Weekly Challenge Update

Independence Days Challenge Year 4, Week 16
Plant something-
In the greenhouse: Repotted most of the tomatoes. Potted a pepper plant (impulse buy) To leave in the green house

In the community garden plot: Some Chard, carrots, beets, leeks, broccoli, radishes, daikon, Kohl Rabi, deer tongue (mache), borage

At home: Kohl Rabi, radishes, chrysantimum greens, Artichoke, beans, peas


Harvest something: Thinnings, some garlic scapes
Preserve something:
Community: getting the first community garden work party planned with my colleagues on the board ; Planted my “row” for Fleecenik Farm’s Plant A Row Challenge
Preparation: Made some hanging baskets and topsy turvey planters
Eat the food/eat something new: garlic scapes and thinning in tuna salad,
Waste not: Junk lying around for topsy turvey and hanging planters. Old lumber to build up a bed in the front yard It is pressure treated so using for a ornamental bed. Figured out how to reuse the bottle on my Mr. Clean Automatic shower cleaner ( again, an impulse buy) and will try using a vinegar solution in it.
Want not: bought a case of vinegar for cleaning and garden use.



Okay got out of my soy corn dog rut, made a green tea soup with rice and kelp. Bought some chocolate eggs for easter, ate one.


Planted my Ed Hume Carrot seeds that the Ed Hume Seed company sent at the community garden



In the greenhouse: Repotted most of the tomatoes. Potted a pepper plant (impulse buy) To leave in the green house
In the community garden plot: Some Chard, beets, leeks, broccoli, radishes, daikon, Kohl Rabi, deer’s tongue (mache), borage
At home: Kohl Rabi, radishes, chrysantimum greens, Artichoke, beans, peas

Very excited- my first amaranth seeds have sprouted in the greenhouse. Very excited to try amaranth leaves!

Weekly Challenge Update

Independence Days Challenge Year 4, Week 15

Plant something-

In the greenhouse: Nothing- waiting to repot!

In the community garden plot: Some Chard,

At home: Found one of my artichokes from last year either reseeded or wintered over- transplanted.

Harvest something: Dandelion greens and flowers

Preserve something:

Community: Started digging up some strawberry plants to plant at the Community Garden to share with others.

Preparation: Finished Bucket garden 2.0;

Eat the food/eat something new: dandelion greens in a salad

Waste not: scrap lumber making new garden bed borders Is pressure treated so using for a ornamental bed

Want not: Bought a new printer via Craig’s list; decided not to replace my computer- the dvd drive went out- both of them! Instead I bought an external DVD ROM drive for my netbook that works also on my PC.10% of the cost and almost none of the shipping packaging waste. Works fine. Soy Corn Dogs for dinner again. No wonder I get into ruts! But I love them!

Weekly Challenge Update

Independence Days Challenge Year 4, Week 14

Plant something- In the greenhouse: Started bell peppers, Lemon Cucumbers, pickling cucumbers

In the community garden plot: Chives

At home: Planted potatoes in the Potato Grow Bags I ordered

Harvest something: Just some sprouts

Preserve something: Dehydrated some sweet potatoes (both to use in soups and as dog treats); Community: Community Garden orientation today

Preparation: getting planting boxes ready; making tomato cages

Eat the food/eat something new: Nada

Waste not: scrap lumber and fencing making tomato cages

Want not: Installed new shower head (2 gallon per minute) Slowly installing LED Light bulbs in strategic areas

Do without


I was very good this week. Friday for dinner I had Corn Dogs- Yes I said Corn Dogs. I had bought some Soy Corn Dogs from Trader Joes. No candy, bought no mochas or lattes.

Weekly Challenge Update

Independence Days Challenge Year 4, Week 14

Plant something-

In the greenhouse: Ever the optimist, started some Habenero and Jalapeno peppers, started some Bell peppers;

In the community garden plot: Rosemary and Thyme; Onion Chives

At home: Bought 2 Red Currant Bushes to plant and celebrate Arbor Day; added another rhubarb plant to the rhubarb patch ; Planted some spearmint and pepper mint in pots

Harvest something: Some sprouts; foraged some chickweed as well

Preserve something: Nada

Community: Attending a Community Garden Board meeting Today!

Preparation: Made a soil block maker and shared how on my blog!

Eat the food/eat something new: Strawberries “Shortcake” Strawberries and whipped cream over biscuits- great for breakfast! Some foraged chickweed in a salad.

Waste not: Used an old clamshell to start seeds; reusing pop bottles to plant the wall garden Want not: Bought 2 Red Currant Bushes to plant and celebrate Arbor Day Made it through this winters frozen bun’s challenge. Did not get a cold this year. I survived by wearing sweatshirts, using my snugglie, and my electric warming throw blanket. The boys survived with help from their “Petzzz” Heated Pillows. And Romeo survived with help from the electric throw as well. With an occasional Sammy Cat visit. Well my first fail on this one… I forgot about meatless Friday and had chicken legs for lunch. Oh well, dust myself off, wipe the chicken grease from my chin and start over again.

Weekly Challenge Update

Plant something-

In the green house:

Started agretti; Mache (deer’s tongue), Fennel; Tomato- Tumbler; Tomato- Window Box Roma; Tomato- Red Robin (yum); Tomato- Virginia Sweets (free seeds from Tomato Growers Supply Co.; a bonus to my order);a banana pepper in the green house, planted some mesclun mix

At the community garden plot:

Miner’s Lettuce, purple broccoli, french sorrel, Dragon's Toungue Beans, Snow peas, Chinese Cabbage

Harvest something- More sprouts; some chives I found that wintered over well, foraged some chickweed

Preserve something- Made and froze some soup. Dehydrated some chives and put into a spice cannister

Local Food systems- was invited by some community garden members to a plant sale at someones private green house. Very cool to see what is possible to do with a greenhouse in an urban setting as far as a potential income maker. Also a friend got a plot at the community garden so of course made her a welcome gift of seeds, gloves and implements.

Preparation: Bought some lamps from the Ikea As Is department and a one from the thrift stores and one from the house lying around doing nothing to use for seed starting, found a light timer from Christmas to turn grow lights on at dusk and turn them off a dew hours later. Prepped the community garden spot for spring planting. Made a DIY Soil Block maker for seed starting- More about that tomorrow

Eat the food/eat something new- Baked Cheese with herbs picked last summer; a salad made with chives I harvested and some chickweed I foraged. Elk Stew bought at Eat local.

Waste not- Light timer for the greenhouse was from my Christmas box and re-used an old desk lamp for a CFL bulb to increase the light time.

Want not - Made a DIY Soil Block maker for seed starting- More about that tomorrow;Bought some lamps from the Ikea As Is department and a one from the thrift stores and one from the house lying around doing nothing to use for seed starting

Ate a salad with cheese and sunflower seeds and some fresh harvested chives and freshly foraged chickweed and a cheese sandwich. No candy, and I had a strong craving for a Mocha, so I made a mocha at home.