Crowned Queen "B"...

I found myself wandering around the garden

this evening in my pj's & slippies taking photos of...

broccoli!

Please excuse the weeds underneath...all thanks

to organic poop(chicken) fertilizer...

Broccoli is one of the things everyone in my family will

consume, and fortunately, a very

nutritious veggie we can grow

in our backyards. Broccoli belongs to the cabbage family

and has many healthful properties including anti-cancer,

vitamins A, B, C and K in addition to several minerals.

This is the beginning of the crop.

I cut the middle"crown" and have smaller crowns which

I left to grow. Had enough tonite to steam for the family!

Blessings from Queen B.

ML

Baking Lasagna

Sounds like I'm cooking, doesn't it?

It's true, I am cooking, but it's the garden that

is baking just in time for Spring. I read Pat Lanza's

Lasagna Garden and had to experiment with the concept.

It's perfect for people who like a "recipe" and carry

out the directions for "baking".

First, I measured a sunny spot in the garden. 4'x8'.

Next, I flattened cardboard boxes (thanks friends!) &

laid them out in my new garden spot. Completely

soaked the cardboard with water...

Notice, NO digging or tilling by this gardener,

just lay the cardboard on TOP of the ground!

The next steps are repetitive until your "lasagna"

is about 18-24" tall.

I spread a layer of peat moss over the cardboard,

then a 4" thick layer of chopped leaves(thanks

yard guys!), followed by more layers of peat moss,

composted manure(cheapat Lowe's), peat moss,

compost from personal pile,

peat moss, another layer of composted manure, peat

moss, some bonemeal & bloodmeal.

Get the picture? Like lasagna, the layers of noodles,

sauce, cheese, noodles, sauce, cheese!!!!!!!

Today, I am going to the fishing store to buy some

worms. I'll throw them in, cover the "lasagna" with

black plastic and let it bake til I am ready to plant

veggies in March!

Will report on developments.

Blessings from the Lasagna Garden.

ML

Trashy!

Gotcha with the title?

This year I resolve to pay more attention to trash.

I plan to continue recycling kitchen scraps in order to boost

the nutrition of my garden soil, as well as recycling general

"house trash"(newspaper, cardboard, aluminum, etc.)

I am researching compost containers specifically for

the kitchen counter. Currently, I keep my veggie waste

& coffee grounds(and filters) in a plastic(not green!) bag at

the sink. There are "decorative" containers to put all those

veggies in which makes it a bit more decorative!

Do you have a reusable shopping bag to take to the grocery store?

That's another thing I resolve to improve.

According to www.reuseit.com, Americans

consume about one million plastic bags per minute.

Instead of placing those empty shopping bags in the back of my car where I

usually forget about them, I will keep them in the front passenger side in sight.

Most grocery stores give a few cents off for each re-usable bag that

you bring to the store.

That's the trash for now!

Blessings from the Garden.

ML

Lasagna Garden Prep

In nursing school the first thing we were drilled

on was to "gather supplies" before entering our

patient's room.

Well, that is what this week

is about for our first lasagna garden.

I've asked the neighborhood yard men to

save chopped leaves and mowed winter grass.

Just bought a large bag of peat moss and a

bag of composted manure.

My friends have supplied me with cardboard and

newspapers which start the process as the bottom

"layer" to the lasagna!

I think this concept will be a great attraction for

new gardeners in April during the Sacred Heart

Garden Festival's home garden tour.

Did you say, "huh"? Details on this method to follow.

Will report.

Blessings from the Garden.

ML

Dream!

Winter is not my favorite. I try to make the

best of cracked skin, dry lips, and just plain

being cold by plowing through seed catalogs

and the Feb/March garden mags from last year

(& possibly from years past!).

Now is the time to dream about your garden and

begin the process of planning for 2010. More and

more people are finding spots in the yard to

plant some veggies with hopes of harvesting

throughout the summer. Start dreaming now

to make juicy ripe tomatoes a reality in the spring.

Here are some online assignments for inspiration:

www.rareseeds.com

request a catalog, the photos are stunning!

www.johnnyseeds.com

www.carletongarden.blogspot.com

go through this website's past years, she

takes super pics, skippy is her waterdog!

www.seedsavers.org

request a catalog, great photos!

Blessings to you from the Winter Garden.

Happy New Year.

ML