Garden Walk What's Growing On?

First we start with the potato condo- looks like we will have to add a new floor!

Then we check the columnar apples- leaf growth!

The five dollar apple tree I bought on a plant close out sale is coming along as well!

Time to check out the damn broccoli- looks good
looks like Romeo found something to nibble on.

Postal Workers Food Drive is Saturday

Just a quick reminder that the National Association of Letter Carriers is holding their annual food drive on Saturday, May 9th. It is so simple to donate a gift of canned food- Simply leave in a bag on your mail box. According to the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), this is the nation’s largest one-day effort to stamp out hunger. Also all food donations remain local so the local food banks should do well this week. The postal union is seeking to exceed last year’s record 73.1 million pounds of food delivered to community food banks and pantries, and this is an easy way for people to donate.

And for you all involved with the Independence Days Challenge, a good opportunity to earn your "Build Community Food Systems" badge. So leave a bag with canned food for your postal worker to pick up!

Plant Sale to benefit Stanley Stamm Summer Camp

May 8th and 9th, There will be a benefit plant sale of Tomato and pepper plants to benefit the Stanley Stamm Summer camp. It will be held at the Grocery Outlet, 236 S.W. 152ND ST, in Burien, prices start at $1.25 per plant. A great way to grow tomatoes and help out a good cause at the same time- Hat Trick! So if you haven't started your tomato plants, or just want to grow a couple, come on out and pick some up! I know I will be there onFriday or Saturday buying tomatoes (I can never get enough of good tomato plants) and maybe pick up some peppers! I talked to Carol (the organizer/grower) and she is doubtful about the peppers but says she will have around 80 varieties of tomatoes, lots of cherry tomatoes, and some heirloom tomato plants.

Personally, I think this is a capital way for an organization to earn money. And cool to sell "plantables" instead of chocolate bars, too. Anyone out there raise money for an organization doing cool things like this?

Coffee, Tea or Ivy? The Weekly Challenge Update

My coffee carafe planter
Using the new format that Sharon came up for the independence challenge- note: Cook Something New has become Eat the food (I assume that you harvested)Preparation and storage took over for the two categories Prepare something and Store Something- makes sense to me!


Sharon's Independence Day's Challenge-
1. Plant something: Basil, acorn squash, pumpkins, summer squash
2. Harvest something: Just some sprouts. And a nibble of lettuce.
3. Preserve something: Nothing
4. Reduce Waste (recycle, reuse, reduce or compost something): Made a planter out of a coffee carafe; some coffee grounds into the compost from starbucks
5. Preparation and Storage: Built one more raised bed for the pumpkins (moving them into the backyard from the front this year)
6. Build Community Food Systems: Hoping to learn more about the “P-Patch” at next weeks Sustainable Burien meeting.
7. Eat the Food: Ate the sprouts I picked this week on a nice salad

Melinda’s Growing Challenge Planting time- Acorn squash, pumpkins, summer squash. Will be planting my seed started tomatoes tomorrow, weather permitting

MELINDA'S BUY SUSTAINABLY CHALLENGES: Getting the gardening purchases out of my system. Little info-mercial watcher that I am, I did by a “Garden Aug” to attach to my drill. Billy Mays is the devil.

Crunchy’s sustainable food budget challenge: (last post for this challenge) Well, I had $39 to last the final week of April. I did not make it. Groceries- $29, Freezer/Pantry Items (Estimate) $20, Coffee Stops $3, lunch at work $9 I went $22 over the budget for the month of May. Not too bad, but I really need to look at my spending habits (And coffee stops might have to be the first to go!)

Free Cycling- Corporate Edition

I was walking around one of the main buildings at work, and I saw a sign"Free Corner" and on top of a small file cabinet there were Items that folks were giving to each other. Upon looking further, I noticed the items were not limited to office supplies, but rather to small items that folks were gifting to each other. I thought how cool- if you need a stapler, check this free corner first! My company has always been pretty good about their surplus items, We have big surplus bins on the loading dock that the company takes and resells. They use to have a surplus sales store that was very popular here for years. They closed that and now do mainly online auctions. But how cool to have a group do that at work on their own. This Free-Cycle thing is getting big! How about were you work? Do you have any type of free cycle or surplus program?

Independance Days Part Deux

Sharon is doing the independance days challenge again! Stupid me, I never realized it was over!

A sure sign that spring is here

The Farmer's market in Burien will be opening next Thursday- A true sign that spring is here. Along with worms and fresh baked bread and fresh fruits and veggies. I can't wait.

I am hoping that "The worm mama" makes her return as I froze my little buddies(My Bad)- they are now total compost. And I have since moved the worm bin to the tool shed awaiting new tenants.

And I can't wait for tasty leeks to make leek and potato soup. And berries to make tasty jam. And this year I am going to buy a doggy blanket or jacket from the doggy blanket lady for Romeo, And a cat blanket for Sammy. And some more plants from the Alpine plant man. Yup, a good thing that farmers market!

What's the one thing that is a must buy for you at your local farmer's market?