Gardening & Gifts

Friendship isn't a big thing - it's a million little things. ~Author Unknown

I have been blessed to meet some great people from all over the world the last few years, all because of this wonderful little invention called the "internet". One very special young man, that I met on a gardening forum, told us about his garden blog "Mr. Brown Thumb". Thus my adventure into blogging began, with numerous emails and pleas of help for this technically challenged boomer mom to my young friend in the "windy city". I was out planting my onion sets this morning, hey you just have to plant something on Earth Day, and when I came indoors there was a package by my door. This urban-rooftop garden mama received a lovely pair of garden gloves, courtesy of my friend and Angela of Ethel Gloves. Thank you both so much, I promise to get them dirty LOL!

Aren't my garden gloves pretty? Those are my baby basil seedlings waiting to go to their new home outdoors.

I found this Gardener's Delight Hotbed at our local Marc's, at a great discount. This hotbed does all it promises to do. I have Roma and Cherry tomatoes, basil, parsley and lavender germinating at the moment.

Undercover

One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides. ~W.E. Johns

I enjoy pushing the envelope, especially when it comes to gardening. My good friend Lucy of Sweets, Savories Etc. gifted me with Black Beauty Zucchini Squash seeds. I placed them in a plastic baggie wrapped in a damp coffee filter, as soon as they sprouted I set them outdoors in their pots with a mini greenhouse over top. The greenhouses are made from recycled pop bottles, as long as it stays in the 40's at night I have left the top off. The pots are in a full southern exposure, if it gets too cool at night (frost) I will bring them inside for the night. As you can see, so far they are enjoying their new home ... 'grow baby grow'! If all goes as planned I should have zucchini by early June.

Black Beauty Summer Squash

Sow A Seed In Mother Earth

Unemployment is capitalism's way of getting you to plant a garden. ~Orson Scott Card

Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce

In 1943 20 million Americans planted a Victory Garden, today with high unemployment and the distance our food has to travel from farm to plate we can not only fight global warming but also supplement our food budgets.

Growing up, everyone in my neighborhood had a "kitchen garden". You don't need an acre of land or even a yard, container gardens can provide you with fresh veggies for your table. My little rooftop urban garden will be expanded this year. On St. Patrick's day I sowed Black Seeded Simpson lettuce, a gift from my daughter Racquel for my birthday. The little seeds have sprouted, this will be my first crop of the season from my garden. So watcha got growing ?

The farmers markets are another great source for local food. Just click on Local Harvest and find one in your area.