Local, seasonal, organic (part 2)

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving Day. What a wonderful holiday to celebrate family, friends, health and food. Thanksgiving is a day of sharing the abundance of food from all our hard work that will feed us through the winter. At least I think that is how it used to be. It is the poster holiday of local, seasonal, organic food.

When I was a child our garden provided many vegetables for us. We always grew onions, tomatoes, peppers and squash. In the field we grew corn, pumpkin and cantaloupe. My parents were not into canning but we would freeze some of our harvest. Most of the time we ate from the garden what was in season. These days you can get pretty much anything, anytime no matter what the season. These products of course have traveled hundreds, sometimes thousands of miles. This food that is not in season will never taste as good as something grown in your garden or a local small farm. The best quality of these vegetables is the ability to ship well. No amount of chemicals, wax or dyes will make it taste better though. That tomato you buy in January will not compare with one picked from your garden in June. That tomato is not in season in January.

At Off Texas Avenue Garden my goal is to change varieties as the seasons change. This past Saturday we had our first light frost and my tomato plants suffered some damage. I decided to remove green tomatoes from the larger varieties and try to ripen them inside. I removed all the plants from this bed and will prepare the soil for the next season. I will plant some other crop in this bed as part of my rotation plan. Crop rotation will lessen the risk of disease by not growing the same crop again. It was not easy pulling up these huge plants or to pick green tomatoes but tomato season is over. I may even sow some lettuce seed in this bed before spring crops and extend my fall season a few more weeks.

I believe that growing seasonal vegetables keeps us connected to nature and the earth. Another good way to stay connected with our food is by cooking these seasonal foods. Learning how to use all this food connects us to our family, our past and ourselves. Eating good food not only nourishes our body but can help us stay healthy. If you don't garden you can visit a farmers market and support small farms. Supporting these small farms means that seasonal foods can be available to everyone. These farmers can then grow more food, more varieties and help preserve a greater plant diversity for future generations. I believe eating good food is good for our family, good for our health, good for our soul. I believe everyone can contribute something positive to the environment. Farmers can grow a wide variety of organic food. Chefs can use the freshest, locally grown food. Schools can teach alternative methods of growing good food. Schools can also provide healthier meals to our children. Parents can set an example and insist that their children explore and try new foods. I will continue to grow good food for my family and I hope others will do the same.

Local, seasonal, organic (part 1)

Trattoria Italia

Trattoria Italia

Donnelly"s

W. Defee Place

West Coast Donut

In my pursuit to provide the freshest food for my family I plan to expand my garden this winter. I could visit the farmers markets in the surrounding area but how fresher can it get than from my own garden. But what about the rest of you?

My idea of eating locally grown food is to grow my own but if you don't grow your own then you should be able to go to a restaurant that uses locally grown, seasonal food. First we would need a business committed to using the best produce possible. Then we would need farmers committed to growing the best possible produce organically and sustainably. Then we would need to support those businesses and visit them often. I have read many success stories of farmers, chefs and farmers markets across this country. I believe we can have that in our community. It will take all of us working together.

Lately I have been reading about urban farming in other cities. We have so much property available in our city. In the surrounding neighborhood of Texas Avenue there are many vacant lots that would look great with a garden on them. Off Texas Avenue Garden is just a small example of that. Some lots I believe may even be owned by the city. What better way to help beautify the area than to plant a garden. This may also help gain support from the community for the revitalization of Texas Avenue. I can envision a downtown area filled with shoppers visiting local businesses, eating in restaurants that use locally sourced produce. Adventurous chefs featuring menus with seasonal dishes with the freshest produce available. A thriving farmers market with local growers providing many good things to eat, grown organically and harvested within hours of us buying them. A neighborhood with vibrant color from flowers and gardens instead of spray paint. The sound of a community in harmony.

I have found a few businesses with their own gardens. These gardens are small but a garden may be as small as a container of herbs or as big as a backyard garden. I would like to thank these business owners for becoming leaders in a huge movement of which we are just a small part of. I challenge other business owners to survey your property and perhaps plant some flowers or start a small garden. And I encourage everyone to support local businesses and eat local.

The little garden

There once was a little garden that was very lonely. Every spring when the grass began to grow, the little garden dreamed of flowers and vegetables growing instead of grass. One time the little garden heard through the grape vine growing along the fence of other gardens in the neighborhood. They were full of flowers and vegetables. Humans tended these gardens, watering and weeding and enjoying the good food. The little garden just dreamed. Humans just drove their cars on the little garden or walked across it as a short cut. Sometimes a dandelion would send it's bright, yellow flower up through the grass and the little garden would smile with joy. The little garden knew that it could do so much more if someone took care of it.

Then one day a farmer thought this would be a great location for a garden. So the farmer began by cleaning the little garden. There were trash and car parts and the grass was covering the side walk from years of no one keeping it in bounds. Then the farmer built some beds and removed the grass and the little garden took a deep breath. The farmer turned and tilled the soil and the little garden smiled. These beds were filled with soil and amended with good things to feed the soil. One day the little garden felt a tickle and it felt good. Earthworms were busy tunneling through the soil, making it easy for plant roots to grow in it. The farmer planted seeds and young plants so that all the people in town could see the little garden. The little garden was very happy. Each day the little garden would wake up and greet the new plants and it helped them grow larger every day.

By the end of spring, the little garden was full of flowers and the people in town were delighted to see all this color. They thanked the farmer for planting this garden and giving them this little treasure in the town. The farmer was very proud of the little garden.

By the end of summer the little garden was tired. It's a lot of work helping so many plants grow. But the farmer knew what to do. The farmer began by clearing the beds of any plants that had finished their show and again turned and tilled the soil. The farmer added more good things to the soil and then planted cool weather plants and seeds.

The little garden had many visitors including Monarch butterfly's on their annual migration to Mexico. Hummingbirds sipped sweet nectar from all the flowers in the little garden and more people visited. Some even asked if they could help take care of the little garden. The farmer showed them what to do and told them the story of how the little garden began.

One day the farmer thought of how he could thank the little garden for all it had given him and his family. The little garden had become a part of the community and the people in town enjoyed it's beauty.

So the farmer planned a celebration in honor of the little garden. All the people in town were invited. Parents brought their children and some people brought their pets. The farmer and his family were there along with many of their friends. The people that helped take care of the little garden were there. There was music and food and face painting for the children and all the people spent the day admiring the little garden. The farmer told all the visitors the story of how the little garden began and he thanked them for attending this great celebration. More people asked if they could help take care of the little garden. Some even said they knew of other little gardens that needed help. The farmer was excited that so many people were there and that the little garden could be an example of how other little gardens could look like.

At the end of the day the farmer looked at the little garden and smiled. The little garden was very happy that so many people had walked across it that day. The little garden looked brighter than ever. The grape vine that grows along the fence brought congratulations from the other gardens in the neighborhood. The little garden was lonely no more.

What do you want to eat?

Last week I harvested some yellow squash and okra fresh from the garden. As I admired these gifts from the garden, I felt very proud of myself. The garden looked very nice, lots of flowers, green tomatoes on the vine, butterflies all around and the sounds of the community. At that very moment, I had a great desire to share this food with people that I love.

My mother will say that she loves to cook for family and friends when they visit. I used to think that she felt that way because that is the way she was raised. It is a mexican custom for women to cook all meals and to learn how to cook at an early age. Men go to work and women stay home and do everything else. I do not believe in that custom. My"guelita" (grandmother), felt the same way. When you went to her house, after hugs, kisses and asking how you are doing, the next question was "what do you want to eat?". She asked that every time, to everyone who came in to her house. I now believe that she really did love to cook and that my mother also loves to cook. I know there are other things at work here but, in a very basic, primal kind of way, food is love. To share that with people that you love is very rewarding. My guelita had me at the hugs and kisses but, the food was great also. We could talk as she cooked or, she would explain how she was cooking the meal. My mother taught me how to cook at a young age. She would tell me that I had to learn how to take care of myself and not depend on someone else to take care of me. Maybe that is why I am not a "typical" mexican male.

That love of cooking good food for friends and family are now a part of my life. I have so much to learn but, I believe that if you begin with fresh ingredients, the cooking part will better. This garden represents this belief and is a symbol of my dedication to provide the best organic, locally grown produce for my family. As my cooking skills improve, I will use seasonal vegetables to create my meals. I want to learn how to cook with my senses and not rely on recipes. My passion to grow good food will make me a better cook. Visit your farmers market to find fresh , locally grown produce. Or better yet, start a garden of your own. Support small farms that are committed to protecting the environment by growing organically. Learn to cook good food and, take time to teach children.

That day I grilled pork chops and, served fresh squash and okra for supper to my family. It was a good meal and, I loved sharing it with people that I love. So if you visit our house, don't be surprised if after a hug and asking how you are doing, I ask, what do you want to eat?

Attention to detail

I hope y'all have done a better job taking care of your garden than I have. In spite of the lack of rain or, the lack of attention to detail on my part, the garden still looks nice. With the nice, cool weather it is easy to forget that it has not rained for several days. Plants still need adequate moisture, even a short dry spell can stress young plants to the point of no recovery. Older plants that have survived the hot summer and are now rebounding with vigor may suffer. It would be a shame to lose these plants that you have cared for through the summer in hope of harvesting fresh food for lack of moisture in the home stretch.

There is still time to plant a few things in the garden. Cool season crops like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and all kinds of greens are good choices. You may still find transplants at some nurseries but, select your plants carefully. Some plants may have been in 4 inch pots or, 6 packs for a long time and have become root bound. Check the roots before you buy, it's ok to pull plants out of their containers slightly to examine the roots. Remember, it's your money and, you don't want to waste it on plants that will never produce anything edible. It is also a good time to plant herbs, lettuce and wild flower seed. Wild flowers will germinate in the fall, grow slow through the winter and reward you with beautiful flowers in the spring. You can purchase bulbs when available but, wait to plant them for a few more weeks when we have more consistent cool weather. I have stored bulbs in the vegetable crisper of the refrigerator for up to a month with good results.

Now is a great time to start a compost pile. There is an endless supply of materials and many times people will rake and bag leaves for you then place those bags out by the street for you to pick up. Now is a good time to add finished compost to your beds as well. Remember to cover any soil that has nothing growing in it. Bare soil leads to erosion, moisture loss and is an invitation for weeds to germinate. You could use mulch, leaves or plant a cover crop. Any of these materials can later be tilled in before planting. Don't plant immediately, allow 2 to 3 weeks for this cover to break down before planting in this soil.

So get out and enjoy the great outdoors. This is my favorite time to be outside and garden. Although the days are getting shorter, the cooler weather makes it very nice. There is less pressure on plants from pests and given the proper care plants will perform their best. There is nothing better than sitting in your garden after a few hours of weed pulling, enjoying the sunset with a cool beverage and listening to the daytime world go to sleep. I love it.

Pay attention to the small details and your garden will be the envy of all your neighbors. Small details like water, weeds, pests, a loved ones birthday, someones name will all make life easier and, more rewarding.

La Canicula ( the dog days of summer )...

When I was a child I loved summer. It was very hot in south central Texas where I grew up, but it also meant no school, fishing all day, Bar-B-Que on the weekends, and my birthday in August. I was born in the hottest part of summer refered to as La Canicula, or the " dog days of summer".

Back then, I thought La Canicula was like some huge spiritual being that dictated how hot it was going to be. And if you pissed her off, the hotter it would be. It was blamed for many things, from illness to bad weather, and crop failures. My maternal grandmother blamed it for hurricanes. She did not like hurricanes, or severe thunder storms for that matter. I remember listening to the older people make predictions when La Canicula would end. When no one had air conditioning in their homes, the weather was a hot topic. La Canicula begins mid July, and ends in mid to late August. Now I know it is weather related, and its severity depends on the position of the jet stream. El Nino, and La Nina can also disrupt the jet stream, and make La Canicula more severe.

In the garden, this means that not much is going on. Garden work is done early in the morning , or late in the afternoon. Most spring planted vegetables are barely hanging on, not producing any fruit, or have completed their life cycle. This time of year is for clearing the garden, and preparing for the fall. It is difficult to keep any plants alive without watering frequently, at times daily. Sometimes it is better to pull everything up than to waste water. Remove any diseased plants from the garden, and throw away. Don't compost these as this may harbor the disease, and then may spread to the rest of the garden. Till your garden, and amend your soil with compost. This is also a good time to send a soil sample, then amend your soil according to the results.

Depending on where you garden, it may be time to plant certain vegetables now in order to harvest before the first frost. I planted tomato, and jalapeno plants last week. I may have planted a week or two too late, but I am hoping to have a few tomatoes before the first frost. I cut back my okra plants, as these were not producing much fruit because I was not watering enough. They still looked good, and should regrow with plenty of moisture. I also seeded two flats of leaf lettuce, and mesclun mix. In the next couple of weeks I will plant broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, beets, radish, onion, and garlic. Also greens like mustard, turnip, and spinach. I like to try new things in my garden, so this fall I will try leeks, and sugar peas. I have never grown either of these. Herbs are another great choice to start in the fall, as are wild flowers like our state flower, the bluebonnet.

As we say adios to La Canicula for another year, I wonder if she , along with her siblings El Nino, and La Nina are just children of The Gods, and we are just their ant farm.

The war against weeds

Weeds, what are weeds? Weeds are plants without a home, plants without some nice name, useless. I believe weeds have a purpose in our lives, and in the environment. Weeds are adaptable. They will inhabit a plot of soil when it is not used and keep it covered from the elements. This may go on for years, without anyone noticing them. It's not until someone wants to grow flowers, vegetables, or a manicured yard that they get any attention. Of course there is only one outcome, weeds die. We will pull, dig, and spray harmful chemicals to eradicate them. We will spend hours clearing this small plot of soil so that we may plant something that is more useful to us. In the case of a lawn, we will spend many more hours trying to keep it looking green, mowed, healthy, and alive. Not to mention the money spent to keep it that way.

Growing up, I pulled many weeds in our garden. I even chopped weeds in the fields a little bit. My mom would load us up during summer break and head to the fields. We would get there early enough that our pant legs would get wet from the dew on the leaves. The air was cool, and heavy with the smell of the soil. You could smell the freshness of the plants, and even the weeds that we were chopping with our hoes. Kind of like fresh mowed grass, only better. Earth has a different smell in the morning after she has rested for the night. No matter where you live, mornings will smell better than later in the day.

My dad would wage war with Johnson Grass in the corn field, and still does. Johnson Grass is a very persistent weed, and if you turn your back on it long enough it will come back. If allowed to go to seed, it will produce thousands of seeds that will all germinate. My mom waged war against common Bermuda Grass in her flower beds.

Our front yard was lush, green, and withstood a lot of foot traffic. My parents did not water the lawn, fertilize, or use harsh chemicals. We did spread cotton bur occasionally, and mowed frequently, but that was it. My parents were organic gardeners before organic was cool.

As an adult, I have waged my own war against weeds. I have used chemicals, but have learned that weeds will always come back. I have also let some weeds grow right along side my vegetables. I have used some weeds as a living mulch of sorts. Like purslane grown under tomatoes. Purslane grows to a nice mulch, covering the soil under the tomatoes, never growing more than six inches tall. It retains moisture with less watering, and keeps other weeds from growing. Which meant less competition for the tomatoes. The tomatoes did not seem to mind the purslane, and performed nicely.

I am now committed to an organic approach, and will only use vinegar sparingly as a last resort. Hand pulling is my preferred method. Last week as I looked at my weed filled garden, I had thoughts of Roundup. Don't worry, I did not follow through. A few days later, I spent two hours pulling weeds, and I'm glad I did. I actually enjoy pulling weeds. It is a very relaxing, and calming task for me. When I get in a rhythm, I can easily pull weeds for a couple of hours non stop. It is a good way to clear my mind, and not think of anything. The key to pulling weeds is to be gentle, and forceful at the same time. It's almost like coaxing them out of the ground, force them too much, and they snap off, leaving the roots in the ground. If the soil is moist enough, I can feel the roots release their grip on the soil. And after all that is our goal, pull weeds, roots, and all.

I could have saved myself a lot of work by staying ahead of the weeds, which I did not do. It is usually easier to pull weeds when they are smaller, and have not developed a good root system. You can also use a hoe at this stage, and simply cut them off at, or just below ground level. Now that I have clean beds again, I hope I can stay ahead of the weeds.

Anyone Can Garden

It has been nearly a month since my last post. This is the time of year when many gardeners retreat to the comforts of their homes and leave their gardens to fend for themselves. I am guilty of this myself, and my garden shows it. With recent rains and plenty of heat, the weeds have really taken over. It's time to take my garden back!

Lately I've been thinking about the food we eat, and where it comes from. Although this years garden supplied tomatoes, green beans, onions, peppers, and fresh cut flowers, there is so much more I could have planted. Fresh vegetables are a delicious addition to our diets. It does not require a farm out in the country to have this produce. All it takes is a small garden in the back yard, a few pots on the patio, or even a flower bed filled with herbs instead of landscape plants. I believe anyone can garden, and enjoy some fresh tomatoes. Many people are doing just that. In our own history, many of our parents, or grandparents, probably did this. I recently read a book, " Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer " by Novella Carpenter, that has inspired me. In this book she describes her life as an urban farmer in the city of Oakland, California. On a small, abandoned lot, she planted a garden, and raised her own animals for meat. I know this would not be for everyone, but it shows what we could do to eat the very best food we can have. Food that we can feed our family with, and knowing what went into growing this food. Better yet, knowing what didn't go into it, or on it. Reading this book brought back many memories.

Growing up, we always had a garden where we grew many vegetables, and herbs. We raised animals for meat, and on neighboring property, we grew corn, cantaloupe, pumpkin, cucumber, and hay. We did shop for things we did not grow, but we grew as much as we could on half an acre. I remember going to the small town of Staples, Texas to do our shopping. And I remember going out to the garden with a salt shaker to eat fresh tomatoes for a snack. Not many chips, or candy around our house those days. I remember butchering our animals to fill the freezer, my younger sisters and I could kill, pluck, and clean chickens all by ourselves. This was all a process of preparing, and preserving food for the coming months. This was a tradition my parents, grandparents, and their grandparents had done for many years before me. I hope to share that knowledge with my children.

As time draws near to start a fall garden, my mind wanders with thoughts of raising animals and expanding my garden. Raising animals will take more planning, and may have to be a future project. The garden is something I can work on now. I plan to have a greater diversity of food in my garden from now on. I vow to keep gardening, keep volunteering as a Master Gardener, and to keep learning. Gardening keeps me connected to my family, my ancestors, and the earth.

For anyone interested in starting a garden, I say go for it. There is a world of information on the internet, and many books on the subject. There are also many organizations that are very helpful like the Extension Service, Master Gardeners, and Urban Harvest to name a few. There is probably someone in your neighborhood already gardening that has years of experience. Introduce yourself, and ask questions. Gardeners are always willing to share information, and possibly plants , or seeds.

Eat local, eat fresh, support your local farmers by visiting farmers markets, and sample food as good as if you grew it yourself. Support local businesses, and get involved in your community, like volunteering at a community garden. Of course you can always stop by Off Texas Avenue Garden, and I will help you any way I can.

Singing Cicadas

The other day, I was sitting in the back yard listening to the cicadas singing in the trees, and it reminded me of summers on the San Marcos River. When I was a child, my dad would take us to the river when ever he had a day off on the weekend. My sisters and I would fish, splash around in the water, my dad would grill something for lunch, and my mom would worry about us going out too deep. I know it's hot right now, but is it really hotter than it used to be? I was hot then also. Or is it just that we are getting older? I think with all the stress of everyday life, work, raising a family, we want to just relax on our off time, but the heat makes it uncomfortable. I think my comfort level is more sensitive than when I was a kid.

Speaking of cicadas, I unearthed a cicada nymph while digging a hole for my dog poop composter. I had never seen a cicada nymph before. I've seen many exoskeletons on tree trunks, fence, or plants, but not one still underground. Cicadas live underground for two or more years feeding on tree, and grass roots before emerging as winged adults in May or June. Nymphs may stay in the ground as long as 17 years. Adults feed on tree sap, but don't pose any real threat. The singing you hear are the males trying to attract females for mating purposes. Females lay their eggs in tree twigs, and after several weeks a small nymph will hatch, drop to the ground, burrow in the soil, and start the whole cycle again. Many animals prey on cicadas from birds, snakes, frogs, to insects. I have even seen a cat capture, and eat a cicada. The most interesting predator is the Cicada Killer. They are large, solitary wasps that hunt cicadas to provide food for their young. Cicada Killers sting cicadas, paralyzing them. Then they drag them to their burrow in the ground, lay an egg on it's body, and seals the burrow. The egg will hatch and the larvae will feed on the cicada, then will overwinter in the soil before emerging as an adult the next summer.

Sitting there that afternoon, I imagined myself sitting in a lawn chair, my feet in the cool flowing water, cold beer in my hand, and the smell of the river in the air. I love that smell. Enjoy your summer, and may the singing of the cicadas take you to some relaxing place.

Dog days of summer...

Why do they call it Dog Days Of Summer? My dogs are sitting on the sofa, in the A/C, taking a nap. I guess not all dogs have it this easy. It does'nt matter, it is very hot, and it is early June.


Your garden may be suffering right about now, but there are things that still need to be done. Watering is of course at the top of the list, along with weeding. I have been watering my container plants daily, and today had to mow around the garden. It is amazing how fast the grass will grow in just a few days. The sunflowers look great, towering above me to about 8 feet. My cherry tomatoes are still setting fruit and may continue with plenty of moisture. Zinnias are still blooming, but need to be deadheaded to keep new flowers going.


This week I had several people ask me about their squash and cucumber plants. The first question was that squash plants were rotting at ground level. Although he had harvested several squash, and the plants looked nice and green, now the plants were falling over and the stem was rotten. After further investigation, it appears that they have fallen prey to somre sort of root rot. The extra moisture from recent rains has enabled the disease to spread rapidly. It is time to pull all the plants and dispose of them in the trash, don't put them in the compost pile as this will spread the disease later. Practice crop rotation, which means don't plant the same vegetable in that location for 2 to 3 years. Buy disease resistant varieties, and keep your garden clean.


The other question was about cucumber plants not setting fruit. Cucumbers require pollinators to pollinate the flowers which will result in baby cucumbers. There also has to be male and female flowers for this to happen. In this case, no female flowers had appeared yet. Female flowers are identified by having a swollen bulb bellow the flower, while male flowers are just a flower on a long stem. Pollen is transfered from the male flower to the female flower by insects such as bee's and fly's. Female flowers appear several days after male flowers and need to be fertilized within one day. Many things can prevent this from happening, like no pollinators in your garden to incliment weather preventing pollinators from doing their job. You can intervene by hand pollinating flowers your self. Use a small brush or Q-tip and harvest pollen from a male flower and deposit it on a female flower. Swab the center of the female flower and then wait for the cucumber to start growing. If not successful, the female flower will wither and fall off. You may also remove a male flower and brush the center of a female flower, depositing pollen on two or three flowers with on male flower.


You may only have to do this a few days, once there are plenty of pollinators and, plenty of male, and female flowers, nature will take over. This technique will work on squash, and pumpkins as well.

Try to work in your garden early in the morning or late in th evening, it is much cooler then. Drink plenty of water and rest frequently. Happy gardening.

Work Day in the garden

I believe summer is upon us. Our weather has gone from nice spring to scorching hot. No gradual increase in temperature so we can get used to it, just straight to the 90's.

With these hot temperatures, our gardens may begin to suffer. Adequate moisture will be critical if we don't get timely rains. Water early in the morning or late in the evening. This allows the plants to absorb water, less evaporation, and less water use. It's also cooler for the person watering. Plants in pots may need daily watering as these tend to dry out faster. Keep up your feeding schedule with your fertilizer of choice, I am watering in liquid sea weed once every two weeks, and have been happy with results so far. Weeding is of course a never ending chore, apply more mulch as needed. Monitor plants for bugs or disease, early detection is the best strategy. Take frequent breaks, drink plenty of water, and enjoy some fresh food.

This past weekend, we had our first work day in the garden. With the help of family and friends, the last four beds were filled with soil. Two were mulched with alfalfa hay, I will have to get more to finish the rest. We transplanted 10 volunteer chile pequin plants from another bed, I hope they survive the move. If they don't, I have many more. The "wailing wall" was restacked, and repositioned to make it more stable. It looks great. We had a lot of fun, although it was very hot, and shoveling 4 yards of soil is hard work.

As we left that afternoon, the garden looked different, but it also felt different. I felt tired, but relaxed, and had a great sense of accomplishment. But what I felt the most was a sense of peace, and love. A feeling of community. I believe that comes from family, friends,and community coming together to take care of each other. It's parents teaching their children how to take care of themselves and others. It's all of us caring for our family, our community, our planet. This garden has been touched by many loving hands, and I hope many more will join us next time.

Slow Gardening

This week I learned about Slow Gardening. In a Austin Statesman blog, "Renee's Roots", Slow Gardening is described as a style of gardening where gardeners relax, don't rush things, and follow the seasonal rhythms of nature instead of doing everything at once. Don't overwhelm yourself by going for a big garden. Start small, perhaps a few pots on the back patio, whatever you are comfortable with. Grow something you can eat.

Off Texas Avenue Garden was concieved with that same approach in mind. From the begining I have tried to recycle all I can, like building beds from salvaged fence pickets, reusing soil, and collecting leaves for composting. My time spent in the garden has been scheduled as I have time, and I do what I can while I am there. When I leave there, I have a clear mind, feel relaxed, and don't worry about what I didn't do. The garden has grown in just a few months, and I have not rushed anything. I believe that sweating is good for the body, mind, and soul. I believe we should all grow something to eat, and teach our children how to do that. Gardening is like raising children, you can't rush either. If we provide both with what is necessary for growth, guide in the right direction, hold boundries, sometimes letting go, sometimes holding back, we will be rewarded with the greatest joy.

Now that the garden is begining to mature in the first season, I am very pleased with the results. I will continue to recycle, and encourage everyone to do the same. I will continue to educate anyone that will listen, especially children. I will continue to share my knowledge here and as a Master Gardener. And yes, I am a Slow Gardener. Maybe, I'm even a Slow Parent ??

Garden Trial...

Where has time gone? May is upon us, and I have beds that are still empty. Up till now I have done as much as I can one or two hours at a time. There never seems to be enough time. This week is going to be different. I plan to spend several hours throughout the whole week at the garden.

My first task is to have some top soil delivered and fill as many beds as I can. I am going to use sifted top soil and then ammend with cow manure, cotton seed meal, and add a little Microlife fertilizer. I am conducting a trial of sorts in the garden. The first three beds were filled with sifted top soil. I ammended these beds with cow manure, and cotton seed meal, but without the fertilizer. The next two beds were filled with soil relocated from my garden at home. This soil came with volunteer tomatoes, peppers, and many earth worms. Last week I filled three beds with a prepared vegetable mix. This soil has lots of mulch, sand, a little chicken manure mixed with top soil. I don't like all that mulch in the mix, but felt that I was running out of time to get beds ready for planting. After shoveling two yards of this mix I decided to go back to the sifted top soil and ammend with what I like. The vegetable mix tends to be drier and requires more watering, and will take at least one growing season to mature. The mulch ties up nitrogen due to the decomposition process and is unavailable for the plants. These beds will have to fertilized regularly to keep the plants thriving. I will keep you posted as time goes on, and have results of the trial later in the year.

Meanwhile, "On" Texas Avenue, there has been some activity in the past few weeks. A portion of the Brunson Theatre at the back of the building was demolished, and the front entrance has been boarded up more securely. The car show was a success, even though it started a little wet, and we even had a few people walk through the garden admiring the plants. Or perhaps wondering what the hell is this. Visitors just the same. Then last week Channel 39 did a segment on the revitalization efforts by the city and their plans for the future. Exciting news for property and business owners on Texas Avenue, and the community. Thanks to all who honk or wave as you drive by, or shout out "I like your garden". It keeps me motivated. Visit any time.

Composting uno cero uno

I have always been interested in composting. As a child I loved the look, and feel of soil in the field after my dad had turned over the corn stubble, and it had time to decompose. At the time I did not know how it worked, but the smell of that soil will be with me forever. It was like smelling something new. Like a new car smell only a hundred times better. What I didn't know was that it was something new, recycled, rejuvinated, composted. I was smelling... earth!

Compost, when done right has that smell. My latest compost bin is the largest I have ever built. I gave much thought to what type of bin to use, and decided on a 4' x 4' box type. There are many different bins you can purchase. Some can be rolled or tumbled to mix material inside, while others are boxes made of plastic that can be stacked. Another method is to use wire fencing to make a round bin. Even easier than that is to just build a pile. My bin uses 2 x 4's, wire fencing, old shutters for a door, and old bricks for the floor. All salvaged materials, which fits in with my commitment to recycle.

To make good compost, you need three basic materials, browns, greens, and water. Brown materials will be the bulk of your pile. This could be leaves, straw, old hay, shredded tree trimmings or sawdust. Green materials would be grass clippings, kitchen scraps, coffee grounds, crushed egg shells, and yard waste free of weed seeds. Layer your materials begining with a layer of rough material like tree trimmings on the bottom. Next alternate layers of browns and greens, wetting each layer as you build your pile. Don't over water, you want your material damp not soggy. Add a shovel full of garden soil or finished compost in between layers to start the whole process. Microorganisms in the soil are what will consume the materials turning them into compost. As decomposition progresses, heat generated by these microorganisms will raise the temperature in your pile. A well fed pile will generate temperatures of 140 to 160 degrees. It is possible to reduce weed seeds and disease at these temperatures making compost seem like gold to gardeners. Monitor your pile for moisture and turn periodically to aerate. By turning, you add oxygen and introduce less decomposed material on the outside to the center of the pile. Depending on how well you manage your compost pile, you could have finished compost in three months to two years.

All of this is just my way of making compost. This is a very simple explanation, I could go into much more detail. There are volumes of information on the internet and many books on this subject. Choose a method of composting that you think will work for you and experiment. If you normally bag grass clippings and place them in the trash, save them and put them in your compost bin instead along with your kitchen scraps. Things to avoid are meats, grease, dairy products, and pet feces. So get outside and have some fun, get some excercise, and make some microorganisms happy.

You say work, I say fun...

Gardening is a lot of work, but I find it very relaxing. Like all worthwhile things in life, if you are patient good things will come.

This weekend was very productive at the garden. My first task was to mow, edge, and trim around the beds. There was trash to pick up and general clean up of the whole place. Next I added two long beds and two smaller beds using recycled fence pickets. I then dug inside those beds to a depth of 4 to 6 inches and overturned the entire length of the bed, sod and all. I amended this soil with about an inch of cow manure donated by a friends herd. Also added was 2 to 3 pounds of cotton seed meal, an excellent slow release organic fertilizer. All this has been tilled to incorporate all ingredients and then allowed to rest for 1 to 2 weeks. This will allow enough time to kill the grass and clover. Exposing their roots to the sun and wind will dry them out and will add organic matter to the soil. More recycling! After this time period I will fill the beds in with soil mix and plant more flowers.

At the beginning of this endeavour I wanted to plant only flowers, excluding vegetables for now. I felt that flowers would be easier to grow and would provide a more colorful show. Having a bigger impact on the beautification of Texas Avenue and the community. But I think someone is trying to tell me something. In one bed that was filled in a couple of weeks ago, there are numerous volunteer tomato plants. I don't know what variety they are but they are thriving. So I will add vegetables throughout the garden. This is after all the beginning of a community garden and the possibilities for education are endless. This new direction inspires me to do even more. It's exciting, it's fun! So get ready to see tomatoes among the sunflowers.

Little helpers in the garden

As I gathered material for the compost pile, my daughter searched for roly poly's, also known as pill bugs. These are her favorite bugs to search for and collect. We even make roly poly houses out of oranges cut in half and placed cut side down under leaf litter to attract them. Of course the compost pile is a favorite place for roly poly's also.
Pill bugs are just one of many decomposers in our landscapes that quietly and tirelessly work day and night to break down organic matter. In the process they leave behind a product vital to the health of plants and animals known as compost. These little helpers work literally under our feet at times. Next time you turn your compost pile or rake a pile of leaves, take a moment to view a world that is often overlooked. You might see roly poly's, centipedes, snails, slugs, springtails, beetles, ants, and earthworms. Also hard at work are microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and others. Without these organisms gardening would be difficult. Yet every year we spend millions of dollars and hundreds of hours trying to eradicate some of these same creatures. Even when we target one specific pest, the impact of the products we use can destroy an ecosystem. This ecosystem may be small, as in your backyard, but if everyone on the block is doing the same, all of a sudden that ecosystem is much bigger. I am guilty of using harmful products myself. The more I educate myself though, the less and less I use. I work very hard at practicing what I preach and look for alternatives even if the alternative is using nothing at all and letting nature take care of itself. We have done a fine job of trying to desrtoy the environment, but we can repair the damage. It is my goal to educate as many people as I can as long as I live. So the next time you reach for that chemical think about those little helpers in the garden, and how important they are. If you must use a chemical please read the label carefully and follow the directions. You may be amazed how a pest problem will take care of it's self. In the meantime you will be protecting your family, pets, and saving some money. We humans are forever trying to change our environment and make it look like what we think it should look like. In fact most of the time we have no clue what we are doing. If nature were not so adaptable we would be extinct by now, by our own hand none the less. Perhaps we should observe nature and learn from her. We will never create an environment as beautiful as she has. And thank goodness for little helpers.

winter blues

This weather really slows things down.It is cloudy every day and rains every other day. Sunshine is just a memory,like something from the past. It's enough to drive me crazy. But then this morning,bright,warm sunshine. The forecast for the rest of the week is more of the same but still very cold.
I have not done much at the garden and it is not much to look at. Last weekend I did make my first planting. First I ammended the soil with a little composted cow manure and cotton seed meal. Then I planted a mix of Gladiolus,one of my favorite flowers.Although "glads" are a great addition in your flower beds,I prefer to use them as a cut flower. Their long spikes and wide range of color brighten any room in your house. Gladiolus are easy to grow,requiring good draining soil,medium fertility and ample moisture. I like to plant mine in the vegetable garden as all requirements are met and it's easier to harvest your flowers later.As the flower spikes begin to grow it may be necessary to stake them to have straight stems. Personally I like the occasional bent flower stem. I think it adds visual interest to any arrangement. It just looks "natural" to me. I still watch in amazement when a flower spike falls over and the tip bends up,always pointing up towards the sun.
The greatest joy of growing "glads" of course is in sharing them. I enjoy the smile it brings to my wifes face when I place a vase full of flowers in the house. And I like to share with family and friends.
I continue to use my mini-greenhouse to bump up tomato plants,start a new crop of lettuce and basically just pass the time. I dream of warm weather,beds full of flowers,ripe red tomatoes... maybe winter is not so blue after all.

Grow Good Soil

Yesterday I purchased two yards of topsoil and filled in three beds.I could have bought a soil mix to fill the beds but opted to start fresh.This way I can add what I like and not deal with all that mulch usually found in mixes.What I hope to end up with is a living soil that in turn will help my plants thrive.I have used soil mixes before but the first season is always a disappointment.
My recipe for a healthy soil is good quality compost,homemade if possible,if not there are several good suppliers.A quick google search will lead you to them.Next is well composted cow manure or other manure,leaf mold,and sharp sand if your soil is a little heavy.You may say that adding cow manure is just asking for trouble.And yes you may have alot of weeds,actually you will have alot of weeds but this brings me to my next step. Mulch,Mulch,Mulch!I like alfalfa hay but there are other choices.You could use old hay,straw,pine straw or leaves,which many people will bag up for you and place them at the curb.By placing a thick layer of mulch on your soil you suppress weeds,regulate temperature and,reduce moisture loss.Allow soil to warm up before covering with mulch especially if you will direct seed into those beds.Pull weeds as they come,they are easier to remove when they are young.Next buy healthy transplants or if direct seeding,use quality,fresh seed.You may use older seed but if not stored properly results may not be to your satisfaction.In time benificial micro-organisms will start their magic.Earthworms will move in and aerate your soil.While all sorts of decomposers will help till.Now all you need is something to plant,get your hands dirty,and enjoy the best tasting produce you will ever eat.

First Step

Now that I have started this Blog thing and garden, it's time to get serious. January is almost gone and I haven't even started any seeds. Today I built three square beds at the garden from recycled fence pickets and a few 2x2's. I positioned the beds in a way that they will be visible from Defee and Pruett streets and secured them in place. Next I wanted to kill the clover that is growing and any grass that is still green after our recent freeze. I used vinegar as an alternative to synthetic herbicides. Not your household vinegar from your pantry, this is for agriculture use at 20% acidity. This is my prefered choice. Although I am not seeking organic certification at this time, this is an approved product for organic gardening. I like to use organic methods when ever possible. Part of my plan is to educate people of the damage we do to the environment by using synthetic chemicals and not following directions on the label. If we all made just one small change, we could make a big difference. One yard at a time. One community at a time.

The picture of my daughter is the future site of a seating area for visitors to enjoy the view.

Future Gardeners

Our children are our future. No where is this more true as in how people will feed themselves. As a young child, I learned so much from my parents and grandparents. One being how to garden. Now it is my turn to teach. My children are part of that future. I started with my son many years ago, now it's my daughter. Everyday I try to teach my daughter something new. Whether it be the name of a new plant, a new bug or a word in spanish it does'nt matter as long as I teach. If I will teach , she will learn.The other day while she tended her little container garden, my daughter said to me, "daddy the sun came out. I think she saw us planting and she wanted to help our plants grow." She surprises me all the time.

meanwhile, on Texas Avenue

Last weekend my wife and I joined some good friends at a new establishment on Texas Avenue. I was very pleased with what I saw. This new place is a small pub that has been very well done. It is in an old, historic building and alot of care and thought went into preserving and highlighting the architecture. There are other old buildings on Texas Avenue worth saving but it will take people with vision and insight to turn this street into a nice place to " go to." Those people are out there as the owners of this new pub have proven. It would require alot of work but we now have a great example of what can be done. Now all we need is the courage to move forward and not fear.

http://thedirtybay.com/

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

With the cold , wet weather there has not been much opportunity to garden. My thoughts lately have been on the layout of the garden and what materials to use for raised beds. I want to use salvaged lumber and any other materials I can get my hands on. So yesterday I built a seed starting bench in my garage from salvaged materials. I will use this bench to start seeds for the garden and for my backyard garden. It will be a mini-greenhouse of sorts with a heat mat and temp controller and lights on a timer.
For the raised beds at the garden I will need alot more material. Although I will puschase some soil to fill the beds, I plan to use alot of leaves that I can collect curbside around town. This will keep these bags out of the landfill and help build my soil. I also have access to cow and horse manure from friends to work into the soil. My hope is to someday reduse the amount of leaves that go to the landfill. Instead they should be recycled and reused in our community. In our own lanscape.

Happy New Year everyone. I wish I could get started on the new garden , but a garden can't be rushed. I love that about nature. These images are from the old garden in 2006 and are my inspiration for the new one. I hope you will like it.