Playing In The Dirt!

It feels good to play in the dirt. I usually buy a bag of just potting soil, but I went bold :), branched out and mixed up a concoction I read about. It consists of peat, potting soil and perlite. So experimentation is in progress to see how seeds respond.

And here is what I've grown recently: Mustard and Kale microgreens. Both are good. The kale is mild, the mustard a bit spicy. I think I'm a microgreens fanatic.

Kale Micros

Mustard Micros

 My husband asked when I bought these. I think he was teasing, but they do kind of look like I bought them at the store. Fun to know they were produced at home.


Encouraging Moment:

Gardening While In A Wheelchair

http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/gardening-while-using-a-wheelchair-zbcz1603.aspx

Family Moment:

This is one of my own, Mr. LMG acting out Waldo for a library program. 

He definitely gets his outgoing personality from his father.

Start small and grow,

  

A Quiet Day!

My oldest daughter and I have had a quiet day just hangin' out and crafting today while the rest of the family is camping. We've enjoyed our time, but the house sure is quiet without my husband, the four boys and my other daughter. When there are eight people in the house, it is quite a lively place. Heck, even the puppy seems to notice the void of activity. She plays around, "helps" my daughter with her jewelry making, and then heads for the window and cries every once in a while. This is her. She is quite a character.

So my daughter was on a roll today and made a beautiful necklace, a necklace for her sister with a paw print because her sister loves her sweet dog, Emma, so much, and being the huge Star Wars fan that she is, my daughter made a bracelet based off the charm Anakin gave to Padme. .

And I made boot cuffs. The first pair I made were for each of my girls for Christmas. These are fun to make, and I love the touch of lace added to outfits. My girls are mostly comfortable in their jeans and boots but can be girly, too, every once in a great while.

And oh those greens: These are my second batch of radish shoots. They really are very yummy and add a slight touch of zing to a meal. They actually have the same flavor as their full-grown counterpart, the radish.....strangely, and they're really good in sandwiches, in burritos, and on salads. It doesn't get any cleaner than this, no pesticides, organic, untreated seeds.

It was a nice, relaxing day for my daughter and I, a fun day. Off to feed my son's uromastyx lizard since he's on a camping adventure and then another movie. We just finished Flicka, one of my daughter's favorites.

Encouraging Moment:

Sign language is a great way to enhance phonics instruction but also to be able to reach out to the deaf community. It kind of holds a special place in my heart, hence the sharing of this video.

https://www.facebook.com/TheRichest.org/videos/619651868139298/?fref=nf

Family Moment:

I think someone may be hogging the homemade salsa..... :)



Start small and grow.

New Life!

No other signs of life, still cold out, and this little flower poked its cheery head, with its little, yellow petals, out of the soil a few weeks ago. It almost seemed like it was defying the season, determined to grow despite the weather.

And now more life is springing forth, one of them my Bleeding Heart. I planted it last year, but it wasn't looking very well by the end of summer. I thought I had somehow killed it. And here it is! I love how gardening provides food for my family but love pretty flowers scattered along the path, too.

Cliche as it may sound, it seems like such a miracle, life springing forth from the earth, like our little yellow flower in the cold of winter or vegies from a simple seed. We plant seedling trays pretty much each year, and we still seem to ooh and aah at the first sight of the tiniest, little green.

An "ooh and aah" moment, here! :)

Photo Credit - Lindsey M., you rock girl! (My oldest daughter). :)

The tomatoes are looking pretty good, If they all make it, we should have extras to sell, share, or trade with others. The green peppers took a bit of time to germinate. I wasn't sure if they were going to grow or not, but there are some little sprouts now. The hot peppers are coming along, as well.

We've been able to harvest organically grown pea shoots, lettuce, and radish shoots, all before winter's end, from our little urban homestead.

Radish Shoots

Radish Shoots in Chicken Cabbage Stir Fry.

Moments to Share

Encouraging Moment:

This Woman Started A Farmer's Market For Low-Income Neighborhoods
This woman started growing fresh produce in her backyard so low income families have access to clean, healthy food
Posted by NowThis on Saturday, March 5, 2016

Family Moment:

My daughter "helping" my son do push-ups. 

We live in a crazy household. Loads of fun with this Half-Dozen!

Start small and grow.