Nothing is more Primal than growing your own. You get a sense of ownership, pride. Best yet, a better sense of what you are growing, what is going onto your table. More than ever you control how your produce is grown, from plantling to the table.
I am nicely pink all over, with a well reddened neck today, as I put the starting touches into what will be the WDC Family’s yearly garden.
I have taken things in a new direction. I just cannot fight the dog anymore for space in the garden, so I decided to open it up to him and all, and get the produce into containers. The idea is that we will be better able to manage the garden. The best part, I paid next to nothing for the set up that you see here, as almost all of it is recycled material!
First, the obligatory shots:
It is a start. This is from the door area of the Cabana
This is from the opposite angle, from the steps of my deck
It doesn’t look like much, but it is a start. Let’s get into the nitty-gritty, shall we?
Try and get that you bastards! I will have some strawberries this year!
I had planted strawberries last year. I think that they were lovely, except I never did get a chance to taste them. Between Hershey and the birds, they had them all. I was a little fed up when I saw some robins eating my berries, so I went and got some netting to work around them. A major PITA to install, but I WILL taste my strawberries this year. OTOH, I have lost them all to Loo. Well, priorities first, see!
I will be using this for veggies... let's hope it is better than last year! Notice the chives in the corner..
I still have the framework for the SFG from last year. I accidentally grew a crapload of cucumbers in it without even trying. This year I will try and do better.
A little different than Mel's Mix, but I can't sell it...
I filled all containers with a mix of my own design. Okay, I was HEAVILY influenced my a gent named Mel Bartholomew. Whereas his mix is vermiculite, top soil and peat moss, mine is slightly altered. I might post the recipe one day.
Netting for the strawberry, a San Marzano tomato, and some thyme... all in recycled affairs!
My wife makes fun of me because I cannot even pass by the neighbors when it is the once-a-month BIG garbage day without cherry picking things from it. In this case, I got some awesome huge outdoor potting planters. A few drill holes here and there, and we are good to go.
My wife is kind of right. I once “acquired” a suitcase from the garbage pile, wondering why the hell someone would throw away a perfectly good case. I lugged that bad boy home, then my wife looked at me. She only innocently asked if the zipper was still good. I hate it when she is right…
Nice! My favorite tomato!
These may not be grown in Italy, but hey, they are superior for making sauces. Plus, it is not too primal to have something flown from the “Boot” to you anyway, is it?
More netting, another San Marzano, some herbs as well. Recycled affairs people!
Recycled = free. Sweet!
The best catch of the day, ignoring the quizzing looks of my wife, was the old counter someone had thrown out. I think it makes a perfect counter for my plants to keep out of Hershey’s pee range. Let’s see him lift it that high!
Nothing fancy here. I have so many pails, my wife will be happy to rid of some.
Why not use pails? A drill for some drainage holes, and a few rocks on the bottom make for pleasant containers. Plus, I am a chef, so they are technically “free” for use. Better than in a landfill. What you are seeing there are French Lavender, Stevia, Sage and Basil.
Trust me, you WANT mint in a container
Finally, notice the nice raiser for the pot. Yes, it is a milk crate. I remember a time when using these was way against the law. I know, I live dangerously. Perhaps the milk crate police will come and confiscate it. Mint is known to overtake everything in its path, so it is smart to plant it in a container.
So, that is what I was up to today. Any thoughts on what type of vegetables I should grow in the SFG? Let me know in the comments, I would love to hear about it!
Plus, I wonder if anyone has any experience growing lettuces in a balcony box? I think it would be trés cool to snip what you need right out of your doorstep. I was looking at a coconut bottomed one that might be cool!
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
“Nothing is more Primal than growing your own.”
Um, foraging?
@aurelia – Okay, you got me. LOL. Apart from that, nothing says it like growing you own!
More than once I’ve had olive oil in hand and stared at my cupboard, thinking “meh.” Having some chives or cilantro on my deck would be great. I don’t know about a whole garden yet, but I really need to start on something.
As for the foraging . . . neighbors tend to cock an eyebrow when they see you picking dandelion leaves. : )
@Mike – True. I can just see it now. “What the hell are you doing in my garden?” “Foraging, sir!”
Not to mention that in a lot of locales, the only real thing one can forage is dirty Styrofoam containers. LOL