Out walking the dog, Oh, the Possibilities

Part of "Operation: CLEAN-UP"... If, by chance you can't see it, the white object on the horizon, is a train. And the pic from the front side of the trees(homeside), showing the possibilities for expansion, and growth.

I share my story with everyone at every waking moment

On the fact they may have pertinent information that could lead me down the path I need to go. Today just under an hour ago this happened. I believe I have mentioned before that I would like to start a community garden and what looks like atleast 45 acres is about to open up for me. With some cleanup this could be a lucrative deal. Just last week, I told a group of people I had no idea where to start,(I know where I want to be, just not the steps to get there), my luck is changing, I feel this in my very being. These pics are just across the road from my home. It's the area behind the trees that I am concerned about, tho this side of the trees would be nice to obtain also.

With a Little More Study I Found

The one crop we have planted, I don't think is going to grow, is the iceburg lettuce. We dropped the seed a few weeks too late, for a couple of different reasons I've already explained. It's more of a cool weather, early seedling crop, and most of this heat has been unbearable on it's early life, so we've probably baked the seed. I would be utterly shocked if they do come to maturity. But alas, I'm not really concerned, for I wasn't really growing it for my taste. I've posted before on the nutrional value or lack there of, of iceburg, and really haven't eaten it in some 5yrs. I grow it(well tried), because I know there are people who will eat it, and when the time is right, I'm down to make a buck or two.

New Added Growth to the Gardens Bed

Got home this moring after my double shift, and went to check the bed because of the heavy downpour that ran through the city. Standing on the back porch, I noticed what I thought was a color change of just a few leaves, from green to a very vibrant yellow. Of course I thought that was strange, so I moved in closer for a better view, and to my delightful surprise, I noticed what others have for the past few years been calling a delicacy, and so been wanting to try, and now soon, I shall have my fill of Squash Blossoms.

Something else that got my attention, two bees hovering around the inside of one of the flowers, moving the pollen, a vital part of that growing process, and one I plan to incorporate more fully into this diabolicle plan of mine, as I am soon to purchase a few bamboo beehives I ran across a little over a year ago, to be able to produce my own honey.
Salivating over the possibilities, I can't wait for this to come to fruition.

Not Too Much More Larger Than This

I'm using this growing season as a learning experience, not for any failed planting, the vegetation looks amazing. The bed itself is not where I want it to be in size, yet, only because the yard itself is heavily covered with very thick roots, a problem I hadn't planned on before digging, mainly because the trees in my yard are so widely spaced. The time I've saved not digging, I've turned into study time. Reading everything I can on gardening how tos(open pollenation of tomatoes), to the ins and outs of starting early to extending the season... my thumb and my mind are getting greener by the minute.

Tax time is fast approaching, and before the next planting season, everything should be in order. I am in desparate need of some heavy equipment, stump and root grinders, for which I've researched a few of my local tool rental companies, a tiller which I will purchase, more than likely the Mantis, and I'll prolly go in heavy with some top soil additives, though from the looks of things, I may not have to, as I said, the vegetation is doing quite well, I believe in large part due to the addition of most of the vermipost I had on hand. I'll see where this crop takes me and with newly acquired knowledge, by this time next year(don't forget, I also moved here after the beginning of the growing season), I should have more than triple this years plants. And with plans to purchase a couple more worm bins, the stalks and leaves and the vegetation that doesn't quite make it, will make compost.

While I'm At It,

You see this corn, I can not wait til it's all in the gardenbed itself, flourishing.

I'm Most Interested in my Sweet Pepper Production.

So that is the pic I bring you today. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised when I noticed the growth since bringing you the last pic... I think you will be to.

I Found More Sprouts, Don't Believe Me,

Here take a look. You can see the green sprout from the earlier post, and two very prominent yellowish leaves, I trust is either yellow or orange bell peppers, or squash. If you look to the top of the bottom yellow leaf, you'll notice stem breaking ground, and also just to the left of the top leaf. While I'm at it, I might as well show you the other thriving vegetables. The green beans are goin' off. There gettin' it for all it's worth. God is backing this idea, with the aide of Mother Nature.

Everthing's Coming Up Glorious!!

You can see the corn has risen nicely, and I've anxiously been waiting to bring you the first pic of my Sweet Pepper blooms.

I'm Not Juss Talkin' Bout it, I'm Bein' About It.

Extra Space, Means Extra Produce. Extra produce means, Extra Meals I can prepare gardenfresh, for you daily. I'm buyin' 'em as I see 'em, cause I'm not afraid to use 'em. All aspects of a meal, I've told you, I will have hands in, though Alex's Super Sandwich thingy, may appear on the menu, and you should already know my plans, for Stephanies' potatoe salad to place as my top billin' side, to my "Almost Award Winning... Oh, It's Never been Entered Before Sauce!! Everything I plan to bring you has already garnered a small local following, consisting mostly of coworkers and a few neighbors from the old apartment complex, and it's surrounding areas. I'm friends with the Huntington Ribfest, Huntington, WV. via Facebook. I've asked them a few times now, how someone of my stature can get in on the festivities, they've yet to divulge any pertinent information, for fear, I believe of me comin in and knockin off all the big boys of the game. I've touted from the first time I asked, that I'm a garaunteed money winner, and the way all of my so called guinea pigs rant and rave over meals I've shared with them, I'm gunnin for the top spot.

What makes me so confident in my claims? We have 52 states and only 5 Texas, Tennessee, Missouri and the Carolinas are considered the BBQ capitals. Well, I'm from Tennessee, I love the Carolinas, and I know all there secrets, and for that fact I believe they fear lil ol' me. I reside in the state of Ohio, and I will make it a known capital of BBQ.

Feeding the Idea

Keepin' in tradition of what all this has been about, today I fed the worms a mixture of 4 apples and a banana, all with the skins, and about 5 small celery stix and some baby carrots from a veggie tray purchased by a coworker or two. I think the apples may have been from a gift basket.

With Plans for Growth.

I am starting out with 285 sq. ft. Pretty good start. More than likely, before anything goes into the ground, here in the next week and a half, or so, I may use some of my time in extending about another 41/2'(10:05 pm 6/07/11 more thought process, maybe 6 feet all the way around), each way in the bed. That would give me, serving my community, fresh vegetation, out of 458.25 sq. ft.,(837 sq ft), by harvest time, I'm hoping to have in my possesion, a canner and some jars.
Also don't be mislead as to what you see in this pic, I know you're probably looking, you see no fence, and thinking critters. But, if I'm telling you, what it is that you're asking, then know, that I myself have had this idea from around month 8 of this whole thought process. I'm beginning first by combating the burrowing rodents, rabits, gophers, weasles... if weasles burrow, they won't be coming at the roots of my system. The overall goal is taking shape and coming to fruition. Upon the completion of bed exstention, I will have purchased a couple of different items, for smoothing out the bed, spacing out my rows, and oh Yeah!!, protecting my crops at the initial investment. The seasons weather, and the work of the underground, have done a double team on the seeds = Vermipost: BIGGER, STRONGER, FASTER!!!

It's not the 3200 Sq.ft. I was Hoping for.

But, it is a start. After a couple of days now watching the rise and hourly progression of the sun, I've realized a couple of different things. Starting small is my first option. My Yard is very shaded, due to 5, very overgrown trees. Along with the one in the front yard coming down, I had already spoke of scaling back some branches, of the other 4. Well, I'll hafta go higher than expected, in each tree to bring in ample sunlight. Overtime, this will be achieved, every bit of extra money I make and can pour back into the land/business, I will. Well, I'm not exactly where I want to be, but as I said in the beginning, It's going to be a long slow process... that point I believe I have made evident. But, truly for the first time, I can now grow as fast as my crops allow me.

Late Night Workin' in the Garden. Plus I released the underground.

You know now from yesterday's post, the ground work is now underway. Today, I had my eldest son, Kyler, begin the moving of the dirt to the tarp. In my philosophy of work smart, not hard, I also joined in... my volonteers, readily chippin' in. In the upper right hand corner of the tarp, facing the house, what you see on top of the dirt is finely minced carrot. Reason being, I've incorporated the work of the underground and most of the vermipost that they've produced, over the course of the last four years. I've left some of the casting in the original habitat, for consumption from the second batch, still to be purchased. The goal of the tarp is for the worms that I have inhabited here, to multiply. I've undoubtably done that with the space that I've provided them. I'm serious in my endevours, in the here and now is where my life changes. All the labor intensive hours, I've put in to bring you flavor, via breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The Ground work Has started, in LARGE Part Due to Alex.

My Brother in Law puttin in his keep, with shovel in hand, and his will and desire to Destroy shit, to pretty much pass his time.

The Art of Canning.

7 Ways to Get Your Act Together for the Canning Season

Olive Oils

Adopt an olive tree http://www.nudo-italia.com/groves reep the benifits.