Let’s add bicycle racks to our park! We have raised enough money! Whatta ya say???
GROW POTATOES IN GARBAGE CAN February 2, 2010
This month as I prepare my garden for early spring crops, I’m REALLY interested in learning to grow potatoes. I’m hoping to start soon since they’re a cold weather crop. We’ll see if I can make it before it gets too warm. As part of my plan, I’ll be researching different ways to grow potatoes and I’ll share what I find. This is what I know so far, you can set potato on window sill and it will sprout. You cut the sprout with enough potato and plant it. This comes from a brief conversation this past weekend with Farmer Deb. Let’s see what else I learn for now I leave you with this…
‘GROW POTATOES IN GARBAGE CAN’ INSTRUCTIONS:
STEP 1: Turn your garbage can upside down and drill several holes in the bottom of the can. Add a few around the outside wall, 3 to 6 inches up from the bottom. It’s really important to have good drainage or your potatoes will rot in a hurry.
STEP 2: Dump about 2/3rds of your bag of potting soil in the can. Mix in 1 cup of your fertilizer and set aside.
STEP 3: For your seed potatoes, small ones can be planted whole. The larger potatoes should be cut up into pieces with no less then 3 “eyes” per piece (“eyes” being those brown dimples that the roots will grow out of). Let your potatoes dry out on the cut side before you plant them
STEP 4: Once your cut potatoes have cured, plant them in your can 5 inches apart and cover with the remaining soil. You’ll only need 4 starts to a can. Set the can in an area that receives 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight.
STEP 5: Water thoroughly and keep the soil moist but not soggy during the growing season. Don’t let the soil dry out or you’ll end up with misshaped potatoes. On the hot summer days, your potato garbage can might even need to be watered daily (you might move the can to a slightly shadier location on the hottest days).
STEP 6: As the plants start to grow in the can, mound up compost around plant stems keeping the leaves uncovered. They grow a little more, add some more compost. You’ll be able to fill up the entire can with compost by the end of the growing season. Keep it watered.
STEP 7: As the plants start to grow in the can, mound up compost around plant stems keeping the leaves uncovered. They grow a little more, add some more compost. You’ll be able to fill up the entire can with compost by the end of the growing season. Keep it watered.
SOURCE: EHOW By GreenGardenChic
STARTING YOUR SPRING GARDEN… January 29, 2010
Starting Your Spring Garden
FROM Truly Living Well (www.trulylivingwell.com)
A local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) managed by Mr. K. Rashid Nuri…
 Mr. K. Rashid Nuri Now is the time to plan and build an organic spring garden at your home. What is the first step? Determine the best place for your garden. The garden should be located in an area that is fully exposed to the sun. You will pay more attention to your garden the nearer it is to the house. Make sure that water is readily available. The single most important factor in creating a successful garden is soil preparation. I call it dirt making. Get the soil right. If you create good healthy soil, the plants which grow in that soil will also be healthy. Healthy plants are disease resistant. Begin soil preparation by gently turning the soil. If this is the first time the land is being used to grow food, a tiller may prove helpful. Too much tillage destroys soil structure. Subsequent soil preparation can be done with a spade or garden fork. After opening the soil add copious amounts of organic material such as compost, leaf mold, well rotted sawdust or decomposed animal manure. You can make your own compost or purchase it from most garden supply stores. Compost is the key to successful gardening. Compost added to gardens improves soil structure, texture, aeration, and water retention. When mixed with compost, clay soils are lightened, and sandy soils retain water better. Mixing compost with soil also contributes to erosion control, soil fertility, proper pH balance, and healthy root development in plants. Make beds in the garden that are separated by walkways. You do not want to walk in the area that you plant with vegetables. Walking on a vegetable bed compacts the soil and retards plant growth. Utilize the garden space wisely. Select crops you will eat and enjoy. You must like what you plant or the garden space and the food will both be wasted. Decide what you want to plant and where you will plant it. Know what you will plant after the spring season crop is finished. Southern exposure has the most light. Tall crops should be planted on the north and west side of the garden to prevent shading of smaller plants. |
FIND YOUR AVERAGE LAST FREEZE… January 26, 2010
FIND YOUR AVERAGE LAST FREEZE…
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/How-to-Find-Average-Last-Spring-Frost-Date.aspx
WHAT TO GROW IN MARCH…
| VEGETABLES | Sow Indoors | Sow Outdoors | Transplant |
| Arugula | XXX | ||
| Asparagus | XXX | ||
| Beet | XXX | ||
| Broccoli | XXX | XXX | |
| Cabbage | XXX | XXX | |
| Carrot | XXX | ||
| Celery | XXX | ||
| Chard | XXX | ||
| Eggplant | XXX | ||
| Endive | XXX | XXX | XXX |
| Fava bean | XXX | ||
| Fennel, bulb | XXX | ||
| Kale | XXX | XXX | |
| Kohlrabi | XXX | XXX | XXX |
| Leek | XXX | XXX | |
| Lettuce | XXX | XXX | XXX |
| Mache | XXX | ||
| Onions, bulb | XXX | ||
| Pac choi | XXX | XXX | XXX |
| Parsnip | XXX | ||
| Peas (snow, shell, snap) | XXX | ||
| Peppers | XXX | ||
| Potatoes | XXX | ||
| Radishes | XXX | ||
| Rhubarb | XXX | ||
| Radicchio | XXX | XXX | XXX |
| Scallion (green onion) | XXX | XXX | |
| Sorrel | XXX | ||
| Spinach | XXX | XXX | |
| Tomato | XXX | ||
| Turnip | XXX |
| CULINARY HERBS | Sow Indoors | Sow Outdoors | Transplant |
| Basil | XXX | ||
| Chives | XXX | XXX | |
| Cilantro | XXX | ||
| Dill | XXX | ||
| Fennel, leaf | XXX | ||
| Horseradish | XXX | ||
| Marjoram | XXX | ||
| Parsley | XXX | XXX | |
| Rosemary | XXX | ||
| Sage | XXX | ||
| Savory, summer | XXX | XXX | |
| Thyme | XXX |
REUSE: Old Board Game January 20, 2010
Turn old board games into a bulletin board and the game pieces into tacks…more info: http://readymade.com/projects/article/scrabble_babble
Back to the lovely West End… January 9, 2010
I missed the West End!
This past week, we headed to the Smokey Mountains to celebrate my RESPITE AWARD! I received this award as a recognition for my community organizing work, for more information visit: http://www.noacentral.org/page.php?id=277. As part of the award, I was honored to receive an all inclusive, paid trip to the mountains!
This award is given annually to two Community Organizers in the U.S. The award is a time for Organizers to retreat, reflect, rest and renew. And so we headed up to the Smokey Mountains last Saturday and had a wonderful time (many thanks to the National Organizer’s Alliance). Now, I’m getting ready to start this year right!
While in the mountains I knitted (of course) but I also made soaps, candles and other projects with Diego. The most exciting part of the trip was the purchase of a loom (that I’ve been wanting for some time now), on our way home we stopped by Asheville (btw I love it there) and I finally bought the loom! Now I’m all HAPPINESS- in 2010…I will learn to weave.
Overall…I spent a lot ot time during this trip thinking about the coming year and what projects I’d like to focus on. I know it’s going to be a wonderful year in our little neighborhood. I look forward to more art, gardens, parks + progressive initiatives (and development) for the West End in 2010! Inspire…
Diego is taking more and more pictures-he also loves filming.
- Celebrating the snow!
HANDMADE w/ lots of LOVE!
Diego's sketch book...
Friends of the West End Park 
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