Independence Days Challenge update for the week of 9/28

Plant:  Garlic

Harvest: Sugar Pumpkins; Corn; Tomatoes; Bell Pepper; Onions

Preserve: Processed and froze pumpkin for pies, etc; Froze corn; Froze Tomatoes

Prepare:  Still updating my Laundry/Pantry/Mudroom

Local Foods: Some Cookies and bread from the Farmers' Market
Community: Took a bag of tomatoes to the food bank; took some cat food and a bag of  litter to the local animal shelter (they are in need); printed and distributed flyers concerning the Dog Park I and a bunch of Dog owners hope to get built!

Making Do (Repair, Re-Duce, Re-Use, Recycle): Reusing the corn stalks from the corn I harvested for a Halloween decoration before putting them in the yard waste bin

Weekly Challenge Update

Independence Days Challenge Year 4, Week 40
Plant something- Cauliflower, arugula, Chard,
Harvest something- tomatoes, lemon cucumbers, zucchini, Amaranth, mushrooms, chard, green peppers; Discovered my volunteer tomato plant was a “yellow pear cherry tomato”, which is funny as I did not plant one either season at the community garden
Preserve something- Froze amaranth, chard, peaches
Community: Found some more cans of cat food, donated to Pet Food Bank; Attended a benefit Auction for AARF, one of the local animal charities in the area
Preparation: Starting to think about winter and cold weather (and power outages) and doing some research on emergency heating
Eat the food/Try something new: A frittata with zucchini, mushrooms and green peppers
Waste Not/Repair, Re-Use, Recycle- made some vases out of old industrial light bulbs and some lamp parts
Want not: Bought some upside down planters at closeout price at Lowes- some for Christmas gifts, some for me!

Independence Days Challenge Year 4, Week 39

Plant something- collards, radishes
Harvest something- Tomatoes, Lemon Cucumbers, hot peppers,leeks
Preserve something- Lemon Cucumber Refrigerator pickles; froze 1/2 pound of Chard
Community: Participated in our City's Lantern Festival at the community garden
Preparation: Starting to build a new more permanent "green house"
Eat the food/Try something new: Lemon Cucumber Refrigerator Pickles; leek and potato soup
Waste Not/Repair, Re-Use, Recycle- Reusing old lights as an art project; made some lanterns for lantern festival out of old water and soda bottles, typical recycling
Want not: Bought a Used Storm door from Second Use for my "more permanent" green house

Weekly Challenge Update

Independence Days Challenge Year 4, Week 30
Plant something- collards, radishes
Harvest something- Tomatoes, Blackberries, Amaranth leaves, Dragon tongue beans, a few runner beans
Preserve something- Froze 1 pound of black berries
Community: Participated in our annual Community Garden Celebration (In cohorts with National Kitchen Garden Day
Preparation: Removing Blackberry canes, prepping garage reefer for removal
Eat the food/Try something new: blackberries and cream; boiled amaranth leaves
Waste Not/Repair, Re-Use, Recycle- I found an igloo cooler in the garbage… reused it, works fine
Want not: Parts to complete my “gutter garden”

Weekly Challenge Update

Independence Days Challenge Year 4, Week 28
Plant something- Lettuce and chard for fall crop in the gutter garden planter, beets, collard greens, hot mustard greens, broccoli
Harvest something- tomatoes, plums, chard, beets, peas, dill weed, broccoli
Preserve something- Froze ½ Lb of chard; ½ pound of beet greens
Community: Participated in the first Burien Pie Joust to benefit organization to put Bike racks in all over town; Attended a plant Sale for fall garden from my friend that has the green house at her home and has seasonal plant sales
Preparation: Starting to prep the allotment plot for fall, took out pea plants that are aged, hoping the tomatoes ripen before I have to remove the plants!
Eat the food/Try something new: Roasted beets, salad w/ lettuce, peas and tomatoes
Waste Not/Repair, Re-Use, Recycle- Recycling some planters
Want not: Bought some fall lettuce, collard greens and broccoli for fall garden from my friend that has the green house at her home and has seasonal plant sales; Bought a planting bag for next season

Weekly Challenge Update

Independence Days Challenge Year 4, Week 28
Plant something-Started some lettuce and Swiss Chard, for fall crop and a demo I am planning to do for the community garden day celebration
Harvest something- Plums, My First Tomato of the year! Beets,
Preserve something- Dehydrated some plums; cantaloupe
Community: Participated in the first Burien Walk N Talk
Preparation: Got my new Rain Barrel installed need to install the down spout
Eat the food/Try something new: Dehydrated plums
Repair, Re-Use, Recycle- making a mini rain barrel out of a 12 gallon tub I have for the porch and a garbage can lid
Want not: Nothing wanted this week
Plant A Row Challenge, August 2011
Well my First Carrots are about ready to pull out of the ground and be taken to the Food Bank. Along with some plums makes a better donation!

Weekly Challenge Update

Independence Days Challenge Year 4, Week 27
Plant something-Nothing
Harvest something- Some beets, chard, some amaranth leaves, 2nd batch of pearl oyster mushrooms,
Preserve something- Pickled 1 pint of chard stems, started a jar of celery salt (dehydrated celery leaves and kosher salt); froze 1 pound Swiss chard; Pickled beets, froze beat greens: froze remainder of the beet peels I didn’t eat for later use
Community: Starting to plan for our commumity garden/kitchen garden day celebration; found some more cat food to take for the pet food bank
Preparation: Seeing if I have room in the pantry/laundry/mud room for the freezer- would make it so much more convenient.
Eat the food/Try something new: Pickled beets; Amaranth leaves
Repair, Re-Use, Recycle- Found an old wooden trellis- perfect to use next season for peas, beans; Saw a bike made into a planter in my neighborhood!- gives me an idea what to do with my old bike
Want not: Ordered replacement bags for my mushroom kits; bought 5 pounds of pickling cukes;

Weekly Challenge Update

Independence Days Challenge Year 4, Week 27
Plant something- nothing
Harvest something- beets, chard, radishes
Preserve something: Pickled 2 ½ quarts of Daikon. Dehydrated a stalk of celery (about 1/2 quart of dried celery)
Community: attended a community garden work party and potluck
Preparation: nothing
Repair, Re-Use, Recycle- just normal recycling; dug a big old plastic Folgers can out of the garbage, use it to save coffee grounds at work
Want not: did not want at all this week.

Weekly Challenge Update- Shroom's week

Independence Days Challenge Year 4, Week 24
Plant something- Started a second crop of mushrooms
Harvest something: MUSHROOMS, radishes, some kale
Preserve something: Dehydrated remaining mushrooms to used later; Dehydrated some sweet potatoes; kale chips
Community: Made up flyers to two garden events at the community garden; attended a “block party” in Olde Burien; previewed the new art gallery in Olde Burien. Donated what was left of Sammy's food to the food bank (yes, one of our food banks takes Pet Food for their clients who have pets)
Preparation: Got another rain barrel; was thinking for the porch but it is too big So I will put in the front yard.
Repair, Re-Use, Recycle- normal recycling, reusing some big pieces of cardboard for weedblock in front yard project; saving bag of kitty litter for winter (I keep it in car in case I need traction)
Want not: Nothing

Weekly Challenge Update

Independence Days Challenge Year 4, Week 25
This week: you will notice I added Try something new to the eat the food category and changed Waste not with Repair, Re-use, Recycle
Plant something- Some radishes, Malabar spinach; Started an Oyster mushroom kit, Planted two tomatoes- 1 Julia Child and 1 spoon,
Harvest something: Some peas, radishes, beets, kohl rabi, some broccoli leaves, Swiss chard ,beet and beet greens; Broccoli Yes after years of pain, I finally have grown a head of broccoli!
Preserve something: Dehydrated some sweet potatoes, (mainly as a dog treat, but use in soups also; Pickled some radishes w/ onion; pickled some strawberries! (Always wanted to try this); Made and froze some sugared strawberries.
Community: Contacted one of the local food banks about putting some Veggies in their flower beds for a fall crop. Awaiting a response.
Preparation: Bought a rail at Ikea and some little pot like containers that hang from it for making a window herb garden at kitchen window! Got serious in cutting down the blackberry canes around my shed
Eat the Food/try something new: Radishes; Roasted Beets, beet greens, steamed chard; peas, pickled strawberries,
Repair, Re-Use, Recycle- Repaired my "bush hog" put a new primer bulb on it, and repaired the blade guard (What's a bush hog?- Think of a gas powered Weed Eater with a saw blade instead of nylon line- my number one tool in cutting down blackberry canes)
Want not: Got some canning jars;

I grew a head of Broccoli!!! (Applause) If you have followed this blog for a time, you will know the battles I have had with demon broccoli; My years if toil in the soil are over... here is the proof:
Okay, not a giant head of broccoli but a head of broccoli none the less.

Weekly Challenge Update

Independence Days Challenge Year 4, Week 24
Plant something-Some radishes,
In the greenhouse:
In the community garden plot: radishes, new carrot patch
Planted at home:
Harvest something: All my garlic, some leek thinnings , oyster mushrooms, strawberries, radishes, kohl rabi, pineapple weed;
Preserve something: Drying (dehydrating the garlic) I did it this way last year and it was fine. Cut up the garlic scapes and stalks and dehydrated
Community: replanted a new aquare of carrots for the Plant A Row challenge
Preparation: After reading about Malabar Spinach, ordered a packet of seeds to grow this wonderful vine! Bought some GORM shelving units at Ikea- changing pantry around!
Eat the Food: Local Pasta with a sauce made from infused olive oil with homegrown garlic, leek thinings, some oyster mushrooms, pineapple weed tea
Waste not: Cut up the garlic scapes and stalks and dehydrated
Want not: After reading about Malabar Spinach, ordered a packet of seeds to grow this wonderful vine!

Had to replant my square of carrots. I think the birds got all the seedlings. Luckily the Ed Hume seed packet I got had plenty!

Weekly Challenge Update

Independence Days Challenge Year 4, Week 22

Plant something-
In the greenhouse: Nothing-
In the community garden plot:Beans

Planted at home- radishes, peas, lettuce
Harvest something: Miner's lettuce, radishes, peas, foraged some pineapple weed,
Preserve something: nothing
Community: Volunteered at the B-town Bike Fair
Preparation: Fell in love with an "e-Bike" now saving my pennies for one

Eat the Food: Miners lettuce, radishes and peas in a salad

Waste not: figured out a way to reuse old shelf as a counter top on new drawers in kitchen
Want not: I'm good this week

Weekly Challenge Update

Independence Days Challenge Year 4, Week 20

Plant something-
In the greenhouse: Started some Runner beans-

In the community garden plot: Lemon Cucumbers, amaranth

Planted at home- radishes, pickling cucmbers, sugar pumpkins

Harvest something: French sorrel, miner’s lettuce, radishes, baby beets

Preserve something: nothing
Community: helped out at a booth for the B-Town Bike fair at the farmers' market
Preparation: Made a bunch of seed tapes for successive plantings; started assembling new cabinets in kitchen
Eat the food/eat something new: Salad with Sorrel, miners lettuce, radishes, baby beets
Waste not: Made an office chair using a chair base bought at the thrift store and a bike seat
Want not: bought some new cabinets for kitchen

Weekly Challenge Update

Independence Days Challenge Year 4, Week 19







Plant something-
In the greenhouse: Some Chammomile seeds.

In the community garden plot: Tomato plants

Planted at home- Tomato plants, tomatillo, Fennel, lettuce, radish,

Harvest something: French sorrel, miner’s lettuce, radishes

Preserve something: nothing
Community: Gathered some Strawberry Plants from the front garden for the community garden.
Preparation: Made a bunch of seed tapes, DIY'ed a window box to plant herbs and window box roma tomatoes
Eat the food/eat something new: Salad with Sorrel, miners lettuce and Chinese cabbage from last week.
Waste not: Made up some seed tapes and planted.
Want not: Bought two kitchen cabinets from IKEA.

Well let's see- I planted all my tomato starts. And I built a window box for flowers, herbs and Window Box Roma tomatoes and a few tumblers.

Weekly Challenge Update

Independence Days Challenge Year 4, Week 17
Well hell we had a week of good weather and my Chinese cabbage bolted. Luxky for me, It still tastes good and the flowers add a pretty to salad. I use it in omelets and such so is okay. Still I am up to my ears in the stuff!

Plant something-
In the greenhouse: Started some Dragon’s Tongue Beans- they seem to grow better started than just planted.
In the community garden plot: Kale
Planted at home- Kale , radishes, chard
Harvest something: Harvested- My Chinese Cabbage bolted, (just a week of warm weather!) so pretty much got all of it out before I plant more
Preserve something: nothing
Community: Supporting my Cousin’s family effort- they are putting on a concert to benefit American Cancer Society featuring Jason Wyatt
Preparation: Purchased a new frost proof Hose Bibb (spigot) for the front.
Eat the food/eat something new: Chinese cabbage salad, omelets featuring Chinese Cabbage
Waste not: Scavenged a delivery box - perfect Sq. foot garden planter
Want not: Purchased a new frost proof Hose Bibb (spigot) for the front, some lumber for the bike shed

Weekly Challenge Update

Independence Days Challenge Year 4, Week 18

Plant something-
In the greenhouse:

In the community garden plot:

Planted at home- Some lettuce, some peas, some beans, transplanted the miners lettuce from community garden to home (I found out it likes shade), radishes, beets, chives, chard

Harvest something: Harvested- chives, garlic scapes, some salad greens (mesclun mix), some sprouts, sage leaves and sage flowers, some lettuce

Preserve something: Dried some sage flowers and sage leaves

Community: went to my first farmer's market of the year. Found many of my favorite vendors had returned again this year, as well as some new ones!

Preparation: Installed a new frost proof Hose Bibb (spigot) in the back to water the porch garden.

Eat the food/eat something new: Chives and Garlic scapes in some Potato and Leek soup, salad greens, chives and sprouts in a salad
Waste not: Obtained 2 bench style cushions and 2 lawn chairs and a table from a guy at work... using one of the cushions for a dog bed in the rear of my car, and the other as a cushion on a bench (or another dog bed since Romeo takes his afternoon nap on the bench) and gave the lawn chairs and table for use in the community garden. also Some cool planter boxes from same guy at work- that are perfect for the Square Foot gardening method, And a garden tool rack!

Want not: bought some leeks, asparagus and radishes at the farmers market, and some fresh baked bagels, baked in tukwila (the next town over) with Washington state sourced wheat.

Home garden- Some lettuce, some peas, some beans, transplanted the miners lettuce from community garden to home (I found out it likes shade), radishes, beets, chives, chard

Harvested- chives, garlic scapes, some salad greens (mesclun mix), some sprouts, sage leaves and sage flowers, some lettuce

Preserve something: Dried some sage flowers

Some cool planter boxes from same guy at work- that are perfect for the Square Foot gardening method

Weekly Challenge Update

Independence Days Challenge Year 4, Week 17
Plant something-
In the greenhouse: Re-potted the Amaranth, the last of the tomato plants

In the community garden plot: Radishes


At home: Planted a second square of carrots for the Plant A Row program/challenge


Harvest something: Some lettuce, some Chinese cabbage, sorrel, miners lettuce
Preserve something:
Community: Very gratifying to see a lot of the Community Garden members come out to work at our first work party of 2011.
Preparation: Repaired two heavy duty extension cords, ordered the stuff to make my Solar Generator (finally!)
Eat the food/eat something new: just salad with lettuce, Chinese cabbage, sorrel, miners lettuce
Waste not: Repaired two outdoors extension cords, re-used a butt load of little plastic pots found in trash!
Want not: ordered the stuff to assemble my Solar Generator;


In the greenhouse: Re-potted the Amaranth, the last of the tomato plants
In the community garden plot: Radishes
At home:
Very gratifying to see a lot of the Community Garden members come out to work at our first work party of 2011. Dumb ass that I can be, I forgot to bring my camera.



Plant a Row for the Hungry- Planted a second square of carrots for the Plant A Row program/challenge

Weekly Challenge Update

Plant something-
In the greenhouse: Repotted the rest of the tomatoes.

In the community garden plot: Planted nothing. Mom want's to plant 3 tomato plants and lemon cucumbers this year

At home: More peas and beans and radishes. Started more alfalfa sprouts. Got my "Hanging garden" planted with Lettuce, Chard and greens.

Harvest something: Thinnings,
Preserve something:Nada
Community: First Work party for the community garden is set for next Saturday.
Preparation: Started cleaning out the garage.
Eat the food/eat something new: nothing new
Waste not: Just reused a bunch of water bottles found in the trash for my hanging garden.

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!