Gardening

Sunday I was able to get another batch of seeds planted in the garden. Actually two batches one in the front (sunnier) and the second in the back. My plan is to do split planting of most plant so if there is something off with the soil or the neighbors damn managed to get past two fences and into the garden I'm not as likely to loose an entire crop.

In related news, thanks to the power of freecycle I picked up three sets of sliding glass doors which I will use as the tops of mini-greenhouses this winter for my first ever winter crop. It is important to note that plants like broccoli and many leafy greens can grow through the winter without much issue or a greenhouse, they just a little slower.

This weekend my dad was able to bring their rototiller over and mix in all of the mulch and manure that I spread over the garden. I decided to only till the soil to about 4" and use use a digging fork to loose/aerate the beds right before planting.

This morning I managed to sneak in a little time for gardening and after using the digging fork to hack away at the grass that grows along the gardens fence and to aerate the soil, I planted my first batch of green beans. I'll wait another few weeks and plant another patch along the fence.

I shouldn't have rototilled my garden prior to finals week, now all I want to do is to start planting and I still have to write a paper and make a presentation. I picked up a copy of "The Maritime Northwest Garden Guide: planning calendar for year round organic gardening" which I had to move off my desk so I wouldn't be so distracted by it.

I would have liked to start working on the garden a few weeks ago, but work and school commitments got in the way. I put down the first layer of manure and lime today and hopefully next saturday I can get a trailer load of aged manure from a lama ranch out in Sandy, OR so I can bring over the rototiller and turn the soil. This year in place of doing long rows, I'm going to try to block out the garden in 4'x4' patches with one long row of green beans growing along the right fence line so to not shade the rest of the garden.

What: Organic Gardening 102
Where: Lake Oswego, OR: Luscher Farm
When: February 21, 2004
Cost: $15 1-4pm

OG 102 is a continuation of Session I (you can sign-up for just this session!) and will cover: planting (companion, intensive, intercropping); fertilization (short and long term); pest management (preventative and emergency!); irrigation; diversified yields and composting. This mini-course is designed to give the organic gardener a basic understanding of holistic organic gardening. Covering a full-spectrum of activities for the avid gardener, this course will equip students with all information needed to start and grow a vibrant organic garden.