Pictorial Garden Update #2

Well, this week I got my zucchini moved into my homemade EarthTainer and they seem pretty happy. For instructions on how to make your own check out Ray Newstead's EarthTainer site. There is a 16 page PDF document and instructional videos at TomatoFest.com. 

Checked in on the worms and they were really going at the food I have placed in there. I added some crushed up some egg shells and tangerine peels which I cut up real small. Of course I am thinking you can toss anything in there but come to find out that citrus rinds may not the best thing for them. Something about being too acidic. From what info I found I should be alright as I didn't put too much in, perhaps 1/2 the peelings, so we shall see how it goes and hopefully no one can say I am a mean worm owner and they make it through it intact.

I am also expanding out beyond my balcony. I decided that I would try growing a few things on my front porch and so I put a tomato plant (Big Yeller-uns) out there. I a hoping for good results because it will get several hours more sunlight than my balcony. If all goes well, I might keep adding to my porch until the association complains or I run out of room. I also started some California wild flowers and some sunflowers in an old toy in on my back porch.

Sadly, some of my lettuce bit the dust. Being my first time trying to grow some leafy greens I am not all that tuned into their light and heat requirements. Undoubtedly, I probably started them a little late and with a few toasty days last week, perhaps it was more than they could bare. I moved them to a more shady spot so we will see how they fare.

Now for the pics...

Zucchini in their new EarthTainer home

Happy Spinach. These guys are really coming along.

Radishes

Bush Beans. These guys are loving it. I swear they have doubled in size since last week.

Oh yeah, we are also working on a new D.I.Y. home for the Guinea Pigs, they are a little cramped at the moment. I'll try and get some pictures up of my projects not seen here.

• Ray Newstead's EarthTainer site
  
• TomatoFest.com
  

Dunder Mifflin Poster

Ok, so this is not on topic at all, but I am excited about it anyway. Here is the story...

I am not much into watching T.V. but I do enjoy watching the show The Office. So much so that at one point I joined their Dunder Mifflin Infinity website which is basically like other social sites but only about The Office. There were weekly tasks and what not that you had to do and they generally coincided with what happened on that weeks episode. So last year there was a task to design a Dunder Mifflin Poster with a Green theme to it and so I quickly bashed this out:

Well I was watching The Office tonight and in a scene where they were in the kitchen, something familiar caught my eye that was hanging on the side of the refrigerator.

So, I pulled up the poster I made and checked out the back episodes online and sure enough, there it is. I don't know why, I am just kind of excited about the whole thing and think it is pretty cool.

I wonder if I can use this on my resume?

Stitch-It-Yourself Shoes

I have had my eye on the Simple Men's Stitch-It Moccasinfor quite some time but could not bring myself to spend $60 on them. So the other day I while I was looking for some soft soled shoes for my youngest son, I noticed that they were sale for just under $15 and I ordered up a couple pair in different colors.

When they arrived on my door step the yesterday I immediately set to putting the together. It was a bit of a tedious task stitching them together and my only complaint is that the amount of string they give you just doesn't cut it. Fortunately I ordered two pair and used one set of strings from the other pair to finish the first pair. I called the shoes manufacturer to request more string or inquire where I might buy some. They were very understanding and asked how much more I needed and said they would get it out in the mail today. How is that that for great customer service? No run around or anything like that.

Anyway, it took me several hours to stitch them together and my pinkie fingers are a bit chewed up and bandaged from using them to pull the stitches nice and tight, but all in all it was a fun project putting these shoes together. It is not every day that you get to participate in putting your own shoes together. Here is my sand colored pair yet to be assembled with my finished pair.

Oh and did I mention that these shoes are extremely comfortable and come with a nice squishy insole. So, if you are into the do-it-yourself type of thing and are looking for a nice comfortable moccasin and you are not bothered walking around in shoes your wife calls "Peasant Shoes," you might want to check these out.

• Simple Men's Stitch-It Moccasin
  
  

Pictorial Garden Update #1

So, here is what is growing. This week, I am going to get my homemade version of the EarthBox set up with two of my zucchini plants. I also have some arugula that has sprouted and I will start to harden the off this week. The worm box is coming along well. They have found the food and are busy at work and doing what they do.

Zucchini

EarthBox Bush Beans

Radishes

Spinach

Parris Island (Romaine) Lettuce

Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce

The Garbage Warrior

Garbage Warrior is the fascinating story of EarthShip eco-architect Micheal Reynolds' fight to build off-the-grid self-sufficient communities, well... out of garbage. This documentary follows his struggle against big business and his lobbying to change the legislation of New Mexico to enable him to build these experimental structures and sustainable living test sites. It is hard to watch this film and not be baffled and angry at the ineptitude of governments and politicians as they hem and haw and try to squash this kind of innovation.

Also check out the entertaining interview of Michael Reynolds by Stephen Cobert on the Cobert Report.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Michael Reynolds
comedycentral.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor NASA Name Contest

Milk Crate Raised Bed Planter

I Came across this great video for a raised planter bed which utilizes milk crates on the How-To Homestead site. It seems this concept would lend itself nicely to an urban environment if you have a little space. Check it out.

• Print out PDF with detailed instructions
  

How To Make A Self Watering Container

Here is a great video on how to make a self watering container from Homegrown Evolution. I have been on the lookout to try and find and liberate some food-grade buckets from local reasturants so I can do this project but have had no luck so far.

If you are looking for some ideas you can check out these two PDFs:

• Homemade Earthbox® style ideas from seattleoil.com
  
• Self-Watering Container from the Univeristy of Maryland

I made a version of one of these out of storage tubs last year and attempted to grow some cucumbers out of it. It worked great and the plants grew like crazy and took over my back porch,  but both my cucumbers and zucchini got hit with powdery mildew and before I could get it under control it all just got out of hand and I had to give up on the plants. My plan is to grow my zucchini out of it this year so I will post up some pictures when it is rolling.

2009 Sunflower Guerrilla Gardening Day

It's the third International Sunflower Guerrilla Gardening Day on May 1. Originating from Brussels the idea of sowing sunflowers anywhere has been catching on. Beautiful, tasty, wildlife friendly, non-invasive, and very easy to grow, for guerrilla gardeners, and those still wondering how to get started this is the time to dig in! You needn't wait until May 1, consider this a month long party, don't leave the house without a few sunflower seeds in your pocket and find some friends to join you on a walk around your neighbourhood sowing sunshine.

• Read tips and see photos here.