pea planting day

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Happy St Patrick’s Day! Its a beautiful sunny day – perfect to plant the peas! And some fava beans. I have my seed packages out. And the inoculant. I’ll also spread some clover seed in the squash and corn beds to see if I can get any cover crop growth to turn under before planting these beds in late May.
 
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seedlings

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I put my seedlings out in the sun for a couple hours for the first time today. Right at mid day. Its just under 50*F today and bright full sun. SO nice! It seems the little plants grew a whole inch while they were out. I’ll continue gradually increasing their time outside. My husband has purchased materials to make a cold frame for me. It was going to be ready this weekend, but we ended up pumping water out the basement instead of making it. Maybe next weekend….
 
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gift for a friend

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This is a beautiful book that I was given to review. It has wonderful pictures and seems perfect for my friend and her very young girls who are budding gardeners. I also gave them broccoli and pea seeds, since broccoli is their favorite vegetable. They are container gardeners with a rooftop patio, so I’m interested to see how these will do for them. Its time to plant both now! The Family Kitchen Garden: How to Plant, Grow, and Cook Together (link)By Karen Liebreich, Jutta Wagner, and Annette Wendland(Review copy from…
 
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Belmont is flooded

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We are underwater here! I bet we’ve had 10 inches of rain over the past 3 days. The community gardens are submerged in many areas. We haven’t had a flood like this in at least 20 years – maybe ever. It would be nice if the storm would move out soon. We have beautiful warm DRY! weather predicted after it leaves and I am looking to getting to work in the garden. Below are photos from around town. The high school was closed today – the access road was flooded.…
 
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wet garden rules sign

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I posted a list of the garden “rules” in the little kiosk at the community garden today. But they are probably too wet too read. And who’s going to be out there in this weather!! (tomorrow we are expecting 4 inches of rain!) Rules:
 
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my plot – planning for planting peas

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Still nothing going on in my plot. But on the next dry day I am planning to plant my peas! This will probably be next Tuesday or Wednesday. Plan: I will find my dogs a nice spot to rest and then I will lime the pea bed (where squash grew last year). Since my soil was very acidic (5.5) on the last soil test I’ll use the maximum rate of 20 lbs per 100 sq ft. I’ll work this in with a cultivator. I am not planning to turn or…
 
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birds in the woods

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I think these are a Cooper’s Hawk and a male Hairy Woodpecker. There is so much bird activity in the woods and fields now. It is very exciting. Breeding is starting in earnest.
 
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planting seeds – 8 weeks BLF

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Pepper, Numex Joe E Parker (Johnny’s)Pepper, Thai hot (Botanical Interests)Pepper, cayenne, Amelia’s (hand collected)Marigold, Petit mix (Johnny’s)Marigold, Fireball (Johnny’s)Canterbury Bells, Cup and Saucer mix (Burpee)Gaillardia, Sundance bicolor (Burpee)Cosmos, Sensation mix (Burpee) 2 flatsAster, Purple burst (Burpee) 2 flats
 
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Kathy Martin
This is a journal of my vegetable gardens. Skippy thinks the garden is his, even though I do all the work. We're located near Boston, in USDA zone 6. I have bees, chickens, fruit trees and berry bushes, too. I use all sustainable organic methods and strive to grow all of my family's vegetables myself. -Kathy


weeks and counting until my last spring frost

What I planted recently

Jan 21
thyme, lettuce, escarole

Feb 21
celery, celeriac, parsley, leeks

March 11
cabbage, kale, arugula



What I'm planting soon

April 1
peppers, eggplants, marigolds, beets

April 12
tomatoes, basil, sunflowers

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My garden this week

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17 years of archives!

Check out the food pantry farm I helped to start up:

Aurelia's Garden

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Skippy’s vegetable of the month – Egyptian walking onions!

“I envision a day when every city and town has front and back yards, community gardens and growing spaces, nurtured into life by neighbors who are no longer strangers, but friends who delight in the edible rewards offered from a garden they discovered together.” – Greg Peterson

"What can happen to a seed is a miracle."

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