Gardening Journal

I think one of my biggest problems with gardening is I just forget to do it. Granted, I was a bit busy this last year with baby, but once I get the seeds in the ground I don't do much afterward because it's kind of out of sight out of mind back in the corner of the yard. I read somewhere about Carla Emery's 365 days to independence idea in her book ( Encyclopedia to Country Living, which is on it's way to me. I've got it from the library three times, figured it was time to buy it), and thought maybe that would be a good way for me to keep up on growing our own food. I'll try to journal as much as possible about what I'm doing in/for the garden to grow our food.

Here's some catch up.


Jan 1st: Today's weather - High of 57.

Weeded a bit, planted three spinach seeds to try again after applying Sluggo the other day. Bound and determined to grow spinach. Harvested radishes, harvested and refrigerator pickled the last of the jalapenos.

Jan 2nd: Today's weather - High of 54.

Ordered heirloom seeds from Bountiful Gardens - Butter (lima) beans, Onion seeds, Poblano peppers, bell peppers, pumpkin, butternut squash, strawberry, watermelon and oats. Curious about the oats!

Jan 3rd: Today's weather - High of 59.

Working on a planting chart/schedule for this year, using the UC Ag recommendations and other sources. Need to get seedlings started.

2013 Goals

Welp, another year is upon us and I will keep in my tradition of posting my goals for the new year. I'm not naming anything a "resolution" because I think goals are better. It's something to shoot for, always striving.

First, my personal goals:

1. Try new things. I got a new cookbook for Christmas, and there are some knitting techniques that I would like to try, like double knitting. I'd also like to pick up the calligraphy books I keep seeing at the library and get myself a pen set. I really enjoyed my 2012 goal of "Learn & Create", so this will just continue on that theme.

2. Grow as much of our food as possible. I think after this year I have better learned the seasons and when things like to grow, so I will try to be a better gardener this year. Obviously I can't grow wheat or meat/dairy products, but I would like to try growing and cooking most of our veg and learning new ways to cook them.

3. Put out the patterns I've had sitting on my computer for too long. I have a few patterns that I scratched out awhile ago but I haven't gotten around to publishing them. I'm hoping to do that this year.

4. Be more intentional and thoughtful.  Like writing birthday and Christmas cards, spending more time with people, living in the moment as it's happening, and focusing on the high points in life.

And now, our home goals:

1. Redo the living room, hall and kitchen floors. Carpet for the living room, tile for the others. We'll be getting them done professionally, because we don't feel like screwing up Ben's back. So it's just a matter of saving up.

2. Redo our kitchen. New cabinets! New paint! And the new floors from #1.

3. New doors for the front, the kitchen, and our bedroom. They all leak like a sieve and really need to be replaced.


I really wish I could put "get chickens" on this list... But I can't. Heh. Although their might be a rabbit in our future!

What are your goals for the year?

~Meg