quote:

Originally posted by veggiegal:
I love your garden shed...Your garden also looks GREAT....

Thanks. Amish make lots of nice sheds for about $1800 and up.




I can thank all the people here for helping me with my garden.





I don't know what the hell I'm doing, but I keep trying to grow stuff, all sort of stuff and see what meshes with me. Right now carrots seem to be a big hassle since I have so many weeds in them and did not grow them right.



A few people mentioned suggestions, schedules etc in organizing one's garden life. The thing with organization is make it 'authentic' to one's abilities and not someone's else's.

If we do it on another's schedule it is forced and not comfortable for us many a time

We all have certain abilities and capabilities and we must try to live within them if we wish to be at peace.

It is like a person that wishes to be a marathon runner and is only capable of walking around the block with a walker. If they push some, maybe they can go 2 blocks. And if they push some more and train hard they maybe can lose the walker and walk 3 blocks. But no matter how hard they push and train they are no marathon runner.

Just got to accept our abilities. And if we wish to push a little OK, buy if we push too much something can break...US!

Of course, this is a 'simpletons' approach. If you are of the overachiever mentality or a politician, then my theories of not of much value to you.

But whether one is a marathon runner type of gardener or an invalid gardener just trying to move around...we can all try to do better than this poor person that returned his/her tree for a refund at Lowes.

quote:

I don't know what the hell I'm doing, but I keep trying to grow stuff, all sort of stuff and see what meshes with me. Right now carrots seem to be a big hassle since I have so many weeds in them and did not grow them right.

Allenwrench, I feel so much the same. Don't know what I'm doing, although that's only in this particular garden. I grew up in the valley and gardens are so easy down there in the rich soil, but here on the mtn , at 2000 ft elevation in the Fir forest, it's just so different. I'm going against my botanical whiz/landscape architect brother's advice (didn't spend a lot of money 'installing' the garden, but am doing it bit by bit, without a lot of cost, each season a little more), and am just finding out what grows and doesn't. For instance, he said I couldn't grow blueberries. Yes and no. That is, they don't work natively because it's too arid in the dry months (Late May thru late October) , but with regular watering, I was able to feed him a small handfull of blueberries last year when he was visiting. That was success !!! I understand his perspective "Thriving rather than surviving" but, I am more interested in finding out what my microclimate will produce with moderate attention. Everybody around these mountains where I live has a microclimate which they have to be guided by, rather than using generalities (as my bro's advice). My microclimate is a steep slope facing WestNorth in summer which gets too much heat, and in winter gets a permafrost on the ground from the NorthWest slope away from the sun. So, fruit trees, and even apples are doing nicely , as they are getting just enough dormant time. Everything is so young in my garden, it's difficult for me to imagine it all 10 years old.

quote:

A few people mentioned suggestions, schedules etc in organizing one's garden life. The thing with organization is make it 'authentic' to one's abilities and not someone's else's. If we do it on another's schedule it is forced and not comfortable for us many a time. We all have certain abilities and capabilities and we must try to live within them if we wish to be at peace. Just got to accept our abilities. And if we wish to push a little OK, buy if we push too much something can break...US!

I think this says it perfectly for me. Thanks Allenwrench ! Glad to have some cameraderie here.

quote:

Originally posted by Whit:

quote:

Originally posted by jayjay:
why not do it right here on this thread? How would you go about it? Gotta start somewhere... ~jen

well, what do you think? maybe assign numbers to the Zones (aka Beds) you already have and pick a task that seems to get avoided...but it would have to be something that you can start and leave uncompleted if you have to--if you stick with the 10 minutes and a timer rule like Flylady's Zone Missions. Although in creating new beds, you could use that as a Zone mission too, but maybe they would be better planned as something like "Family Fun Date" or "Clean Car Boogie" days.

Weekly blessing could be something as simple as organising your tools each week, or making a plan for the week's worth of work and organising the items you'll need for the jobs.

Could you see this: 27 Weed Pullin' an' a Chuckin' Boogie? Hot Spot prevention could be literally for hot spots that need more water (altho i think you'll find that with the soaker hoses you won't have that problem.) Hot spots could be saved for harvest as well...you could call it Rot Spot Prevention, time used to find ripe bounty and harvest before it spoils.

Maybe i'm hyped up on a little too much caffeine today and this is all too corny, eh?

I think we ought to do something like that in the way of a complete thread, what do you think You want to start it? YOu seem to know the FlyLady stuff much more than I do. I love your ideas..... heh heh... the 27 Weed Pull Boogie ! THat's GREAT! Hot Spots and RotSpots are very clever Whit ! I love, love , love the corny cob stuff. Thanks !

quote:

Originally posted by jayjay:

quote:

I don't know what the hell I'm doing, but I keep trying to grow stuff, all sort of stuff and see what meshes with me. Right now carrots seem to be a big hassle since I have so many weeds in them and did not grow them right.

Allenwrench, I feel so much the same. Don't know what I'm doing, although that's only in this particular garden. I grew up in the valley and gardens are so easy down there in the rich soil, but here on the mtn , at 2000 ft elevation in the Fir forest, it's just so different. I'm going against my botanical whiz/landscape architect brother's advice (didn't spend a lot of money 'installing' the garden, but am doing it bit by bit, without a lot of cost, each season a little more), and am just finding out what grows and doesn't. For instance, he said I couldn't grow blueberries. Yes and no. That is, they don't work natively because it's too arid in the dry months (Late May thru late October) , but with regular watering, I was able to feed him a small handfull of blueberries last year when he was visiting. That was success !!! I understand his perspective "Thriving rather than surviving" but, I am more interested in finding out what my microclimate will produce with moderate attention. Everybody around these mountains where I live has a microclimate which they have to be guided by, rather than using generalities (as my bro's advice). My microclimate is a steep slope facing WestNorth in summer which gets too much heat, and in winter gets a permafrost on the ground from the NorthWest slope away from the sun. So, fruit trees, and even apples are doing nicely , as they are getting just enough dormant time. Everything is so young in my garden, it's difficult for me to imagine it all 10 years old.

quote:

A few people mentioned suggestions, schedules etc in organizing one's garden life. The thing with organization is make it 'authentic' to one's abilities and not someone's else's. If we do it on another's schedule it is forced and not comfortable for us many a time. We all have certain abilities and capabilities and we must try to live within them if we wish to be at peace. Just got to accept our abilities. And if we wish to push a little OK, buy if we push too much something can break...US!

I think this says it perfectly for me. Thanks Allenwrench ! Glad to have some cameraderie here.

Well, with me, accepting my comfortable capabilities is sort of a necessity, as I have many time intensive areas pulling at me.

Got a sensitive stomach and have to cook and bake my own food. High maintenance body that demands exercise or it goes down hill and decomposes.

Other areas of sleep problems if my 'sticky mind' is overexcited. So, to borrow a famous prhase...'it if does not fit I must acquit' when it comes to problem child's in my life. And the better I do this the better life I have when it comes to inner peace and health.

Setting up this garden has been lot of work and I hope to get it in shape where it can be maintained with an hour or two every other day.

Anyway, keep on experimenting with what fits you comfortably. I question everything and experiment with which complexities could be removed and which need to stay in order to live a balanced life.

We make what we want of Voluntary Simplicity, there are no rules other than if you do not do enough you do not get any results. There are no VS police to boss you around and tell you what is right or wrong. We have to decide this for ourselves as individuals.

quote:

Well, with me, accepting my comfortable capabilities is sort of a necessity, as I have many time intensive areas pulling at me.

Me too, and yet, like the first post, each of them overwhelms me (the FlyLady.com theme of perfectionalism sabotage) , I wonder why I even wanted a garden, what with all the other things. I'm finding it will get easier, it must, once I find the SweetSpot, and things get established... oh, and when I get the drip system

quote:

Anyway, keep on experimenting with what fits you comfortably. I question everything and experiment with which complexities could be removed and which need to stay in order to live a balanced life.

We make what we want of Voluntary Simplicity, there are no rules other than if you do not do enough you do not get any results. There are no VS police to boss you around and tell you what is right or wrong. We have to decide this for ourselves as individuals.

Very wise person you are. Making decisions to Refuse/ReUse/and Recycle are added to my Life of Simplicity, and not to always go out and buy This&That , without thought, in order to get projects going with almost instant gratification. Working harder instead of taking shortcuts in life is *very* difficult for me, probably most Americans, but what I enjoy doing. It would certainly be easier if I talked to my husband about buying cement blocks for the raised beds, but I just can't give up yet. Since I'm trying to do my garden without huge costs, just as a challenge for myself. Digging up rocks from the lower 5 acres and hauling them up to the house, just so I can wheel them down another steep slop into the garden again seems like the eternal idea of pushing a stone uphill, then having it roll down again. However, after a few years I might have some raised beds ! Where my garden plot is, it's very steep, so I must terrace everything and make gopherwire lined beds, which I have gotten not even one permanent one in yet.

Another example to save money (and the earth) is that I compost every kitchen scrap (and I cook most everything from scratch too), and boy is it a hassle to hike down into the garden every night, to the compost pile. Yet, over time I will have nutritious soil for each raised bed. So, where to start???? An hour each morning perhaps, going down to dig up rocks and hauling them up. Dang hard work, but someone's gotta do it. Thanks for your inspiration !

quote:

Digging up rocks from the lower 5 acres and hauling them up to the house, just so I can wheel them down another steep slop into the garden again seems like the eternal idea of pushing a stone uphill, then having it roll down again. However, after a few years I might have some raised beds ! Where my garden plot is, it's very steep, so I must terrace everything and make gopherwire lined beds, which I have gotten not even one permanent one in yet.

This is definately a case of one lady's trash.... We have no rocks of any kind here unless you buy them. Only sand, sand, and more sand. Many trees though, so hopefully I can fashion something to make my raised beds.

I'm afraid I am a fly baby flunkie. I couldn't manage to keep everything from the notebook going at the same time. You are just killing me with all this fly stuff in the garden.

Yeah, I love Whit's Fly-Wise humor. I can sure use it about now.

Today I made a cage for the compost pile, so it doesn't wander off. Heh, heh... I mean, so that the raccoons can't mollest it and make a mess of it every night. I figure all I've been doing is basically feeding the wildlife and then they get use to climbing the fence and start messing around with the plants. And I thought the deer were going to be a problem ! Now the compost pile will stay nice and mounded up so it can cook better.

I feel I did something really beneficial. The upside to the raccoon proof cage is that now I can let our German Shepherd loose in the fenced in garden and she can't raid the compost pile either. Why didn't I think of this before? She manages to find other things to make a nuisance of herself with though.

Congrats, Jayjay, on your compost bin! Excellent work! Hey, just an idea, so take it for what it's worth. We keep a moderately sized Tupperware container in our fridge (if there's a cool spot in your kitchen, i suppose you could keep it there) and we throw our kitchen scraps in there. Then we only have to empty it every 3-4 days. That might save you some trips out to the composter.

i like your idea for "setting the timer" and working on hauling your rocks. Just one bed at a time!! ) You're doing beautifully--one step at a time. I am trying that this wk with weeding. Dandelions are atrocious in our garden this year, and i am trying to do 5 minutes weeding moring and night. Last wk, i spent my "5 minute room rescue" time in my garden on the east side of our house and weeded it, replanted it, and mulched it in about 30 minutes.

I've been thinking about your wanting to develope a system...it's so hard because we are all in different stages of building. But as i trying little things, i keep sharing them here.

Go get 'em Tiger! You're doing a great job just chipping away at it a little at a time!

quote:

Originally posted by Whit:
Congrats, Jayjay, on your compost bin! Excellent work! Hey, just an idea, so take it for what it's worth. We keep a moderately sized Tupperware container in our fridge (if there's a cool spot in your kitchen, i suppose you could keep it there) and we throw our kitchen scraps in there. Then we only have to empty it every 3-4 days. That might save you some trips out to the composter.

I have a lovely handmade ceramic soup terrine next to the sink, which I put scraps in, and in the winter it takes a couple days to get full. I don't mind taking a hike down to the compost pile, I love to water it... talk to it... I should give her a name.

quote:

i like your idea for "setting the timer" and working on hauling your rocks. Just one bed at a time!! ) You're doing beautifully--one step at a time.

I am not there yet, haven't even gotten one rock. Oy...

quote:

I am trying that this wk with weeding. Dandelions are atrocious in our garden this year, and i am trying to do 5 minutes weeding moring and night. Last wk, i spent my "5 minute room rescue" time in my garden on the east side of our house and weeded it, replanted it, and mulched it in about 30 minutes.

I've been thinking about your wanting to develope a system...it's so hard because we are all in different stages of building. But as i trying little things, i keep sharing them here.

You are SO sweet ! But just like the house FlyLady, we are all at different stages. For example, I hardly could do the 28 thing fling boogie without fear of throwing away all my possessions. I have very little in the way of clutter, and what little is out on display is very sentimental. Outside , however, a differnt story. Oh, and my car is always a mess, and covered in dust from our long dirt road.
Thanks Whit....

Following up on my notebook post from above, I've started to go through and make notes from this year to plant for next year.

I finally used a notebook successfully. I keep it tucked up under my sun visor -- the front I use for business (mileage, etc), the back for the garden. It's not extensive, the whole garden so far has taken 7 5"x7" pages...mostly maps showing what I planted where, on what date, and expected maturity date. Then a log of when it rained, when I watered, what I harvested, etc.

Then I have a blog I've been keeping, it's public but mainly intended for my own use -- for example, me talking to myself about what to do with cukes next year: http://ohjustducky.blogspot.com/2008/08/cucumber-notes.html

Since I've made elaborate plans in the past...and lost them over the winter...I kind of like the online blog as a way to through my notes together.

(I keep another blog for "work" that is full of computer technical stuff, I find it handy to lookup when I *know* I did something before; and for the real geeks out there I also have a wiki at work that isn't publicly available where I keep information about the systems I'm in charge of...so other co-workers can figure out what I did after I drop from a heart attack one day)

Hey, JayJay,
just a few pictures i thought i would share with you. Maybe you could put up a pic of your new compost bin?

Whit

pictures at: http://mactutis.blogspot.com/2008/08/in-land-of-green-t...es-and-zucchini.html

Whit, nice garden! I commented on your blog, is that German? I am considering doing a garden blog. Anyway, my compost cover is not working, apparently the raccoons are figureing out how to get underneath the barbed edge bottom. They just dig, they're determined. But, I think if I put a weight on it.. maybe it will make it more difficult. I feel kind of bad that I'm taking away their midnight snack...

Wonder what would happen if you "fixed" it like a chicken coop, in that you found some hardware cloth or other "knit" fencing they can't get their little mitts thru and buried it about a foot underground.

Think that might help? Don't feel bad...racoons shouldn't be eating kitchen scraps, they should be eating racoony things like grubs and leafy things from the forest. I remember my dad came home from the mines with a Polaroid once of him feeding the racoons by hand out in the pits his tuna sandwich. Oy! Racoons!

Thanks, Jayjay! It's been 7 years to get to this point (and now we are talking about moving--ugh!) Yeah, i used to change the language on my blog up every once in a while, but settled on the German now for a while, because i have family over there.

Whit, I think your idea of making a cover that is set into the ground is great, and would be the final solution of course, but then I couldn't just lift the whole cage off of the top to work the composting soil. So, I'll accept the 'coons digging around a bit (they certainly can't make as bad of a mess as before). Maybe a weight on top, like a tub with some water in it would be weight enough. Hey, I could be brewing compost tea of course !

Danke!

~Jen