The Garden Box

09/25/2020

I just finished watching this and I HIGHLY recommend it to all gardeners, homesteaders, farmers and anyone else who cares about our earth.

09/24/2020

And she continues to provide. 😍
Let’s talk winter squash. I’ve been getting a lot of questions about winter squash, when to plant when to harvest.
Even though it’s call “winter squash” it doesn’t actually grow in the winter. It’s called that because you can harvest it and keep it all winter. Winter squash like onions and garlic can be harvested and cured to sustain you through the cold winter months. You plant in the spring, harvest in late summer early fall and enjoy till next spring.
For harvesting there are two ways to check. You can puncture the skin. If it leaks it’s not ready. The other is waiting till the stem turns a slight brown and hard. The fruit will also be a solid deep color.

09/17/2020

How long does it take you to tear down your garden?
I get asked this question a lot lately. Normally it would take me a day. But because it’s 2020 it’s taken me a whole dang week to just do the five beds I have in the front yard.
When I “take down” my garden I cut at the soil level or just under and let the roots stay to decompose and continue to feed the soil and organisms and that live in it.
After they are all clear I’ll fill them with fresh compost and amend them to get them ready for the next growing season. I’ll try and document as much as I can for all you newbie fall gardeners.
This is one of the services I offer to my clients. I call it “a garden refresh”. It’s definitely super therapeutic for me.

09/16/2020

I’m FINALLY at a place where I can give attention to this part of my life. So many people have been asking what I’m planting and honestly I wasn’t really sure. Now That I’ve been able to go through my seeds I have a better plan. I have everything from onions to root veggies, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, lettuce, spinach, collard greens, a few herbs and more.
We like variety around here so there are 10 kinds of lettuce, 4 types of kale, 3 types of cabbage, 5 types of broccoli, 3 types of cauliflower, 7 types of onion, 5 types of garlic 4 types of peas....
Are you doing a fall garden? What are you growing that’s new to you this year?
And yes. I’m about 2 weeks late starting seeds. But they are getting done and some of these will be directly sown.

09/15/2020

This is my friend Mike Deep Roots Veggie Gardens. If you’re looking for some local to build you some boxes he’s the guy!!!

Mike and Eli have teamed up to launch Veggie Gardens for kids! Let your kids learn and grow this fall/winter in a garden bed of their own. What's included? Raised Bed making kit, compost to fill the raised bed, seeds you can select from a list, a letter to parents on the benefits of gardening, a garden planning worksheet, videos by Eli and Mike to teach basic gardening principals and technique, and a Deep Roots T-shirt. To order use this form: https://forms.gle/VKY2gakMUmBpR6Bj7

09/10/2020

Oh happy day! I grew a watermelon. It is sweet, juicy and satisfying. It probably could have used a little more time but the chickens ate the vine 🤦🏻‍♀️, so I had to pick it. My kids were almost as excited as me.

09/05/2020

This garden is still going strong. It’s hard to imagine that’s it’s time to start seeds for fall. Have you started your seeds yet? I haven’t. I’m not starting mine till Monday. I don’t start fall sowing till after Labor Day. That way it will take me to Easter.
We are also redoing the OG garden. It’s a hot mess and now that I’ve got a few garden layouts under my belt I’m ready to reimagine the space.

09/02/2020

Happiest of birthdays to this man right here. His last year as a 30 year old.
The 30’s have been some of our favorite years. We’ve grown to passionately love, care and communicate deeper than I ever thought was possible.
I’m looking forward to another year of growing and loving you. ❤️ .blockhead

08/31/2020

I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. Today I sold Flo so I could pay off business debt. I have so many emotions about this.😭
It was such a huge accomplishment to have been able to buy her. Now I feel like such a failure for not being able to hold on.
I... HATE...COVID.... 🤬😭😢

08/31/2020

Letting out the backyard clean up crew this morning. They are pretty excited about it.

08/29/2020

When you think about garden to table what do your meals look like? When you think about nutrition, weight loss or living a healthy lifestyle what do your meals look like?
Eating healthy should not be boring. Your food should not be only three colors. Food should be an experience. It should bring you joy and be fulfilling.
I love creating beautiful flavorful meals for me and my family. If you struggle with it I’d love to help give you ideas with what you have or are growing in your garden.
Also, I’ve been meeting with a nutritionist the past two months. I had fallen into a deep hole of depression and anxiety eating. He has walked with me through some deep dark stuff. He’s not only my nutritionist he’s also my CrossFit coach. He is so caring of his clients and meets our needs on every level. You can find him here.... or coaching here.... in Elk Grove.
@ Elk Grove, California

08/28/2020

Mother of all mothers. I couldn’t cut it down. It was so heavy and the stem was so thick. I had to have my hubby do it. 😆
Picture 2: do you see my little friend? He came running around to see what was happening and scared the crap out of me. He just sat the peeking over like “what do you think you are doing?”
@ Elk Grove, California