On to Arizona Gardening

It's been some time since the last time I added any thing to the blog. Here is an update on what has been happening in my little world. My wife got a transfer and a promotion, however, we had to move to the Phoenix area. It is a big change from our little home on one acre and the gardening I have grown up with.

We have an offer in on a home that sits on just under 2/10's of an acre (a far cry from our one acre) with a pool in the back that takes up most of the back yard. I now also have to take in to account the heat, soil, water (or the lack of), and a lot smaller space for gardening. I will be doing some container gardening and I will be making little micro climates in the back to cool off the area some in the summer and warm them up in the winter. I am also considering doing some vertical and square foot gardening as well. I am hoping that I will be able to grow enough to do some canning and have enough for a family of four. (though we only need enough for two) I am planning on enough for four to show how even in small spaces that the average family can grow enough food in there back yard to supplement the food bill. I believe that it is past time for us to take back our economy and it starts at home. Not with any government or any big business it starts with you and me. I have chosen to feed my self no matter where I happen to live.

You can do the same it will take a little work but the rewards of eating food that you grew your self will out weight any “hard” work that might take place. I hope that you will learn as I will learn on this new adventure, growing in the dessert here in the south-west U.S. will be a challenge but it should prove to be interesting. Some of the things I will be doing will only work down here in the warmer climate, but there will be a lot that can be used all over the U.S. And maybe other parts of the world.

If we close on October 7^th 2011 like we plan on doing there will be more posts of the Arizonan gardening experience.

To start it off here they are now doing there fall planting, tomatoes, cabbage, beans and other goodies. There is a sample of what is yet to come.

Till next time

Learn to adapt and over come Happy Gardening

The Benefits of a Garden

There are many benefits of gardening, the health professionals will tell you that it lowers blood pressure, the gardener gets some exercise and fresh air. This may all be true, however, I believe that it goes deeper than that. I believe that it fights off the long winter that has just left or is on its way. I believe that it is Gods way for us to connect to the land that he gave to us to care for, to feel, smell, and touch that which he has given to us. It is a place of miracles where each plant that grows, it is as if God is saying here I am see what I can do. It is a place to think, rest, and talk to God of all the things of the day that is on your mind. Oh it will give you food, it will green up your yard, it will attract the birds of the area, could it be that they are there to see God as well. I can hear some of you saying that they don't believe in God all I can say is that in the little area that I have growing all my vegetables, God has shown himself to me over and over. I see plants so fragile and small grow to be a strong and hardy plant and I think of my life and how I was blessed to raise my children and the blessing that he has given to me.
The garden is more than just a place to grow a plant. Its a place to grow. Share a garden with your children, your neighbor, your parents or some old friends maybe even some new friends. Like the plants that die off in the fall so will everyone you know and so will you. Your harvest can be more than just vegetables it can be a life full of happy memory’s picked from your back yard garden. Grow what you can and your harvest may be more than you ever expected. Gardening is a great hobby and habit to pass on to the next generation. Every time I work in my garden I am reminded of the times I spent in the garden with my mom, and all my grandparents. I think of what I learned out in that backyard garden.


Till Next Time

Happy Gardening

Worms or No Worms that is the question.

Now most of you who have read and or seen my You Tube videos know I have raised worms for composting. Unfortunately over the last year they have been dying off little by little. I have found myself in a spot where I need to ask do I replace the worms I have lost of just do with out? So I had to do some investigating as to why the worms dyed. The only thing that I can come up with for any kind of good or descant answer is that the tap water that I have here is bad for the worms. So If I am to get more worms I will need to filter the water. I also think that there might be some rodents eating some of the worms but I believe that the rodents are doing minimal damage. Now for the big point is the cost of replacement, worms are going for about $90.00 for 5 pounds that comes out to just about $18.00 per pound. If they live than all will be good, if they dye off than not so much.
I am thinking that I will be buying more worms in March or April as it worms up out side and the worms have a better chance of making it. I will keep you posted on how that is going and were I am in the process.
The benefits of using worms for composting far out weights not having and using the casting in the garden. I have used the castings to make a tea out of and used it as a spray on plants as an insecticide (I have seen it kill gnats and hard shelled insects) I use it as a liquid fertilizer and the castings as a soil amendment. I also use the worms to compost my trash. Such as coffee, coffee filters, tea and tea bags, vegetable waste, all kinds of paper products, I even will at times get manure and throw it in as a little treat for the worms. So there is some of the things I have been thinking of, I will be blogging more on worms and how to raise them, and some of the down falls.
If you are in the same situation as I am or if you have been thinking about getting in to worms stay posted for a lot of great information on worms.



Till Next Time

Happy Worming

Health and Gardening

I have been gardening for some time and I asked my self why? And I thought its not the savings, by the time you put in the time and cost, there is a big chance that it will end up costing more than if you just bought from the store. Then I had some pasta salsa that I made from last summers tomatoes and it hit me the flavor is so much more than store bought. I was all of a sudden taking a trip back to last summer how the breeze felt on that hot summer day as I was out there weeding the ground so the tomatoes could grow big and strong. The chill in the air as I scrambled to get the last off the vine and in side. I have canned summer squash and peaches I bought from Palisade Colorado, Corn I bought from Brighton, Colorado and I started to think could I use the herbs and vegetables from my garden for the health of my family and my self? As it turns out the answer is yes and why have I waited so long. From some of the herbalist web sights and from some survivalist web sights this is the thing to have on hand. I have used it for about a year now and it does work. It is known as the Master Tonic, Garlic Immune, Anti Plague. I have seen it for sale on some survival web pages and it wasn't cheep. Here are two recipes for this formula. I have some on hand all the time. Most of the ingredients I get from my garden.

Formula 1 is from Heal Thyself web site.
1 part fresh chopped garlic cloves ( antibacterial, anti-fungal, antiviral, anti parasitical)
1 part fresh chopped white onions, or the hottest onion available (similar properties to garlic)
1 part fresh grated ginger root (increases circulation to the extremities)
1 part fresh grated horseradish root ( increases blood flow to the head)
1 part fresh chopped Cayenne peppers, Jalapenos, Serrano’s, Habeneros, African bird peppers … any combination of the hottest peppers available.
Preparation:
Fill a glass jar ¾ of the way full with equal parts of the above fresh chopped and grated herbs. Then fill to the top with raw unfiltered , unbleached, non distilled apple cider vinegar.

Close and shake vigorously and then top off with the vinegar if necessary. Begin this formula on the NEW moon and strain and bottle on the FULL moon, (approximately 14 days). Filter the mixture through a clean piece of cotton, bottle and label.
Make sure that when you are making this tonic that you shake it every time you walk by it, a minimum of once per day. Remember that all the herbs and vegetables should be fresh (and organic if possible), and to use dried herbs only in an emergency.
Dosage:
1/2 to 1 ounce, two or more times daily, gargle and swallow.
I would go SLOW this is spicy Test FIRST than use.

You can use the solids as flavoring for cooking

Formula 2 is the one I use and I like to add some agave (or honey) and some flavoring I use anise, or you could use cherry.
From Dr Christopher Herbal Home Health Care:
Equal parts of each:
Garlic, Aloe Vera gel powder, Plantain, Wormwood, Lobelia, Marshmallow, Oak Bark, Black Walnut, Mullein, Skullcap, Uva Ursi. In an apple cider vinegar, glycerin, honey base.
This all purpose anti-biotic formula is used to treat colds, flues, congestion, infection, and all communicable diseases. It may be used in small amounts (one tablespoon three times a day) as a tonic during cold and flu season, or in large amounts (one tablespoon every hour) to fight off infection. This formula was designed by Dr. Christopher to treat bacterial and viral plagues.
Put herbs in container and fill with your base. The honey and glycerin make it more palatable.
I use these to treat my self when I feel run down or like something is starting to take hold. Please I recommend that if your symptoms worsen or don’t improve that you seek out a health care professional
Food Has Power ~ the power to harm and the power to heal.

Till Next Time

Stay Healthy

Cold Cold Cold,

Today we hit a high of 11 degrees, and we are expected to drop well below 0 tonight, and here I am thinking about what to plant in the garden this year. I was hopping to have a cold frame built and some seeds in the ground by now but it just hasn’t worked out yet. So I am thinking that I will be out in the cold tomorrow getting a cold frame up and put some lights in there to warm it up some. I would like to get some lettuces in the ground in the next week or so. There is some things that will do well in the cold but I'm thinking that this cold might be just a little to cold, I'll try it and see. Some of the vegetables that can make it in a cold frame are beets, Brussels sprouts, carrots, collards, kale, parsley, and spinach.
I am also going to put in cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, radish, spinach, parsley, kale and I might put in beets. Mainly because that is what I like to eat and that is what I like to grow so we will see how it all goes.



Till next Time
Stay Warm and Happy Planting

Sale and buying seeds for 2011

Okay lets start with the seeds.
I've had my seed catalogs for weeks now and I think I have a list of what I am going to get for 2011 and here is my list from two different companies.

Mayflower = Bean
Old Homestead (Kentucky Wonder Pole) = Beans
Bull's Blood = Beet
European Mescalin = Salad
Rocky Top Lettuce = Salad
California Wonder = Sweet Pepper
Golden Marconi = Sweet Pepper
Italian Pepperoncini = Sweet Pepper
Super Shepherd = Sweet Pepper
German Giant = Radish
Bloomsdale Long Standing = Spinach
Giant Noble = Spinach
Hopi Pale Grey = Squash
Pink German Tree = Tomatoes
Raspberry Lyanna = Tomatoes
Riesentraube = Tomatoes
Rom = Tomatoes
Early Flat Dutch = Cabbage
Red Acre = Cabbage
Early Snowball = Cauliflower
Boston Pickling = Cucumbers
Amish Snap = Snap Peas
Wando = Shelling Peas
I still need to go through and pick out what herbs I want but here is a good start for the vegetables. I hope to be getting the order out this next week so I can get to planting. I still have some seeds left from last year so those will be going in as well.
Now for the sale I went to yesterday. It was beyond words, big would just start to describe this 16 acre over twenty mobile home and other trailers filled with all kinds of stuff. Some so packed you could not even get in. If you have the time and the energy to go to these extra extra large sales you can make out here is some of the things I got.
Heavy duty potato cutter (est. value $59.00), one full set and 4 parcel sets of poker chips
4 LP's, 7 buttons, 7 leather tools (est. value $50.00) , a Coors bar caddy (est. value $10.00), 2 small glass bottles, and the killer for the garden about 40 to 50 square feet of cobble stone and other brick. I estimate the brick at over $125.00 and I only payed $20.00 for all. Now it did take 3 hours of looking and moving but I will use the brick and I have gotten rid of the bar caddy, LP's, I'm keeping the potato cutter. That is my deal of the week. More to come as I get time. (Big smile)

Bottles

Bricks

Bar Caddy

Potato Cutter

Till Next Time.

Happy Hunting / planting

Seeds Seeds Seeds

Okay, I have been looking at my seed catalogs for a few weeks now and I think I know what I want to get but than I look at the other catalog and it changes. I know I have one acre to plant but 1. I don't plant the whole acre and 2. I don't have the water for all that growing. But I'm thinking that I sure would like to plant some sunflower's, they grow wild here so if I plant some they should grow.
I also would like to do more herbs this year something a little more hardy and ease to grow here in the high plains. I also have been studying the past few years and have come to the decision that I need to use raised bed's and I will put some hardware cloth down than dirt over the top. (That will keep the voles and the moles out of the vegetables. I would also like to get some grass to grow in a part of the garden and make like a little flower sitting area out there well see how that goes. First things first and that is to get the garden seeds so back to the catalogs I go I'll keep you all up dated.



Till Next Time

Happy Gardening

Making Russian Tea.

Today I decided to make more Russian Tea. I have it posted on my you tube channel. Click on the title for the link to the video. Russian Tea is just Tang, Sugar, Instant Tea, Lemon Kool aid, Cinnamon, and powder cloves. I picked a great day to make the tea it is now 25 degrees and snowing, great night to drink a cup of Russian Tea. I am working on plans for some hot boxes I want to make and get in the garden. I might start that project tomorrow I'll see how that goes. Here are some photos of the snow hope that you all are worm

.


Till Next Time

Stay Warm!!!

Things done Things done

Planted some onion and tobacco seed. (See my you tube video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rpRhEwJmf4
and got the porch frame in and leveled out now all I need to do is get the 2 X 6's and put them on I'll let you know when I get it done. So with any luck and a lot of hard work I should have the back deck finished before summer. That way I will be able to make my large trough. So if we have some more nice days I should have more to talk to you about.

Till Next Time

Happy Planting

One More Year.

K Still don't have Face Book fixed, but in time in time.
I will be in the Master Gardener Program for another year. It looks like there is a newer program and it looks good and like I will have time to do it, and the other things I want to do this year.
One thing I want to do is more blogging. I hope to have some exciting stuff to post for everyone to read. I look forward to a great year.


Till Next time

Keep on Keeping on Life is good.

A new Year a new start

Seed catalogs are arriving and now I need to decide who to get my seeds from. I will be planting the onion seeds and tobacco next week, in starter pots. I should do some tomato plants also. So here we go were off and in to 2011 gardening season. I have decided to start an Etsy store I'm still working on the name and some of the things I will be selling. I will be selling my art work, mostly things made from leather or wood, however, I am leaving that door open for more. I hope that I post more on here, You tube. FB, twitter and my space. I hope I didn't leave anyone out. I'm looking forward to a great and prospers 2011.

Till next time

Happy new Year

Garden Composting

So by now we all know that adding compost to your garden is a good thing to do, but, how do we go about getting compost? One reason we might garden is to save some money. If that is the case than we don't want to go out and spend all kinds of money on compost.
You can make your own compost. Composting doesn't have to be your collage science project that became so complicated that even the professors don't even fully understand what is going on.
Composting is nature reclaiming that that belongs in the soil. In reality we don't have to do any thing for composting to take place. Our roll in composting is and should be minimal.
My way of thinking, here is my part of the composting process.
I find the location. I can build the bin, dig a hole or buy a snazzy new composer. I get to add the goodies, and keep out what I don't want in my compost. I get to water and turn it. Now that is all that I do, I can do more, or less as I want. Once I start putting waste in a pile the microbes start the break down process that is needed to make compost. Now I can leave it or I can help make it a pleasant place to be around.. (and if I lived in town my neighbors will appreciate that.)
Here is the basic to “easy” composting.
Size, stay with compost bins 3 x 3 x 3 up to 6 x 3 x 3 remember you will need to turn your pile. My bins are 4ft long by 2 feet wide by 2 feet deep. I chose that size because for me it is a manageable size.
Your bin / pile needs to be large enough to generate heat. Heat is a part of the composting process.
Now with some of my compost I will feed to my worms and I will let them take over from this point. The compost that I don't feed to my worms will need more work. I will water, turn and give it time to compost. When I start a bin I will first add straw, or grass to keep the material I want to compost off the bottom and let air in. Once I add the first layer of material to the bin I will add about ½ to 1 inch of soil to cover the material that is to be composted. The soil will serve a dual purpose, 1 it will cover the material and help keep fly's down and rodents out of the bin. 2. There are microbes in even the worst soils that will “kick start” the composting process. Now all I do is let the little fungi and microbes do there work for a few months and we will have nice rich compost.
There are a lot of great web sites and books on composting, I have cut my trash to the curb down by about 80 to 85% of what it was before I started composting, also I figure that I have payed for everything I compost once why pay for compost when I can make my own.

Till next time

Happy Composting

There Back

There back, the rodents, that is. Just like the movie Poltergeist, they just wont stay away.
The reason I believe is that there is a new home going in right behind our house, and the construction is pushing the rodents our way. Here is the dilemma, I have done everything I wrote about in my blog RODENTS IN MY GARDEN on October 15, 2008. So what to do if that fails? I have installed an electric fence around the garden, it is a two wire fence one wire is 2 inches off the ground and the other is about 4 inches off the ground. That seemed to keep them out, however, now my electric fence charger seems to be broken so I will replace it with a new one and see how that goes. Now for the little
prairie dogs. I have used the dog, disturbed there burrows, nothing. I was doing some research on how to remove prairie dogs, and this came up. "Using a transistor radio, play rock and roll music. The prairie dogs don't like the pitch of most rock and roll music and will leave." so I will be trying that SOON. I will post findings as I get them. As if that wasn't enough they are sloping there yard so that the rain run off will be heading right toward my house. I'm thinking that if I but in a small ditch at the end of my property. Hope that works. I will be getting flood insurance also that now is a must have..

Till next time

Happy Gardening

Spring 2010

Spring is here, we might get one more spring snow but for the most part the cold days and nights are over for now.
I harvested some asparagus yesterday, about 3 lbs. Made some wonderful soup with it. It is looking like this year will be good for my asparagus. I have three rows they are 1, 2, and 3 years old so I should get just enough for us.
The elephant garlic has nice leaves on them now, and I have some table garlic that I must have missed last year coming up, so we should get some garlic. The onions have started to show along with some of the raspberry. I have decided to only plant ½ the garden in vegetables this year and the rest in herbs and flowers. I planted some field flowers in a area about 20 x 20 I hope that they come up it should be really nice.
I have planted carrots, beats, Swiss chard, and kale. I hope today I can get the beans, peas, and cabbage in the ground. (I know I am running late on that but that is my life right now)
I had a class on trough making, I think it went well. It looked like everyone learned something and had a good time.
Now I have some troughs that I will have to plant up. I will but flowers and herbs in my troughs. I think that troughs just mix up the garden enough to make it fun. If you haven't made a trough yet you may want to give it a try. Troughs are a fun way to garden.



Till next time

Happy gardening

More Troughs

I have written and put up videos on you tube (http://www.youtube.com/user/HighPlainsGardening ) and it seems that people can't get enough of them. (I think that is just great)
The troughs are made out of hypertufa, that is a mixture of Portland cement, peat moss, sand, and perlite. (That is the most common ingredients) They are lighter than stone or concrete. It is durable and once it is weathered and cured will hold up to the weather just fine. To make a trough you just add one part of each Portland cement, peat moss and perlite add just enough water tell the mixture is like cottage cheese but will hold together when pressed. Let stand for 10 or 15 minutes, this step is very important. After your set time check to see if the mixture is still holding together. If it is to dry add a little water, if to wet add some peat moss. For a mold you can use two boxes one smaller than the other. But the larger box in a trash bag with the opening on the out side of the box but mixture about 1 to 2 inches thick in the bottom and tamp down. Take the other box put in a trash bag with the opening on the inside of the box but smaller box in side toe larger box fill with play sand now make sure the smaller box is the same distance away from all the sides. Fill the sides with mixture tamp down. Let set for seven days to dry and cure. Remove sand, open bag remove box, remove bag. Now carefully tip your trough and box up side down and remove. If it wont come out you can tare the box to get the pot out. You can set the pot out side for a few weeks than put plants in your mew trough. For more information go to my you tube channel for videos of how I have made my troughs.
I hope you give this a try.
I give classes through the Pueblo County Master Gardeners program once or twice a year. Taking a class on hypertufa is fun and ease than doing it on your own. Classes run form $20.00 to $75.00 per person depending on where you take the class. Some classes are filled up a year ahead of time.


Till next time
Happy Trough Making / Planting

Bees are in Big trouble.

We need to do whatever we can to help out the bee hive population. I will post the latest news release on CCD (colony collapse disorder) at the end of this blog.
Just some of the ways we can help is to stop using pesticides. I believe that pesticides are a major factor in the reduction of the honey bees.
Another way I am going to help and do what I can is I am going to plant more plants that attract more bees. If they come to my place for there pollen they are less likely to go someplace where pesticides are used.
The “experts” claim “many causes, including parasites, viruses, bacteria, poor nutrition and pesticides.” I wonder if it is the same batch of experts that got us in this mess. Without the honey bees we as a human race are in for starvation. Bees pollinate about 1/3 of the food we eat. The question is how much of the plants that need pollination that the livestock eat? (that we also depend on for food ) Now lets not just include domesticated animals but wild ones as well.
We each need to do our part to help out the bees if we can. If you have any ideas please leave your comment below. Thank you.



Here is the link;
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100324/ap_on_sc/us_food_and_farm_disappearing_bees
or click on title this link is for Yahoo news so I dont know how long this will be up.


Till next time
Happy Planting

New or Added information

I have decided to expand my blog to cover urban farming this year. I feel that that is more in line with what I have been doing, (there just wasn't a name for it at the time) I just was doing what needed to be done. Now it has been a few years since I have had chickens, rabbits or horses but I hope that some of you might find the information that I have learned helpful or at the least entertaining. A bit of back ground of some of the animals I have raised. Chickens, rabbits, ducks, turkeys, horses, cats, dogs, and fish ( aquarium fish, not for eating) I have canned, frozen and dyed fruit and vegetables. I have grown and from produce that I have bought from farmers markets and the grocery store.
I plan on covering more art, and more cooking. (Two things I love to do and share.)

Till next time.

Happy Planting

Starting plants from seeds up date

I finally got two videos up loaded to YouTube. The address for my you tube channel is
http://www.youtube.com/user/HighPlainsGardening (see link click on title)
While you are there you may as well follow my YouTube blog also. I put videos up all the time.
Just click on the subscribe tab.
I need to transplant the tomatoes and the cucumbers, but it wouldn't hurt to transplant everything that I have planted so far. Now all I need to do is make the time.
Please ask any questions you may have or just leave a comment.
Thank you.
Till next time

Happy Planting

Seeds 2010 season

Okay, I have been getting bombarded with this years seed catalogs. So it must be that time of year were we all buy up all the neat seeds that we hope will grow in our zone.
I was going to just use only the seeds that I have left over form last year and the year before. I was doing good till I started looking at the King of all seed catalogs Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.
This catalog is so good that they call it the “Pure Seed Book” I love it.
So I have decided to do an inventory of last years seeds and I have 71 packs of seeds, now that is more than enough for my 1/10 acre garden and than some but, I looked at Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, and I know that the germination on old seeds go's down (right?) so I have justified getting more seeds, and I will be ordering seeds I don't have so all is good.
I will only be ordering 12 more packs of seeds. (Not to bad)
I have started seeds indoors last week. Mostly herbs, but I did plant some lettuce, I am ready to be eating my own green once again. I am thinking next winter I will have two flats of lettuce going all year.
It looks like I will be out side in the next few weeks getting the garden ready for planting. I will keep you informed as to how it is going.

Till next time.

Happy Planting

The Little Lizard

I was out front enjoying the nice fall day, after being stuck in the house for the past three days due to cold and some snow. I saw a little lizard out and about soaking up some of the afternoon sun. I have uploaded a short clip on you tube of my little garden friend.
Everything except for the Brussels sprouts has been harvested. I am going to burn the weeds and let the ground rest for the rest of the year.

Till next time

Enjoy the sunshine