Just in Time

Saving Seeds 2014

Extra Goodies

Ready to Plant

My eagerly awaited package showed up to brighten my day despite the coughing, runny nose, and achiness I have today. I am stoked.

Compost

First Compost Pile

Have I mentioned before my whole reason for buying chickens? Manure. Yes, that was my motivation for buying my first chickens.

Last year, we had over 32 at one time. We lost many due to heavy rains and foxes, but the focus of this post is composting. We all start somewhere. This is where I started.

I mentioned I spent $50 on my first 2'x8' garden for simply dirt! I told myself never again. Here is a list of things I have learned from experience in composting.

• Decide on a thick layer for the floor of your compost pile. This prevents weeds and grass from growing . 
• Have an opening. This was one of my mistakes. I had this nice round bin, but forgot to consider having it capable of opening when I needed the compost.
• Plan for the compost to sit there for a good 6 months to a year.
• Plan the location to be near two points of interest, where you are going to use it and where you are going to put compost into it. This particular compost bin is at a midway point between our first chicken coop (so I didn't have to carry the manure too far) and our first garden (so I didn't have to cart the manure to far).
• Plan it being airy and rained on. Decomposition needs air and water.

This particular compost pile is made of two garden stakes and chicken wire intertwined on the garden stake hooks. Took maybe 1 minute to erect.

"Birds of a Feather Flock Together"

Common phrase, favorite concept - that is what comes to mind when I heard, "Birds of feather flock together." Companion planting is  my ultimate dream in gardening. I played around with the concept last season and came out with some interesting results.

The idea behind companion planting is the fact that plants feed off of each other.  Some plants receive more of the benefit than others. Some cannot even grow next to each other.

2012 Baby Bell Pepper

Have you ever seen a wild, untouched field? How all sorts of flowers and grass are in that field? In nature companion planting is seen. I wish to imitate nature's design to reap the benefits.

From last year's experience, I learned companion planting may benefit one plant, but leaves the companion unable to produce.

This year's layout for  companion planting are as follows:

Spring Garden                               Companion Plant
Broccoli                                       Oregano, Lettuce, Spinach
Carrots                                         Broccoli, Lettuce
Lettuce                                         Broccoli, Carrots, Spinach
Peas                                             Spinach
Spinach                                        Cilantro, Broccoli,
Mustard                                      

Planting from seed

Over and over again farmers in NC tell me they create their vegetable gardens from store-bought plants instead of seeds. If anyone truly knew my method of gardening, they would know I am die-hard: lunar, organic, heirloom, non-gmo, permaculture kind of method.

There are many wonderful sites for heirloom seeds. The website I order from, in my experience, has a high success rate of its seeds sprouting. My favorite option to order is their 99 cent samplers because I don't plant enough seeds to need more than what they provide in the sampler packs.

Spring Seeds

So here we are in the last week of February. I am behind as usual, 'cause I have so many ideas and no experience to execute them!
Here are the seeds I am planting now.  Those below the ground:

• Carrots
• Onions
• Turnips
• Potatoes

are planted directly into the soil here in NC. Those above ground:

• Broccoli
• Spinach
• Celery
• Lettuce
• Peas

are planted indoors here in NC.

Fertilizer around the house

We've heard the terms ph, acidity, ect. We've heard the scientific names: Nitrogen, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Sulfer, ect. I want to know what has the most of these nutrients from what I have around the house.

I have discovered that:

Banana Peels make great compost

Nitrogen basically is any fertilizer.
Potassium can be found in large amounts in banana peels.
Magnesium Sulfate makes up Epsom Salt.
Ashes contain concentrated sulfer.

.....and that's about as far as I've gotten. I figured if I can compost these into a mixture remotely balanced in ph, I will end up with some awesome compost.

Planting List

One of the aspects of gardening that can be attempted indoors is the plotting and charting of your garden. Below is a plan for my garden this year. Thanks to my mother, for the suggestion.

Want to Grow                                            Will Grow                                          When to Grow
Tomatoes                                                  Peas                                                     Spring/Fall
Cucumbers                                               Lettuce                                                 Spring/Fall
Corn                                                         Spinach                                                Spring/Fall
Squash                                                     Carrots                                                  Spring/Fall
Carrots                                                      Bell Pepper                                          Summer
Zuchini                                                     Tomatoes                                              Summer
Lettuce, Romaine                                     Basil                                   
Spinach                                                     Dill
Brussel Sprouts
Potatoes
Garlic
Onion
Bell Pepper
Carrots
Peas
Green Beans
Oregano
Basil

One Week

As I was preparing this week's posts (I only write when I have time and  ideas), I was looking up planting by lunar phase (a post to come up) and realized that I only have until March 1st to take advantage of these cold weather, below ground, crop. So this week, I am planting directly in my garden:

• carrot seeds, 
• onion seeds, and 
• potatoes. 

For those wanting to plant along with me, just a heads up for this weeks planting. Plant anything that is cold weather and grows beneath the soil.

*NOTE this week's planting is for those planting according to the moon's gravitational pull. You still have 3 more weeks to get in your cold weather crops.