Gardening

[soon]

Haha, I binge YT sailing vids too! Your show sounds neat. I shoulda figured a Dead fan would be a back packer!

How do I jar my dried herbs? Just throw em in jars and keep em outta direct sunlight - they dont need to be canned. Or if I have so so much I might pack them tightly in a bag and freeze them... theres some protocols to thawing that are important in that case. But Im not yet canning any tomatoes or kale. You fixing to do some canning?

Thats annoying about the possible contamination. They are lucky to have you to do it and get it right, lol. Id never heard of the bean test, this was really cool to read about, thanks! Hope youre all in the clear. I go organic, does that make me a snob? 

 

 

[cineater]

Here's our announcement.  I'll add some bean pictures.

“The growing season of 2019 has brought to the fore previously encountered issues with contaminated compost. Herbicide contamination in compost can inhibit plant growth and development, and can in some instances induce mortality of younger plants.  The most common herbicide culprit is a class of pasture herbicides that are used for broadleaf weed control. This class of herbicides can pass through the digestive system of livestock and remain active in manure that later becomes a component of compost. One common symptom of damage from this class of herbicides is the upward curling of plant leaves.  There is however, a very simple way to test compost for herbicide contamination that is known as a bio-assay. This test involves planting green beans (a plant that is very sensitive to the causal class of herbicides) in a 50/50 compost and potting media mixture. It is advised that this bio-assay be performed before compost is spread or incorporated into garden beds or plantings. 

[willl]

Look how many birds were in my garden yesterday

 

[willl]

11 hours ago, cineater said:

This boat thing is fascinating to me.  Appeals to my backpacker mentality.  I'm binge watching, lol.

Is that a version of Slow TV like you find on Youtube? I sometimes put them on in the background whilst working, like a 6 hour UK canal journey, 3 hour walk around Tokyo, 4 hours train journey through Sweden or whatever... they can be really relaxing, and a nice way to see places you maybe dont intend to ever visit.

One of my favourite things to watch is camping videos Sounds really boring, but I like watching folk go explore in some wild remote place in nature, building their own shelter, foraging some wild food and catching a fish for their supper etc.

[cineater]

8 hours ago, downliner said:

Is that a version of Slow TV like you find on Youtube? I sometimes put them on in the background whilst working, like a 6 hour UK canal journey, 3 hour walk around Tokyo, 4 hours train journey through Sweden or whatever... they can be really relaxing, and a nice way to see places you maybe dont intend to ever visit.

One of my favourite things to watch is camping videos Sounds really boring, but I like watching folk go explore in some wild remote place in nature, building their own shelter, foraging some wild food and catching a fish for their supper etc.

Never heard of Slow TV but that sounds cool.  I rather like this couch traveling.   Not that I can stay there long but it is nice to have on while you do other things.  And there is so much out there to see.

[cineater]

Walking by my friends donation pile, I spy an old metal bell with a pig on top of it.  Snached that for our school bell on the outdoor classroom.  Kind of looks like this one without the wings but older. https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjl0tnS2pTkAhWMGDQIHV3AB2EQjRx6BAgBEAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blackcountrymetalworks.co.uk%2Fhand-painted-garden-bell-pandora-pig.htm&psig=AOvVaw1Zf7k_dmdb1uNnwinvdmAa&ust=1566502416044569

I'm making myself try new fresh foods from the garden.  Today it was a pear, good stuff.  And I have a craving for that tomato soup we made last week so I'm trying that on my own tonight.  Haven't got up the nerve to try an avocado yet.  It's green/yellow and mushy, yuck, but we don't grow that so not a have to and so far nobody has served me any.  With a little bit of luck I may never have to try it. 

Edited August 21, 2019 by cineater

[soon]

20 hours ago, cineater said:

Walking by my friends donation pile, I spy an old metal bell with a pig on top of it.  Snached that for our school bell on the outdoor classroom.  Kind of looks like this one without the wings but older. https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjl0tnS2pTkAhWMGDQIHV3AB2EQjRx6BAgBEAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blackcountrymetalworks.co.uk%2Fhand-painted-garden-bell-pandora-pig.htm&psig=AOvVaw1Zf7k_dmdb1uNnwinvdmAa&ust=1566502416044569

I'm making myself try new fresh foods from the garden.  Today it was a pear, good stuff.  And I have a craving for that tomato soup we made last week so I'm trying that on my own tonight.  Haven't got up the nerve to try an avocado yet.  It's green/yellow and mushy, yuck, but we don't grow that so not a have to and so far nobody has served me any.  With a little bit of luck I may never have to try it. 

That pig bell is just darling! Great grab! Perfect for the outdoor classroom.

Isnt it wonderful to try new foods from the garden? And to make meals from the garden? Today Im tossing chicken legs in every single fresh herb I grow and olive oil, I'll slow cooking that down with a bunch of cherry tomatoes. Avocados are lovely, imho! Izzy farms em you know? If it were me, I'd make a nice guacamole and dip fresh veggies and tortilla chips.

My Chicken wings flavours:

(I think I must have 1000 pics just like this one  What can I say, I know what I like! 

Edited August 22, 2019 by soon

[soon]

@downliner Those birds are incredible. I love how energetic they all are. Do you do any, like, formal bird watching where you ID them? I get a few birds, but a diverse group, out my back window and am thinking about joining the local birding group next spring.

Also, I watch some camping and bush crafting vids too! A lot of 'primitive technology' ones, building shelters from clay and stuff. So relaxing.

[cineater]

I'm getting lost on the boat on the canal.  Freaking because I'm about to run out of shows!  Strange, in England they drive on the left but boat on the right.

So it's been years since I used a blender.  Decided to make that tomato soup again.  Doing good with the blender, had my hand on the top.  Jerk the handle to release the jar, lift and I've fucked up.  My soup pours out the bottom, lol.  Soup came out good despite that.

[soon]

43 minutes ago, cineater said:

I'm getting lost on the boat on the canal.  Freaking because I'm about to run out of shows!  Strange, in England they drive on the left but boat on the right.

So it's been years since I used a blender.  Decided to make that tomato soup again.  Doing good with the blender, had my hand on the top.  Jerk the handle to release the jar, lift and I've fucked up.  My soup pours out the bottom, lol.  Soup came out good despite that.

lol that is a classic kitchen mishap! Sorry to laugh  Glad you were able to salvage it and it was good!! Nice! Fresh garden tomato homemade soup... what could be cozier?  

My kitchen walls collect evidence of every tomato soup and space that Ive ever made - its bound to be a messy endeavour one way or the other  Im getting more familiar with cooking with winter savoury and I think I will try some in a tomato soup this fall. 

I hate the anxiety of watching a binge show run out of episodes!! AHH!  Maybe that Slow TV or some sailing vids on youtube? Id have to imagine theres a similar gondola show from Italy?

[cineater]

I will miss Kevin and Aslan.  Don't think I will get into sailing but I will find some hiking shows.  It was what I was looking for when I came across this so who knows, other adventures out there I don't know about.

I'm off to Paw Paw class.  Hope this tastes good.

Winter project:  http://www.saltycanary.com/diy-soda-bottle-kitty-cat-planters/

[cineater]

So I get to pawpaw class and they are behind this year, not in season yet, so no samples.  Fuck, I drove 2 hours so I could sample it, lol.  But ice cream to the rescue.  Somebody showed up with ice cream flavored with pawpaw and that stuff is good!  Native plant to the midwest, not really ready for mass production but could be with a lot more work.  Know where to find it if I'm hiking and how to eat it.

[soon]

Thats too bad you couldn't eat some fresh Pawpaw! God there was pawpaw ice-cream though!!! That should be so cool to forage some while on a hike!

Those kitty planters are too cute. I just wouldn't want to grow any foodstuffs in it. Its perfect for flowers!

Today I remove my pillaged pattypan and transplant my valerian. We were below double digits over night for the first time this summer - only 8 above freezing. So I think the early fall you mentioned might be seriously early here! I think the lentils are gonna make it - to my eyes they are days away, according to the package they have some weeks.

[cineater]

When do you usually have fall start?  We're cooler than normal.

We found another use for kitchen equipment in the garden.  I have these mini crock pots we're going to use to cook some seeds in.  Some of the seeds have to go through a process of having boiling water poured over them and then kept in hot water for 24 hours before they will germinate.  This should work.  Careful what you eat around my house if it's still in the cooking equipment. 

[soon]

15 hours ago, cineater said:

When do you usually have fall start?  We're cooler than normal.

We found another use for kitchen equipment in the garden.  I have these mini crock pots we're going to use to cook some seeds in.  Some of the seeds have to go through a process of having boiling water poured over them and then kept in hot water for 24 hours before they will germinate.  This should work.  Careful what you eat around my house if it's still in the cooking equipment. 

Fall usually starts in late Septemeber or early October and can extend into late November sometimes. What about where you are? Aside from wanting all my plants to mature and get harvested, I am craving fall weather. 

Thats such a cool use for the mini crocks! Never worked with seeds that require that. Very advanced.

Edited August 25, 2019 by soon

[soon]

Was at a gardeners/ local food bizarre and ended up buying blueberry-lavender jam. I'll tell ya what doesn't go with peanut butter: lavender 

I have no idea what I would use this for?  Im thinking it would taste nice with pork loin, but its a very jelly texture - one big slippery slab - and I dont think it would stay on the bites. Maybe goat cheese on plain Triscket crackers with the jam? Its too strong to have just on its own. Maybe I'll just toss it in the pantry along with other good intentions like that package of cricket powder 

[cineater]

5 hours ago, soon said:

Fall usually starts in late Septemeber or early October and can extend into late November sometimes. What about where you are? Aside from wanting all my plants to mature and get harvested, I am craving fall weather. 

Thats such a cool use for the mini crocks! Never worked with seeds that require that. Very advanced.

October is usually our fall with the killing frost in November.  We can be pretty mild at Christmas time but after that it starts to get cold.  Spring starts in March.

The boil method is used on those seeds that have to go through an animal's digestive track or those that need fire.  I'm going to be practicing it this year.  Apparently in our group, if you have the equipment, you do the growing.  One of the girls said when she did it a seed was sprouting when she took it out of the water.  We are starting some of our seeds for the sale in November.  Usually we don't start until January.

I just about have all my presenters for the library classes.  The group really got behind it.  Love when a project gets the push and comes in early.  The outdoor classroom is hitting all kinds of road blocks but we're still pushing.  Not only do we need a building permit, we're in a watershed area so there is a special permit needed from the Army Corp of Engineers.  I have a feeling neither of those groups move at my speed.  Did I mention I have no construction skills?  I'm in way over my head here. 

[soon]

I would love it to be mild until winter.

Wow - I never heard of seeds that require fire!!! That’s wild! Being digested by animal is already cool enough, by fire?? I imagine those would be very rare plants? And they take longer to mature is why you’re starting so early? You’ll barely be finished with the harvest.You and your team are bad ass! I’m just gonna keep using my mini crock to keep the Queso dip warm 

 

thats awesome about the presenters coming together. Is the library series to build support for outdoor classroom (sorry if I’m forgetting that)? I’m so pumped about your outdoor classroom! Yep, sounds like you are about to feel the full weight of bureaucracy. Yikes! Hope it doesn’t hold your project up too much.

haha- construction skills would be handy - but you’re the boss in the white hard hat. You oversee . I can swing a hammer when someone tells me what to hammer but that’s about it. You got this  

 

[cineater]

The library class series is right before we start Master Gardener training and have our all day workshop, both will be advertised in those classes.  Our mission is to educate the public so that's the reason we are doing the library but it's the timing I'm using to support us.  I'm using the workshop to support our plant sale with a class called Plant Sale Preview.  We are so busy at the sale, we don't get to talk plant selection with people.  This class should attract our plant sale people to come to the workshop too.  I'm working all the angles.  

Think of fire burned areas as mother natures way of rotating crops.  The fire passes over the soil and heats it up which triggers those seeds that have been hiding in the soil and unable to grow because of the shade canopy above.  Fire clears out the canopy and those seeds can come up.  After a fire, plant growth occurs pretty rapidly.  I should study that because I have a feeling the plants that come back after a fire probably send their roots deeper into the soil and are shorter.  I think taller plants have roots closer to the top of the soil so they can get more rain water.  It's probably part of her soil improvement process.

I have a whole other plan for the outdoor classroom and supporting the demonstration gardens.  It's coming together, just letting the opportunities present themselves and I'll exploit them.  So far the group has been letting me run free and I'm getting folks following me to a new way of doing stuff.  Yeah, I don't know what I'm doing but we are on the move and picking up steam. 

Edited August 25, 2019 by cineater

[willl]

On 22/08/2019 at 1:59 PM, soon said:

@downliner Those birds are incredible. I love how energetic they all are. Do you do any, like, formal bird watching where you ID them? I get a few birds, but a diverse group, out my back window and am thinking about joining the local birding group next spring.

Also, I watch some camping and bush crafting vids too! A lot of 'primitive technology' ones, building shelters from clay and stuff. So relaxing.

I can't formally identify any of them really, but there's 5-6 different species that have been visiting daily that I enjoy watching I keep their food topped up with a variety of different seeds and suet balls etc, and change the fresh water on the bird table every couple of days.

My next job for the garden is to install a path. I'm trying to keep things as "wild" as possible so looking at mulch/bark instead of gravel or slabs etc. I've a pretty good idea of the route my path will take so might start on this on Saturday.

I also want to introduce more variety of wild flowers and hopefully get a bit more colour throughout the year. I don't really understand the difference between seeds and bulbs so need to read up on this. Right now Im not sure how any new wildflowers will take hold when there's already so much tough grass and huge weeds like cow parsley, which dominates every season even though I keep pulling it out Pretty sure September is when I should be planting bulbs though so I'll get on top of this next month.

[cineater]

lol, ask my mother if she watched the narrow boat show.  She doesn't sound real excited by it but they also binged watched for 3 hours.  My sister gets on the phone and says it was kind of boring at first but then we talk and laugh about it for 15 minutes. 

[willl]

On 22/08/2019 at 1:17 PM, soon said:

Isnt it wonderful to try new foods from the garden? And to make meals from the garden? Today Im tossing chicken legs in every single fresh herb I grow and olive oil, I'll slow cooking that down with a bunch of cherry tomatoes. Avocados are lovely, imho! Izzy farms em you know? If it were me, I'd make a nice guacamole and dip fresh veggies and tortilla chips.

My Chicken wings flavours:

(I think I must have 1000 pics just like this one  What can I say, I know what I like! 

Looks so fresh and tasty I'm really jealous as I didn't make much any progress growing my own fruit and veggies yet lol. Think I've had about 2 carrots and a few plates full of mixed salad leaves so definitely need to up my game

[cineater]

3 minutes ago, downliner said:

My next job for the garden is to install a path. I'm trying to keep things as "wild" as possible so looking at mulch/bark instead of gravel or slabs etc. I've a pretty good idea of the route my path will take so might start on this on Saturday.

We're looking at abandoning our wood chip paths.  They are pretty high maintenance.  We're exploring green paths.  The problem with the wood chips is as the wood chips break down, they make a really nice growing medium for weed seeds blowing in.  Our specialist recommended we take it all out every 2 years and put down fresh mulch.

[willl]

2 minutes ago, cineater said:

We're looking at abandoning our wood chip paths.  They are pretty high maintenance.  We're exploring green paths.  The problem with the wood chips is as the wood chips break down, they make a really nice growing medium for weed seeds blowing in.  Our specialist recommended we take it all out every 2 years and put down fresh mulch.

I'd just settled on wood chips and now I'm having to think about it all over again so thanks for that I thought they'd last at least 5 years but given our wet weather they'd probably break down really quick - hadn't thought about that   A mulch path might become a right mess if we get a few days rainfall too.

I was thinking about making a decking path out of old pallets but suspect they'd be really slippery when wet. Also that sounds like a lot more work up front compared to just pouring wood chip

[cineater]

1 minute ago, downliner said:

I'd just settled on wood chips and now I'm having to think about it all over again so thanks for that I thought they'd last at least 5 years but given our wet weather they'd probably break down really quick - hadn't thought about that   A mulch path might become a right mess if we get a few days rainfall too.

I was thinking about making a decking path out of old pallets but suspect they'd be really slippery when wet. Also that sounds like a lot more work up front compared to just pouring wood chip

Old pallets would look pretty cool.  That's pretty rough wood so I wouldn't worry about slippery.  I saw one path through a marsh where they used tires under metal with holes in it.  My friend said it was real shakey.  Just what you want, a balancing act where you fall into the marsh.