Life on a little urban homestead in the making, with ideas for self-sufficiency, Permaculture, DIYing, organic gardening, food preservation, Chicken keeping, cookery, crafts, thrifting and more...

Apr 29, 2012

Garden, Independence Days Challenge


In The Garden- Whew, my legs are tired! I mowed, planted, hosed, weeded, tilled, dug, moved, seeded, swept, mopped (in the house), did laundry, made dessert. Thank god we went to eat dinner out! I was SO tired. Our new fenced area by the new raised bed (next week I swear!) looks better already with a new evergreen and perennials. I had to plant it before the raised bed went in, due to the small space. It has been a bit neglected planting-wise. I took care of that! 
                                                                   Before

After


I finally got the cold frame planted with Seeds Of Change "Tom Thumb", a nice small butter lettuce type green. I have grown it before and it's wonderful! I got a few little garden signs at Target for a buck, this one says "grow already!"




Independence Days Challenge-

1. Plant Something- Finally planted "Tom Thumb" lettuce in cold frame, perennials and evergreens 
2. Harvest Something- Eggs, grass clippings going into the compost.
3. Preserve Something- Same, freezing more food. Will be fixing up my bike next week :)
4. Store Something- I keep stocking up on more basics every week, added extra pine shavings for chicks. 
5. Manage Reserves- Get A Good Deal/Barter/Stock Up/Prep- Bought more thrift store shorts for summer.
6. Eat the Food- Try New Foods/Recipes- Made an apple butter spice cake to use up some homemade apple butter. 
7. Build Community Food Systems- Still need to get to the spring farmers market.
8. Recycle/Re-Use- A lot more composting, feeding chickens food scraps. Will be building a new raised bed from recycled, free lumber NEXT WEEK  I swear! Dave bought a new used bike for himself, since he can't ride with drop handlebars anymore. He loves riding to work, so after his shoulder surgery recovery he should be back in the swing of things by July.
9. Skill Up- Reading Little House In The Suburbs by Deanna Caswell and Daisy Siskin, good book! Helped Dave sharpen the blades on our push mower. Getting back on my bike soon!
10. Regenerate What is Lost/Salvage Something- I cut back our very lopsided lavender plant in the back yard, moved it, and it should grow back, I hope. 

6 comments:

Judy T said...

Sounds like you have been busy, busy, busy. Our main season Farmer's markets start this week. I can't wait. I'm so excited because this spring there is a new market space starting up not far from where we live. All in all, in our area, there are 4 different markets operating for two days each so we've got plenty of options.
Judy

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

Sounds like you've been very busy, but very productive too.

Candy C. said...

It certainly is a busy time of year! Speaking of which, I better get outside in the garden myself! ;~)

Unknown said...

I have to go to "work" to rest!

Leigh said...

Congratulations, it's looking good! Funny, but in our part of the country lettuce is done. It's beginning to bolt and the leaves are bitter. I'll be envying yours the entire time it's growing!

Unknown said...

I should have planted it earlier, but the weater's been to schitzy!

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