My house is in disrepair, but many parts of it are almost magical to me. When my husband first abandoned us, the house seemed very sad, and I didn't like to spend much time inside. But now, the space seems to have redefined itself. It is a real home now, not just one I imagine it to be. Even though the house needs much work, I appreciate the bare floors, the reclaimed walnut trim, the clay paint walls, and everything else I have done to the house.
A few years ago, I broke apart the black glass-whatever-it-was covering this fireplace and replaced it with cob. It was my first experience working with it, and it turned out wonderfully. Soon I'll add a photo. Instead of of sealing it, I painted it with "antique white" clay paint. I carved a diamond shape above the opening and placed a fireplace tile, with a bird flying across it, in the diamond. The tile was from the late 1700's. I then built a mantel of sorts from some of the reclaimed walnut. On it I have a very rustic antique clock, which cost more to fix than I paid for it, a plum glass net float on an iron base. There are also colored, solid glass balls and some candlesticks. The only other thing on the mantel is an owl my son made for me out of supersculpy last Christmas. Above the mantel is an antique gothic arch mirror and a bodhran drum with dragons painted on it. I have two antique owl andirons in the fireplace and usually have candles burning (cotton wicks) in the evening. It makes a very soft light.
The fireplace is flanked by built-in bookshelves I helped my stbx make. When I am home, my favorite hours are spent at the computer, listening to music, writing, or planning a garden. I'm an information addict, so I also read. A lot. And of course, the candles are lit and the Kailash incense is burning. Most of the time my son spends with me, but he is with his paternal parent at times. We have a very good relationship, and although I initially thought I wasn't really helping him these past few years, I realize I have done a good job getting him through all of this. A few days ago he said that at first he thought what his father did somehow had something to do with him, but now he realizes it's a life separate from his, and that it has nothing to do with him.
Every time a strong wind storm passes through I make my way through the neighborhood and park to bring back the huge branches to make more garden supports. From the last storm I brought in two very nice branches which I wrapped dark blue Christmas lights around. They are in pots against two of the walls. I put them on every night.
I should probably mention tea here. I don't think any culinary phrase is as wonderful as "a pot of tea". Tea is life for me (and writing). My son loves when I make Chai. I like it plainer, when I can really taste the leaf.
I love to write poetry, prose and stories. I'll post some here soon. Meditation is good as well. I love Tibetan music and Native American flute. I play a few instruments, and will probably learn NA flute this year. I am also refreshing my knowledge of braille and trying to learn Lakota, but I have to say I can listen to a sound many times and still not distinguish a difference. It's a simple, yet difficult language.
Now all of this makes me sound pretty mellow, but I like powerlifting and physical work equally well(I pitchfork-up my entire garden...around 1500' sq), as well as bands like Blackfire. I have too many favorite songs to mention, but they are from all genres and all eras.
Some of my favorite authors are August Wilson, John Edgar Wideman and Breece Pancake. There are just too many to list.
I'm also interested in vintage crime, and spending hours in the library looking through very old newspapers.
I'd like to hear from others. It's a very small world.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Seeds, Seeds, Seeds
I'm going to attempt to make a list of the seeds I have bought for this year's garden. I usually buy heirloom and/or open-polleinated seeds, but, as in the case of lettuce, I will plant a hybrid if I can find a type that tolerates heat very well. I buy seeds from many different houses, but I aways buy beans and melons from Native Seed Search. Although the types of plants/seeds are meant for high and low desert growing or resevoir growing, I have had much success with early ripening, pole beans. Okay, so here are the seeds so far:
I can just see these starting under lights on my diningroom table, and in their respective rows in the garden.
I usually plant tomatoes 2' apart, but have planted them as closely as 18", with 2.5' between the rows. I'll be doing that this year with hopes planting 100, and either selling some cheaply or giving them away to local food banks, or whomever.
I think I'll end this for now. I'm starting to wonder if I have enough. Oh well, back to the seed sites.
- Tomatoes: Bonny Best, Pantano Romanesco and Rose de Berne. I have cut my tomato list down this year. I usually also plant, Stupice, Costoluto Genovese and Caspian Pink or Giant Belgium. I still may pick up one of these.
- Peas: (Spring) Telefono (Alderman), (Fall) Mammoth Melting Sugar. I have had great luck with Provencal, Green Arrow, Blauschokker and a yellow type from India, which not too sweet, among others.
- Black Dry Beans: Turtle, Coco and Hopi Black.
- Red Dry Beans: Mexican and Scarlet Beauty. I planted Red Kidney and a Native Seed Search (NSS) type, which I'll list when I find it, last year as well.
- Beets: Flat Egyptian
- Green Beans: Just a simple Pole Blue Lake Black Seeded. I usually plant Supermarconi or other Italian Types, or Kentucky Wonder/Homesteader.
- Sweet Bell Peppers: Giant Keystone. I have planted Giant Aconcogua for a few years, but love the Heavy yield and strong plants of GK.
- Soybeans: Beer Friend and Sayamusume(We love to roast soybeans).
- Sunflowers: Mammoth, and if I want to grow for height, Kong or Amercan Giant. If I want to grow for seed, which I think I do this year, rather than letting the birds have at them, then Miriam and/or Tarahumara White.
- Melon: O'odham Ke:li Ba:so
- Limas: King of the Garden
- Broccoli: DiCicco
- Herbs: Lovage, Cutting Celery, Oregano, Italian Parsley, Basil Toscano, Sage, English Thyme, Cilantro, some invasive mint and sorrel(sorrel soup)
- Greens: I am not a greens person. I tried to plant Italian greens one year, but I just didn't think they had much of a taste. I plant greens for my son: America Spinach and Kale(can't remember what this is-have to wait until the packets come)
- Lettuce: Parris Island Romaine and another I can't remember. Again, I have to wait for the packet to arrive.
- Watermelon: I like to plant Asahi Miyako, but this year I'm planting Charleston Grey
- Carrots: Autumn King
- Cabbage: Chinese Michichili
- Garlic: Italian Purple, Chechen Fire, and a wild Italian type that is small, but supposed to be very good.
- Onions: Although I usually start heirloom, this year I'm getting Copra and Redwing for its storage time.
- Winter Squash: Lakota. I usually plant Red Kuri or Hopi Red, but wanted to give this a try.
- Potatoes: We don't each many potatoes. I would like some for soups, but I don't think it's worth it for us, so for the first time in many years, no potatoes.
- Corn: Improved Golden Bantam
I can just see these starting under lights on my diningroom table, and in their respective rows in the garden.
I usually plant tomatoes 2' apart, but have planted them as closely as 18", with 2.5' between the rows. I'll be doing that this year with hopes planting 100, and either selling some cheaply or giving them away to local food banks, or whomever.
I think I'll end this for now. I'm starting to wonder if I have enough. Oh well, back to the seed sites.
Let the Planting Begin
My mother's family always grew their own food. They grew potatoes and corn in a nearby farmer's field. In their own yard they had fruit trees and grapes. They canned and dried their vegetables and fruit. They even had pigs, chickens and turkeys (on a not-too-large yard).
I began a flower and vegetable garden when I was very young. At first it was just a small strip against the house: some beans, tomatoes and a large hollyhock. Later, when I was a teenager, I dug a rather large space in the back of her yard. I will always remember he first time I realized nature controlled all things, no matter how well planned ("the best laid plans aft gang aglee") when a hailstorm tore apart my perfect vegetables. They didn't die, but healed in large knuckles and joints, a testament to their will to survive.
For a long time I lived in apartments and had only a tomato plant or two in pots. But when I married and we moved into rental houses I used all the space I could. I've grown vegetable gardens where I never witnessed a destructive insect and gardens that partially succumbed to them.
When we bought the house I where I now live, I thought I'd have a garden for life. But life had other plans. When my husband left his family for a "person" he had been seeing for years, unknown to me, and subsequently filed for divorce, I no longer knew how much longer I'd be growing here. But I plan to make the most of the few years I may have left here. With that in mind, I want this garden blog to celebrate the life in my yard and my home (my son and I), and make the most of whatever time may be left here, in the event I may never have another garden after I leave.
I have two gardens here: one front garden whose has been destroyed with miles of pine tree roots. I have tried to place roses in the front, but will dig up most and move them along the fence in the back. I will replace the space in the front with a few 10" raised gardens, approximate 4x8'. I should probably build 3 of these. I will also build a few 2x2' raised gardens for winter squash and bean structures. I will get to the types of seeds/plants in the next post.
The backyard is tricky. On the bottom level there are two plots: one is 3x25', and the other is 12x25'. There is a bit of shade on the larger plot, thanks to a thoughtless neighbor who planted a tree right next to the fence, which, btw, is 1' over my property. The fence was erected when the last owner lived here.
The upper level has three main plots: one is 18x30, one is 12x35, and the last is 3x15. I try to use every inch, and if I can remove the limbs at the back of the yard to let the sun in, I plan to get 100'sq more dug and planted.
I would like to plant some radishes in a metal or wood tub, but I would have to obtain a found container so I'm not planting at negative cost.
I have 2 grapevines: Frontenac(red, not gris). This is a wonderful, wonderful wine grape with cherry undertones. I am going to make fruit spread with the fruit this year. It is absolutely disease resistant, and I cannot recommend this more highly. The other is a white seedless, which I plan to give away. It can't compare to frontenac and I want to plant more veggies on the space it takes up.
There are 2 semi-dwarf antique apple trees: Tompkin's County King, whose fruit quality I am not too pleased with, and a semi-dwarf Northern Spy. I had planted this type when I was a teenager. I loved it then and love it now.
I have about 10 red raspberries, 5 blackberries, a few red currants and strawberries as well. There is also a dwarf Rochester Peach and a wonderful Montmorency sour cherry tree. It is neither bothered by birds or insects. The first year it bore fruit, I got 3 gallons of cherries. I used very little sugar in the cherry pies made from this. (I planted a North Star Cherry tree once, and there wasn't enough sugar in the world to sweeten these cherries).
I plan to get a few blueberries, dwarf for the front yard as well. I don't know what kind yet.
As aforementioned, I will list the seeds I purchased this year and what type I always choose. A later post will describe the chickens I'm purchasing in April and the coop I'm building. I will also write a description of the cob bread oven I'm building in a shady part of the backyard. The compost bin will be covered as well.
And, I will include other interests, hobbies as well; all tie together to create an enlightened life (at least sometimes).
I began a flower and vegetable garden when I was very young. At first it was just a small strip against the house: some beans, tomatoes and a large hollyhock. Later, when I was a teenager, I dug a rather large space in the back of her yard. I will always remember he first time I realized nature controlled all things, no matter how well planned ("the best laid plans aft gang aglee") when a hailstorm tore apart my perfect vegetables. They didn't die, but healed in large knuckles and joints, a testament to their will to survive.
For a long time I lived in apartments and had only a tomato plant or two in pots. But when I married and we moved into rental houses I used all the space I could. I've grown vegetable gardens where I never witnessed a destructive insect and gardens that partially succumbed to them.
When we bought the house I where I now live, I thought I'd have a garden for life. But life had other plans. When my husband left his family for a "person" he had been seeing for years, unknown to me, and subsequently filed for divorce, I no longer knew how much longer I'd be growing here. But I plan to make the most of the few years I may have left here. With that in mind, I want this garden blog to celebrate the life in my yard and my home (my son and I), and make the most of whatever time may be left here, in the event I may never have another garden after I leave.
I have two gardens here: one front garden whose has been destroyed with miles of pine tree roots. I have tried to place roses in the front, but will dig up most and move them along the fence in the back. I will replace the space in the front with a few 10" raised gardens, approximate 4x8'. I should probably build 3 of these. I will also build a few 2x2' raised gardens for winter squash and bean structures. I will get to the types of seeds/plants in the next post.
The backyard is tricky. On the bottom level there are two plots: one is 3x25', and the other is 12x25'. There is a bit of shade on the larger plot, thanks to a thoughtless neighbor who planted a tree right next to the fence, which, btw, is 1' over my property. The fence was erected when the last owner lived here.
The upper level has three main plots: one is 18x30, one is 12x35, and the last is 3x15. I try to use every inch, and if I can remove the limbs at the back of the yard to let the sun in, I plan to get 100'sq more dug and planted.
I would like to plant some radishes in a metal or wood tub, but I would have to obtain a found container so I'm not planting at negative cost.
I have 2 grapevines: Frontenac(red, not gris). This is a wonderful, wonderful wine grape with cherry undertones. I am going to make fruit spread with the fruit this year. It is absolutely disease resistant, and I cannot recommend this more highly. The other is a white seedless, which I plan to give away. It can't compare to frontenac and I want to plant more veggies on the space it takes up.
There are 2 semi-dwarf antique apple trees: Tompkin's County King, whose fruit quality I am not too pleased with, and a semi-dwarf Northern Spy. I had planted this type when I was a teenager. I loved it then and love it now.
I have about 10 red raspberries, 5 blackberries, a few red currants and strawberries as well. There is also a dwarf Rochester Peach and a wonderful Montmorency sour cherry tree. It is neither bothered by birds or insects. The first year it bore fruit, I got 3 gallons of cherries. I used very little sugar in the cherry pies made from this. (I planted a North Star Cherry tree once, and there wasn't enough sugar in the world to sweeten these cherries).
I plan to get a few blueberries, dwarf for the front yard as well. I don't know what kind yet.
As aforementioned, I will list the seeds I purchased this year and what type I always choose. A later post will describe the chickens I'm purchasing in April and the coop I'm building. I will also write a description of the cob bread oven I'm building in a shady part of the backyard. The compost bin will be covered as well.
And, I will include other interests, hobbies as well; all tie together to create an enlightened life (at least sometimes).
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