Sweet Cherry Tomatoes

These are the first-fruits (literally) from the tomato end of the garden. The kids absolutely love them! Besides serving them "as is", I made a yummy salad.

Toss feta, some crushed red pepper flakes and a tablespoon of olive oil in a small bowl.

In a large bowl, combine about a pound of cherry tomatoes (cut in half), a can of drained and rinsed chickpeas, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, a tablespoon of white wine vinegar, course salt, and cracked pepper to taste.

Then, add the feta mixture. Toss gently together and serve.

It doesn't get much easier than that!

Recipe courtesy of Fine Cooking.

Delicious!

We have been enjoying fresh lettuces and kale. Also, the first of the cherry tomatoes have been in and the kids gobble them up like candy! My basil and italian parsley is also doing well.

Yum. Yum.

Over and out.

Transplants to Outside

Planted!

My plants are...planted.

Pictures to come.

Vegetables to come.

Weeding to come.

Almost ready to plant!

Most of my plants have survived being raised by me. It is almost time to plant!
I planted Italian parsley, some fancy tomatoes, kale, red leaf lettuce, buttercrunch lettuce, Texas sweet onions, green onions, leeks, basil and rosemary. I will direct sow some carrots and cukes.

Here is my plum tree I received for Mother's Day. Yum! I can't wait for a great plums!!!

My garden bed. It took 42 cinder blocks (we had to go back for two more). They are heavy. Very heavy. I put weed blocker fabric down before the dirt went in.

The inside dimensions ended up being 2' 8" by 9' 10". We filled it with 2 yards of compost/soil.

Progress-A Few Weeks Ago

My grow light is emminating it's rays of heat and "sun". Most of my veggies and herbs are seeded and some are sprouting!

I've priced-out cinder blocks and just need my Dad to find a time to get them with me.

Things are coming together!

Home Farming

This website has been helpful to me during my gardening tutorial. :)

My grow light is put together. My seeds arrived!

Excited!

The Raised Garden Bed

First of all, I have no idea whose legs those are.

I would like to make a raised bed this year for the following reasons:

1. It is a designated spot for my manageable garden. I'm trying not to dive in too deeply, too quickly.

2. I've heard lots of great things about them (great drainage, soil control etc.).

3. I'm thinking cinderblocks, because wood would rot and I'd have to start all over again.

Any input?

Considering What to Plant

Cauliflower!

Kale!!

Cosmic Purple carrots!

Planning

Because it looks and feels like this outside...

I can't do much else but than plan.

Prior proper planning prevents poor performance.

Great gardening gurus get great greens.

Bad botonists birth brown botanicals. You get the picture!

I ordered some seed catalogs and I know I am in "zone 5". That is already more than I did last year! :)

Goals, Near and Far

To those who know me, it is no secret I have two brown thumbs. I don't know how that happened! I grew up with a large garden, berries, honey bees and sheep. One would think I could manage to grow a pot of basil.



I want to change that about myself.



I love fresh produce. I have a husband and two kids who love fresh produce. There is no reason why we can't grow our own fresh produce. Besides, great organic produce costs almost a king's ransom!



I thought I would create a diary to keep me on-task. This will also be a means to help my children learn to work hard and be productive in life, as well as resourceful.

GOALS

1. Create and maintain a garden of vegetables and herbs.

2. Keep some chickens.

3. A goat?

4. One Mr. Moo to slaughter every year.