garden notebook cover give away.

I have always thought of noting anniversaries, dates, memorable post numbers and all of that with a give away of some sort. But somehow those dates blow past each and every time, and I realize - oh! Another year! Oh! 250, 500 (or 550) posts...weeks late. So I decided to do a give away just because. Just because is a good reason! I also like to see who is out there - while I love comments from those who are familiar, I also enjoy new comments too, and this is a nice excuse to say 'HI'! So old friends or lurkers - leave a comment!

I pulled out the sewing machine again last week and made a few gardening notebook covers. I like having a nice cover for my notebook obsession...they are great for unlined sketchbooks, lined journals or notebooks. They just look nice, keep things together, and when a notebook is full, you can pop in a new one. This one holds a standard 8.5 x 11 size notebook.


I'm not a professional seamstress, so you will have to forgive me my tiny imperfections, but as it is meant to go with you in the garden (or the cafe) as you write, draw, scribble and dream, it will pick up the earth along the way and develop a character all its own. I will also be adding a surprise to the give away box in addition to the garden notebook cover!

To enter the drawing, comment on this post. I'll do a random drawing this Wednesday, March 11, so be sure to comment by 5PM CST on the 11th!

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added 3/11/09 : 8:30 PM

The random number generator picked a winner - comment # 9 - which is Brianna at serendipity.

Brianna - you can email me your snail mail address at scorch_dc@yahoo.com and I'll mail out your goodies!

Thanks to all for playing! I love all the comments, and am happy to have a lot of new blogs to visit! :)

easy peasy science.

A likes science. He likes the big long projects that we do over hours or days or weeks...but he also LOVES the quick and easy experiments. Yesterday he said he was in the mood for some experimentin'. So, we pulled out a few supplies that are always at hand and off we went!

Supplies:: ice cubes & water in a glass, salt (kosher or iodized is fine), thread

Start off with several ice cubes in a glass of cold water. Fill up enough so the ice is easy for small hands to reach. (You can do it with just ice in a bowl - my boys saw it this way on a science show, so wanted the full glass with cubes and water).

Cut a foot or so of thread from your spool and lay the string over the ice cube.


Sprinkle some salt right onto the thread and ice cube.


Wait a minute (be patient!). Lift the string!



Of course with my boys the next step is empty out the glass and REPEAT (several times)!

What's happening with the thread then? "In the places where the salt is, the icecube is forcibly melted and also those places get very very cold. In the other places where salt didn't land, you now have melted water sitting on a much colder icecube. This causes those parts to quickly refreeze. This sticks the thread to the icecube, and you can pick it up!"

To find out more of the why's and how's of this super easy experiment, go here>>


I finally got back to my sewing machine (gosh, it has been a long time) and made a few things - so I think I'll be having a blog giveaway...more on that soon!

seed planning.

This weekend we took some time to finish our seed prep and sort, organize, chart, plot, and plan. We are at our first seed starting week, and have all the lights and warming mats ready to go too. Woo hoo!


I like to figure it all out in advance with all the staggered start dates and transplant dates listed so that when we are busy and out more later in the spring it is all done already and I just have to follow my chart. Being sorted also allows the boys to participate a lot more during the whole process...they can find the current batch, count out seeds, and plant them in addition to helping with the lighting and watering throughout.


For the seeds, I like to use a photo box. I put the seeds in the box, sorted by seed starting date, earliest in front, direct sow later in back. I group them by the start date relative to last frost'ish. Last frost is marked 0 week. So before that is -1 to -11, etc., and after that is +1, etc. I also mark the cards with plant date in relation to last frost. I print out a calendar and mark weeks pre and post frost on it and stick it to the wall next to my seed trays. Once the seeds are all organized in my box I keep them in a cool place and we just have to grab the next batch at the right time, and start another tray.


We also finished up the grid layouts. For the community garden it is simple because it is a square - I can calculate how many plants can fit per square foot easily, based on how far apart they need to be and how much space I marked on our plot grid. Sooo I know how many seedlings to start. With planting in the yard, I guess. I plant in wavy curvy beds along the house near other plantings with no clear measurements and so just estimate where and how many. It works. If you know your space, grid and plan away, but don't be afraid to make a guess and start a bunch of seeds and stick 'em in when they are ready. If you have extra, spread the love. My neighbors are always thrilled if I have a few extra tomato or pepper seedlings in May! And just about anything can grow in a pot too, so if you run out of space in the bed, try putting a few in pots and then compare how they do.

This year I feel the need to be more organized than usual, since we will have the three plots - home yard, family community garden plot, and kids community garden plot.  My husband helped me make a cool spreadsheet for what we are growing where, how many, and with all the dates. It should help me keep track of everything, and manage it somewhat as we go. I'm going to make a master blank version and post it later if anyone is interested. 

I also have found some good online tools for calculating and planning dates - here are *just* a few::

You Grow Girl’s Lazy Gardener’s Seed Starting Chart

Spring Planting Calendar

Farmer's Almanac Planting Timetable

While it is still cold outside, starting seeds really makes you feel like spring is indeed on the way and will be here in no time. Well, maybe not no time (I do live in Wisconsin after all), but I'm looking on the bright side! :)

mushrooms.

We picked up a mushroom tabletop grow bag at the Garden Expo a few weeks back, and have been excitedly misting and watching them grow. 

We started out with the base bag and cut the holes into it, as instructed. A wasn't so sure about this...


We waited several days, misting and checking, and one morning we came down and *poof!*, there were tiny mushrooms growing out the holes!


From there, they exploded and grew so fast - A had to check every few hours and measure and spray.


When the caps were 4 inches across, we harvested! Our first harvest was almost a pound of Grey Dove Oyster Mushrooms.


We made a big pot of creamy oyster mushroom soup (YUM), and saved a few to make a creamy pasta sauce. The boys didn't want to EAT "the fungus" yet, but loved growing and harvesting, and are eagerly anticipating the growth of the second batch on our bag (it says we will continue to harvest for about 90 days). We have a few books on mushrooms coming that A requested, so maybe by the next harvest he'll venture a taste...probably not, but my husband and I are perfectly happy eating all the mushrooms. ;) 

earth hour 2009.

Turn out. Take Action.
Be Part of this historic event.
March 28, 2009 8:30 pm local time


"World Wildlife Fund is asking individuals, businesses, governments and organizations around the world to turn off their lights for one hour – Earth Hour – to make a global statement of concern about climate change and to demonstrate their commitment to finding solutions."


We did this last year as a family and plan to join in again this year. We did our hour last year from 7-8PM local time, as the boys usually fall asleep before 8:30. We turned off the lights, lit some candles, and played a board game and then the boys took a bath, got dressed in their PJs, read stories, and blew out candles to go to sleep. The thought that millions around the planet were doing the same thing we were, and the amount of energy we saved together in only one single hour was something we talked about for days. The boys liked it so much we have had more nights by candlelight, and enjoy the peace and quiet it brings.

>>So, join us! (you can also sign up by clicking the box in the top right or going here)