School Garden

Here's my garden plot at school. We've planted 5 different kinds of tomatoes, squash, beans, cucumbers, pumpkins, and sunflowers. It's growing quickly- much faster than my garden at home. More sun and water there!

New addition

I have now completed the back yard farm too! I planted sunflowers, beans, watermelon, and cantalope. I also planted bean and pumpkin seeds in the front yard farm. The corn is really growing and my lopped-off tomato plant Mr. Stripey is even making a comeback. Now if only my love-life could be as successful...hmmmm.

Water Guilt

Nothing like a good, hard May rain storm to ease my water guilt! It was 100 degrees last week and now it's freezing and raining... global warming anyone????? The farm is growing rapidly though! More pics when it stops raining... :)

Promiscuity and Veggies

I have been reading "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" by Barbara Kingsolver (recommended to me by my good pal Lori) and LOVE a connection she has made. She criticizes the hipocracy of Americans telling teenagers to wait until they have sex when we Americans can not withold our urges and only eat certain fruits or vegetables in season. We waste ridiculous amounts of fossil fuels transporting asparagus in October or watermelon in January. If we all could learn the seasons in which every vegetable or fruit are grown and can all only buy those that are in season(preferably local and organic too!) , HUGE amounts of fuel would be saved and industrial farms would be forced to go back to the old ways of farming. Fruits and veggies in season are also more nutritious AND taste better so why wouldn't you anyway?

Please, please, please eat local, organic, and IN SEASON!!!!! The Earth will love you for it and so will your body!

Here's the days and times of all San Diego Farmer's Markets. Now you have no excuse not to go!
http://www.sdfarmbureau.org/Pages/farmersmarket.html

Seeds 'n worms

Planting seeds and then watching them pop up out of the soil is so rewarding and fulfilling. It's like witnessing a miracle...I can't wait till there are veggies/fruits to pick and eat!!!

My seeds at school were huge sprouts today also. I was worried because it was so hot over the weekend that they may have died in my room, but they were going strong! The kids were super excited too!

Still having MAJOR fly issues with the worms...I added more bedding and stirred them up a bit with the food waste. They are sleeping under the stars tonight!

My seeds have sprouted!!!

I planted squash, pumpkin, bean, and sunflower seeds in smaller pots to get them started and in this "instant gratification" society it has been hard waiting for them to sprout. I was thinking they weren't going to at all. But lo and behold, I went out to water my "farm" today and little shoots are coming up through the soil!!!! What an amazing thing to be so happy and excited about!

The Landfill

The Greenery was cool to see. They really are diverting a LOT of things out of the landfill and making compost, mulch, etc. A lot of their food waste comes from the military- now if only the schools would hop on that bandwagon. I must say, though, that I almost puked in my mouth acouple of times from the digustingly horrible stench of rotting food. I also was bummed because I meant to bring my camera so I could post some pics- they wouldn't have been THAT exciting though. The best part is, SD city residents can get FREE compost and mulch if you load it yourself! I'm going to have to go back with a truck...

I can practically HEAR my corn growing! It has pretty much doubled in size since I planted it last week and looks healthy and green. The tomato is struggling back from the dead. I just can't rip it out though because it has the cutest name- Mr. Stripey. I guess I could just buy another one.

I almost had a MAJOR worm tragedy today. I had put their bin outside because of the fly problem, but forgot that it was supposed to be sweltering today AND their bin was in the sun!!! I could've lost them all! Luckily I went out back before I left for the landfill and was able to bring them in. I'll get the hang of it all sooner or later right?

Landfill bound...

This fine morning I am off to the landfill for a field trip! I'm taking my food waste from my fridge that I have been hoarding for the worms(a condo-dwelling friend has also brought me hers and the whole bottom shelf of my fridge is packed with fruit/veggie trimmings)...they are slower eaters than I thought- hence the fly problem in their box! More to report after the field trip!

For more info on becoming a Master Composter yourself check out:
www.solanacenter.org

The beginning

In an attempt to lessen my carbon footprint and become one with the Earth, I am attempting to grow all my vegetables (and some melons- so someone can say "nice melons!!") at home. I will only buy fruits and vegetables that I DON'T grow at the local famers market that I can walk to on Sundays. In addition, I am getting the school where I teach to go completely green within the next 5 years- not an easy thing to do. Obsessed- slightly...but once you know, you can't pretend to not know. I have become a "Master Composter" and will be assisting with/teaching composting classes around town. I also have some new pets in my laundry room- my 100 worm friends who, today, happen to have hundreds of fly friends joining them so they have been relocated outside until the flies flee. A hobby or a new way of life? Not quite sure, but I am rapidly converting others as we speak...