Monday, February 22, 2010

More Good Reading

A is for Awesome! The aprons in this book are too cute. I am going to make about 5 of them at least. If you want a good apron book then get this one. I actually picked this one up at the Library.



Eliot Coleman is such a fantastic farmer and author. This book is a great read packed with excellent info. I love that he explains how the farm has arrived at the materials and methods they use. He explains all the alternative methods they have tried and gives lots of instruction on using the growing methods of Four Season Farm. If you want to learn more about growing vegetables year round, get this book. I recommend getting his book 'The New Organic Grower' for complete organic success.



The tone of this book is fun and easy to read. Lots of practical info for the new hobby farmer. I will surely use this book in the future to help guide me through the start up process. Sarah Beth Aubrey is writing from experience.



Yummmm! Need I say more. Well, guess I should. I love this book. It begins with the 'need to know' stuff. It provides education on the molds, starters, and methods used in cheese making. The recipes are organized in an 'easy' to 'most difficult' arrangement. I'm going to buy all the stuff for making some soft cheeses and get started soon.



The projects in this book are very cute. I plan on making many of them including that scarf on the cover. This is also a book I picked up at the local library.



Another library book. The toys in this one are so cute! I'm going to make the pink elephant and the cute little alligator first.



Teza from Teza's Garden sent me this book after a drawing he held. I won something. I never win stuff. You can imagine my excitement to win a gardening book. Well, it's not a book on how to garden but a book about a gardener in his garden. I'm loving it so far. The authors writing is witty and fun. I find myself smiling as I turn the pages, imagining the battle with brambles. Thanks Teza!!!


I haven't started this book yet. It's next on the hit list.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Miscellaneous

First, let me introduce you to my mom's new puppy, Lily. She is a Chihuahua and about 6 weeks old. I can't get over her thick, fluffy fur! Isn't she the cutest. Her parents are great little dogs so I am hoping that she turns out nice. I often don't like little dogs but occasionally one comes along that has a more independent personality and that, I love.



This is a photo of our backyard a few weeks ago. If I did garden here it would have to be raised beds!



This is Tyler. I walk him for his owner every weekday. He is a wonderful pup. He's very playful, energetic and loves people. Though it's not a ton of money, I really enjoy taking him out each day and getting us both some fresh air and exercise.





Do you see the blooms? I took this picture about two weeks ago. It's some sort of Cherry but I couldn't get closer since it was in someones front yard. I was quite surprised to see something blooming. Not sure if this is normal but either way, it has been very cold most of the time.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Working in the Greenhouse

Blanket Creek Farm has put me back to work for the spring. It's part time but I sure do enjoy being in the greenhouses again. I potted up lots of herbs and 400 bare root strawberry plants. Potting bare root strawberry's is a real time consumer.

We have a ton of clean up to do this year too. All the plants that sat out for the winter are a mess. I call it job security. The owner, Fred, works full time at another job so he doesn't have much time or energy for the clean up part of the business.

Here is some delospermum. It's bathing in the sliver of sunshine that made it through the clouds that day.


That is my potting station there in the middle. The table is a bit low so it's a bit uncomfortable but we shouldn't be using that station for long.



Is this a Black Widow? I am very cautious when picking up anything in the greenhouses because spiders love to live in there. I certainly don't want to be bitten by anything dangerous.



Lot's of plugs to plant. I potted up the first three flats of artemisia. He has many more flats of seedlings started now too. We need more sunshine to get everything growing. Things are behind as of now.



Some of the work that needs to be done outside. Holy moly!

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Canada!

The opening ceremony was so personal and beautiful. Canadians, I am in love with your home. I always have been but now it has been intensified.

Ironically, my favorite blogs are from Canada! Teza's Garden, An Explorer's View of Life, Muddy Boot Dreams, A Majority of Two, I'm sure I have missed a few.

My father's side of the family is French Canadian hence my last name, Verville. Know any Verville's?

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Recycling Fun

Recently, I joined Freecycle. Freecycle is a group for recycling unwanted items. I have already picked up three bags of cloths and two bags of fabric scraps that I'm going to make various sewing projects including toys, bibs, aprons, mittens, quilts, etc.

Go check it out if you haven't already!

At one of the local parks they have a Christmas tree drop off site. I found these wreaths there and couldn't resist grabbing them up for myself.



Wreath wrings are hard to find in small quantities usually, so I was pretty excited to snag these. All I have to do is remove the greens and save the rings for next year or anytime I want to make a wreath. I have seven of them now and every time I go back I look for more.



My mom used to make wreaths to sell locally every Nov/Dec. She made the most perfect red bows. She would even make bows for other wreath makers at times. I loved that time of year because she would make all of the wreaths right in our living room. Nothing says Christmas like the smell of pine. I often helped and even got to sell some of my creations. These are memories I will never forget and I look forward to using these rings to make beautiful wreaths once again.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Plant Co-ops Are Rolling On

We are on our third snow fall this winter here in NC. Pretty crazy for this area. This weather has me anxiously waiting for spring and like clockwork, the new year brings many new plant co-ops to shop.

Over at the Yahoo group BnPCo-op they keep the buying hot. Currently there are dahlia, caladium, agave, BlueStone Perennial, hosta, perennial geranium, fern, phlox, clematis and several other co-ops open.

If you are unfamiliar with a plant co-op, here is an explanation. They are ran by a host or hosts who choose the vendor and plants. Generally there are minimum quantities that must be ordered per co-op. They get a very cheap price for purchasing in bulk basically. Often it is at wholesale. You as the customer can pick and choose whatever you like from each co-op. Sometimes there is a minimum order but it's never much, maybe 10 plants.

BnPCo-op is very organized and has a great following. They are some vacancies right now but not many so if you want click the link and join in the fun. I purchase many of my fall bulbs via these co-ops and get fantastic deals doing so.

Monday, February 1, 2010

I missed my bloggiversary

I forgot my bloggiversary like my father forgets his own birthday! Well, it's been over a year now since I started this little blog. I have had ton's of fun and look forward to keeping it going for years to come. Someday it will contain much more content about my garden.

Wisdom

"If you want to be happy for an hour, get drunk;

If you want to be happy for three days, get married;

If you want to be happy forever, make a garden." -Chinese Proverb


"Happiness is to hold flowers in both hands." -Japanese saying



I could be happy forever in Lynda's garden.