mature tree. We still have the whole ugly south wall to add to. I'm thinking… Continue
We are anxious for them to grow large and fill in some of the empty spaces left by our larger, mature tree. We still have the whole ugly south wall to add to. I'm thinking… Continue
Posted on January 10, 2010 at 12:48pm —
Asparagus and Rhubarb
Okay, I found some very nice looking crowns over at Baker Nursery and I'm going to give it a shot. I've prepared a nice 18"x 28"L x 12"W trench and built up some mounds for a few of the asparagus crowns. I plan to put a couple more in another area and we'll see which area does best. Now I need to work out where to plant the rhubarb. We are thinking a round raised planter between our fig and orange trees for afternoon shade. Gotta dig out some roots and lay down fabric then fill in the soil and t… Continue
Posted on December 18, 2009 at 8:01pm — 7 Comments
Cold harvest and tilling
Had to till up one of our raised beds as it was overtaken with roots from nearby trees. The lasagna method just wasn't working for this bed. It needed all the roots that had overtaken it thinned out and turned and improved with manure and compost. This is going to take us a while and another load of compost.
We also harvested the last of the native yellow watermelons (5) and a large bowl full of Jerusalem artichokes. Delicious! I still have many in the ground. I think we will plant more of them.… Continue
We also harvested the last of the native yellow watermelons (5) and a large bowl full of Jerusalem artichokes. Delicious! I still have many in the ground. I think we will plant more of them.… Continue
Posted on December 6, 2009 at 9:00pm — 2 Comments
Appleoosa
Well, after more than 15 years, I'm back to canning. A dear friend helped me process my largest crop ever of Golden Dorsett apples. Between us we made 7 quarts and 14 pints of apple sauce and butter - some with plum and some with rhubarb. YUM. I also dived into my mother's apple cookbook and tried Senagalese soup from Club 21 in NYC - a cold soup with curry and chicken. We'll see how the family likes cold soup. I still have more to go and will be drying/dehydrating some apple chips and perhaps a… Continue
Posted on July 12, 2009 at 7:00pm —
Comment Wall (11 comments)
- At 10:36am on December 8, 2009,
Ericka Cero Wood said… - Sorry you lost a tree...the Norgards lost a big tree as well :(
- At 5:47pm on April 21, 2009,
Stuart Shim said… - I just thought of something that you might want to consider: grow your pumpkin vine in a raised bed, inside of a upside-down 60 gallon trash can in order to get some depth. I know of a grower in San Diego that grew a 300 pound pumpkin in a 60-gallon trash can, so it should work for you. A 45 gallon trash might be ideal. The reason for some depth is because the main tap root on giant pumpkin vine can easily go down 6 feet. So, if you can build a pretty big mound inside your raised bed, you'll be fine.
- At 5:41pm on April 21, 2009,
Stuart Shim said…
- At 6:38am on April 21, 2009,
Stuart Shim said…
- Hi there! Something you might want to try for your clay/rock-like soil? Apparently alfalfa, planted as a cover crop, will help because the roots will go down as much as 15-20 feet through almost anything. It might take a couple of seasons, but you'll add nitrogen and break up your soil too. I'd ask the local agricultural agent what he or she thinks about it... Just an idea! I used clover, and it worked great. Take care and watch your mail. You should have a pleasant surprise in a few days.
- At 9:31pm on March 10, 2009,
Carrie said… - Hi, thanks for you comments. This are pictures that I have taken over the last couple of weeks from various gardens in our lovely valley. The flowers with the bees were taken at the naturalpathic college in Tempe.
- At 11:38pm on February 27, 2009,
Peter Schleifer said… - I will be out of town from tomorrow morning through tuesday-but would be happy to arrange for you to get one after that. I was hoping to have mine planted before my trip, but decided to wait as to avoid any transplant related problems. I will have a plant or two for you.
- At 1:58pm on February 26, 2009,
Peter Schleifer said…
- Thanks for the comment. I have a few extra purple cherries. This variety is amazing! The tomatoes are some of the tastiest I have ever eaten and it produces ALOT of tomatoes in the spring and fall(if you keep it shaded during the summer). If you are interested, I can give you a plant or two. They are ready to be planted. I live in Tempe
- At 4:49pm on February 24, 2009,
Michelle said… - Thanks for the sympathy Dana!
No, no footprints, or animal tracks that I can see. The stalks look as though they have been chewed through though.
All my plans for pickled cabbage are on hold for a while now! :)
Thanks for the response and sorry about your pumpkins too.
- At 8:02am on January 11, 2009,
Sholbk said… - Mexico was fun, but mostly work. I am putting on a 1/2 marathon, 10K and 5K event in San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico February 15th. my website is www.sancarloshalfmarathon.com
I am going to try to make it to the class next weekend too. I am a very novice gardener and really need all the help I can get:)
- At 12:37pm on January 10, 2009,
Sholbk said…
- Dana,
Sorry I didn't make it to the compost session. I just got back from Mexico and didn't have much sleep. I slept through the alarm:(
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Latest Activity
Growing Potted Tomatoes & Other Edibles on Your Patio with Chris Byers at Central Slope Herbal tea & Green Design Center
February 13, 2010 from 1pm to 2:30pm
Do you want to garden but not sure about digging up your yard? Or do not have a yard? Then come and learn how to have all the tomatoes you want in two square feet of space! You will learn the finer points of how to select a tomato to raise in a pot…
Indoor Vermicomposting with Lisa Taylor at Tempe Transportation Center
February 17, 2010 from 6:30pm to 8pm
This class will include a lecture and hands-on demo on the basics of successful kitchen worm-composting. Topics covered include basics on the biology of worms, building a worm bin, acquiring worms locally, keeping the worms healthy, avoiding unwante…
my blog on my Aquaponics experiments in AZ:
http://funwithaquaponics.blogspot.com/
Biltmore area.
I missed the tree chippers coming through my area, and I have to get rid of this Christmas tree before my neighbors call the HOA 5-0s.Do you have a chipper, other means of recycling a tree, or a good idea for me?I can deliver it.Thanks,Markmarktrini…
Home & Yard Tour of the Bee Oasis with Don Titmus at Private home of Don Titmus
March 20, 2010 from 9am to 11am
Don has been "living" permaculture and sustainability for several years. His environment is a testament to the many ingenious ways he's incorporated sustainability into his life. See veggie and flower gardens, urban chickens, bees, water harvesting,…
2009 Arizona Farmers' Market List
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