Free Food

[robby]

Wow, the broccoli has sprouted in five days, rather than the 10-14 days listed on the package.
We're going to get some hot weather next week, hopefully that doesn't confuse the cool weather crops. Heat is great for tomato ripening, and either it will trigger the sorry summer squash to perk up, or it's time to tear it out. Around October first, I'll plant some snow peas and another row of salad greens.

I used all my compost preparing the garden bed for the broccoli. It's amazing how a huge volume of green matter breaks down to just a tiny amount of compost. For spring, I'll have the product of leaves from five big trees and all the grass clipping and garden waste, so at that point, I should have enough organic fertilizer.

In the meantime, it's chemical fertilizer, but never pesticides or insecticides in the vegetable garden.

Comments

[fablulu.livejournal.com]

I remember making my first compost bin, and sticking my hand in it to feel the warmth! It was so amazing...Ooo, I wish I could have a garden!

[robby.livejournal.com]

I get a lot of enjoyment from it, and find myself going out there and recharging myself from a bad day. All the fresh vegetables I'm eating are good for me as well.

[fablulu.livejournal.com]

Eating organic vegetables is a luxury too, they cost a small fortune. I remember reading that people would stick their carrots in a bed of sand in the cellar, and have a bin of apples down there for the whole winter, and something about allowing cauliflower or broccoli to endure cold weather or something to become sweeter.

I think if I had a garden, I would have a subzero freezer, because I don't enjoy canning at all, but I do love to cook frozen veggies.

[robby.livejournal.com]

I'm canning 7 more quarts of tomatoes right now. I freeze dried lots of squash, but I think my future plan is to utilize the long growing season and eat what is in season. Dried squash are like chips, and the natural sugar is concentrated by the drying process, so they taste sweet.