Posts from the ‘Gardening’ Category

Jun 26

To Sting or Not to Sting – Thoughts About Keeping Honey Bees

I’ve been thinking about keeping bees again. Although I’m allergic to bees, I still think it would be pretty darn cool to harvest our own honey. I mean after all, we already have chickens and a large vegetable garden, wouldn’t bees seem like the next step?

Plus, I’d get to wear a rather stylish bee keepers costume too. You know how I love my costumes.

{photo credit}

Clearly honey bees would be much cheaper than getting a goat, or a cow {not that we’d ever get one of those but still, I could use those as examples while trying to convince the HH to let me have a few {thousand} bees… right?

I could give honey away as gifts. Maybe even sell it at the Farmer’s Market.

If I raised my own bees I could probably even stop buying sugar.

So I’m wondering, have YOU had any experiences with raising bees? Is it hard? Easy? Rewarding? Have you ever been stung?

How many bees would I need to get 2 gallons of honey each year?

I just picked up the book Keeping Bees by Ashley English. Amazon currently has it for only $11.17 and the reviews rock. I think I could seriously become a bee farmer. Do you think that’s crazy?

Jun 24

2 Comments

Gardening with Kids – Sam and Sadie’s Garden

Meet Sam and Sadie,

They “live on the East Coast, a few hours from the Atlantic Ocean”. They are the children of my friend Jane. Knowing these two {and their little sister Miriam} have been raised with a backyard garden, I asked them if they would be interested in giving us a tour of their backyard garden.

And lucky for us, they were game!

Here is what Sam and Sadie had to say about their garden.

We’ve helped in the gardens since we were little, but started having our own little garden spots two years ago,” said Sam.

“This is a leek blooming with a bee on it.”

I asked Sam and Sadie to describe there garden space…

Do you grow your food in a boat? A raised garden bed? A traditional garden bed. In the back of a pick up truck? On a Llama farm? Where do you grow your food? “Two of our gardens are for fruits and vegetables are are in the ground in the backyard. The sunflower garden is beside our house, in the ground.”

“Dad planted some potatoes in our compost box. Behind it are red raspberries.”

Then I asked, What is your favorite meal you like your Mom to cook with something from the garden? Sam: “pumpkin pie” Sadie: “zucchini bread” Miriam: “red raspberries.”

“The pumpkin patch is about 4 foot by 40 feet and is part of the back garden (about 50 feet by 50 feet). Sadie’s flower garden is smaller and planted in the bigger garden. It’s about 60 feet by 50 feet.” Our sunflower garden is 70 feet by 40 feet. We sell sunflowers at the end of our driveway.”

Wowza. If only I had as much space as Jane and her family. I think I would go nuts planting every imagine vegetable I could think of!

Thanks Sam and Sadie {and Miriam too}. Your garden looks great! Please send me pictures this fall when you harvest all those pumpkins. I’d love to see how many you grew.

*If you have a garden, a chicken coop or anything else super exciting {no rats in rat traps please} and would like to be featured here on onehundreddollarsamonth.com, then send in your photos to onehundredollarsamonth {at} gmail.com, along with a brief description of your pictures and I will try and get them posted.

Looking for a few garden project to do with your kids this summer? Check out the book Gardening Projects for Kids. Amazon currently has it on sale for $16.47.

Jun 22

16 Comments

How to Grow Food in a Greenhouse – Tomatoes, Peppers, Strawberries, Basil + More

Last night as I was watering in the greenhouse I noticed something rather peculiar.

The tomatoes are almost through the roof. Holy Crack! Because I am a newbie greenhouse gardener, this is something I never anticipated. Now what? Do I just cut the top off the tomato plant to prevent more growth? Do I remove the glass panels at the top so the tomatoes can grow even higher? What do I do? Help!

Have I told you about Mrs Hillbilly’s Mom? Back in the spring, she sent me some pepper {and tomato, okra, and tomatillo}, seeds from Mississippi. There were so many seeds I couldn’t plant them all. But, check out the long green pepper on the left. I’m not sure what it is, but it has Mrs. Hillbilly’s name on it.

I’m also growing eggplant this year. I am not a hug fan of eggplant, but the HH likes it. And what he can’t eat, I give to the lady up the street from us.

And check out the gutters filled with basil and vining cucumbers. I have a feeling I’ll be making a batch or two of basil this weekend.

One thing is for sure, I am running out of room to walk around in the greenhouse. I’m beginning to think I may have planted a few to many plants in there. Yikes! This is only the beginning of the summer growing season too.

I guess this means I won’t be using the greenhouse as a sauna this summer.

Peace Out Girl Scouts, I’ve gotta run. There’s word of doublers this weekend, plus we have a big project in the works. I need to head outside and get it started.

Have a great weekend,

♥ Mavis

If you are looking for a greenhouse but don’t want to spend a ton of dough on one, I highly recommend the 5 foot Pop Up Flower House. Before we had our greenhouse installed I used a smaller version of this and loved it. Plus, the reviews are great and you could even grow lettuce in the winter with this baby!

Quick and Easy Set up on Soil or Hard Surfaces in minutes
Protects your plants and extends your growing season.
Clear PVC material with UV protection for longer life.
Promotes and maintains high humidity levels to create a superior growing environment.
Open floor allows greenhouse to be setup over existing trees and bushes.

Go HERE to view the Flower House Pop Up Greenhouse

Jun 21

15 Comments

Mavis Garden Blog – When to Harvest Broccoli

This is the first year I have been successful at growing broccoli, and I owe it all to starting my seeds indoors under grow lights. Earlier this spring instead of planting broccoli seeds in the garden and hoping for the best, I chose to plant my seeds indoors instead. And it made all the difference in the world.

In years past, if I was lucky, I would get a few shoots here and there. But this year, holy canolies man, it’s a totally different story. These are real heads of broccoli.

Up here in the Pacific Northwest, we have to contend with a lot of rain and slugs, which isn’t exactly the best combination for a successful garden.

But by getting a jump start and planting the seeds indoors under lights, and then later moving the broccoli seedlings to the greenhouse until they gained a bit of bulk, it really helped this year.

Which brings me to how do you know when the broccoli is ready to harvest?

Simple.

Size – Broccoli heads should be 4 to 7 inches wide {mine were 4″}

Color – Rich, deep green heads

Tool – Use a sharp knife to cut broccoli stem about 5 inches from the head of the broccoli
Continued Harvest – You should be able to harvest side shoots of broccoli from the plant for a few weeks after the initial harvest of the center head. These side shoots won’t be nearly as big, but they sure do taste good.

Okay peeps, now what? I’m was thinking about making a batch of stir fry for dinner tonight, but then what? Does anyone have any other exciting ways to eat broccoli? Do you have a favorite recipe you’d like to share? Help!

Okay, I have to go move feed the chickens now. See you later alligator.

The Kitchen Gardener’s Handbook By Jennifer R. Bartley ~ Available from Amazon $16.87

The Kitchen Gardener’s Handbook is a guide for gardeners who want it all—the freshness of fruits and vegetables and the beauty and simplicity of hand-picked bouquets.

Jun 21

10 Comments

How To Grow Your Own Food – Mavis’ Vegetable Garden Tour

Well folks, in case you didn’t get the memo, summer has arrived. Wahoo! Our backyard is bursting with color {and vegetables} and I’m having a hard time photographing of it all. It seems like every time I turn around there is something I missed.

This I know for sure, this week we will be eating a ton of veggies. There is broccoli, cabbage, peas, lettuce, strawberries and chard to pick. Pots to replant and hedges to be trimmed. We’ll also try and clear a little more brush in the backyard to accommodate what I hope with be a giant squash patch.

Summer vacation is finally here and I have big plans {and a ton of new projects} for this summer, and I can’t wait to get started.

Here is this weeks tour of our backyard garden…

The 16 raised garden beds are overflowing with vegetables and herbs.

Onions and strawberries, beets, chard and our 1 year old rhubarb plant.

Carrots love tomatoes… Who knew? Celery, beets and now beans are growing in the pallet garden.

The bean teepee and hubbard squash is nice and green.

The potato tower is still going strong, and the zucchini and cucumber plants are coming along nicely.

Here’s a shot from the back of the raised vegetable garden. Pretty neat-o if you ask me. I’ll be shopping in my backyard for my groceries 24/7 in about another month. I can’t wait!

So how’s it growing in your garden?

Have you planted anything new recently?

I think I’m going to plant a packet of Tiger’s Eye beans today.

Peace Out Girl Scouts, I’m off to water the garden. Have a great day!

♥ Mavis

The Beginner’s Guide to Growing Heirloom Vegetables $14.77 ~ Amazon

Are heirloom vegetables more difficult to grow than conventional hybrids? The Beginner’s Guide to Growing Heirloom Vegetables debunks this myth by highlighting the 100 heirloom vegetables that are the easiest to grow and the tastiest to eat.

Marie Iannotti makes it simple for beginning gardeners to jump on the heirloom trend by presenting an edited list based on years of gardening trial and error. Her plant criteria is threefold: The 100 plants must be amazing to eat, bring something unique to the table, and — most importantly — they have to be unfussy and easy to grow. Her list includes garden favorites like the meaty and mellow ‘Lacinato’ Kale, the underused and earthy ‘Turkish Orange’ Eggplant, and the unexpected sweetness of ‘Apollo’ Arugula. ~ Amazon

Jun 20

19 Comments

Mavis Garden Blog – Woman Fined For Growing Food In Her Front Yard

Holy Garden Crack!

Do you know they are fining people for having a garden in their FRONT yard?

What do you think?

Live dangerously, plant a garden! The Edible Front Yard: The Mow-Less, Grow-More Plan for a Beautiful, Bountiful Garden~ Amazon

Jun 20

8 Comments

How to Grow Your Own Food: Weigh In Wednesday

This year my goal is to grow 2,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables. I think I can do it. With 16 raised garden beds, a greenhouse, a raspberry patch and a few more planting beds sprinkled throughout our property, I believe growing 2,000 pounds of food is an attainable goal. Even if I do live right in the middle of high maintenance suburbia, and my neighbors think I’m nuts. ~Mavis

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Although I was not able to harvest as much food as I would have liked last week, {we were out of town for a few days} I was still able to harvest a little over 12 lbs.

We harvested our first cabbage, picked a few heads of lettuce, and the peas and strawberries are starting to trickle in. I think next week will look a whole lot different though, and I am excited. I’m hoping for at least a 20+ pound harvest.

Last week we also finalized our summer vacation plans. Which makes me a little nervous. How on earth am I going to keep the garden in order if I’m not here to water, weed, and harvest? Should I ~~bribe~~ barter with one of my neighbors to do it, hire a neighborhood kid, or find a house/garden sitter to watch over my plot while I’m away. Decisions decisions.

All I know is this. Summer is here, and the great harvest of 2012 is right around the corner. I just need to get everything in order so I can enjoy it.

Here is what I have harvested so far:

Basil 1 lb 5 oz

Broccoli Rabb 1lb 6 oz

Cabbage 3lb 2 oz

Chives 12 oz

Kale 1 lb 4 oz

Lettuce 10 lb 12 oz

Butter Crunch 12 oz
Mixed Greens 4 lb 2 oz
Romaine 10 lb 11 oz

Mint 2 oz

Onions 1 lb 3 oz

Green Onions 13 oz
Scallions 6 oz

Oregano 3 oz

Mushrooms 9.25 oz

Shiitake 9.25 oz

Peas 1lb 2 oz

Sugar Snap Peas 1lb 2 oz

Radish 11 lbs

Easter Egg Radish 2 lb 3 oz
Crimson Radish 1 lb 5 oz
French Breakfast 7 lb 8 oz

Spinach 2lb 5 oz

Sprouts 10 oz

Strawberries 2lb 8 oz

Sprouts 10 oz

Mung Bean Sprouts 7 oz
Sandwich Sprouts 3 oz

Swiss Chard 23 lb 9 oz

Total Food Harvested in 2012: 67 lbs 3.25 oz

I have spent a total of $$473.47 on seeds, soil, plants and supplies for this year.

What’s new in YOUR garden?

Grow Your Own Food T-shirt $23.95 ~ Amazon

Jun 19

5 Comments

Garden Tips and Tricks – How to Protect Your Strawberries From Birds

This afternoon I walked out the back door to pick a few strawberries for dessert, and discovered a robin happily pecking at my berries. What a stinker! In recent years I have had to deal with chipmunks trying to steal my berries, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bird in my berry patch before. Hmm.

Maybe they were there all along and I never noticed. Who knows.

The thing is, I can’t just shoo them away. Nope. This year I am going for poundage, and if I’m going to reach my goal of growing 2,000 pound of food, I’m going to have to defend my crop one way or another.

So this time I chose bird netting.

Bird Netting is

Highly effective
Keeps birds and other small critters out of the fruit
Not an eye sore like flash tape or hanging cds
Can be taken down at the end of the season and reused the following year

To have the netting be effective, you’ll need to give it a little support so it’s just not laying on top of the plant foliage. You can do this by using wood stakes at either end of the row and draping the netting over the berries. Be sure and anchor the bottom of the netting with rocks or something of the like. The main goal is to keep those pesky birds reaching the berries and to keep them from getting caught under the netting.

Unless of course your hoping to catch a bird for a nice pot of stew.

Let’s hope this will be the last of the berry thieves, and in another day or two there will be a few more strawberries to pick.

Need some bird netting to protect your fruits and veggies? Amazon sells it in various sizes HERE or you can probably find it in your local hardware store.

Jun 19

17 Comments

Mavis Garden Blog – How to Grow Big Fat Heads of Cabbage Without Chemicals

Yesterday I headed out to the garden with one specific goal in mind. To pick a cabbage.

I don’t know why, but I still find it hard to believe that you can plant a seed, give it a little water and it will turn into food. Am I the only one who is totally in awe of the whole process?

The cabbage in this years garden is HUGE thanks to the following reasons…

Well amended soil {a big thank you to the chickens for their fertilizer donations}
Proper drainage {raised beds help with this}
Plenty of water {it rains in Seattle? No way!}
Proper spacing {12″-24″ is suggested, I plant mine 18″ apart}
Keeping the slugs at bay {this one is huge}

So, how to do I keep the slugs away? Simple. I use two methods. Salt {for instant gratification} and I also save yogurt and sour cream containers throughout the year. I then cut off the bottoms and place them around the cabbage starts when they are young. The containers act as little barriers until the plant is large enough to protect itself. Or until I can salt them to death.

Hello beautiful cabbage. I think I love you. And now I am going to chop you up leaf by leaf and turn you into something tasty.

If you are in the market for a slicer, you’ll want to check out the Norpro Mandoline Slicer Grater with Guard. Amazon has it on sale right now for only $17.28! Wahoooo!

Jun 18

24 Comments

Mavis Garden Blog – When to Pick Sugar Snap Peas

This year I planted 3 kinds of peas. Sugar Snap Peas, Snow Peas, and Green Arrow Peas. This morning I went out the the garden and noticed quite a few sugar snap peas that were ready to be picked. So I decided today would be the perfect day to talk about sugar snap peas.

Now if you are an experienced gardener, you might think Gee Mavis, this is pretty basic. Ahhh, but maybe not. A few years ago my friend Mama JJ planted some peas. She thought she had planted Amish Peas, and was having a terrible time shelling them. Only to discover a few hours later {by a comment left on her blog} that she in fact had planted sugar snap peas. Amish peas are for shelling, but with Sugar Snap peas you eat the whole pod. They are NOT meant for shelling.

I remember having a good laugh about it at the time, because of all people, how could JJ {an avid gardener} not remember what peas she had planted. It was funny, and although she was briefly traumatized by it, I’m sure she’s fine now.

Putting lettuce aside, for me, sugar snap peas, mark the official start of harvesting season. It’s what The Girl Who Thinks She’s a Bird looks forward to all year long. When she was little, she would pick the sugar snap peas as soon as she could spot them. And when I tried to reason with her, and tell her she needed to wait a few days until they were ready, she wouldn’t have any part of it. She wanted her peas, and she wanted them now.

However, over the years, we have developed a taste for stir fry. And since you have to buy sugar snap peas at the grocery store in the winter if you want them, things have changed.

The Girl will now wait for the perfect pea.

Which leads me to when is the perfect time to pick a sugar snap pea.

Well, in most cases it’s when the pea is about 4 inches long. If you let it grow any longer, you’ll end up with tough, chewy skins that don’t have a lot of flavor. So you want to make sure and pick the pea at the peak of perfection. And not a moment later.

Of course if you can manage to make it back to the house without eating them all, you have won half the battle. The next part is trying to figure out what to do with all those delicious peas.

Which is where I am at right now.

Do YOU have any favorite recipes that call for sugar snap peas? Please let me know if you do, I’d love to try your recipe. This is only the beginning of pea season for us and I’d like to make more than stir fry with them this year.

If you missed out on planting sugar snap peas this spring, no worries, you can plant them again in late summer {I’ll be planting in late August} for a fall harvest.