how true this is----

I saw this poster on a blog I frequent so I thought I would pass it on.. As it is as relevant today as it was back then. We must take responsibility for our own survival and stop being dependent on the market place.

the zuch patch is taking over

weekly pics of the zuchs and I figured that I would share a pic of my outdoor office.
Enjoy

Potato experiment

In April I took a few of the sprouts from the 99 cent for a 10 pd bag of SAfieway taters and planted them. The green growth died back a few weeks ago due to the heat. Today I was cleaning up the pots to replant and lo and behold I took about 2-3 pounds of taters out of the potting soil..
So I guess those SAfieway taters are pretty fertile little buggers. Amazing.. We will be making a pot of stew here shortly to enjoy the taste.
One we washed off in rain water tasted oh so sweet.
Mrs T just came out to grab some lettuce and chives to go onto the tostadas she is making for dinner.. yumyum

mid week post

Stayed home from Babylon today to take Mrs T to an appt. Working from the porch office this morning. The rain yesterday left a nice little bit of moisture on the ground and the garden is loving it. Thing surely perk up with a tad of natural moisture. Supposedly the wind picked up last night but me and the Mrs were asleep by 9-930 so we missed it. Apparently we had two power outages yesterday. One in the morning and another last evening. Alas. I prefer the dark. Yet the swamp coller doesnt really work without the electric motor. I really need to get serious about finding a portable generator.. Prices should be fairly cheap during the summer months.. We shall see.
Anyhow I harvested some collard seeds and some cantaloupe seeds from the early melons and the spiked collards. If anyone wants any I would be happy to share at a dollar a packet.. (30-40 seeds of collards and 10 seeds of cantaloupe) Just comment some interest and I will fwd where you can send the donation. COllards would be a good green for the fall harvest. SO if you get them in now you can have collards in about 4-6 weeks. The cantys would be a next spring start..
I also have plenty of chives and yarrow if anyone is interested..
Not that I need the money but to cover postage and a trip to the mailbox.

Sunday evening at the stead

Another weekend has come to a close and what a way to celebrate than with a bbq. corn on the cob, grilled zuchini fresh picked from the garden and double cheeseburgers with lettuce and tomato also from the garden.. yumyum. The heat gave way earlier this afternoon to about 15 minutes of light rain and cloudy skies Kind of took the edge off of the heat.
Anyhow back to Babylon tomorrow. Hope y'all had a good one also

yuppie urban homesteaders

As one who has been doing this almost 25 plus years I am struck by those who have only recently became urban homesteaders and are trying to market their extras to make a buck. While I dont have a problem with some of their wares. I am suspicious. Especiall when we are seeing more and more consumers getting sick from goats milk gone bad and pesticides that are used by some of these people. If you want to eat chemicals buy your stuff. If you want to grow for resale be weary of what you put on it. CHEMICALS are bad.. You are only making it harder for those who have the good consciense to live their dream ORGANICALLY.
I am very careful about what goes into my soil and onto it. If I wont eat it. Why should you grow it.. I dont give a hoot if it bolsters production for profit. I aint in it for profit. I do it for my family.. BECAUSE I care what they eat. Yes its slower and takes more time but that is the purpose. SO be aware when you hit the farmers market and urban homesteader markets this summer.. Unles you have been to their yard or pharm and seen production then you could be taking the same risks that made us do what we do only on a larger scale.
off the soapbox now and ...WATCHING THE LETTUCE GROW

garden update pics (as promised)

SAturday meanderings

Well its been 90 plus degrees for days now. The sweet peas are pretty much done unless I can get them some cooler temps. Which I am attempting to do this morning by moving the ones in pots and trellising into a different micro-climate. We chall see. The green beans love heat so they are exploding. As are the zuchs. I will have some pics tomorrow. The zuch patch is busting out (maybe i overdid it but we will thin out some and replant other places if possible. The grapes are protecting the lettuce from spiking. And the maters are moving fwd like gangbusters. I promis some pics this weekend. I would love to see some pics of how everyone else is doing in CO or elsewhere..I know I have readers from TSP and other blogs who pay me a visit. Dont be afraid to show off your goods as well as some disappointments.
Remember that pharming is an experiment..

Friday pics

I got the camera out this morning to grab a few shots from the garden. As before if you know me than facebook has the entire gallery. If not then these will do.

garden work Thursday

After my morning walk where I went over to the new GROW store near the house and then to Wallie and Lowes I came home with a peppermint cutting and a bike tube for ol reliable I had coffee and chicken leftovers and began to garden. I finished weeding the bindweed out of the squash patch and also thinned out and transplanted some chard seedlings into more luxurious spaces, last occupied by the French Breakfast radishes. Out of 15 seeds planted I got ten transplants.. NOt bad.
They just got a nice watering from the rain that began coming down just after transplant. A good 20 minutes of rain.
I was hoping to drop in another batch of french bfast radishes but could not find any seed anywhere. Alas I will have the memories for a while. Chard seedling leaves are delicious.

Wednesday already

Had to go DT today for a meeting with a client. Enjoyed lunch and talk then went over to WHole Foods Mkt for some chocolate for the Mrs.
I came home and began the never ending weeding of the Squash patch. Always some wonderful bindweed in there. Had the first mater of the season and now maters will be staples around here thru September/October. HAe about 5-6 poundds of sweet peas ready to pick. Gotta get to it..MAybe tomorrow.
Anyhow there is a sweet rain now as I sit on the deck writing. Hot coffee, a pipe filled with tobacco and watching the lettuce grow..I started some more yesterday as we are going thru it nicely.. Havent bought store lettuce in over a month.
Using Grand Rapids leaf, collards and Mustard ..All doing well.And they keep producing..I Chose them because they like heat and sun.

Compost tea is served

I just finished serving the veggies their bi-weekly supplemental drink of compost tea.. yumyum

Anyhow the garden is bursting out.. Peas, radishes, maters, beans and greens are all doing ecstatic. Even the grapes are starting to produce after being fruitless for the last 3 years.. Thank you GOd.. Maybe enough to make a few bvottles of wine from them.. Not getting my hopes up yet. But alas.. Its only early July. Even the zuchini squash patch are flowering already.. Keep it up

4th of July recap

I turned out well. Ate the 1st real tomato of the year. Made cheeseburgers and corn wit cokes. The family eft to bike ride over to the fireworks. The skies opened and a storm blew thru. Fireworks got cancelled. Waited out the storm under shelter and rode home by way of the store to pick up some hot cocoa.
MOnday was beautiful. Got some garden work done. Ate homemade bean burritos and fresh homemade guac with lemonade.
NOw the official start of staycation.

1st day of Staycation

What did I do today?
walked over to Wallies for litter, bagels and cream chees and some berries.
Made 2 pots of dumpie found Starbucks French Roast coffee (found a pound in a desk someone vacated), picked some lettuce and peas for a snack. Took a late morning siesta, had a lemonade and vodka and celebrated 420. Now I amrelaxing beforew the evening skeeter rush.

A long week in Babylon is almost over

And after this day I have off until MOnday the 12th.. Yippee. Ime to relax a bit and work around the 'stead and work in the in-home lab..

Anyhow posting will be heavier next week with updates. I will also be working on some new projects and features for the blog. SO stay tuned..