Warmest Winter on Record Except for My Garden

It was interesting to read this article the US Sees Warmest March in Record

My garden is located in Washington State.  It was colder than normal.  My cousin in Illinois was sharing photos on Facebook of his spinach up 6" the middle of March.  It was raining with almost snow in my backyard.  Plus we had lots and lots of rain and wind.  Because of a storm the middle of March our home will be having a new roof.

Easter actually was the warmest day of the year here.  We put our top down on the convertible.  Yes I care about the climate issues, earthquake preparedness, food storage and a garden with orchard in the back yard and still enjoy a convertible.

Today it is warm again.  It was 70 degrees [I know everyone East of the Rockies had that a month ago].  My grandson asked to be taken to preschool in the convertible with the top down. :-)

This week I hope [unless the weather reverts to the cold again] to set up my new 4'x4' garden frames.  The plan is one for me and one for my grandson. 

Crossing my fingers the weather stays nice!  Judy

Urban Farming through Hydroponic Gardening and Grow Tents

It seems I have had a variety of ideas recently.  They all will take some time to bring into reality.  Winter is blowing around me.  The weather experts believe by Friday we will have our first snow.  Fortunately the last of the grapes and apples have been harvested.  This year the garden had its successes and its "need to improve" areas.  I will miss the fun of watching things grow.

On that point I have a desire to grow things inside this winter.  I have been shopping my local area and online at different approaches to growing food inside.  With the cloudy weather that will dominate the rest of this winter I know that a greenhouse is not enough to grow what interests me.

Now I am not looking at exotic foods.  I really am a "meat and potatoes" type of eater.  Keep it simple is my approach to food.  I want to have a fresh supply of spinach in particular. 

My husband and I were browsing a new garden store. Immediately my eye caught sight of  "sun huts". I realize then and there my "want one" button was activated. http://www.greners.com/expertadvice/sun-hut-review.html  There are several other manufacturers for this type of product such as Secret Jardin Dark Grow Tent. http://www.greners.com/i/grow-tents/secret-jardin.html  Here is a site that reviews the Grow Tents. http://www.greners.com/expertadvice/grow-tent-review.html

Grow lights have been on my shopping list.  But once I saw the "sun hut" -- I knew I had to have one.  I even like the concept of "Sun".  Why?  Because, Western Washington has limited sunshine all winter.  Here is a link that will show you month by month the weather here.  http://www.beautifulseattle.com/clisumm.htm

Hydroponics has been circling my life for a long time.  This year it has moved into my radar zone.  The concept of growing food in a controlled situation fits my "keep it simple" type gardening.  It is a continuation of my "urban farm" lifestyle.  Here is an interesting article on growing food in skyscrapers and other interesting places.  http://www.thomaswhite.com/explore-the-world/green-report/2011/urban-farming-growing-food-in-skyscrapers-and-giant-barges.aspx  My goal is much smaller in fact just a miniature of the idea.  A whole building would be overwhelming for me.  But a small scale approach for the home is appealing.

I plan on doing more research and then press my "I've got to have one" button and give them a try.  Judy

P.S.  I want to look at solar power for the light.

7 Billion and Counting - What does this have to do with my Small Garden?

The number alone is hard to comprehend.  Over the last 40 to 50 years at least there has been a concern the world would reach this number.   Over the millenniums populations would rise and fall.  The Feasts and Famine cycles seem to have ruled this world for a long time whether it was agriculture, people or disease.  Ancient religious books reveal this cycle.  The agriculture model operated on this cycle.  In the last hundred years through "modern" farming techniques the cycle has been delayed. Disease cycles have been stopped with vaccinations.  Yet the populations continues on its feast cycle [explosion]. 

Several questions now need asked-

     How many people can live on this planet before the resources are used up?

This question is being debated.  There seem to be "think tanks" that have crunched the numbers and believe we are on the threshold of "peaking" to disaster.  When the Supply and Demand Cycle reaches its "peaking", this is what potentially will happen.  

• Billions of people wanting more of the Supplies of the World.
• Demand will go up.
• Existing Supplies will become scarce.
• The cost of everything [energy, food, clothing, necessities] will go up as the Supply is significantly less than the Demand.
• Wars will eventually erupt over the cost of the items because Demand is up and Supply is down.
• Famine will result from the costs and lack of basic needs.
• Disease will return because of the costs and lack of vaccinations.

Of course as a result of this, the ancient Feast Famine Cycle will return with the population dropping possible drastically because of Lack of Basic Necessities, War, Disease and Famine.

     Why is something not happening to stop the return of this Feast Famine Cycle?

• There are those that do not believe the situation is alarming.  They even question if the "think tanks" are right. 
• There are those that believe Science will find "magical" answers to the problem.
• Religions that were created during the ancient past when Feast Famine Cycles were regular put an emphasis on having large families.  It was important then to have enough people to farm the land, store the food, create the clothing, necessities for the family and take care of the aged, which were few.  They are still against any changes to the ancient position on family sizes even under a looming disaster.
• Each country is busy taking care of its population and does not want another country to tell them how to do it.
• Each country has resources different from another country.
• Some think the Large Corporations view this cycle as the perfect wealth builder.
• Some think the Extremely Wealthy do not care because they view it as the perfect wealth builder cycle.
• Individuals have not researched the facts.  They just listen to their favorite "speaker", who says the old ways are fine.
• Some who live in the US see lots of land, farms and room for growth.  It will not impact me is the attitude.
• Others say we have heard all of this before when the population was at 4 Billion, 5 Billion, 6 Billion.
• I'll be dead by then anyway attitude.

      How does this impact  my small garden?

• Prices of everything [food, energy, basic necessities] will go up.  This includes my seed, water and fertilizer.  This has already happen.
• Commercial farms in the US will sell their products to the highest bidder anywhere in the world, which will drive the prices of food higher even though it is abundant in the US.  This is already happening.
• My household costs such as heat, food, health care and more will rise higher.  They already are.
• My ability to get some food items will be jeopardized in a high Demand and low Supply situation.  This will come.

All of this gives us a good reason for having a garden and an orchard.  It may be small but it keeps our gardening skills up.  It makes sure my family can enjoy some fruits and vegetables each year.  It teaches our children and grandchild by example how to garden and run an orchard.

Billions of people on the planet do impact my small garden!  Judy

Fall in the Orchard and Small Garden

 Good Morning to all!

Fall is here in the Puget Sound Region.

  The Cows are enjoying the morning mist fog here.  You might enjoy a previous post about them.  Pastoral Life at Its Best in a Small Garden!

APPLE PICKING

We checked the apples this am again to see
if more were ready.

GRAPE PICKING

The last of the grapes need picking before the critter that has been enjoying them as well eats the last of them. We finally added the netting but he/she still found away around it. 

 

Blueberries and Roses 

     The Blueberries and Roses are still giving a wonderful display and tasty food.

IN THE DARK

Our grandson keeps wanting to play outside in the dark.

We have street lights that help.  All of the other children are inside.  He just needs to be outside though. As I walk around him letting him play, he just cannot let go of summer.  

He wants the sunshine and the fun with friends playing outside.  A neighbor got out of her car and as she walked to her door I said - He just can't let summer go.  She said - All of us wish it would linger longer.  Fortunately he has Halloween to look forward to!

Climate change or just a natural cycle, Western Washington State

did not get the long warm  lingering fall.  Rain and cool weather arrived early. 

Going to enjoy the fall day anyway! Judy



Another Reason to Grow My Own Veggies

I realize this story linked below is in Europe.  It does bring home though that fresh mass grown veggies have had problems over the last couple of years.  Are you more likely to grow your own veggies this year?  Judy

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/06/03/germany.e.coli.salad.safety/index.html?hpt=hp_bn6

MSN Sees the Trend "Urban Farming"

I could not help but want to share this great article about "Urban Farming".

http://money.msn.com/saving-money/a-chicken-in-every-condo-freedman.aspx

Today we plan to get a few things planted. Finally I think it is safe to plant. Hopefully the cold rainy Spring is past - after all it is May!

Happy Planting! Judy

16 Tons and What Do You Get Another Day....

Remember the song of 16 Tons by Tennessee Ernie Ford. It reveals a life of work, work and work some more. We teach online as you know. The temptation to move into the work, work and work some more life is high. You know how it goes. "Oh, let me just check email." Several hours later you are still at the computer.

A life without hobbies, holidays, spiritual renewing times and just enjoying the sunshine [in the Pacific Northwest it is a here today and gone tomorrow situation with sunshine] misses the whole purpose of the "Urban Farm", Abundant Living and Sustainable Life.

My husband and I are reminding each other to take days off for fun. How do you keep from the 16 Tons life? Judy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sixteen_Tons

A Sustainable Life Growing in my Neighborhood

Yesterday I learn some fun news about my neighborhood. Now you have to understand I live in an association where they mow our front lawns. It is wonderful because the neighborhood looks like a park. It is an excellent walking area as well. The good news is one of the neighbors has chickens. I just love the idea they have them. They are a couple in our age group (mid 60s). I believe I have the largest "farm" in the neighborhood. I know I have the most buildings in my backyard and garden. Now as I had shared in one of my blogs we do not plan on adding animals to our "urban farm". So it is fun to hear of others nearby doing similar things. There is another couple in our age group that have a ham radio as well. This is really comforting to me. This way if a natural or unnatural event happens our neighborhood could keep up on what was happening. When doing an urban farm it is nice to have like minded people in the neighborhood. Judy