Garden 2011

Couldn't wait 'till Spring so I bought lots of vegetable seeds today at Lowe's. was glad to see that they carry the Burpee organic line of seeds. I'll start several of these in seed flats down in the basement. I need to find a twin size electric blanket..anyone have one they want to get rid of let me know...for bottom heat for the seedlings. Can't wait to get started:)

Garden 2010

Garden 2010: Used the Mittleider Method for the layout of the rows. This involved making "u" shaped rows about 2 feet apart; think I'll increase the initial space between rows this next year. Ended up with 6 rows in a 25' x 16' space. This type of row worked well for watering as the row slopes from top to bottom by about an inch.
Row 1: tried growing runner beans...beautiful vines~no fruit!
Row 2: 3 types of tomatoes~Sweet 100's~very prolific for just 3 plants
~Roma's~ended up with several of these; bought 3 plants,
but snapped off the suckers and just stuck them
in the ground~they ALL survived so ended up
with 8 plants!
~Cherokee Purples~very good tomato; will plant more
~Better or big Boy~WILL NOT PLANT ANOTHER OF THIS
KIND! Never get any fruit!
Row 3: Cucumbers! galore!~Vanessa West gave me a great pickle receipe (she doesn't even
like pickles!).
Also tried cantelope on this row....will probably try again, but offer more support for
the fruit.
Row 4: 3 kinds of squash~Butternut~got about eight fruits from 2 plants.
~Zucchini~not very prolific~will try again
~Yellow straight neck~again, not very prolific, of course, more
than a couple plants are probably needed.
Row 5: 3 kinds of peppers~jalepeno~good~will try canning these next time
~bananna~good~tried canning some~will grow again
~bells; 2 or 3 colors~did okay and will grow again
Row 6: potatoes~didn't work! May try growing in barrels this next year....

This was a "natural" garden. I tried to use only products in their most God-given form. For pest control I tried to keep a clean garden and used NEEM tree oil. This worked very well. I ended up with one squash vine borer, but caught him early; smushed him then buried the part of the stem it had damaged.

I really enjoyed canning the things I tried...everything was pretty much successful....this was my "learning" year. I asked lots of questions and read an Extension office booklet about canning.

Ashley's suprise!

Just some thoughts.....have I been prejudice in my view of the election this year based on race? I don't think so. Have I been persuaded by those saying Sen. Obama was of the Muslim faith? Yes, I truly thought he was Muslim in his belief, yet to my understanding now, he is and has been a member of the UCC for at least the last 20 years. Would this have changed how I voted? No. One reason I didn't vote for the Senator was because I didn't like his plans for taxes, (Jeff and I are small business owners and to my understanding we're going to be taxed even more than we are now, I hope my understanding of the Senators tax plans are wrong). This is the reason many people voted for him; they like his tax plans. Does this mean Sen. Obama is their President and not mine? No, this means the democratic process is alive and well in our country and I will pray for OUR President like I have the others before him.

I have told my children how interesting this is from a historical view point! Electing the first black President is living history. It will be interesting to watch history unfold before our very eyes! (This coming from someone who doesn't even like history! Will wonders never cease?!)

I don't know if you'll be able to see it in this picture, but the snow capped mountain in the back ground is Mount Hood. I took this picture as I was driving to Bingen, Washington. Just after taking this we had a herd of about a dozen horses run out in front of us.

Brush fire somewhere in Washington. Several acres were burning...the wind was not helping as it was gusting quiet hard. Thankfully this was in an unpopulated area so it didn't look like homes were in danger.

Granite Lake RV Park in Clarkston, Washington was a neat experience. It is the only campground I've stayed in where they offered a continental breakfast in the club house, the daily paper on your stoop every morning, and an ice machine in the laundry room! The grounds were beautifully landscaped, it's located right at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers, and the city bike path ran along the river.