Vermicomposting

Last summer we had a "worm garden" in the back yard and for about 2 months it did really well, until it got hot and the worms baked. This year I started earlier, and kept the worms in the garage. It seems to be working better, except for the terrible fruit flies, which turn into nasty little black worms.
I used 2 plastic Sterilite bin; one with holes drilled into the bottom, sitting in the second one which collects the "juice." I think it's called compost tea. I got the worms from a local bait shop, I made sure they were local to my area, so when they are let free (like lots of little Willy's,) they won't destroy the ecosystem. I'd feel bad if I ruined Michigan because of my worms. The first two bins I emptied directly into the garden boxes. The garden boxes are too full to do now, so I emptied this last one onto my large compost pile in the yard. It also had weird black maggoty worms in it. I didn't like that part and I didn't want them to get by my garden. I'm letting the bucket dry out and hoping they will wriggle away. I was using a cardboard box topper on it, maybe I should use the air tight plastic topper if that will work better. I wonder if I can leave them in the garage in the winter too, do worms freeze?

Potato (Potatoe?)

My potatoes are still not popping back up. Possibly because it hasn't gotten above 65 in the last three days and near constant rain. I added some soil around the base of the stems, and ended up knocking some of them down. I also added some dirt around the base of the sunflowers, and it does seem to be helping. Everything else is still standing upright, and seems to be thriving, even in the cold weather. The broccoli is turning green and I'm in love with the nasturtium leaves, I can't wait until they start flowering!

Storm

There was a big storm yesterday. It has been raining for 3 days now, and the temperatures are very low for this time of year. My tall potato plants got squashed in the rain, as did some of my poor sunflowers. I hope they can bounce back, but I think without the sun to raise them, they are lost.


Weirdly, the horizontal garden wasn't affected at all. The sunflowers in this garden are still upright and the broccoli, beans, and nasturitums are thriving. Maybe it's more protected by the trees behind it. Or maybe it's just coincidence.


My garden is not the only one that is suffering. I was at the local farmer's market yesterday (such good strawberries!) and two of the ladies were talking between their stalls. I was eavesdropping, and heard them remark all crops are 2 weeks behind, especially corn. It won't be "knee high by the 4th of July." I hope the real farmers have an Indian summer or they will be out a lot of crops and income.

Fill-in beans

Monday the 13th I planted some fill in beans in spots that looked empty and lonely. They are just now sprouting, and hopefully staggered enough we can enjoy them longer. I'm thinking I also need to fill in some peas, I'm waiting until they train up the trellis a little more. Last year on 4th of July we were enjoying early beans and peas. It's hard to believe because this year the weather has been so cold, I feel like I got a late start, and then it took so long for everything to warm up. We're in for some hot, rainy days this week, I'm hoping that speeds things up. The potatoes don't need any help at all, they are growing so big!
We walked to the neighbors to share in his bounty of strawberries, with only 4 rows he has plenty, picking 14 pints in only 5 days! Unlike my strawberries, which the birds have discovered and ruined. I'm hopeful if I just leave them alone they will continue to take root and next year will be more productive and prosperous. Zucchini's right on track and the cucumber's just starting to climb. I found a little broccoli head yesterday, it was yellow and I'm hoping that's not a bad thing?

I enjoyed some lettuce out of the trays yesterday on some burgers, it was a little bitter, but I think I might have jumped the gun picking it too early. The picture is from last week, I can't believe how much it's grown in only 6 days!

Strawberries!

We had 4 ripe strawberries last night, and although they were small, they were tasty! Between the three of us girls, I got to nibble around a top. This morning I looked for more, but in the rain I noticed the hanging baskets are not draining at all. As soon as we dry up, I will try to get some straws in there for better draining, and not so much flooding. So far no birds are pecking the strawberries, and they are super small, hopefully they will be bigger in the second year.

Garden's Growing!

I finally got some pictures of the garden in its sprouted state. These were taken 4 days ago, and because of the heat and rain, the crops (especially the potatoes!) have filled in quite a bit more since then. The peas are training nicely up the triangular wires, but the beans under the tepee have yet to start winding. I'm still waiting to plant more beans, and still battling ants.

You can see in the pictures I have sprinkled cornstarch to combat the ants, but it has done nothing but make my garden look like a baby's butt. Hopefully the rain forcasted will wash it away. I read that Nutra-Sweet, or Equal will kill them, because it's essentially poison for ants. It makes me glad I don't use un-natural sweetners myself, if they can kill ants, what can they do to my family? I swiped some packets from the hotel we stayed in, and will start treating this weekend when it's supposed to stay dry.

I'm excited about my lettuce and spinach coming up, I bought myself a salad spinner at IKEA, and can't wait to use it! In related news: I LOVE IKEA! What a great store, I'm glad there's not one within an hour radius of here, I have a feeling I would splurge everychance I got. It was a special treat.

Getting Started

Here I am, with my own blog. If anyone ever reads this, for the record, I am keeping this blog/journal for myself, to remember what, when, where and why. I don't expect any readers, and I will post when I feel like it.
My garden is two 4'x12' boxes and one 4'x4' box. Once I figure out how to post pictures, I will.
Living in the woods, on a lake, it is difficult to find an area with good sun, so I decided to build the boxes (actually, I had Steve build them, I don't trust myself with power tools.) They are positioned on our drainage field, where nothing would grow, but got the best sun. It works perfectly. Today I'm excited because everything is sprouting. The Butternut squash was the last to come up, but today I noticed 2 sprouts, even though I planted 3. Here is what I'm planting, and the layout, from left to right, and top to bottom:
1st Horizontal box
Broccoli* (replanted from Weesies)
Nasturtium*
Butternut Squash*
Jalapeno Peppers* (replanted from Weesies)
Blue Lake Beans
Roma Tomatoes (replanted from Weesies)
Sunflowers*

2nd Vertical Box:
Sunflowers*
Peas
Pole Beans
Green Peppers (replanted from Weesies)
Bush Beans
Potatoes*

Small box:
Cucumbers
Zucchini

I also have two small portable planters with Spinach* and Lettuce* in them.

I also have two raspberry bushes I planted last year which are still alive and thriving!

I feel I planted too many potatoes. They are sprouting and spreading. I have room between the Green Peppers and the bush beans, I will plant more beans in a week or so so we can spread out the harvest. Last year I had just one box, and I feel like we needed more.

Along with the vegetables, I have Strawberries growing in the hanging baskets outside the front door. We have already picked one (small) Strawberry and split it 3 ways to share between the girls.

*New crop for me this year. Didn't plant last year.

I don't have a picture of the garden, so I'll just post this picture of an Eastern Screech Owl who hung out on our porch the other night.