Okay not much going on with the garden, however, I am doing other things. This summer my garden did not stand much of a chance. (I had many family illnesses.) Now everyone is better, so now I can get back after it. I am going to get my shotgun tomorrow, it needed a little over hall. (It also is all better) I will also be spending some time with an old friend at the range so I am looking forward to a great day.
I hope that I keep it together, I will post how the day went.
Till next time, Happy shooting...
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
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
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
Monday, August 2, 2010
New can be good.
I got this recipe from a friend of mine.
When I first saw it my mouth started watering, however, it sounded like it would take for ever to cool and my family likes to eat NOW not when dinner is ready. So I did put it off for a bit than I just decided to go for it and it didn't take all that long to get it to the table.
Apricot Chicken with Almond Raisin Rice Pilaf.
( okay) I left out the raisins but that is just me.
1 ½ T. olive oil
2 lbs. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts in ½ – pieces.
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp cinnamon
2 pinches cardamom
½ tsp cumin
½ tsp ginger
½ tsp salt
1 large onion
1 large clove garlic, minced
2/3 c dried apricots, cut in quarters
1 c apricot preserves
2 (61/4 oz) cans rice pilaf mix (I used the box)
4 c reduced sodium chicken broth
2/3 c raisins
1 c slivered almonds
Mix paprika, cinnamon, cardamom, cumin, ginger and salt in a bowl; add cubed chicken, tossing to coat. In very large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chicken and onion; saute 7 to 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked. Add garlic, apricots and apricot preserves the last 2 minutes of cooking add stir. Keep warm. In the meantime, prepare pilaf according to pacage directions, substituting chicken broth for water and adding raisins. Serve chicken over rice and sprinkle with almonds. Makes 8 servings.
(By: Shirley Penkoff Amazing Grace Fellowship cookbook)
This is a great dish, the next time I make it I think I will add less apricot preserves. It was a little two sweet for me. I think I will just add about ½ cup maybe 2/3rds cup.
Give this a try hope you like it as much as I did.
Till next time
Happy Cooking
When I first saw it my mouth started watering, however, it sounded like it would take for ever to cool and my family likes to eat NOW not when dinner is ready. So I did put it off for a bit than I just decided to go for it and it didn't take all that long to get it to the table.
Apricot Chicken with Almond Raisin Rice Pilaf.
( okay) I left out the raisins but that is just me.
1 ½ T. olive oil
2 lbs. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts in ½ – pieces.
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp cinnamon
2 pinches cardamom
½ tsp cumin
½ tsp ginger
½ tsp salt
1 large onion
1 large clove garlic, minced
2/3 c dried apricots, cut in quarters
1 c apricot preserves
2 (61/4 oz) cans rice pilaf mix (I used the box)
4 c reduced sodium chicken broth
2/3 c raisins
1 c slivered almonds
Mix paprika, cinnamon, cardamom, cumin, ginger and salt in a bowl; add cubed chicken, tossing to coat. In very large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chicken and onion; saute 7 to 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked. Add garlic, apricots and apricot preserves the last 2 minutes of cooking add stir. Keep warm. In the meantime, prepare pilaf according to pacage directions, substituting chicken broth for water and adding raisins. Serve chicken over rice and sprinkle with almonds. Makes 8 servings.
(By: Shirley Penkoff Amazing Grace Fellowship cookbook)
This is a great dish, the next time I make it I think I will add less apricot preserves. It was a little two sweet for me. I think I will just add about ½ cup maybe 2/3rds cup.
Give this a try hope you like it as much as I did.
Till next time
Happy Cooking
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Conditioning the Soil
I have decided to just condition the soil in the garden this year. Okay I've been in Denver a lot this year caring for my mom and didn't get much in and what I did get in has since wilted almost to dirt. We have had a strange summer so far just last week it was like 65 degrees for a high and yesterday it was 106 degrees and today it looks like it will be 105 degrees. So with all that going on I decided that this year I will clean up the garden real good and condition the soil for next year. I have added and tilled in some good compost. Let what ever grows grow, for about a week and then mow. I will be using the tiller to till under any mulch from the mowing. Two wears ago I took a soil sample down to my Extension office, and the test came back saying that my soil had high salt content. What that means to me is that I shouldn't add manure. To be more specific not to add well composted and LEACHED manure compost. So for the most part I have been just adding organic compost with no or little manure. I have composted my own trash and plant waste last year and that is also getting added. I will write a blog about composting and composting with worms at a later date. I would recommend that everyone have a soil sample taken. It is easy and will tell you a lot about your garden and what you need or don't need to add you your garden. Contact your local Master Gardeners Office for details on how you can get your soil sample. It should only cost between $25.00 - $35.00 that is cheep for the information you get.
Till Next Time
Hoping you have Happy Soil
Till Next Time
Hoping you have Happy Soil
Monday, June 21, 2010
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
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
Monday, June 14, 2010
Getting cough up
Ya it has been some time since my last post, a lot has been going on. I will try to post more often.
I have spent a lot of time up in Denver helping my mom after her back surgery so the garden has been neglected so far this year. I think to day I have gained some ground on getting it up and growing this year. I did got bell peppers in, however, out of the 24 that got planted only eight are still standing after our last hail storm. I also planted 12 tomatoes and lost all of them. Now for the good news, I have more tomatoes and jalapeno peppers that can go out in the next week or so. Most of the herbs that I have planted are doing good and I have more going out side as well.
I have been teaching how to make hypertufa troughs for the Pueblo County Master Gardeners, I will be teaching a more advanced class some time this summer.
I have decided to put in more raised beds for the garden in hopes that the plants will do better here in the High Plains.
The plants that I have in raised beds are doing good and have been for years, so is it time to go all raised beds? May be..
I will be putting in a good part of the garden in to herbs this year so we'll see how it all turns out, also I am using up all my old seeds this year so I may not get the best harvest this year but I want to use up all the old seeds and next year I will be buying new seeds.
Till next time
Happy Gardening
Monday, April 19, 2010
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
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
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