Saturday, March 26, 2011

Updates

Hello All!

The past couple of weeks have been stormy in the bay area.  Crazy rain storms and hail showers, which my babies didn't like. The hail actually teared though the leaves, which I wasn't too thrilled about. So I decided to polytunnel one bed.



Here is a video update!

 


Also my sprouts that I transplanted are doing wonderful, take a look for yourself!

Hopefully this week I will plant these guys, if the weather is alright! Keep you hands dirty folks!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Sprout's

Hello Everyone,
Before the weekend I placed some seeds in paper pots. I came back home today to find all of my seeds sprouting, which made me really happy.  I noticed my pumpkins and zucchinis roots were poking out of the paper pots, so i decided to transplant my seeds into bigger pots.

After I transplanted them, i had to figure out how could i fit an extra tray.  Also i had to figure out how to get sprouts close to the floro, so i used beer cans to raise the flat.




Now i have three sections in veggie room! Seed room, small plants and bigger ones.  Recently it has been raining non stop in the bay area, and actually a major storm passed through; damaging some of the plants in the front.  Until next time!

Monday, March 14, 2011

Great Weekend!!!

This last weekend was amazing, I filled up the green can(woot)!  Last weekend it did not rain in Berkeley, which made me really happy!  I have been working in the front yard, and made great progress.  The front went through a great transformation. The main thing that changed was that I removed three bushes to make room for the 4x4 bed.  Also I weeded a section of the back path way in order to make room for the beds. I was able to install two raised beds, and actually planted in one of them.

Left top: Bell Peppers, Lettuce, Chard, Pac Choy Left Bottom: Empty(thinking herbs), Strawberries, Lettuce, Chard

I dont know what I am going to plant in the 4 by 4.  Maybe some tomatoes, cucumber, eggplant, and some more leafy greens. I have another two-ish beds to plan, summer is going to be great!!!!


Keep gardening!

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Getting Stuff Done!!!

Today was an amazing day to garden!! It was a sunny day out and I decided to play in the garden.  The front yard was my priority. The bushes by the house were overgrown, they had to come down in size.  I grabbed electric hedge trimmers and gave them a good hair cut.  Once they were trimmed, I tackled the area under the bushes, since I wanted place a raised bed by the bushes.  While weeding my mother called to inform me that vendors at the farmers market had vegetable starters.  We got a whole bunch of veggies; Pac Choy(Baby Boc Choy), Chard, Snow Peas, Mixed Greens, and Tomatoes.



When I got home I started to prepare the bed in the front yard.  I planted chard, lettuce, pac choy, and the strawberries in the front.  Tomatoes and Snow Peas, are going to be planted in the back yard. 


More pictures to come!!!

Update Number Four- Front and Backyard!!

Hello fellow gardeners,
Here is a video update of my back yard. And finally I am going to introduce you to my front yard.
 

More to come!

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Playing Catch Up

It has been awhile since I have given an update, but unfortunately I have been really busy with school.  I have been gardening here and there, but not as much as I would like. Today I gardened out in the front yard since my mother has asked me to focus more in the front. Also since I need to clear weeds in order to add a few raised beds in front, seemed like a good idea; plus it was a little change of scenery.  Video of front yard soon to come!

Earlier in the day I walked down to CVS, and noticed that they are selling starts already. Seeing this also lit a fire under my butt to get the garden weeded so I can start planning.  This season I am going to have triple the space from last summer. I am utilizing my garage roof, and adding three raised beds( two in front and one in back), its hopefully going to be a good season!

Also I have converted a section of my half bathroom to a vegetation room to start seeds. I have two CFLs to germinate seeds and a heat lamp since heating pads are a little pricey. For sprouts, I have a 48 inch fluorescent fixture.  I am ready to start seeds now.
Front and backyard update coming soon!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Video Update Numero Three

Hey,
Who doesn't like a massive update? haha Well it has been a while since I have updated everyone on the status of my yard.  As I mentioned before, still in the process of weeding it all.  Almost done with the backyard, then I get to move onto the front; which is a completely different story.  I actually have sneaking out the the front path and yanking weeds, shhh don't tell on me.

I have been noticing new bamboo runners creeping into my yard from the yard that shares my back fence.  These runners are a huge pain in my buttocks, and i really want to get rid of them. I did some research and it is possible to get rid of these pesky shoots.  There are a few ways for someone to go about removing them. One solution is to yank them up by hand, which is a real pain. Another plain of attack is, one could use an herbicide, either organic or chemical.  I prefer the organic solution.  I mix up my own little herbicide that consists of: white vinegar, salt, water, and a drop of dish soap. When you have this concoction ready, you want to cut six inches from the base of the shoot and paint the herbicide on.  You have around 15 seconds to do this before the bamboo's defenses kick in.  What bamboo does is that it once it is wounded it sends all its resources back to its runners. If you can include your herbicide being sent down to the main problem, your bamboo will slowly disappear


Garden update number three:

Project Green House

Hello all,
As you know i have not updated the blog for a good while now, but since its raining outside I feel that this is an excellent time to give multiple updates.  Going back to projects that need to be completed i felt that the green house needed to spruced up. Over super bowl weekend project green house went into effect, here is a before video:



That Sunday was a gorgeous day be in the garden, but most people were probably glued to their televisions. Here is a video of after i cleaned everything out, and organized.


One project down a few more to go! Still it is mainly weeding the surrounding area.

Projects:
1.Pulling out all ivy
2.Cleaning out greenhouse
3.Placing weed block down around rose bushes, then barking area
4.Prepare existing vegetable beds
5.Assemble new raised beds


Stay dirty folks!

-Keeper of the garden

Friday, February 4, 2011

Seeing Clovers

One day while pulling weeds, i thought to myself, that taking a photo of clover at ground level would be neat. So I did. To see the the forest of clover was really cool, the way they are structured is awesome!! Here is a photo of the over grown madness.

Video Update 2

Hello, here is a video update of the status of my yard. As you see there is progress, slowly but surely.  It rained here in Berkeley for a few days, which was nice. Still pulling them weeds, almost done, kinda...  Big Project over the weekend!



Keep those hands dirty!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Enjoying the view

        Today, after running a few errands my stomach began to grumble, and I realized I hadn't had breakfast. So I set forth to make a delicious egg and vegetable scramble with avocado . Once my meal was plated, I began to debate where I should consume this hearty meal. Should I eat it in my room, or in the living room vegging out in front of the television, or maybe in the kitchen...?  After running through the possibilities, I glanced outside and realized that it was a beautiful day out. I grabbed my plate, a cup of coffee, and made my way out to the patio. 


Once there, I began to soak up the sun's ultraviolet rays and relax with the meal I just prepared.  Being able to see and enjoy all the hard work I had put in was really gratifying. As my body was producing vitamin D, I looked around and began to make a mental list of what still needed to be done.  There was quite a bit left, but sitting down and enjoying the scenery, relaxed my mind enogh for me to notice the little details that were in need of attention.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Welcome to my garden!

I would like to introduce you to my backyard! Backyard say 'hello'.

'hello, please tend me'
'I am, i am. have you noticed me pulling weeds out?'
'Finally!'


Yes I do talk to my garden, got to show some good loving by breathing fresh Co2 all over!

Anyways, while I was away for the Fall semester, nobody took the time to maintain her. So I have a lot of catch up work to do, which has kept me busy. Currently I am pulling tons of weeds, multiple specie varieties, but still pain in the buttocks. During the week, I spend an hour a day in the yard tackling this over grown madness!

I have a few projects that need to be done, but the weeds gotta go first.

Projects include:
1.Pulling out all ivy
2.Cleaning out greenhouse
3.Placing weed block down around rose bushes, then barking area
4.Prepare existing vegetable beds
5.Assemble new raised beds

 THEN I get to deal with the front yard, which is also full of weeds! YAY:sigh:

Above is a picture of the ivy engulfing my plum tree, but its all gone!!

Until next time!

Manny