The Modern Victory Garden

After what has felt like a prolonged period of cloudy/cool/showery weather, we finally caught a break this weekend and got some blue sky, sunshine, and some normal level “high” temps (upper 50’s/low 60’s) for this time of year.   A group of us volunteers worked Saturday morning at the Giving Garden and the awesome weather had everyone in a good mood.   We got a lot planted in the two hour work session and also had enough time and volunteers that we also gave the recently planted strawberry patch a good weeding too.

After I got home from working at the Giving Garden, I did a quick rake up of the hen yard – removing the spilled/spoilt feed and manure and using that to then mix into the compost piles.   The combination of wet grain and chicken manure is a sure fire way to heat up a compost pile that is running too cool.   I then moved the tomatoes out of the greenhouse to a spot outside, so that they could get some unfiltered sun and enjoy a little breeze for a while.    They will get more and more time outside over the coming week in preparation for planting out.   The plants really seem to be happiest on days like this when they can get out and soak up sunlight.   I like to think they are spending a day at the “Sunshine Camp for Seedlings”!

Saturday was the day to move the peppers out to the greenhouse too, to make room under the grow lights to start all the squash family plants and the corn.   Yes, I do start corn indoors.   This is absolutely not necessary if you are in a warmer growing region than mine, but I have found that starting corn indoors works best for my cool maritime climate.   The warmer conditions ensure good germination and the earlier start helps to offset the typical cool summers we have that slow down the growth rate of corn.   The peppers are growing along nicely and hopefully the move into the green house will not interrupt their growth too much.   I have Lady Bell and Early Jalapeno peppers.   Half of each are for the Giving Garden and the other half are for my garden.

The last thing I did on Saturday was get the next big round of seed starting going.   I planted the following and got them under the grow lights:

• Corn – Precocious
• Cucumber – Alibi
• Cucumber – Little Leaf
• Pumpkins – Small Sugar
• Summer Squash – Sunburst (pattypan)
• Zucchini – Patio Star (will be a container planting)
• Zucchini – Partenon
• Winter Squash – Red Kuri (small hubbard)
• Winter Squash – Butternut

I also have some basil growing under the lights that I started about a week ago.   They are up and appear to be growing well.

Spring is moving right along and I am making good progress in steadily planting up the garden.   I only hope the warmer weather does not leave us abruptly again, because all the plants are responding with enthusiasm to their happy experience at “Sunshine Camp for Seedlings”!

Laura

kitsapFG

It’s mid-February and I can feel my garden energy starting to flow.   I am probably responding to the longer day length and more moderate temperatures (much as the plants are doing) but the result is an increasing focus and enthusiasm for the process of waking the garden up for spring.   Contributing to the higher energy level is the fact that it is turning out (so far) to be a much more normal weather year for us than we have experienced for several years now.   In addition, all the young seedlings I have growing indoors (under grow lights) are throwing gasoline on this gardening fire because their tender beautiful growth is a reminder that spring is actually not all that far away.                                                 

Luckily, there are lots of things to do to channel this rising garden energy into productive outcomes.   This coming weekend I will be doing more seed starting, this time for the Kingston Farm and Garden Co-op Giving Garden.   I have a rather large volume of broccoli, cabbages, kale, lettuces, and swiss chard to start for the Giving Garden.   Recognizing my seed starting area is full up at the moment with my own garden starts, I need to get my overflow growing area put back together for yet another year.   This entails hanging a long shop light over the table in the unheated green house and plugging in the large heat mat under it to provide soil warmth.   Once in place, the overflow area is a good place to start more cold hardy items (like brassicas) and to move other items to when I need to free up space in the more protected (and warm) environment of the house.   Plants located in the overflow area get natural lighting (it is in the greenhouse after all) but also some supplemental lighting from the shop light.   It’s not the ideal starting area but it gives me more room and options for moving things around.   Both the setting up of my overflow growing area for the year, and starting a bunch of seeds for the Giving Garden will be good projects for the coming long weekend which promises to be overcast and rainy.                

In addition to more seed starting, I am gearing up for a planned tree removal project we are hoping to get underway in a few weeks time.   We are going to remove several tall trees to improve the sun availability in the older section of garden.   How many we can afford to remove within our specific budget amount, remains to be seen.   These trees are very tall and are located next to buildings and fencing - so they cannot just be felled.   In the next several weeks we will be getting quotes and making arrangements to get this work done and I look forward to sharing with you how this project progresses.       

Laura

kitsapfreedomgardener

Each Monday, Daphne’s Dandelions hosts “Harvest Monday” where everyone submits links to their blog posts summarizing their harvest for the week.   It’s fun to see what people are producing from gardens from so many different regions, and how they are using it.   Check it out and join in!             

I had a rather hectic workweek and did not do any real harvesting during the week as a result.   On Friday, I did a fairly large harvest to catch up on things.   The Royal Burgundy bush beans were in need of picking, as were some ripe peppers, tomatoes, and a few odds and ends of cucumbers and a zucchini.    I also cut some dill heads, picked the raspberry patch, and dug up some potatoes – three of which were absolutely HUGE!             

The beans were blanched and then frozen.   The peppers were also diced up and frozen.   The dill was used to make a large gallon jar of refrigerator dill pickle brine.   The dill was added to some sliced up onions, lots of diced garlic, 3 TBS of sugar, 3 TBS of pickling salt, 3 cups of white vinegar, and 6 cups of water.   Into this brine and seasoning mix, I placed the cucumbers and the zucchini, both cut up into spears, and then put it in the fridge.   I will continue to add the ones and twos of cucumbers that are harvested periodically into this brine.                      

The berries were just eaten fresh over the next couple of days as were the tomatoes.   The potatoes were used in combination with some onions, eggs from our hens, and the last of my dill pickle relish from last year’s canning effort - to make a very large potato salad.   This was taken to a potluck event held on Saturday afternoon for the volunteers who work at the Kingston Farm and Garden Co-op Giving Garden project.   The potluck was held after our regular Saturday work party at the farmstead of one of the regular volunteers.   He has a wonderful acreage with a huge vegetable garden, working orchard, chickens, and best of all a bamboo forest.   In fact, he grows a variety of bamboo and one of the highlights of the afternoon was touring the large expanse of bamboo groves and getting a first hand look at all the variations of this useful and beautiful plant.                   

On Sunday, I harvested some beets that had sized up nicely.              

The beets were rubbed with some oil and then roasted until tender in the oven.   I then cooled them just enough to make it possible to slip off the skins.   They were then sliced and cut into quarters, tossed with some butter and sprinkled with just a bit of salt.   The beets were served with grilled steaks and left over potato salad for Sunday dinner.    I honestly think vegetables that are fixed simply like this are the most delicious.                   

Harvest totals for the week of August 15th through August 21st (rounded to the nearest ¼ pound).

• Beans 3.00 lbs
• Beets 2.25 lbs
• Berries (raspberries) 0.50 lbs
• Cucumbers 0.25 lbs
• Herbs (dill) 0.00 lbs (not enough to round up to ¼ pound)
• Peppers 0.50 lbs
• Potatoes 7.00 lbs
• Tomatoes 1.00 lbs
• Zucchini 0.25 lbs

Total For Week 14.75 lbs

Total Year To Date 189.50 lbs                                

Eggs collected this week – 24                                          

Laura

kitsapfreedomgardener

Giving Garden

Since mid May, I have been working every Saturday morning at the Kingston Farm and Garden Co-op Giving Garden.   It is located at Farrago Farm and Vineyard about 4 miles west of Kingston, Washington (Kitsap County).   The Giving Garden is the product of donated resources (use of the land to grow on, seeds, plants, organic fertilizer and other supplies, tools, fencing materials, etc) and volunteer hours from many people.   The purpose of the garden is to provide organically grown produce for our local food bank and schools.                                             

Working with what we have (or can acquire through donations), this hard working group of people has transformed a bare field into a working garden that should provide some real abundance for the benefit of others.         

It is certainly not all work though; we manage to have a perfectly good time together!   In fact, these are some of the nicest folks you could choose to spend several hours with each week.   Kathy and Paul (who host the garden on their land) always make everyone feel welcome and do more than their share of the weekly work of the garden.   They keep a tent awning set up next to the garden, which provides a great place to take a break or to get out of the sun (or rain) for a bit.           

Kathy always supplies us with ice-cold water, fruit, cheese and crackers, and some cookies or other treats.   We are getting quite spoiled by her.          

One of our regular volunteers (Pete) puts in a great deal of work each week and never backs down from the more arduous tasks like cultivating the walkways, digging the planting rows with the broadfork, and digging up and removing some good sized rocks.   One of those rocks now resides at the side of the garden and has officially become “Pete’s Pet Rock”.                 

Kinley, his wife Patty, and their two young daughters are also regular volunteers.   I marvel at how they carve out time for this work when I can tell their lives are very full already.   The two girls really help out, but the thing I find most refreshing about them is that they remind us all that it is good to stay amazed and interested in things like dried up dead snakes and wiggling worms.                             

In addition to these "Regulars", we have a whole bunch of folks who pop in periodically and also help out.   Everyone's help is greatly appreciated!       

The garden is really coming along.   We have planted and growing – sugar snap peas; potatoes; sunflowers; bush beans; radishes; kale; swiss chard; beets; onions; zucchini; peppers; tomatoes (lots of them!); broccoli; cucumbers; pumpkins; and winter squash.                         

We are using wide-row gardening for the most part and are making use of donated tomato cages, plastic mulch, irrigation lines, and bamboo (from Pete’s home garden).   Here’s a sample of how the garden is growing.           

Potatoes

Wide Row of Bush Beans

Some of the Tomatoes

Zucchini

A View of the Rest of the Tomatoes (we had alot of them donated!)

Bainbridge Barter

Recently I received an email from Scott (Opt Out En Masse) informing me that he and several other folks have started up a new Bainbridge Barter  on Bainbridge Island (also Kitsap County Washington).   Scott has an excellent blog that covers topics related to living life in a more sustainable fashion - particularly in a world that has diminishing access to cheap fossil fuels.   The barter is in keeping with that and something that really makes sense to me.   It allows you to use your surplus and acquire something you do not have – all without the exchange of cash and with a minimum of fuss.   They do this at 9 am on Saturdays at the waterfront park on Bainbridge Island (near the ferry).   I have not yet attended but plan to work this in to my schedule soon.   I will have to hustle to attend the barter at 9 am and still get to Kingston and the Giving Garden by 10 am to put in my regular volunteer time, but I think I can manage it.            

If you live in my general area, I would encourage you to join us in these worthwhile pursuits.    If you do not live near me, I hope you can find similar community actions in your own area that you can become a part of too.          

Laura

kitsapfreedomgardener

Each Monday, Daphne’s Dandelions hosts “Harvest Monday” where everyone submits links to their blog posts summarizing their harvest for the week.   It’s fun to see what everyone else is harvesting from gardens in so many different regions.   Check it out and join in!                    

Saturday was a good weather day but by early evening a soaking rainstorm moved in and stayed for the remainder of the weekend.   I spent several hours on Saturday morning donating some time and energy to the Kingston Co-op Giving Garden effort, but before I did that, I spent a little time watering the peppers and tomatoes that are growing under covers (greenhouse and grow tunnels).   I also took the time to do a little selective pruning on the tomatoes – removing suckers and some lower leaves/branches.   The tomatoes are looking good and I can only attribute that to the fact that they have been kept covered, as it has not been very warm and it definitely has been wet.   I noticed there are several baby Sun Gold tomatoes formed and lots more blossoms opening.   The Market Miracle tomatoes are just about to start flowering.   Obviously, the tomato plants would like to really get going but until the weather warms and dries up, I will be content that they are staying healthy.                                      

The harvest this week was confined to lots of greens – chinese cabbages, pac choi, and lettuces.                 

Harvest totals for the week of May 9th through May 15th (rounded to the nearest ¼ pound).

• Chinese Cabbage 0.75 lbs
• Lettuce 0.75 lbs
• Pac Choi 2.50 lbs

Total For Week 4.00 lbs

Total Year To Date 21.50 lbs                     

Eggs harvested this week – 35                             

Laura

kitsapfreedomgardener

Garden Report

The pac choi and chinese cabbages are all growing marvelously.   I planted several succession plantings of each, and they have been quite content with our cool and damp spring such that I have a whole bunch of them that are mature with lots more coming along right behind them.   Here’s some pac choi that I harvested for dinner tonight from the oldest planting:            

And here are some more pac choi that is growing in another bed (second planting).   They are not far behind the first group.                

The romaine lettuces are also growing nicely and I will not have to wait long before I can harvest some for a Caesar salad.   And yes, those are even more pac choi plants growing behind the romaine lettuces!             

At this point in the season, our harvestable items include;

• rhubarb
• chives
• swiss chard
• green onions
• chinese cabbage
• kale
• lettuces; and
• pac choi (of course!)

Many other things are growing along nicely, but will be off the menu for yet a while longer.   I noticed this morning that the first plant is breaking through the soil surface in the potato patch.   The beets, carrots, turnips, sugar snap peas, and dill are all emerged.   The pea patch is almost tall enough to latch on to the first horizontal support with their tendrils.  The corn patch is doing fine despite some cool temps at night.   The tomatoes are quite content under their protective covers, and the peppers and basil in the unheated greenhouse are happy campers.   I am impressed with the good leaf canopy of these Lady Bell peppers. 

I am even more impressed that they continue to flower and set fruit despite being outside in the cool temperatures.                         

Not so happy (but for the most part doing okay) are the cucurbit family plants.   I am going to lose a few of the cucumbers and already lost one of the butternut squash plants, but I think the rest will hang in there.    It would be really nice if the weather would at least get up to average temps for this time of year.         

Giving Garden    

An individual from the Kingston Farm and Garden Co-op recently contacted me by email about a Giving Garden they are working on this year.   The group will be growing produce for local food banks and schools.   I was immediately interested in this effort for many reasons, but primarily because 1) Kingston is practically in my backyard; 2) I love to garden (even if it is on someone else’s property!); and 3) now more than ever, many people in our community could use a helping hand and if it comes in the form of really good organic produce - than so much the better.    I intend to join this group on Saturday morning to help in any way I am able.   I would encourage my blog readers who live in the local area to consider doing the same.    Here is more info on the Giving Garden and the upcoming kickoff meeting from their flyer.

KINGSTON CO-OP GIVING GARDEN

What:

The Giving Garden is a dedicated plot of land (initially 40'x200') where we will be growing produce for local food banks and schools.   The land, irrigation, off-street parking, and sanican are all being graciously provided by Farrago Farm.   All we need is more volunteers!                 

Where:

Farrago Farm and Vineyard (FF&V), about 4 miles W of Kingston, WA          

When:

First planting, seedling swap (and donation), and an organizational meeting will be at the garden site on May 14, from 10 am to 12 noon.              

Who is involved:

Anyone and everyone interested in volunteering a little time to help grow vegetables for our local food banks and schools is welcome to be involved.   We are asking Master Gardeners and others for help in planning, scheduling and management.   We are asking local students, FFA, 4-H and anyone else who is interested to donate time.   We are asking local nurseries to consider donating materials and seedlings.                   

Who benefits:

· The harvest recipients.   The crops are intended for food banks, senior citizens, and/or school lunches.   Multiple groups have been contacted and distribution systems are being established.

· The garden workers.   Besides the satisfaction of benefiting the community and getting a little exercise, this is also community service which is eminently resumé-worthy.                

What has been done:

The ground has been plowed on the first area (40 feet by 200 feet).  This plot has been fallow for several years.   We have drip irrigation supplies and plastic weed barrier (both donated) for at least part of this plot.          

A second plot (about 80 feet by 150 feet) can be “turned” if we run out of room on the first plot.   This second plot slopes slightly north, but three years ago was planted in cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and kohl rabi, and produced a huge bumper crop.   It has lain fallow since.                   

FF&V is providing water free of charge.   There is off-street parking.   Workers may also use the FF&V (professionally-maintained) sanican.      

What you can do to help:

· Spend time in the garden planting, watering, weeding, weeding, weeding, harvesting, prepping produce & delivering.

· Donate your time for planning the garden, setting volunteer schedules, training and overseeing inexperienced volunteers, seeking donations and grants, promoting the garden, identifying customers.

· Donate “starts”. When you plant a packet of seeds in trays, do you ever have more “starts” than you can make room for? Donate your “extras” to the Giving Garden!

· Donate hand tools. We have a few tools on loan from FF&V – a rake, a hoe, a shovel, some tomato cages – but it would be helpful to have tools belonging to the Giving Garden, so workers do not need to haul their own back and forth, and so plant pests aren’t inadvertently introduced to the Garden.

· Donate money or materials.   We will need to acquire more irrigation materials, at the very least.  And in order to extend the growing season into Fall and get going earlier next Spring, we should consider using hoop houses.   A small lockable tool shed would also be very helpful to have at the site.                                   

What are the restrictions?

· Both plots are adjacent to FF&V grape trellises.   The Giving Garden will primarily use a drip irrigation system, both to conserve water and to avoid damaging the grapes.

· The Giving Garden will use sustainable and organic practices to the greatest extent possible

Laura

kitsapfreedomgardener