Monday, April 26, 2010

April showers- IDC update

It's been rainy here all weekend and today. Of course, today the rain held off almost all day- it waited until I was home and had started my pizza dough rising for calzones and went out to check the garden. It was sprinkling as I went out and then started raining in earnest. sigh. We've had our rain and now I want it to hold off for a bit so I can get working again.
It's Monday and that means that it's time for my usual Independence Days update. Here goes:
1. Plant something- 50 little strawberry plants that V and I managed to get planted before the rain really started. I also started some stevia seeds inside and some Red Ruffled Eggplant that were free seeds from the food co-op. They are from Seed Savers Exchange but are a last year's seed packet. They are evidently used more for ornamentals but are, I guess, used in some asian cuisine. I'll have to see what I can find out. It's a bit late to be starting them but, who knows. I want to be able to get out into the garden to plant some more peas but now it just needs to dry out a bit. I also transplanted a few more flowers and herbs into bigger pots. I'm becoming resigned to the fact that I'm going to have to find a temporary location for my herb garden this Spring since the septic seems to be taking forever to get going.
2. Harvest something- a bit of chard and some chives is about it.
3. Preserve something. Nope
4. Waste not- Hmm, the usual. Taking left overs for lunch on most days, using cloth bags at the store (even at Target when we stopped there this weekend). V completed the raised bed using repurposed concrete blocks. It isn't gorgeous but it works! I've got a few more blocks left and hope to make another (NOT on such a slope)
5. Want not- um, not much storage or prep work going on lately.
6. Community food systems- Not much here either.
7. Eat the food- Trying to eat down the stores in the freezer to make room for more to come. I'm hoping to have enough peas to freeze this year but I need to have room to put them.

Yeesh- looking at this list, it doesn't seem like I got much accomplished this week. But I feel that I was busy all week. At least I'm tired enough to have been busy all week. I guess working 6 days straight had something to do with it.

Gotta go and read some of my 3 chapters of Gaia's Garden I'm supposed to read by Saturday.

4 comments:

  1. Every year I hope to get enough peas to freeze some, but I never seem to be able to until fall! I am trying to plant twice as many this year, but I think our early heat is putting a damper on things, I hope you get plenty!

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  2. The stevia seeds sound interesting. Is this the same as the sweetener that is said to come from the stevia plant? I hope you will let us know how they turn out.

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  3. Erin- some of my peas came up really well but one variety didn't- of course it was last year's seed. I hope we get lots as well- peas are one of our favorite veggies.
    Kim- yup- the stevia is the same stuff. I've even seen it as bedding plants offered in the local nurseries. We thought we'd try it.
    Judy

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  4. We are working on eating down our freezer too...the pantry is already about bare of canned goods!

    Here with my weekly reminder of your link party going on over at the kinderGARDENS contest. Anytime between now and next Wednesday you can share any post you have pertaining to gardening with kiddos!

    Have a super day, Kim

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Glad you stopped in. I would love to hear from you.