Gardening Tools (what I have/what I need)

The lady and I are off from work this Friday and plan on starting to prepare our plot for the season. We managed to scavange some garden tools from our parents, but are still in need of others.
What we have:
Edging tool, trowel, narrow trowel, various shovels, standard garden hoe, hand hoe, an anvil style hand pruner, and a severely bent digging fork which will be used as a hand cultivator.
We also have some very useful scrap wood I scavanged from around the gardens, some other odds & ends I will be using to make a trellis, and a variety of plastic bins and containers.

What we need:
2 pairs of gloves, hose, hand cultivator, metal rake, hand weeder, functional digging fork, twine, 1 fence post, plastic zip ties, plastic tarp, and nails.

The fence post, zip ties, and nails are there because a gate needs to be constructed and installed. The gate is my main priority for Friday, as keeping out unwelcome guests is needed. We will be taking a trip to the garden center and hardware store for tools and gate materials Friday morning, then it is off to work!

My question for experienced gardeners/readers is am I missing any tools?
Is there anything I, as a begining gardener am not thinking of that I will undoubtedly need?
Let me know in the comments!

Plot Selection Day!

(My Plot: Z-1)

The day I've been waiting for has finally come: Plot Selection Day at the Fenway Victory Gardens.

We met up with the VP of Parks at noon and strolled through the 400+ plots seeing which ones were available for new gardeners. Plots were handed out very informally. If we wanted a plot we merely spoke up and it was assigned to us.

The lucky winner is plot Z-1 (shown below). The back side is where the photo was taken from, the entrance to the plot is the 4 foot wide gap in the back left of the plot, which will have a gate soon. The plot is 25 feet long X 17 feet wide!

(plot Z-1 425 sq. ft. of potential)

The above photo shows the plot as it was when we picked it out. A blank slate, with the remnants of 3 small beds. Our plot is centrally located and is generally well kept. There is a lot of work ahead of me and I'm really looking forward to it.

Once we spoke up and claimed Z-1 as our own Gail(my lovely girlfriend) and I got to work scavenging around the trash areas looking for anything we might be able to use. We found some wood and a few broken sections of fencing. My brain immediately kicked into overdrive trying to lay out the potential beds that we will be planting. After our initial scavenging and planning we have outlined what we are hoping will be 6 beds.

(Potential beds marked with scavenged materials. Gail can be seen standing where the new gate will be located)

Here is some of the work that needs to be taken care of before the fun of planting and growing can really get going:

• A new gate needs to be made & installed.
• Various weeds/vines/plants need to be pulled from the ground
• Beds & Paths should be clearly marked off

The fun has begun! Stay tuned for progress reports.

The Email I've Been Waiting For

Earlier tonight I got the email I've been hoping for from the Fenway Garden Society :

Hello

this email is to invite you to come select a plot in the fenway victory gardens this Sunday at noon we will meet by the message board in the front of the park please bring a lock as there are more than enough plots for all invited.
David xxxxxx
VP. of the Park

WOO-HOO!!!!!!

The email I had been hoping for is finally here! I get to pick my plot in 5 days!!!!

Now all of my planning, research, and ideas are kicked into overdrive.

Look for initial hopes/plans to be posted in the next few days, followed by some photos and general info related to my new plot on Sunday!

Finally this gardening blog will actually have some gardening content!

Fenway Garden Society spring meeting & down:2:earth Boston!

Last Saturday was the Fenway Garden Society spring meeting. In March I received a short letter in the SASE i sent them with my initial application. A few short weeks later an email arrived stating I should attend the spring meeting. I showed up and met dozens of gardeners and board members. At this point in time I am on the waiting list for a new plot. I spoke with the VP of Parks and he said I am right near the cutoff point of whether I will receive a plot or not. **fingers are crossed that I do get a plot**

Sunday the girlfriend and I attended down:2:earth - Boston's sustainable living expo.

A bit about D2E from their website:

"At D2E, we are seeking companies that are sincerely striving to make a difference—not those that just claim to be so they can cash in on another kind of green, if you catch our drift.

So who makes the cut?
Sure, we love to support small businesses founded with sustainability as one of their core missions. But we also love to support large businesses that are making huge strides to improve how they do business (and not hold their past against them). Bottom line: If they’re in it for the right reasons, we want them in our show.

Here are some of the factors we consider:

• Impact: Does their product or service reduce a consumer's environmental impact?

• Location: Do they have a local presence or Web-based business to decrease travel emissions and support the local economy?

• Company vs. Product: Is sustainability part of their DNA, or do they just have a "green" line?

• Materials: Is their product made of materials that are recycled, biodegradable, organic, renewable, healthy and safe?

• Certifications: Are they certified by trusted organizations such as the Forest Stewardship Council, Energy Star, or Transfair USA?

• Employees: Are workers part of a coop? Do proceeds go back to small producers? Is the product made in the USA?

• Fair Trade: Do they care about the countries and workers that help them in their business?

• Design and Innovation: Is the product or service innovative and helping us move forward?

• Community: Do they contribute to their local communities?"

D2E was absolutely awesome! I will most certainly be in attendance next year. I was able to meet and talk to representatives from dozens of sustainable and natural companies. As I am more into the food/beverage side of things that is what I was looking for, and I was not disappointed!

The wonderful supplies of my twice-monthly organic produce delivery Boston Organics were there. The lady and I thanked them for their fantastic work and great customer service.

We left with a load of great recipes and full bellies from the Cabot Creamery Cooperative. The folks at Clif Bar where they were sampling their new Clif C bars which are double layer fruit & nut snack bars. I find the normal Clif Bar's to be too heavy and filling for me, but the Clif C bars were more of a snack then a meal-in-a-bar. Coffee was extremely well represented with Dean's Beans, Equal Exchange, and Mocha Joe's Coffee Roasters were all on site offering samples and friendly conversation. The folks at Mocha Joe's were the friendliest and offered the most spirited discussion about coffee and where their beans come from. When my girlfriend informed them the sample coffee they had was too acidic for her particular tastes they were kind enough to give her multiple samples of coffee beans which would have a lower acidity, so my compliments to them for going the extra mile and really backing their product.

Organic Valley and Stoneyfield Farm were there together showing off their various milk, drinkable yogurt, yogurt, and greek yogurt products. On the sweeter side Taza Chocolate and Glee Gum satisfied the cravings for something sweet.

Getting away from the edibles for a moment there were some great non-food companies and organizations there. Alteris Renewables the northeast's largest solar and wind power installers were on hand discussing their work in commercial and residential settings. Their goal is to create renewable energy systems instead of focusing on one specific green technology. They currently offer solar electricity and hot water for businesses, schools and homes as well as wind energy systems for businesses and schools. Their goal is to work with a client to develop affordable energy systems that fit their site and budgetary limits. They are certainly worth looking into if you are interested in green energy and live in the northeastern United States.

For the home gardeners The Great American Rain Barrel Company was on hand showing off their recycled rain barrels modeled after those seen in english gardens. As water resources diminish aesthetically pleasing & sturdy barrels that save money and recycle water will certainly be a great addition to anyones garden.

By the time the lady and I had strolled the 75+ booths we had 8 canvas shopping totes, 2 of which were full of samples of food, home cleaning products and literature. I learned about many newer sustainable companies in the area and was able to compliment the makers of some of my favorite products! Below are a few photos of the piles of swag we ended up with (lots of literature, stickers, seeds, food, some home cleaning products and even 2 bars of Goat's Milk Soap)

Hibernation is over!

Spring is here and my winter hibernation is over. I have an abundance of seeds I've received for free. I went to Down:2:Earth Boston today - a sustainable living expo featuring various green business- I have lots of info and swag to show off! I've been reading a ton online regarding food, gardening, and various related topics, and of course I have some food porn to share :-)

Stay tuned- I'm re energized and hopefully I won't be going away :-)

I've got plenty to share!

The usual note: I do not grow the produce pictured, it is courtesy ofBoston Organics. Their mission is to deliver organic produce, focusing on convenience, variety and value. Whenever possible they support local & regional farms by providing as much produce as possible from the region. When they cannot provide local produce they receive produce from a variety of farms along the eastern seaboard, northern california, the pacific northwest, & tropical fruit from equal exchange organic farms in central america. My girlfriend and I receive a $29 dollar 1/2 fruit 1/2 vegetable box every other week.

The Rundown-

From around here:

1 lb Empire Apples (VT)

1 lb Carrots (MA)

1.5 lbs Red Potatoes (Prince Edward Island)

1 Green Cabbage (NY)

From Beyond:

1 White Grapefruit (FL)

1 Green Bell Pepper (FL)

2 Anjou Pears (WA)

2 Blood Oranges (CA)

6 Satsuma Mandarins (CA)

1 head Romaine Lettuce (CA) (the head of lettuce is HUGE)

From Even Further Beyond:

1 Bunch Broccoli (Mexico)

1.5 lbs Bananas (Ecuador)

I am really pleased with the quality of all the items in our box this week. Some sort of slaw looks to be in my future. The broccoli & green pepper will most likely be stir fried with a butternut squash which was received in a previous box.

If any readers have tips for what to do with some of the produce feel free to share!

2 pots of Chili & Rosemary Bread

Weekend cooking included:

2 pots of chili:

Vegetarian Chili (top) Stew Meat & Leftover Steak Chili (bottom)

2 Chili's. 2 methods. The vegetarian chili was cooked slow & low on the stove while the carnivore's chili was cooked slow and low on the crock pot.

Chili Basics:

2 Cans each: Black Beans, Kidney Beans, Pinto Beans

multiple cans of tomato: peeled, diced, whole (any variety)

3-4 fresh tomatoes diced

1 can chipotle in adobo

yellow onions

2 green bell peppers

various other peppers (your choice depending on how hot you like it)

3-6 cloves of garlic finely minced

black pepper

chili powder

dried peppers

chili oil

multiple pieces very dark chocolate

cocoa-chili powder blend.

1/4-1/2 cup dark delicious beer.

For Vegetarian Chili: 1 cup frozen corn

For Meat Chili: Meats you like. I prefer a ground beef, stew meat, sausage mixture (For the chili pictured I used stew meat and leftover steak)

Mix well. Cook on low for a LONG time, stirring often.

I have not posted portions/measurements because a good chili takes much mastery, and the portions of the various ingredients are really up to the cook. I won't divulge my exact chili recipe because it is constantly changing and my lil secret :-).

The lady and I now have multiple jars of both vegetarian and meatastic chili frozen for the near future!

Rosemary Bread:

The lady and I recently acquired a slightly used Bread Maker from the ladies parents. I've been working on mastering the machine and making my own bread. The Rosemary Bread is easily my most successful attempt to date:

1 cup milk

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 1/2 teaspoons white sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 tablespoon dried rosemary

2 1/2 cups bread flour

1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast.

Place ingredients in bread maker as recommended by manufacturer. Set to White Bread.

The bread came out fluffy, delicious and flavorful. I used a homemade herb infused olive oil.

I would be remiss if I did not point out my hilarious kitchen (mis)adventure:

Before I set out to make the rosemary bread I was attempting to make a beer bread when I inadvertently substituted confectioners sugar for flour. Luckily I noticed this before the machine was turned on. It ended with a positive though: Rosemary Bread!

• 
  

Wayland Winter Farmer's Market!

This past saturday was the 1st Wayland Winter Farmer's Market. Held at the wonderful Russell's Garden Center the various vendors were dispersed throughout the store amid living breathing plants (a lovely sight for mid-winter).

Here is a rundown of some of the goods we picked up:

1 lb of Stew Meat from Springdell Farm

2 lbs of almond granola from the folks at BOLA Granola

1 container of Zesty Ful Medammes & 1 container of Jalapeno Hummus from Samira's Homemade (as well as flatbread)

2 jars of Number 9 salsa from Paino Organics

HUGE radishes, carrots & beets (not pictured onions & baby bok choy) from Red Fire Farm.

It was great to see so many vendors and excited shoppers turn out on a saturday afternoon for the market. Not all of the vendors listed on Boston Localvores were there, but most were (my guess is that some may rotate). The vendors were incredibly friendly and there was a ton of fantastic produce and products offered.

The beef stew meat found it's way into some fantastic chili (more

on that later), the granola is a wonderful addition to my yogurt and the Ful Medammes (think hummus but made from fava beans) will be gone soon. All in all i'd say the market was a success and I really look forward to returning soon.

One final treat: While wandering around

Russell's Garden Center I came upon a delicious smelling Chocolate Mint plant. Partly because of the smell & partly out of my desire for more plants in my living space I decided to purchase it:

(Mentha × piperita - Chocolate Mint)

This Weeks Organic Produce.

The usual note: I do not grow the produce pictured, it is courtesy ofBoston Organics. Their mission is to deliver organic produce, focusing on convenience, variety and value. Whenever possible they support local & regional farms by providing as much produce as possible from the region. When they cannot provide local produce they receive produce from a variety of farms along the eastern seaboard, northern california, the pacific northwest, & tropical fruit from equal exchange organic farms in central america. My girlfriend and I have been receiving a $29 dollar 1/2 fruit 1/2 vegetable box every other week for the last 18 months. We don't pick what comes in the box (though they do have a 'no list') and have been really impressed with their customer service. The few times we had a problem with certain produce they responded promptly and provided us with additional items at our next delivery-free of charge!

The rundown-

From around here:

1.5 lbs of purple fingerling potatoes (VT)

1 lb of Carrots (MA)

1 Rutabaga (NH)

1 lb Empire Apples (VT)

From beyond:

2 Bosc Pears (WA)

1 bunch Broccoli (CA)

1 bunch Green Leaf Lettuce (FL)

1 Green Pepper (FL)

2 Honey Mandarins (FL)

2 Hamlin Oranges (FL)

2 Sunburst Tangerines (FL)

From even further beyond:

1.5 lbs Bananas (Ecuador)

Now that the holidays have passed, we are back to our usual every other thursday delivery schedule. The lettuce is crisp and the fingerling potatoes and broccoli look exceptionally good. The mandarin was bursting with juice and the empire apples are crispy, juicy and full of flavor. I am very pleased with this box & the taste/quality of its contents.

I was also informed that a friend of mine who lives a few streets away has signed up for a weekly delivery from Boston Organics. Instead of 1/2 fruit & 1/2 vegetable like myself she is getting a 'dogma box' each week. The dogma box consists of fruits and vegetables which are sourced as closed to Boston as possible. No 'no lists' or substitutes. In the 6-7 months they have offered the Dogma box items have come from New England, upstate NY and Quebec. In the winter root veggies, storage crops, & storage apples make up the box. In the spring/summer/early fall it is chock full of variety.

I've considered switching to the dogma box and am interested in seeing what her experience is.

New Year's Eve deliciousness

Our New Year's Eve dinner was spectacular!

Cheesy appetizer's of smoked brie, cherry tomatoes & mozzarella, and a cheese and cracker plate!

Toasted Pine-Nut, Raisins, Feta, Carrots, and Baby Greens Salad.

Main Courses:

Mashed Sweet Potato with chiles in adobo:

Pan Roasted Ratatouille:

Buffalo Meat Loaf:

Dessert consisted of fruit slices along with raspberry jam & shortbread cookies.

Delicious Food. Great Company. Good Times. Happy 2010.