THE MODERN VICTORY GARDEN CHALLENGE

What??? I thought I was through with these things. I mean over the years I have taken prt in buy nothing new challenges, freezing my ass off challenges, saving my urine challenges, etc.- Most of these put on by the Crunchy Chicken. But I was perusing my blog the other day and grew reminiscent (and add the fact I am retired now and need a project) for the Independence Day Challenge, put on by Sharon Astyk. It was such a great tool to use to learn more about self sufficiency, and preparing one's self to become more independent. The trouble is it seems to have vanished over the years, so I thought "Rob we need to bring this back". So here it is, The Modern Victory Garden Challenge!

 THE MODERN VICTORY  GARDEN CHALLENGE:

 

1- Grow your own- means grow your own food be it from a huge multi-acre farm/garden, or a backyard garden or even a few pots. Maybe just some sprouts grown indoors. Just grow something!

2-Repair your own - from a brken shovel handle to rebuilding a tractor, repair it yourself and share

3- Learn something NEW! learning a new technique or something to help your garden grow. Could include but not limited to learning seed starting, recipe to cook something or new way to preserve food

4-Eat It! Share how you eat your homegrown food!

5- PRESERVE IT! Share how you are preserving your home grown food. Could include home cannin freezing or dehydrating

There you have it. Sounds pretty easy? I will post monthly and hope you all will join in!

Rob's Independence Day Posts from the past!

Pea Shoots

I love pea shoots! I sometimes grow some in the winter inside just to use them in stir fry! Easy to grow inside- just plant some peas in a shallow planter, place in a sunny window and poof! You can start taking them when they are about 2" tall! And this is fun for the kids; a quick and easy to teach them about growing things!
In the garden, as your peas start growing and you start thinning, don't dispose of the thinnings! You can use the thinnings in the kitchen!
Pea shoots are the tiny, tender leaves and vines of young pea plants. Any type of pea will suffice, but sugar pod peas are the easiest types to grow for shoots and tendrils, since they tend to shoot up faster and stay light and crisp. Pea shoots and tendrils are tender enough to serve with no or minimal cooking. They are often tossed into salads or on top of soups. You can always add a few curls as an edible garnish. Pea shoots and tendrils are also a tangy addition to stir-fired dishes or simply steamed or sautéed as a side dish.
Wondering how to cook pea shoots? Here's an easy, quick and tasty pea shoots and tendrils recipe from Kim Knox Beckius, a blogger at About.com

A quick green house visit

After having some success in the greenhouse last year, this spring has become a season of renewal. After finally getting the broccoli monkey off my back, I am back again with gusto, am an even trying Romanesco broccoli this season as well as Cauliflower. Of course some seeds do not need the greenhouse to jump start their growth- so the chard, lettuce and basil will have to wait until it gets a bit warmer. But I already have sown radishes and beets in the "ground".

Attack of the Killer Shrooms

Well another mushroom kit post! This is my second crop from my "Back to the Roots" mushroom kit... if you look close, You will notice I got mushrooms coming out both sides... The Old side decided to "volunteer" some new mushrooms. I am thinking that moving it into the bathroom was the trick. Gotta love volunteers!

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

It's Mushroom Harvest Time...

Call me a Garden Science Geek! I heart my mushroom kit. I really helps since Back to The Roots have kinda adopted Ron Popiel's "Set it and forget" philosophy... meaning that it is so easy to grow your own mushrooms, a child could do it! I have harvested my first crop of mushrooms, dehydrated about half, and now my mushroom kit is endeavoring on it's 2nd Crop. I think this has been the best Gardening "Invention" since the composter! When My 2nd crop is grown and harvested, I am thinking I will compost the mushroom soil into my potted plants!
Here is some more info on Back to the Roots and their mushroom kits and how they handle waste! Note- I have moved the mushroom kit to the bathroom to see if the humidity from the shower increases the yield!

Mushroom Growing

I decided to tackle another form of indoor gardening- Mushrooms! I got a couple of starter kits from Back To the Roots, and so far so easy to grow Oyster Mushrooms in your kitchen or a closet or any dark cool space in your home. Just cut some slits in the bag, and soak in a bucket of water for 24 hours, put back in the handy card board box, mist twice a day (the hard part!) and very shortly you should have your first crop of mushrooms!
Some of the features of the Mushroom kit:

• Up to 1 1/2 lbs per crop (pearl oyster mushrooms)
• Multiple crops (at least 2, though some have got up to 4!)
• Grow your first crop in as little as 10 days!
• Just 3 Easy Steps - Open, Mist, and Harvest (spray mister included).
• All indoors - just set on a kitchen window sill and mist twice a day (mister included)
• The soil inside is 100% recycled coffee grounds - safe & sustainable
• 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

At the community garden, one of the gardeners grew a patch of oyster mushrooms, using old coffee grounds from Burien Press for a growing medium...which is what got me interested in the Mushroom kit to begin with- They use coffee grounds as their medium. So watch the side bar to see how my mushrooms do!