Big Spotted Cow

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Well, I'm still not convinced that we're in for a stretch of nice, warm, sunny gardening weather, yet what we have is what we've got!

My garden is growing nicely...but please don't tell the rabbits! So far, I've had a deer prune three of my broccoli leaves and a couple of nasturtiums, but that's all.

What have I learned by taking on this project? I've been reminded that lettuce seed is the first to come up, and the first to bolt (set seed itself). I've observed that location really is important, especially for tomatoes! I luckily put mine in pots, and after moving them three times seem to have found a spot that is sunny enough. But the biggest lesson I've learned is that if I could only eat what grows in my garden, I'd be a lot thinner! (And I'd probably figure out how to grow more things year 'round.)

How are YOUR Gardens doing? Are you getting ready to enter things at the Fair? Please help us fill the shelves in the Gardening & Environmental area!

 

Goats! Check out these photos!

Members of the Whidbey Island Meat Goats have been busy! Riley says,"This is my market goat 'Lashes.' I will be auctioning him at the Island County Fair in August. He was born and is being raised on our farm, Monkey Rench Farm. I am learning a lot about the goats' anatomy and how to auction market animals. This is me and Lashes with the judges at the Star Spangled Boer Goat show. I placed second in showmanship."

Hannah says,"this is my goat 'Hamburger.' He is a Boer cross and is gaining really fast. He and I placed 5th place this past weekend at the 'Star Spangled Boer Goat Show' both in showmanship and in the market class. We are having lots of fun learning with each other. I am going to be auctioning him at the Island County Fair in August. See ya there!"

Another garden to inspire you...

Great news! We have had another 4-H family join our garden fun! Jackie, Elizabeth, and Marc, of Whidbey Lone Stars, have provided photos of their Food For Thought garden. They report that so far, they have tomatoes, peppers, basil, chives, parsley, sweet peas, lettuce, marigolds, spinach, pole beans, squash, onions, broccoli, sunflowers, and potatoes.

Wow!. Sounds like our potluck could be really tasty!!!!!

New stump garden sited in Oak Harbor

It's official. Another stump garden has been discovered in Oak Harbor! At least three witnesses have substantiated the siting, and one of them has provided us with a photo.

To be honest, we don't know what to make of this one. Whereas Judy's has only tiny seedlings and small starts growing around it, this one appears to have a glorious bounty of ripe vegetables springing from its base. We do have a question or two about the authenticity of this stump garden, prompted by the appearance of what seems to be plastic bags - bags that look suspiciously like they are from the grocery story. We'll keep you posted as we discover  more.

Stay tunend!

NEXT YEAR!!!!!!

I just got off the phone with George Mount in Pullman, who is the Director of the WSU Center for Environmental Research, Education and Outreach (CEREO). Turns out there is an amazing opportunity for youth that we just missed this year. But it would be great if we could start planning for next year! Take a look at this and let me know what you think!

Imagine Tomorrow

Stump gardens vs. weedy gardens

OK, a stump garden is an odd thing, and who knows how successful the experiment will be. But the reason Judy planted several of them was to see how much food she could grow in the space she has available. So everything in her small yard has become potential garden space.

Some folks have lots of room, others have just a bit in the shade or only space for some containers on the porch.

But the theory is, EVERYONE can grow something to eat.

As a side note, the person who has given Judy the most grief about her stump gardens is someone who says she has put in a vegetable garden but so far has only brought in noxious weeds for identification (smile).

Anyone else out there gardening?

Maybe the real spring is here?

Today was another positively spring-like day. Cool, but not cold. Damp, but not wet. I suspect that the real spring has arrived.

This is supported by the fact my radishes, broccoli, and mesclun mix have germinated, broken ground, in the past couple of days. That means the soil temperature has risen to that where seeds grow. Woo hoo! I'm excited.

I ask you to think about what farmers must feel, as they wait for the weather (out of their control) to provide the variables needed for seed germination and plant growth. Think about the effort and resources they put into preparing the fields. Think about the investment they make into seed and fertilizer. Think about those who live in areas with spring snows, spring flooding, tornadoes, hail storms, etc. Think about these farmers who face all of these challenges as they raise families, get sick, need to repair their homes, plan to send their children to college.

I'm not talking about corporate farms, but individual farmers...what is their life like? We urge them to continue farming, say that we need the local produce they offer, plead that they maintain the tradition of farming and the protection of open space...in the light of these requests we place upon them, it is only fair that we consider the lives they must live to make it all happen.

So here are seeds of thought for you. Let me know what they grow into.

Definitely time to plant!

SATURDAY, MAY 18TH, 10AM-6PM: SUPER PLANTING SATURDAY for "PLANT A ROW FOR THE HUNGRY" at Hummingbird Farm (Ft. Nugent and Zylstra Rds.). ALL HARVESTS BENEFIT ISLAND FOOD BANKS. Plan to spend 1-2 hours at the farm. Learn to "Square Foot Plant," small space, huge harvest. Master Gardener Mentors/Volunteers needed for this YOUTH SPONSORED community garden. All are invited to please "Adopt a Row" for our neighbors in need. Pack a picnic lunch and bring your youth groups, service clubs, and families. Contact: lori@hummingbirdfarmnursery.com, 360-679-5044.

Here's a challenge for you!

Go to the grocery store with your family. Buy all of the food you will need for one day. Once you are at home, put everything out on the table.

How much of what you see is actually food? How much is packaging?

What needs to be done in order to prepare the food for your plate? What kinds of resources will be needed?

How many different jobs had to be done in order for you to have food on your plate? Remember to think about every person involved, from the very beginning of the food, to the very end when you ate it.

Post what you came up with!

How's Your Garden?

With a day of gorgeous spring weather on Saturday, Judy was out in her new garden! Never one to shy away from trying something new, she put in a new planting area around a big stump in the backyard. "I have no idea if the deer will nibble on the plants in the garden, but there's only one way to find out." She''s also not sure if the garden will get the amount of light it needs, with tall evergreens all around. But it is the space she has and she wants to learn how much food she can grow in it.

So far, she's planted onions, garlic, strawberries, snow peas, spinach, lettuce, carrots, radishes, broccoli, and nasturtiums. Why nasturtiums? Because they are edible! They look really pretty in salads, and they add a peppery taste.

She continues to use her raised beds too, and thinks it will be interesting to see which plantings are most successful.

How are YOU doing with your gardens? What do you have planted at this point? Send photos and we'll start a photo album of our Food For Thought Gardens!