Monday, March 30, 2009
Start the Seeds?
I've been reading my mentor's blog, and so far she hasn't started her seeds. I've been e-mailing back and forth with my mentor, sharing recipes, telling her about what her kids and me do on Mondays for math, figuring out how much soil I need for my raised beds, and everything else in between. I'm not sure when I will start my seeds but I sure hope it's soon! I can't wait! Last year our seedlings got destroyed by aphids. It was horrible. A few cucumbers and a few tomatoes survived, but non of the carrots. I learned that I should ALWAYS check plants that come into the house. What I did to get rid of them was to simply spray them with a hard fast blast of water. It works if you have the right amount of strength, but also have it gentle enough so the stream doesn't kill the fragile seedling. I learned the hard way that aphids have no mercy. I hope for better luck this year! I can't wait for the ground to finally thaw, and for us to be able to put the raised beds in. I have a feeling that all the soil will be a bit pricey, but we'll figure it out. I haven't decided what "recipe" I'm going to use yet for my soil, but I'll figure it out soon! Time to start some seeds!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Seeds!
On Sunday I finally got my seeds! I can't wait to start them! I went to the garden show and learned that instead of using vermiculite, peat moss, and compost, I should use sand instead of the vermiculite. If I use the original "recipe" it would retain too much water. The sand will balance out the peat moss and compost because sand doesn't hold water. Sand will make the soil less watery. Hmm.....I guess I'll have do some more research! I still need to make the beds and start my seeds. Hurry up warm weather!!!!!
Friday, March 13, 2009
The Beds
Last night I met with our friend and we figured out the beds. First, we looked up in Square Foot Gardening how many plants you can put in a square foot. It depends on the plant, but the average is bout 4 plants. After we had that all done, we outlined on a piece of paper, a grid, which would become the raised bed. We started out having it be about 8x5. With a books help, we roughly figured out how much we would get off of one plant, and then how many plants we would need. We then Took out grid and started filling it in. We decided that the lettuce could be planted in containers, and use the space for other plants. Once we got that all figured out, we realized we had put too many squares in. We ended up only using about half of that. My raised bed will be 4'x5'. Our friend is also going to build one roughly the same size. We will buy two 2"x8"x8' pieces and two 2"x8"x10'. That way we can just cut the in half and have what we need. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to do lasagna style soil way under and have an equal part mix of compost, vermiculite, and peat moss. Now I have to go get all of that, and then it's time to mix some soil!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Next Step?
Today the other 8th graders and I met with our teacher to talk about our projects. I told him about the blog and what I did with my mentor. He said that we might not continue with these projects if not all of us (there are three of us) want to continue. I kind of want to, but also don't. It;s not that I don't want to continue with my garden, it's the whole school part. I think it will be cool to see what my friends did in the end. We have to write a detailed outline of what we want to have done by mid April, and then what we want to have to display in May. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do yet! I have to get thinking! I also have 2 first drafts due tomorrow, and a Spanish project due on the 25! I am going to be very busy!!!
Monday, March 9, 2009
The Beginning
Hi! Since I just started this blog, I'll begin from the beginning and work my way until today. *traveling back in time to 1/22/09*
1/22/09
Today I wrote my proposal for my 8th grade project. I have decided to plant and maintain an organic garden in my yard. It will be raised beds. There will probably be 2 beds for me, and we might let some of our friends build and use a bed for themselves. I will have to learn the different parts of soil, what plants need (ie. how much water they need), how to build a raised bed, and many more things. For this project I have to have an adult mentor. The mentor is someone who has experience in your project area. The mentor is there to help along the way. My mentor is a close friend.
1/24/09 (jumping ahead a bit)
Today I met with my mentor for the first time on this project. We discussed my proposal and made deadlines for different things. That is a very important part if you want to get a garden in on time. She showed me a few catalogs and we talked a little about raised beds. I will paint the wood black because the black absorbs the warmth from the sun, and in turn, heats up the soil. We also talked about different ways of documenting. I will probably end up with a Shutterfly book, a blog, maybe a journal, and a poster.
2/7/09 (jumping way a head)
Today I got a bunch of gardening books from the local library. Books are always a good way to go if you can. I find that I enjoy reading from books more than reading off the computer. Also, books and catalogs with color pictures are helpful because if you're not sure what something looks like from the description, there may be a picture. I am mostly using two books. The Garden Primer and Square Foot Gardening. They are both really good places to earn a lot. Square Foot Gardening teaches you how to get more out of less space. the Garden Primer is a basic gardeners guide to whatever you might need to know. Other books are good, but at least The Garden Primer should be in your mix.
2/23/09
Today my Mom and I picked out what vegetables we want to grow. I ordered a catalog and it finally came. We have a list of veggies but now I have to meet with my mentor and figure out which veggies we should start by seed, and which we should start as seedlings in the spring. My mentor advised me by saying "pick your vegetables by what YOU like to eat".
3/8/09 (yesterday)
Today I met with my mentor and we figured out the veggies. Here is my list; START BY SEED: cucumbers, carrots, scallions, two kinds of lettuce, sugar snap peas, basil, and nasturtiums BUY SEEDLINGS: tomatoes, tomatillos, onions, bell peppers, marigolds, and broccoli. I ordered the seeds on a quick order form from Fedco seeds. I need to remember to get pictures of the different stages so I can put a book together. I learned from my mentor that for the soil I will need vermiculite, peat moss, and compost. I will get all of that from a local farm supply store. Once we design the raised beds we will need to figure out how much to order. I still have so much to read!
Today, 3/9/09
Today, I made this blog. The next step is to meet with our friend who is going to help me design and build the raised beds, the order the soil. This should all be done in about 3 weeks. Then I'll be busy!
That's about all so far! I'll post the next time I do something on my project!
1/22/09
Today I wrote my proposal for my 8th grade project. I have decided to plant and maintain an organic garden in my yard. It will be raised beds. There will probably be 2 beds for me, and we might let some of our friends build and use a bed for themselves. I will have to learn the different parts of soil, what plants need (ie. how much water they need), how to build a raised bed, and many more things. For this project I have to have an adult mentor. The mentor is someone who has experience in your project area. The mentor is there to help along the way. My mentor is a close friend.
1/24/09 (jumping ahead a bit)
Today I met with my mentor for the first time on this project. We discussed my proposal and made deadlines for different things. That is a very important part if you want to get a garden in on time. She showed me a few catalogs and we talked a little about raised beds. I will paint the wood black because the black absorbs the warmth from the sun, and in turn, heats up the soil. We also talked about different ways of documenting. I will probably end up with a Shutterfly book, a blog, maybe a journal, and a poster.
2/7/09 (jumping way a head)
Today I got a bunch of gardening books from the local library. Books are always a good way to go if you can. I find that I enjoy reading from books more than reading off the computer. Also, books and catalogs with color pictures are helpful because if you're not sure what something looks like from the description, there may be a picture. I am mostly using two books. The Garden Primer and Square Foot Gardening. They are both really good places to earn a lot. Square Foot Gardening teaches you how to get more out of less space. the Garden Primer is a basic gardeners guide to whatever you might need to know. Other books are good, but at least The Garden Primer should be in your mix.
2/23/09
Today my Mom and I picked out what vegetables we want to grow. I ordered a catalog and it finally came. We have a list of veggies but now I have to meet with my mentor and figure out which veggies we should start by seed, and which we should start as seedlings in the spring. My mentor advised me by saying "pick your vegetables by what YOU like to eat".
3/8/09 (yesterday)
Today I met with my mentor and we figured out the veggies. Here is my list; START BY SEED: cucumbers, carrots, scallions, two kinds of lettuce, sugar snap peas, basil, and nasturtiums BUY SEEDLINGS: tomatoes, tomatillos, onions, bell peppers, marigolds, and broccoli. I ordered the seeds on a quick order form from Fedco seeds. I need to remember to get pictures of the different stages so I can put a book together. I learned from my mentor that for the soil I will need vermiculite, peat moss, and compost. I will get all of that from a local farm supply store. Once we design the raised beds we will need to figure out how much to order. I still have so much to read!
Today, 3/9/09
Today, I made this blog. The next step is to meet with our friend who is going to help me design and build the raised beds, the order the soil. This should all be done in about 3 weeks. Then I'll be busy!
That's about all so far! I'll post the next time I do something on my project!
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