I sent a group e-mail to the Fall 2006 class of Master Gardener trainees who signed up to volunteer. Out of nine, two responded, but they sound like they are interested, which is encouraging.
And at the MG meeting another MG volunteered to help if I call her on Wednesdays. Yes!
Also, the Landscape chairperson offered to start seeds for the herb garden in an unused grow lab in the elementary school where he is already the grow lab 'shepherd'.
We (the grow lab chairperson, her family and I) met him there on Wednesday and we all planted several packets - signet marigold, kale, dill, german chamomile, summer savory, basil, silver dollar, painted daisy, and parsley.
Fun to work together, and I was taught a basic lesson on how to garden with a grow lab. I've grown under lights for years, but never had any experience with capillary matting. I got to bring home a used piece that was going to be thrown away, and I'm trying it at home.
You're never too old to pick up a good idea, to experiment, or to learn a new thing.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Sowing Seed Packets
At the MG meeting last Thursday, some of my volunteers chose seeds to take home and start, from my little stash of free seed packets from the big box in the MG office.
One volunteer took sweet marjoram seeds. I hope she's a good seed sower - marjoram is one of my favorite herbs, and it'll be a great addition to the culinary circle.
One volunteer is starting basil in four inch pots on her windowsill, something I've never had success with. She wants to try a cut and come method, then give me the pinched plants to grow on in the garden. She tells me she's done it before and she has faith she will succeed. Reminds me of Thoreau's faith in a seed.
I left Lavender 'Lady' seeds for one volunteer to pick up when she was in the office. 'Lady' made a big splash a few years ago, as the 'blooms the first year from seed!' variety of angustifolia lavender. Well, yes, you may get a bloom or two the first year. But even well-grown plants may need a couple years to get going. Also, keep in mind, seed grown lavenders are variable. Good thing this isn't a formal garden, or we'd be growing cuttings.
One volunteer took sweet marjoram seeds. I hope she's a good seed sower - marjoram is one of my favorite herbs, and it'll be a great addition to the culinary circle.
One volunteer is starting basil in four inch pots on her windowsill, something I've never had success with. She wants to try a cut and come method, then give me the pinched plants to grow on in the garden. She tells me she's done it before and she has faith she will succeed. Reminds me of Thoreau's faith in a seed.
I left Lavender 'Lady' seeds for one volunteer to pick up when she was in the office. 'Lady' made a big splash a few years ago, as the 'blooms the first year from seed!' variety of angustifolia lavender. Well, yes, you may get a bloom or two the first year. But even well-grown plants may need a couple years to get going. Also, keep in mind, seed grown lavenders are variable. Good thing this isn't a formal garden, or we'd be growing cuttings.
Another reason to grow your own food
A wise man once said, "If you want a revolution, grow your own food."
Here is an excerpt from Michael Pollan speaking at the Bioneers Conference
Here is an excerpt from Michael Pollan speaking at the Bioneers Conference
Saturday, March 03, 2007
The Challenge...
The gal who does the powerpoint slide show for the Master Gardener's annual banquet was finally able to dig up an uploadable photo of the project I'm assuming this year. Someone sent her a photo taken on the garden tour last summer.
This photo shows the herb garden at the Extension that I'm planning to renovate.
Crunch time today: 1. Need to finalize info on the garden stepping stone we're having made for the Herb Society. 2. Run by the Community Education office to sign papers for the class I'm teaching starting tomorrow, and pick up a printer cartridge (I hate my printer! I think it prints only about 20 sheets before it starts the low ink warning!)to finish up the first week's handouts. 3. Finish up the handouts and collect the visual aids.
Every class needs a theme. This year my mantra will be on confidence building:
"If I can do it, YOU can do it."
A Few Days Later: More photos!
In these shots you can see the pamphlet box that holds folded-page handouts that explain the compost area, and some of the remaining compost bins. The site was originally meant to showcase various methods for backyard gardeners to compost. The herb garden was just planned for a pretty backdrop for the compost demo area. Little did they know...
It's hard to get people around here interested in compost (what a shame!) and the individual on the paid staff who was gung-ho about teaching composting has moved on. But the herbs are still here, and some of us hardy old volunteers.
Most of the finicky, short lived perennial or borderline hardy plants have disappeared over the years. The list of remaining plants is about a third of the original list. Some amount of signage from disappeared plants is or are sitting on a shelf. And the plants that were hardy, agressive or 'happy to be here' have grown with very little encouragement into each other and will need to be divided as we go. Lots to do!
Hope we have a gardening-friendly year. I understand it's an El Nino cycle. I'm not a hothouse violet, but I appreciate enjoyable weather for my gardening time. After all, gardening is my avocation, not my vocation.
This photo shows the herb garden at the Extension that I'm planning to renovate.
Crunch time today: 1. Need to finalize info on the garden stepping stone we're having made for the Herb Society. 2. Run by the Community Education office to sign papers for the class I'm teaching starting tomorrow, and pick up a printer cartridge (I hate my printer! I think it prints only about 20 sheets before it starts the low ink warning!)to finish up the first week's handouts. 3. Finish up the handouts and collect the visual aids.
Every class needs a theme. This year my mantra will be on confidence building:
"If I can do it, YOU can do it."
A Few Days Later: More photos!
In these shots you can see the pamphlet box that holds folded-page handouts that explain the compost area, and some of the remaining compost bins. The site was originally meant to showcase various methods for backyard gardeners to compost. The herb garden was just planned for a pretty backdrop for the compost demo area. Little did they know...
It's hard to get people around here interested in compost (what a shame!) and the individual on the paid staff who was gung-ho about teaching composting has moved on. But the herbs are still here, and some of us hardy old volunteers.
Most of the finicky, short lived perennial or borderline hardy plants have disappeared over the years. The list of remaining plants is about a third of the original list. Some amount of signage from disappeared plants is or are sitting on a shelf. And the plants that were hardy, agressive or 'happy to be here' have grown with very little encouragement into each other and will need to be divided as we go. Lots to do!
Hope we have a gardening-friendly year. I understand it's an El Nino cycle. I'm not a hothouse violet, but I appreciate enjoyable weather for my gardening time. After all, gardening is my avocation, not my vocation.
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