Tonight's Menu...

Red eyes! I swear I'm not a vampire!

Grilled corn on the cob and grilled tomatoes w/ evoo, garlic, salt & pepper, & thyme.
It was delicious. (I even liked the tomatoes!)
Also served was 4 cheese tortellini with pesto and zucchini fries.
All courtesy of our garden (besides the pasta).
YUM!

Eat your veggies!

We have veggies!!
Pole beans and carrots. I picked these carrots a little early because I was so curious... they should get about 6 inches long when they are fully grown. They are crooked because our soil isn't completely rock free and they grow around the rocks. I tried one and it tasted like - a carrot! Shocking!
It's so exciting to take something from a seed and watch it grow, and then eat it!

First Growth!

It's been one week since our garden was planted and already we are seeing some new growth. It's so exciting. I didn't mark where I planted things, so I can't remember what a lot of these will be.... I think this is the corn.
Tomatoes:
Green Beans:
Squash
Broccoli... or a weed?:

Urban farming in Detroit.

BY JOHN GALLAGHER • FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER • April 2, 2009

Detroit could become a center of locally grown food and put large swaths of vacant land back on tax rolls under a proposal to create the city's first large commercial farm.

Businessman John Hantz of Detroit, in an exclusive interview with the Free Press, unveiled his plans for Hantz Farms -- a concept that would convert hundreds, even thousands, of vacant parcels in the city into urban agriculture.

Offering jobs and an ability to produce fresh fruits and vegetables locally, Hantz Farms could help Detroit "become a destination for fresh, local and natural foods and become a major part of the green movement," Hantz said.

Detroit already is home to hundreds of smaller community gardens. But Hantz's proposal is the first to envision large-scale commercial farming.

He said he could grow everything from Christmas trees to fruits and vegetables, with amenities such as a cider mill or horseback riding available.

With an estimated 40 square miles of vacant parcels, Detroit offers many sites where, in theory, a big farm operation might work. Hantz, a resident of Detroit's Indian Village district, is tentatively looking at a blighted area near Eastern Market, but exact boundaries would depend on whether he wins the city's cooperation.

A look at the plan

George Jackson, the city's chief development officer and president of the Detroit Economic Growth Corp., said he is evaluating Hantz's proposal.

"I'm going to look at this as I would any development deal," Jackson said.

Land assemblage remains a key question. Hantz owns several parcels in the city, but the vast majority of the acreage he needs for his project is

still either owned by private parties or is tax-foreclosed land owned by the city, county and state.

Hantz envisions the city, county and state donating the land to his project or selling it at a nominal cost. The payback would come in increase

d tax revenues once the farm is up and running.

Hantz is chief executive of Hantz Group, a network of financial services firms based in Southfield. He also owns the Detroit Ignition of the Xtreme Soccer League.

Vacant land solution?

Matt Allen, onetime press secretary to former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, manages the project as senior vice president of Hantz Farms.

Allen said Hantz Farms is a good solution for vacant land.

"What is it worth to the city just sitting there? Nothing," he said. "Part of the approach to this is that, the larger this becomes, the benefit gets greater and greater faster."

Even as a concept, the idea is controversial.

Jeffrey Armstrong, dean of the Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, called Hantz Farms "a challenging and exciting opportunity."

But Rebecca Salminen Witt, president of the nonprofit Greening of Detroit, said small community plots do more good for Detroiters, helping knit communities together.

"Folks are hoping for, wishing for, looking for a silver bullet to the vast expanses of vacant space that we see in the city," Witt said. "And because of that, they want to say, 'Great, we'll just plunk a couple-of-hundred-acre growing operations here a

nd there.' "

Allen responded that there ought to be a place for both community gardens and commercial farms in Detroit.

"There's more than enough land to go around," he said.

Organic?

What exactly does it mean to be organic? Wikipedia has a good article on what it means to be organic here. I see labels all the time at the grocery store for organic vegetables, fruits, milk, cereals, meats, even popcorn and chips. It has seem to become so mainstream and commercialized now, I find it hard to believe that all these foods actually qualify as "organic." I wonder how much of it is a gimmick...
Last year, Jesse and I had a small garden. This year we are going to have a garden space probably 4 or 5 times the size of it. It's such a cost-saver. It's truly organic. We didn't use any chemical fertilizer or pesticides. The only method of pest-deterrent we used was planting a row of marigolds around the perimeter. It seemed to work really well, and it looked pretty. I'm really looking forward to this coming season of growing cucumbers, zucchini, squash, peppers, green beans, lettuce, and tomatoes (for Jesse).

Sundays with Zucchini...

After church this past Sunday Carrie and I came home and had a great lunch. Carrie took zucchini that we grew and cut it up into what looked like french fries. Then she breaded them and fried them in oil... they were really great!




I know that in the photo Rummy looks like he is happy to see you. Well, he isn't. This is the face he makes when he wants to say, "I don't like you." Get over it.

Zucchini - from garden to dinner...

So Carrie prepared a couple of zucchini for dinner a few nights ago. They were excellent. It makes me feel good to be eating stuff that we cared for. Next year we plan on expanding our garden extensively. We planted way to much stuff for the space we have... however, having never planted a garden we had no idea. Vegetables really need space in order to do their thing. Thanks for stopping by to see what we are up too.

The garden bears vegetables...

So, we have eaten from what we planted a couple months ago. So far we have bunch of cucumbers and beans coming in. Carrie cut up the first cucumber and gave thanks. The beans are trickling in. Everything is good so far.




Funny story... I got home from somewhere and Carrie was in the backyard working in the garden. She had something protruding from her sweatshirt that she is not genetically equipped for. So I ask her, "Is that a cucumber in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?" It turns out it was the cucumber in the photo above. I was relieved.

Rhododendrons - they are difficult.

The Rhododendrons I planted some time ago are having difficulty growing where I planted them. From what I have read it could be that the soil they were in is not drained well enough, I could be watering them too much (unlikely), or they just all around suck. I transplanted two of them tonight to a place that is just at the top of a small slope. I am hoping the slope will encourage the water to drain downhill. A rhodos natural habitat is very rocky and non-clay soil. Where I had them planted was non-rocky soil and mostly clay! I am a jerk. The first plant looks like it may be gone and the second one is starting to show signs just like the first. I am really, really hoping that moving them will bring them back. It gives me a good feeling to see something that looks hopeless and with work and care it comes back and looks great.






Another possible issue is that these two plants were in direct sunlight pretty much all day. Initially I planted 3 rhodos. The third plant is in the shade for a good part of the day and it is really thriving. The spot these plants are in now have ample shade, so hopefully they recover. If not, I am going to throw them in the street. I may burn them. At the very least I will blow them up with dynamite.

Gardening, tomatoes, and stuff...

So, we are well into the season on growing things. Our tomato plants are growing well and so is the rest of our crap... I mean crop. It is pretty neat the way all kinds of tomatoes grow on the plants... frankly, it is surprising how much weight the stalk can hold. I am not sure if it is a stalk or a trunk... I am going to say stalk. If you don't like please exit this browser now... dick.




I think we planted to much in the space we have available. Next year we are going to move the garden to a larger location. We would like to be able to grown more variety. The cucumbers, tomatoes, and beans seem to be doing well. I am looking forward to gorging myself on fresh tomatoes.

Side yard.

This past Friday night I was able to knock out the small side yard that was pretty bare. My cousin Scott and I worked on it from about 8:30PM to 12:00AM. It is funny to think that on a Friday night I am working on landscaping when in the past I would have been out with friends. Funny the way things and interests change. I am pleased with the way the space turned out. I really like the way the bed looks like it is a continuation of the bed I finished last weekend.

1 - Camellia Japonica Greensboro Red
2 - Spirea Japonica Goldmound
1 - Spirea Japonica Little Priness
2 - Dwarf Azalea Gumbo Pink
3 - Dwarf Azalea Gumbo White

What do you think of the turnout?







You may think Rummy is smiling at you... he's not, in fact, he is laughing at you... not with you. He just wanted me to let you know.

Finished up the back and prepping for our vegetable garden...

So today I was able to nearly complete the back of the yard. I still need to add about 6 bags of mulch. I've put 16 bags on so far... however, there are still some spots that you can see the soil. I am really pleased with the way it turned out.



After I finished with the back I turned my attention to the vegetable garden. There is a spot on the side of our deck that is a great place to install a garden. This will be our first attempt at growing our own food so we wanted to start small and work our way up. We plan on planting cucumbers, squash, zucchini, spinach, and tomatoes. All but the tomatoes will go in the ground. In an attempt to plant more variety we opted to plant the tomatoes in 5 gallon buckets. The plan is to plant everything on Sunday after church. Our friends Paul and Heika are going to share in the garden. Heika wants Zion to experience planting and working the land so she can see what comes out of the ground. I think it is a great thing to get young children into gardening and generally doing things outside. In fact, I can remember when my Papaw had a garden and he would always be out in the backyard work the soil. The memory has stuck with me ever since I was a child and when we purchased our house a vegetable garden was on the top of my list. The idea of eating food that I have grown makes me happy. It is the way things are supposed to be.




Also, today Carrie planted some flowers. She is beautiful!



Here are some miscellaneous photos. One is my dog Rummy - He is dangerous and will attack you if you say something bad about Carrie, Madi, or I.
I got poison oak or something and it sucks!!!

The battle for my backyard...

To say that my backyard was overgrown is an understatement. Initailly, I had a rainforest in my backyard! When the sun would shine there was no indication that it was doing so if you were standing under the canopy of trees. Carrie and I have worked very hard to get the yard back. I still have to spread some cedar mulch but other than that I think the very back of our yard is done... for now.

This is what I planted:

14 - Thuja Green Giants - These Arborvites will grow to approx. 20' high and 5' wide in a hedge like we have. Thuja Green Giant

7 - Azaleas - A variety of Azaleas. Some are red and some are pink. Similar to this.

3 - Fothergilla Common - This plant is native to Virgina and grows nice white bud. Fothergilla

Here are a few photos for reference:

Guerilla Gardening... I would have never thought...

I found this article:
http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSL292187120080430?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0

It is interesting and makes sense to want to make vacant land look better. There are places all over Lynchburg that could use a touch of color and care. I guess it shouldn't be surprising that it is illegal to dig up someones property without their consent - but if your going to plant a nice shrub or flower I don't see what the big deal is.

Our Garden... three buckets.

Carrie and I are preparing to plant our first garden. At this point I think it is going to consist of tomatoes, squash, zucchini, and cucumbers. The tomatoes are going to be grown in 3 five gallon buckets so we have more room for other stuff in our space. We have have space beside our deck that is the perfect candidate for a small garden which will hopefully be sufficient for us and a couple of our friends. Our friends would like to teach their children about planting and harvesting from God's creation. I'm looking forward to trying our hand at consuming some of our own vegetables that were grown on our land. Because I have heard it said, "you ain't no kind of man unless you own land." So now we are going to harvest some of the land we own. I'll post pictures as soon as the space is prepared.