Notes from Windward: #68

 

Garden Update

Annie describes what the 'terns have been doing

     After my planting frenzy, the little seedlings are growing up!! We had a late spring; so much of the planting had to be done in propagation greenhouse, which was packed to the max. Now those seedlings are about ready to be hardened off and then planted outside.

zucchini seedlings
  


     In vermidise, I started to plant grain amaranth, peanuts, cucumbers, zucchini, and celery. Most enjoy a warmer temperature and vermidise stays fairly warm in the summer.

grain amaranth
  


     We also have a few volunteers in one of the worm beds. We think the compost we dumped in the bed last year had some squash seeds, which just sprouted last week. I am eager to see how our little volunteers will do.

grain amaranth
  


     The strawberries planted in the horizontal pvc pipes look wonderful! They will be ready to eat very soon.

  


     Out in the main garden I have planted some turnips, quinoa, radishes, yellow wax beans, broccoli, bok choy, sugar snap peas, okra, and parsnips in the main tires. I think it may have gotten too cold for the okra; hopefully those hot days we had last week will return and revive the poor okra. Everything else seems to be doing very well!

turnips in one of the huge tire beds
  


tiny quinoa seedling
  


climbing peas coming up around one of the teepee poles
  


     The potatoes are coming up nicely. The melons and pumpkins were just transplanted where the sheep over-wintered, so there is lots of beautiful compost. I planted sugar snap peas along 2 sides of the garden fencing which are also coming up. We are going to have peas galore!! I also planted a few sunflowers along the fence line to attract birds as well as marigolds to keep away the pests.

peas in the poop along the fence
  


     The garden also needed some flowers, so we made 2 flower beds at the main garden entrance. I planted marigolds, cosmos and baby's breath on one side. On the other are snapdragons, hollyhocks, columbines, sweet peas, bachelor's buttons, and some rosehips.

Eric and Annie add some flowers to the main garden
  


     Left in propagation greenhouse until a bit older are: cardoon, carrots, tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, brussel sprouts, 200 year old beans, rhubarb and butternut squash. The rest are herbs to be planted in our beautiful spiral garden.

luffa and herbs
  


200 year old beans
  


     We have also started to plant a three sister's guild, a Native American practice, comprised of corn (oaxacan), beans (pole beans), and squash (butternut). These three plants all live in a symbiotic relationship. The corn provides a structure for the beans to climb, while the beans fix nitrogen for the other plants to use. The squash leaves shade the soil preventing weeds, keeping the ground moist as well as deterring pests. Corn, beans, and squash all contain complementary amino acids which when eaten together deliver all the essential amino acids. This allowed for the Native Americans to maintain a balanced diet without eating any meat, good news for Vegans and Vegetarians here at Windward.

Eric, Annie and Monica planting corn for the three sisters guilds
  


     Hopefully the plants will continue to grow as strong as they look now and eventually fill our bellies. All you critters out there, stay away….this includes you too peacock!!

mean peacock eyeing the garden
  



Notes From Windward - Index - Vol. 68