Hoping this isn't a huge disappointment!

Okay, I have a confession. For awhile, I hadn't been posting because of the reason I started this blog. I wanted to create a forum that welcomed all gardeners: those of much experience and those of little, those of with space and those with little. But I am completely guilty of feeling like I don't have much to say because I have just a few things planted and I'm not sure how they'll do. I am reminding myself that THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT.

So. My name is Brandi and I'm not completely sure of my know-how or my space requirements as a gardener.

All is not lost. Well, certain photo opportunities are lost, but I have been planting, and - miraculously - growing, some things. I planted four rows of greens in the deep mulch of the south-facing bed in front of our apartment. Sorrel, Blue Kale, Mustards, and...something else that didn't grow. Oh, yeah, buttercrunch lettuce. I've shown what remains. Actually, the mustards have been a miracle of hardiness and growth. To their credit, they've survived: an exceedingly mulchy and questionably-suited soil to start in...frequent jostling by the bike we have to lock to the post six inches from them. And they're our best producers! Enough for a small salad every two days or so. They're very spicy and sometimes make me sweat and get goosebumps...but I like that. Another success is that two kale plants survived and have produced a few leaves every couple of days. The kids love them. They just like to pick things and then eat them.

Besides the greens, I planted numerous herbs from seed. Unfortunately, I made the fateful mistake of not keeping them moist. I killed: basil, cilantro, and rosemary. Sad. But last year's oregano is happy happy happy. I started two pea plants. The Wando was from a fresh batch of seeds; the Maestro was from an old. Maestro never sprouted; Wando has yielded five or so fresh pods of the most delicious little sweet peas I've ever eaten raw. The girls adore them, but if it gives us another we've got to save it for next year's planting.

There's also a volunteer tomato that came out of the soil. It's still cohabitating in the pea pot...which I've meant to do something about, you know let it move out into its own place, but I just haven't been able to save up for a down payment.

Finally, there's the sprouting tray I sprouted a few days ago with all the seeds I thought MIGHT be a good idea to sprout and try to transplant. Here's the list of things that have sprouted as of this morning. These seeds have sprouted astonishingly early and, in some cases, against all odds, as the seeds are several years old: Anaheim pepper, black beauty eggplant, Louisiana red tomato, Pritchard tomato, teeny tiny oregano (vulgaris), Cardinal tomato, Carantan leek, Thymus vulgaris, Sweet basil, Musselwhite bell pepper, Burpee Big Boy Hybrid tomato, Michilli Cabbage, Roma tomato, Brandywine tomato, sorrel, Muskmelon, french green lentil, and castillo lentil.

It's like Christmas in May. Now I have to figure out what to DO with all the sprouts, since we're moving in 5 weeks.

All the best to you and your gardening efforts. Will try to get back on the wagon! Please post photos if you're growing stuff :).

"Crappy Valentine's Day!"

Thanks, Mel Moore, for coining the phrase and reminding us that this is the season to love on your soil. Now's a great time to mix in your aged poop because seeds like soil that has rested a couple of weeks. So if you want to plant some early things in March, mid-February is when you should be mixin' it up a little (lot). Mel, post your photos! On our end, we still have a decrepit camera so I can't post photos of my decrepit gardening stuff.

On another note, I found an inspiring urban homestead video to post on the merit of

1. its urban locale
2. its apparent productivity.

But I'm not wild about the counterculture undertone. Still worth a watch even if you have the sound turned all the way down just to see how they pack all those plants in to the small space. It's not that I disagree with the things this guy is saying, but my take on this is about rehabbing everyone to grow stuff, including myself. Whenever you start to have a schtick (soapbox?), I think it gets a little unattractive. We all know by now (do we?) why it's good to grow your own food. Now the point is just to get to work, bit by bit.

The other problem is that it suggests that growing a garden is an all-or-nothing affair. If the food distribution system collapsed or something, sure we'd all be up a creek and we'd all be full-time farmers faster than fast. But otherwise, I think everyone's okay with a goods-and-services economy. I mean, it's good to make art if you love making art. It's good to be a nurse if you love nursing.

Now I'm rambling...but "Crappy Valentine's Day" will make me remember - because I often forget - that now's the time to get mixin'.

Operation: Poo

Today when I was running in Colonial Williamsburg it occurred to me that that place is a total manure mecca, a poo oasis in our midst. I'm totally up for some poo thievery after nightfall sometime. But only if we can wear headlamps and camo paint.

MacGregor