pardonnez l'interruption

I was going to talk about composting, with this post. But yesterday, I spent the morning of my day off clearing branches from the backyard.

That is about half of what's out there.

While I was wandering the wilderness, I had a chance to get a good look at the area I was planning on putting the vegetable garden. Let me show you it.

Keep in mind, I took this picture yesterday; mid-February, Winter sun, no leaves on the trees, almost noon. Not a big spot, in current conditions, of healthy veggie growing sunshine on the ground. I am a bit worried about what I mentioned the other day, biting off more than I can chew.

Which brings me to my next interruption. I get a little ahead of myself sometimes, do before I research. That tray of seedlings I planted earlier this week? Several of those plants will not grow outside by the time they have matured enough to be in the ground. Thankfully I didn't do my other two trays. I am going to have to let them mature in the sun room for a while and hopefully not have a huge zucchini plant flowing on to the treadmill.

So, I've got some re-organizing to do. More reading, more magazines, more pricing.

Grey Poupon Window Basil

How do you get from condiments to counter-top herbs? Quite simply.

I made a beef tenderloin for Valentine's dinner yesterday and used a jar of grey poupon in the recipe. I washed the jar out and a wave of re-use rushed through the room. I love the shape and initially thought terrarium, but it is just too small. All of those seed packets were calling to me and basil is the first one that jumped up. Out of all of the herbs I want to grow (basil, dill, oregano and rosemary), basil is the one I will use the most. So, it gets to live in the house!

I washed the jar with warm water and soap, rising well to make sure I don't choke the plant with palmolive. I then went for a walk around the yard. I needed a few rocks for the bottom of the jar to keep the roots from staying wet, and it only took a handful. Two inches from the opening of the jar, I sprinkled some seeds, poured a scoop of soil over them and packed it down to make the seeds nice and snug.

I get great sunlight in my kitchen sink window so soon I will be picking some Grey Poupon Window Basil!

Up Next: A Bucket of Kitchen Scraps

Starting With Seedlings

We will get to the Where in a few weeks. But for now, let's tackle the What.

Well, maybe a bit of Why first. While we lived in Southern California, my Mom had a vegetable garden. There is a picture floating around out there of my brother in a pack n' play while my Mom tends to the plants. I can remember that garden and that time. I loved both.

Now, I am going to attempt my own garden...in my own yard. Annnd, some landscaping. In a few weeks, when I show you the yard, you will understand the gravity of the project ahead of me. Especially considering that plant disaster up there in the header. I am usually pretty good at keeping plants alive indoors, but this aloe plant hasn't accepted my generosity. The other four plants in the front window are still alive, so I'll take those odds.

By the number of seed packets I've got stacked up, I'm feeling a little overly-ambitious, but again...the odds.

I started off with peas, roma tomatoes (for homemade sauce), basil, cherry tomatoes, dill, zucchini, string beans and squash. Those wildflower seeds will be spread around the meadow under The Oak Tree.

I've got one of three trays loaded with seeds. Ready to sit on my kitchen table and germinate to their hearts content.

I realized that I forgot to get bell pepper seeds, which in turn resulted in a trip to Lowe's. One hour later and I ended up leaving with a bit more than was on the list.

(Foxgloves and poppies for the front of the workshop, lettuce, GIANT pumpkin, watermelon, rosemary, bell peppers, elephant ear bulbs and lily bulbs)

Up Next: Grey Poupon Window Basil!