Harvest Monday 8/17/2015

Very slowly this year my tomatoes are getting red!

 A 700 gram eggplant.

Please visit : Daphne’s Dandelions “Harvest Monday” where everyone can share links to their harvest or how they are using their harvests for the week.

Harvest Monday 6/15/2015 - Chive blossom vinegar

This week is a chive blossom vinegar !

 Chives in full bloom.


Chives flowers













 Chives and white grain vinegar.

Vinegar after a week in a dark place.

Bonus- my first peony in the same color palette!


Please visit : Daphne’s Dandelions “Harvest Monday” where everyone can share links to their harvest or how they are using their harvests for the week.

DIY grow bags tutorial for zucchini, potatoes or sweet potatoes

My garden is in partial shade and the sunniest part I have here is a large deck, but most of the plants require a lot of growing space.
I was thinking about making grow bags, in a fast and  inexpensive way.
I have black garden fabric from Costco,  it is 48" wide.

Step 1. Cut a square 48x48"
 
Step 2. Cut in half.

Step 3. Sew the rim on long side.

 

Step 4. Sew side and bottom.















 Grow bag in process.

 Step 5. Making "ears".
I called them "ears". Fold the bag.











Make the folds and sew them.












Step 6. Turn the bag inside out

 and grow!

 I transplanted 2 of my zucchini.

The finished bag from 48x24" peace of fabric is
14x14x14 inches or about 12 gallons.
It took me 30 minutes to sew 6 bags

Harvest Monday 6/1/2015 - strawberries

There is a second bowl we got from the garden!
Most of them are Ozark beauty and Allstar.

Please visit : Daphne’s Dandelions “Harvest Monday” where everyone can share links to their harvest or how they are using their harvests for the week.

Harvest Monday 5/25/2015 - greens and plantain

I am freezing greens for winter.
I like to make raw green soups in blender.
I made 3 zip lock bags this morning.


 
 

The herb of today is great plantain.

It is a invasive perennial plant that grows all around the yard. Our lawn is organic so I'm harvesting it everywhere.
We are drinking a lot of herbs tea, especially in winter and on fasting days. My husband had 42 fasting days last winter (21 on tea and 21 tea plus juices), me 8+8.
Most of the herbs I grow.
Plantain Tea Benefits - from liveandfeel.com -

Plantain tea is often used in the treatment of various respiratory problems, as it acts as a mild expectorant. These include asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, sore throats, and coughs. Plantain tea can also be used to lower blood pressure and control sugar blood levels.
Drinking plantain tea can help you if you've got diarrhea or dysentery. It is also used to treat irritated or bleeding hemorrhoids, kidney and bladder problems, bleeding caused by cystitis, and urinary tract infections.




Please visit : Daphne’s Dandelions “Harvest Monday” where everyone can share links to their harvest or how they are using their harvests for the week.

Greenhouse update May 20th

Again I found time to work with lumber - my greenhouse.
I planted cuces and squashes on the back raised bed, but it needs roof support and trellis.

All photos are without retouching, the work in progress and mess is huge!

Rear raised bed before - it is about 24" high. I loaded the bed with old leaves, twigs, than compost, peat moss, some sand, few lime stone.

 Before.....

 Welcomed guest!

 After......

Pine shaving everywhere.
I did not cover the areas where I planted cuces and squashes.

The little opening on the ground between the bricks - sprinkler system head. I am not sure yet if it will be good for the greenhouse or not.

View on the right.
Roof support and future trellis support.

 View on the left.
You can see the wooden frame I put on the blocks to make the whole construction more stability.

 That's how it is look like now.

 Still a lot of work, but plants are growing and it gives me hope that I can finish the project.

Harvest Monday 5/18/2015 - Melissa and Monarda

I started to dry herbs!

Lemon balm and bee balm this year are growing like  weeds.

 Lemon balm, or Melissa officinalis, was starter 2 years ago from seeds.

 - from www.herbwisdom.com
Lemon Balm was dedicated to the goddess Diana, and used medicinally by the Greeks some 2,000 years ago. In the Middles Ages lemon balm was used to soothe tension, to dress wounds, and as a cure for toothache, skin eruptions, mad dog bites, crooked necks, and sickness during pregnancy. It was even said to prevent baldness. As a medicinal plant, lemon balm has traditionally been employed against bronchial inflammation, earache, fever, flatulence, headaches, high blood pressure, influenza, mood disorders, palpitations, toothache and vomiting. A tea made from Lemon balm leaves is said to soothe menstrual cramps and helps relieve PMS.


Bee balm, or Monarda, Eastern Beebalm, Bergamot, Wild Oswego Tea, Horsemint was on ,y property before I moved in. I also planted red variety to the purple one.

from http://altnature.com - Bee Balm leaves and flowers and stems are used in alternative medicine as an antiseptic, carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic and stimulant. An infusion is medicinal used internally in the treatment of colds, catarrh, headaches, and gastric disorders, to reduce low fevers and soothe sore throat, to relieve flatulence, nausea, menstrual pain, and insomnia. Steam inhalation of the plant can be used for sore throats, and bronchial catarrh (inflammation of the mucus membrane, causing an increased flow of mucus). Externally, it is a medicinal application for skin eruptions and infections. Bergamot’s distinctive aroma, found in both the leaf and flower is wonderful for use in potpourri.








Please visit : Daphne’s Dandelions “Harvest Monday” where everyone can share links to their harvest or how they are using their harvests for the week.