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.