Week Two Training Plan:
Monday: Run 3 miles
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: Run 4 miles
Thursday: Run 3 miles
Friday: Rest
Saturday: Run 5 miles
Sunday: Rest
Week One Recap:
I have been keeping track of my training each day and will hopefully be able to continue to do so. Last week's training, the first full week, went extremely well. I have great hopes for the future!
Monday (3 miles): I made the three mile run in 36 minutes. I want to say that is slow, even for me, but a 12 minute mile is actually not that bad. If I were able to keep up a 12 minute pace throughout a 13.1 mile distance, I would PR at about 2:37. I did try to increase my speed to a 10 minute mile but my right knee started screaming. I need to remember to stretch!
Tuesday (rest): I subscribe to Runner's World, though I don't read my issues regularly. I keep a stack of them under my desk and carry them with me to the gym when I remember. I usually prefer to read Oxygen, but in all honesty, I most often end up watching America's Next Top Model while I'm on the treadmill or elliptical. I like to watch the pretty girls get their pictures taken. It's my guilty pleasure. Anyway, I did end up reading an issue of Runner's World that had a plan for breaking 30 minutes on a 5k. I'm not planning on running a 5k, but I am planning on implementing some of the advice offered for increasing my speed. I managed one mile of alternating speedwork before I realized I have to start wearing socks to run. I hate socks, but I hate blisters more.
Wednesday (3 miles): I had three miles scheduled, but I ran four. I kept an easy, comfortable pace and paid no attention to my actual time until I was finished, then realized that I was running exactly at a 12mm. I want to hit 2:30 on my half, so I need to increase speed by a full 30 seconds per mile. Also, I talked over with the family what they would like to do, and we have settled on the Kansas City Marathon. However, I may have difficulty finding a hotel this late in the year. I've already run across a number of rooms that are unavailable. If it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. There are plenty of other races.
Thursday (3 miles): Just the opposite of Wednesday. I had three miles scheduled and ran two. I could have run three, but unfortunately ran out of time. Friday is a rest day, so I intend on running the three miles on Friday to make up for it. Also, I registered for the Kansas City Marathon. I called the Sheraton to see if they had any rooms left, to which her response was that they have two. Two rooms. I booked it right then and then registered for the race. Happy birthday to me!
Friday (rest): I ran my three miles from Thursday and another mile just because I felt like it. I came in at just under 12 minutes per mile. As long as I can devote one run per week to speed work, I am hopeful that I can improve my time even more. Four miles scheduled for Saturday should be a piece of cake!
Saturday (4 miles): I did not run four miles today. Instead, I ran five miles. I am a full week ahead on my training, plus I realized that I am on a 10 week half-marathon training schedule with 12 weeks to go until the half. Instead of waiting to train for a couple of weeks, I've decided that I will repeat weeks that are hard for me and/or focus on speedwork. I did manage to go under my 12mm by about 10 seconds per mile. Not bad. For me.
Sunday (rest): It was nice to have a rest day but I'm ready to run again. Running is definitely addictive!
Monday, July 30, 2012
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Too Hot to Garden?
Most of the country has been affected by this summer's drought conditions. Heat has been unbearable and rain has been almost nonexistent. Here in mid-Missouri, temperatures have reached record breaking highs, with the first three digit temps in June since 1988.
Every county in Missouri has been declared a disaster. Farmers are already applying for relief and news reports abound regarding the increasing cost of food.
The hobbyist gardener has likely seen the effects of the drought in their own backyard. Gardens that normally require watering once every two to three days have needed watering every day, sometimes twice each day, since early June. Some fruits and vegetables suffer from sun scorch. Plants stop blooming and existing blooms wilt and die. Even the most careful hobbyist gardener can lose a multitude of crops simply because the temperatures are too high.
Is it really too hot to garden or can certain measures be taken to insure crops against the heat? This all depends upon the types of items that are being grown and the location of the garden itself. My little garden is located in a sunny patch in the backyard. This is an ideal spot for most summers as plants receive long hours of sunlight and no direct shade. This year, certain plants continue to thrive while others are not able to withstand the extreme heat.
Disclaimer: This is not a scientific study. This year marks my first successful garden and everything that I've found could be a fluke. Still.
Cucumbers continue to thrive despite the high temperatures. However, I have to remember to water the cucumbers twice each day. Otherwise, most of the blooms (male and female) wilt and drop. I've lost a number of female blooms on those days after I chose to water only in the afternoon. Even so, I have more cucumbers than I can possibly use, despite my recent exploration into the world of pickle-making.
Peppers and Tomatoes do not like extreme heat. While both types of plants like sunny spots, the extreme heat causes the plants to go into hibernation mode. This means that while they're trying to survive, fruit is not produced. You can have big, green, leafy plants in extreme heat if you keep them well watered. I haven't yet found a way to make them produce. However, my experience is that as soon as the temps drop, an abundance of tomatoes and peppers appear. I have read that you should try to shade your plants in high temperatures. I've done that with some of mine, but it really hasn't helped at all.
Cold weather loving plants like lettuce, spinach, and brassicas may not grow at all in the heat, or they may bolt immediately. This means that instead of getting large, beautiful, and tasty, they begin flowering far too soon. If you can't shade or find other ways to cool these plants, you may simply be out of luck. Except for lettuce, this is not personal experience. I have chosen to start these cold loving plants, along with some others, from seed beginning now in the extreme temps. Your best bet may just be to start over.
Squash plants can handle more heat than some of the others as they have a natural barrier against extreme sunlight. Like cucumbers, their large leaves protect them from the harsh light of day. However, I have also found that the pests that are attracted to squash plants, particularly squash bugs, are much more difficult to control in the heat. During cooler days, I was able to keep them at bay with peppermint. Now, I have had to resort to drastic measures, including uprooting a couple of badly infested plants and trimming leaves that were covered in eggs. This may just be a coincidence, though.
One plant that I have found that loves the heat is okra. It has taken me a while to figure out exactly how to grow and harvest okra, but now that I have, I have more than enough with just the four plants left that the rabbits/dog didn't destroy. If you live in a very hot climate, okra seems to be an excellent crop to grow.
The plants that I have that have not done well at all in the heat are the green beans and watermelon. I had great plans for my watermelon, but even with twice daily watering, the little green balls have completely stopped growing. The green beans became such a lost cause that I uprooted them and planted radishes and chard in their place.
Again, this is not a be-all end-all guide for growing in the heat. This is my first foray and just what I have learned. I hope it may help someone along the way. Happy gardening!
Every county in Missouri has been declared a disaster. Farmers are already applying for relief and news reports abound regarding the increasing cost of food.
The hobbyist gardener has likely seen the effects of the drought in their own backyard. Gardens that normally require watering once every two to three days have needed watering every day, sometimes twice each day, since early June. Some fruits and vegetables suffer from sun scorch. Plants stop blooming and existing blooms wilt and die. Even the most careful hobbyist gardener can lose a multitude of crops simply because the temperatures are too high.
Is it really too hot to garden or can certain measures be taken to insure crops against the heat? This all depends upon the types of items that are being grown and the location of the garden itself. My little garden is located in a sunny patch in the backyard. This is an ideal spot for most summers as plants receive long hours of sunlight and no direct shade. This year, certain plants continue to thrive while others are not able to withstand the extreme heat.
Disclaimer: This is not a scientific study. This year marks my first successful garden and everything that I've found could be a fluke. Still.
Cucumbers continue to thrive despite the high temperatures. However, I have to remember to water the cucumbers twice each day. Otherwise, most of the blooms (male and female) wilt and drop. I've lost a number of female blooms on those days after I chose to water only in the afternoon. Even so, I have more cucumbers than I can possibly use, despite my recent exploration into the world of pickle-making.
Peppers and Tomatoes do not like extreme heat. While both types of plants like sunny spots, the extreme heat causes the plants to go into hibernation mode. This means that while they're trying to survive, fruit is not produced. You can have big, green, leafy plants in extreme heat if you keep them well watered. I haven't yet found a way to make them produce. However, my experience is that as soon as the temps drop, an abundance of tomatoes and peppers appear. I have read that you should try to shade your plants in high temperatures. I've done that with some of mine, but it really hasn't helped at all.
Cold weather loving plants like lettuce, spinach, and brassicas may not grow at all in the heat, or they may bolt immediately. This means that instead of getting large, beautiful, and tasty, they begin flowering far too soon. If you can't shade or find other ways to cool these plants, you may simply be out of luck. Except for lettuce, this is not personal experience. I have chosen to start these cold loving plants, along with some others, from seed beginning now in the extreme temps. Your best bet may just be to start over.
Squash plants can handle more heat than some of the others as they have a natural barrier against extreme sunlight. Like cucumbers, their large leaves protect them from the harsh light of day. However, I have also found that the pests that are attracted to squash plants, particularly squash bugs, are much more difficult to control in the heat. During cooler days, I was able to keep them at bay with peppermint. Now, I have had to resort to drastic measures, including uprooting a couple of badly infested plants and trimming leaves that were covered in eggs. This may just be a coincidence, though.
One plant that I have found that loves the heat is okra. It has taken me a while to figure out exactly how to grow and harvest okra, but now that I have, I have more than enough with just the four plants left that the rabbits/dog didn't destroy. If you live in a very hot climate, okra seems to be an excellent crop to grow.
The plants that I have that have not done well at all in the heat are the green beans and watermelon. I had great plans for my watermelon, but even with twice daily watering, the little green balls have completely stopped growing. The green beans became such a lost cause that I uprooted them and planted radishes and chard in their place.
Again, this is not a be-all end-all guide for growing in the heat. This is my first foray and just what I have learned. I hope it may help someone along the way. Happy gardening!
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Disney World Money Saving Tips
I have researched Disney World extensively, both for my writing and for my family's personal excursions. During my research, I have found that there are precisely 90 gajillion web sites devoted to saving time and money while enjoying a Disney trip. Below are my own tips to saving as much money as possible at Disney. The tips are simple, brief, and will most definitely save.
Which Disney Theme Park to Visit?
Many people swear that you need to spend multiple days at each theme park to get the full Disney experience. I say not so. If it is your first Disney visit, and you have the time, I do suggest that you spend one day at each of the parks just to be able to say you did so. If you are planning a shorter trip, or would rather spend some of your days elsewhere, the truth is, you don't need a full day at any of the parks. You can easily get away with a two-day Disney trip and a couple of Park Hopper passes, which allow you to go back and forth from theme park to theme park. But how do you know which Disney park to visit?
Where to Stay When Visiting Disney
Should you stay onsite, off-site, or way off-site? How much is it worth to have the convenience of staying at a Disney property vs. a chain hotel that is off Disney premises? For us, that question has been answered in spades.
We stayed onsite at one of Disney's "moderate" resorts last year.
Pros: Beautiful grounds, convenience, and extra magic hours that allow guests to arrive early and/or stay late at theme parks.
Cons: Small rooms, high prices.
This year, we opted to stay at the Royal Plaza. It's about a 10 minute walk from Downtown Disney, with regular shuttles to all of the theme parks. The price, including resort fees and taxes, was about $100 less per night. We didn't have extra magic hours, but as it turns out, didn't need them. The shuttles ran just as well as Disney's own shuttles and the room was significantly larger. The only downside is that the grounds are not as immense, but with such easy access to Downtown Disney, we spent our evenings there instead of at the hotel.
What to Eat
Everyone who asks me about Disney eventually asks my thoughts on the Disney Dining Plan. What I have learned is that you can save a great deal of money on it, if you actually use the food on the plan. Most families don't eat that much, though, and end up wasting most of what they have spent. Instead, research menus so you are not caught off-guard by the sticker shock of some of the local dining establishments. If it's feasible, pack your own snacks or even your own breakfast or lunch foods. Dining in and around Orlando is very expensive and if you eat out at every meal, a family of four could easily find themselves spending and extra $100-$150 per day. Visit AllEars.Net for an extensive list of menu items and prices.
On the other hand, though prices are large, so are servings. It only took one meal for me to learn that I could order a single dish for the kids and they could easily split it and still have leftovers. Ask your server about portion sizes. Most are happy to supply a separate plate for one meal.
I also highly recommend taking part in a character meal. These are crazy expensive, but they are also a lot of fun and create memories that your kids will take with them forever.
Transportation Costs
We flew to Orlando, which is definitely pricey, but also way more convenient than the two day drive it would take to get there. Once we arrived, we rented a car because we spent a few days at the beach before heading back and doing the whole Disney thing. At that point, my husband returned the car because we simply didn't need it anymore. He finished his work responsibilities and was able to avoid driving until we arrived back at the airport. Nearly all of the transportation at that point was gratis, though getting back to the airport was about a $50 venture. My husband checked out the costs of shuttles vs. taxis and found that hiring a private car was the best and cheapest option. When you stay onsite at Disney, the cost of your airport transportation is included.
Everything Else
We save money in a lot of sneaky ways. For instance, I bought some souvenirs at home, at Walmart, for $1. They were Disney themed and the kids were just as happy with them when I presented them in their wrapped packages. Another way to save is to avoid baggage fees. If you can't avoid airlines that charge for your luggage, try instead packing as much onto carry on as you can and only checking one bag. Pack half the clothes you'll need for your trip, then pay $5 to wash them all in your hotel's coin-op laundry facility. They all have them.
There are a number of fees that you will likely encounter during your trip. If you stay near Disney, expect to pay a resort fee of about $17 per night. If you drive your own car, you'll be charged a parking fee. You will also find that servers expect larger tips here than they may on your home planet. And if you have young children that love to drink milk? You'll need to budget about $10 per day, per child.
For me, one of the best purchases during both trips was stroller rental. For less than $50 total, I had a stroller that we could use throughout the Disney parks, Downtown Disney, and around the hotel. I rented a double, because the six-year old got tired of walking quickly and needed a place to sit. I used Magic Strollers, because it was recommended through MouseSavers.
Speaking of MouseSavers, this site is the number one choice of all of the Disney savings web sites out there. It is thorough, gives its readers access to great deals, and is generally the best place to find all of the information you need for your upcoming Disney trip. So stop reading my blog and head over to MouseSavers. Then come back here and let me know how you have managed to save on your vacation.
Which Disney Theme Park to Visit?
Many people swear that you need to spend multiple days at each theme park to get the full Disney experience. I say not so. If it is your first Disney visit, and you have the time, I do suggest that you spend one day at each of the parks just to be able to say you did so. If you are planning a shorter trip, or would rather spend some of your days elsewhere, the truth is, you don't need a full day at any of the parks. You can easily get away with a two-day Disney trip and a couple of Park Hopper passes, which allow you to go back and forth from theme park to theme park. But how do you know which Disney park to visit?
- The Magic Kingdom is a good choice for families with young children. Most, though not all, rides are geared toward little ones, but older kids and adults can enjoy them as well.
- Animal Kingdom is another family friendly theme park. While the Magic Kingdom really focuses on classic Disney characters and rides, Animal Kingdom is much more zoo-like with its animal exhibits and numerous attractions.
- Hollywood Studios is a must-see for those who have older children. This theme park has more thrilling rides and much longer lines than any of the other parks.
- Epcot has a number of attractions for kids of all ages, but the "World Showcase" is honestly more geared to adults.
Where to Stay When Visiting Disney
Should you stay onsite, off-site, or way off-site? How much is it worth to have the convenience of staying at a Disney property vs. a chain hotel that is off Disney premises? For us, that question has been answered in spades.
We stayed onsite at one of Disney's "moderate" resorts last year.
Pros: Beautiful grounds, convenience, and extra magic hours that allow guests to arrive early and/or stay late at theme parks.
Cons: Small rooms, high prices.
This year, we opted to stay at the Royal Plaza. It's about a 10 minute walk from Downtown Disney, with regular shuttles to all of the theme parks. The price, including resort fees and taxes, was about $100 less per night. We didn't have extra magic hours, but as it turns out, didn't need them. The shuttles ran just as well as Disney's own shuttles and the room was significantly larger. The only downside is that the grounds are not as immense, but with such easy access to Downtown Disney, we spent our evenings there instead of at the hotel.
What to Eat
Everyone who asks me about Disney eventually asks my thoughts on the Disney Dining Plan. What I have learned is that you can save a great deal of money on it, if you actually use the food on the plan. Most families don't eat that much, though, and end up wasting most of what they have spent. Instead, research menus so you are not caught off-guard by the sticker shock of some of the local dining establishments. If it's feasible, pack your own snacks or even your own breakfast or lunch foods. Dining in and around Orlando is very expensive and if you eat out at every meal, a family of four could easily find themselves spending and extra $100-$150 per day. Visit AllEars.Net for an extensive list of menu items and prices.
On the other hand, though prices are large, so are servings. It only took one meal for me to learn that I could order a single dish for the kids and they could easily split it and still have leftovers. Ask your server about portion sizes. Most are happy to supply a separate plate for one meal.
I also highly recommend taking part in a character meal. These are crazy expensive, but they are also a lot of fun and create memories that your kids will take with them forever.
Transportation Costs
We flew to Orlando, which is definitely pricey, but also way more convenient than the two day drive it would take to get there. Once we arrived, we rented a car because we spent a few days at the beach before heading back and doing the whole Disney thing. At that point, my husband returned the car because we simply didn't need it anymore. He finished his work responsibilities and was able to avoid driving until we arrived back at the airport. Nearly all of the transportation at that point was gratis, though getting back to the airport was about a $50 venture. My husband checked out the costs of shuttles vs. taxis and found that hiring a private car was the best and cheapest option. When you stay onsite at Disney, the cost of your airport transportation is included.
Everything Else
We save money in a lot of sneaky ways. For instance, I bought some souvenirs at home, at Walmart, for $1. They were Disney themed and the kids were just as happy with them when I presented them in their wrapped packages. Another way to save is to avoid baggage fees. If you can't avoid airlines that charge for your luggage, try instead packing as much onto carry on as you can and only checking one bag. Pack half the clothes you'll need for your trip, then pay $5 to wash them all in your hotel's coin-op laundry facility. They all have them.
There are a number of fees that you will likely encounter during your trip. If you stay near Disney, expect to pay a resort fee of about $17 per night. If you drive your own car, you'll be charged a parking fee. You will also find that servers expect larger tips here than they may on your home planet. And if you have young children that love to drink milk? You'll need to budget about $10 per day, per child.
For me, one of the best purchases during both trips was stroller rental. For less than $50 total, I had a stroller that we could use throughout the Disney parks, Downtown Disney, and around the hotel. I rented a double, because the six-year old got tired of walking quickly and needed a place to sit. I used Magic Strollers, because it was recommended through MouseSavers.
Speaking of MouseSavers, this site is the number one choice of all of the Disney savings web sites out there. It is thorough, gives its readers access to great deals, and is generally the best place to find all of the information you need for your upcoming Disney trip. So stop reading my blog and head over to MouseSavers. Then come back here and let me know how you have managed to save on your vacation.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Credit for Online Magazines
I’d like to tell you about Zinio, a great service that allows you to get all your favorite magazines in digital format, at fantastic prices. You can read them on your PC, smartphone or iPad. If you sign up today, you’ll get a $5 credit to use on a magazine of your choice. Here is how to get started:
Follow this link: http://zinio.extole.com/a/clk/5cdJSr
Pick a magazine
And go!
You also get $5 in credit for each friend you refer. It's a great deal!
Follow this link: http://zinio.extole.com/a/clk/5cdJSr
Pick a magazine
And go!
You also get $5 in credit for each friend you refer. It's a great deal!
Half-Marathon Training: Week One
Most people don't just jump into training for a half-marathon. A distance of 13.1 miles is considerably longer than the casual runner's normal course. Generally, people start with training for a 5k or a 10k, then work their way up. Not I.
I have run several 5ks over the last few years and have even placed in my age group in a couple of them. I have found that I do not really enjoy them. Running fast is not fun for me. I don't have that happy, excited, elated feeling after a short, fast run like I do after keeping a long, steady pace. When I was marathon training three years ago, I learned that my favorite run was about 10 miles, which I could do at an easy pace in about two hours. As I've said before and will say again, I am slow.
Today I begin training for a half-marathon in earnest. If you are interested in half-marathon training, follow along with me. I'll be posting my schedule every Monday and will update the week's efforts each Sunday.
Half-Marathon Training Schedule: Week One
Monday: Run 3 Miles
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: Run 3 Miles
Thursday: Run 3 miles
Friday: Rest
Saturday: Run 4 miles
Sunday: Rest
Of course, there is more to training for a race than simply running. You have to make sure that you get adequate amounts of sleep, eat the right foods, and stretch well before and after your runs. Also, rest days do not mean that you do nothing. On those days, you cross-train. Go swimming, lift weights, etc. I have run a couple of half-marathons and one full. I am no expert.
Now, the question that I am left with is which race do I run? I honestly feel a little silly training for a half without having an actual race in mind. Therefore, last night I talked over with my husband when and where we should travel for a race. I live in Columbia, Missouri, which is smack dab in the middle of the state. My training schedule preps me for an early October race. Unfortunately, my husband also has plans to travel to Montana, which leaves me without someone to watch the kids. Therefore, I have looked over my training plans and have found that I can be prepared, without risking injury, for a half-marathon that falls on September 29.
I have two choices: The Moonshine Half Marathon or the Rock Bridge Revenge, which is actually a slightly longer race at 25k. The upside of the Moonshine Half is that it is near to my hometown in an area that has lots to do for the family while I'm running. The upside to the Rock Bridge Revenge is that it is right here in Columbia, which means zero travel. I am heavily leaning toward the Moonshine Half because, in all honesty, I'm not sure I'll be able to run a 15 mile trail race in 10 weeks.
I'm going to decide at the end of the week, at which time I will register for the race and, if need be, reserve a hotel. If you decide to follow along, let me know how your training goes.
I have run several 5ks over the last few years and have even placed in my age group in a couple of them. I have found that I do not really enjoy them. Running fast is not fun for me. I don't have that happy, excited, elated feeling after a short, fast run like I do after keeping a long, steady pace. When I was marathon training three years ago, I learned that my favorite run was about 10 miles, which I could do at an easy pace in about two hours. As I've said before and will say again, I am slow.
Today I begin training for a half-marathon in earnest. If you are interested in half-marathon training, follow along with me. I'll be posting my schedule every Monday and will update the week's efforts each Sunday.
Half-Marathon Training Schedule: Week One
Monday: Run 3 Miles
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: Run 3 Miles
Thursday: Run 3 miles
Friday: Rest
Saturday: Run 4 miles
Sunday: Rest
Of course, there is more to training for a race than simply running. You have to make sure that you get adequate amounts of sleep, eat the right foods, and stretch well before and after your runs. Also, rest days do not mean that you do nothing. On those days, you cross-train. Go swimming, lift weights, etc. I have run a couple of half-marathons and one full. I am no expert.
Now, the question that I am left with is which race do I run? I honestly feel a little silly training for a half without having an actual race in mind. Therefore, last night I talked over with my husband when and where we should travel for a race. I live in Columbia, Missouri, which is smack dab in the middle of the state. My training schedule preps me for an early October race. Unfortunately, my husband also has plans to travel to Montana, which leaves me without someone to watch the kids. Therefore, I have looked over my training plans and have found that I can be prepared, without risking injury, for a half-marathon that falls on September 29.
I have two choices: The Moonshine Half Marathon or the Rock Bridge Revenge, which is actually a slightly longer race at 25k. The upside of the Moonshine Half is that it is near to my hometown in an area that has lots to do for the family while I'm running. The upside to the Rock Bridge Revenge is that it is right here in Columbia, which means zero travel. I am heavily leaning toward the Moonshine Half because, in all honesty, I'm not sure I'll be able to run a 15 mile trail race in 10 weeks.
I'm going to decide at the end of the week, at which time I will register for the race and, if need be, reserve a hotel. If you decide to follow along, let me know how your training goes.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Vacation Return and Much More
It's been well over a week since my last post. My family returned from a wonderful vacation and I have spent the last few days returning to life. It's funny how even a short vacation can turn your life upside down.
I have also been busily working on securing a new client, which has taken up almost all of my writing time. Therefore, I must apologize to all of those who regularly visit this blog. Rest assured, the updates will commence this week. I have a lot to update on!
Clean Eating: I have found some new, delicious recipes that I am very excited to share. I have been making pickles out of the numerous garden cucumbers and have tried several creative ways to incorporate squash into our meals. I have also tried some new products that are super, duper gross. I can't wait to slam them publicly so that no one else has to suffer through this nightmare. It's been days and I still can't get the nasty taste out of my mouth.
Gardening: There is much to update on the garden front. As it turns out, small gardens can be huge, huge producers if given the right amount of care. I have learned much about year-round gardening and will excitedly share that information as well.
Exercise and Weight Loss: The weight loss competition is coming to an end soon. I am quite sad to report that I have not lost nearly the amount of weight that I had planned and hoped to lose. On the other hand, I am a size smaller and I feel pretty good about my weight and health, even though the scale number isn't as exciting as I like. Exercise is going well and my half-marathon training begins in earnest TOMORROW!
Family Activities: I certainly learned a lot about Disney World during this vacation. This was our second trip, but I have done much research on Disney for travel writing, which helped our trip immensely. I will definitely be sharing those tips and tricks with you.
I hope those of you who follow this blog look forward to some of the items I plan on sharing soon. I certainly look forward to sharing them!
I have also been busily working on securing a new client, which has taken up almost all of my writing time. Therefore, I must apologize to all of those who regularly visit this blog. Rest assured, the updates will commence this week. I have a lot to update on!
Clean Eating: I have found some new, delicious recipes that I am very excited to share. I have been making pickles out of the numerous garden cucumbers and have tried several creative ways to incorporate squash into our meals. I have also tried some new products that are super, duper gross. I can't wait to slam them publicly so that no one else has to suffer through this nightmare. It's been days and I still can't get the nasty taste out of my mouth.
Gardening: There is much to update on the garden front. As it turns out, small gardens can be huge, huge producers if given the right amount of care. I have learned much about year-round gardening and will excitedly share that information as well.
Exercise and Weight Loss: The weight loss competition is coming to an end soon. I am quite sad to report that I have not lost nearly the amount of weight that I had planned and hoped to lose. On the other hand, I am a size smaller and I feel pretty good about my weight and health, even though the scale number isn't as exciting as I like. Exercise is going well and my half-marathon training begins in earnest TOMORROW!
Family Activities: I certainly learned a lot about Disney World during this vacation. This was our second trip, but I have done much research on Disney for travel writing, which helped our trip immensely. I will definitely be sharing those tips and tricks with you.
I hope those of you who follow this blog look forward to some of the items I plan on sharing soon. I certainly look forward to sharing them!
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
How to Ripen Tomatoes
Knowing when to pick and how to ripen tomatoes should be an easy task. For the novice gardener, like me, checking out a book from the library or doing a quick Internet search should give me the information I need to know regarding what to look for when harvesting these delicious fruits. Unfortunately, there is a long-standing and quite heated debate among gardeners about when to pick tomatoes.
Some say that you should pick your tomatoes at the first signs of light color. Bring them indoors and ripen them in a metal bowl for about 10 days before eating or canning. Others say to wait until the tomatoes are reddish, then pick and allow them to ripen in the window sill. Still others say that you should not pick the tomatoes until they are almost completely red. Of course, there is a very loud voice out there that swears by waiting until the tomatoes are completely ripe on the vine for the best flavor.
What is the right answer? Who knows? And I don't think I could even experiment to tell you. I seriously doubt I could tell the difference between a vine-ripened, bowl-ripened, or window-sill-ripened tomato. My palate is simply not that sophisticated. However, I do know that the benefits to harvesting tomatoes off the vine far outweigh the benefits of leaving them on the plant.
Birds, bugs, and other critters are strongly attracted to ripe tomatoes. By bringing the tomatoes indoors, you lower the risk of losing them completely. They are also less prone to diseases and developing bad spots that can keep the squeamish gardener from enjoying the fruits of his or her labor.
"Green Shoulders" is a term I've seen a lot while researching how to ripen tomatoes. See the tomatoes in the picture above? See the green on top? Apparently, that can happen when you leave a tomato on the vine to ripen in less than ideal circumstances. The green shoulders will stay green, leaving you with a partially inedible tomato. This is an argument for ripening indoors, as the green shoulders should eventually turn into a delicious red.
But what about ripening green tomatoes? The dog recently went on another rampage through the garden, during which he so lovingly knocked over a couple of tomato plants. Yes, I have put up fencing and other barriers, but he somehow manages to not care when the neighbor dog is on the other side. I was angry at first, but the tomato plants are hanging in there and I only lost a couple of tomatoes. It also afforded me the opportunity to learn how to ripen tomatoes that are completely green.Fortunately, there is no shortage of resources on how to ripen green tomatoes. Unfortunately, these resources are as varied as when to pick ripe tomatoes from the vine. Most sources suggest wrapping green tomatoes in newspaper and placing in a box or paper bag with a slice of apple or banana. Unwrap each tomato each day, throw out the ones that have rotted, then re-wrap until they have ripened. This process can take weeks. However, I have learned that green tomatoes placed in the window sill should eventually ripen, though it may take a bit longer.
Some say that you should pick your tomatoes at the first signs of light color. Bring them indoors and ripen them in a metal bowl for about 10 days before eating or canning. Others say to wait until the tomatoes are reddish, then pick and allow them to ripen in the window sill. Still others say that you should not pick the tomatoes until they are almost completely red. Of course, there is a very loud voice out there that swears by waiting until the tomatoes are completely ripe on the vine for the best flavor.
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| Tomatoes all picked while lightly orange. The smaller ones ripened in about two days. |
Birds, bugs, and other critters are strongly attracted to ripe tomatoes. By bringing the tomatoes indoors, you lower the risk of losing them completely. They are also less prone to diseases and developing bad spots that can keep the squeamish gardener from enjoying the fruits of his or her labor.
"Green Shoulders" is a term I've seen a lot while researching how to ripen tomatoes. See the tomatoes in the picture above? See the green on top? Apparently, that can happen when you leave a tomato on the vine to ripen in less than ideal circumstances. The green shoulders will stay green, leaving you with a partially inedible tomato. This is an argument for ripening indoors, as the green shoulders should eventually turn into a delicious red.
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| Two of the green tomatoes that were "picked" by the dog. |
The last piece of contention is where to ripen these tomatoes. Some say a window sill, because it is often the warmest place in the house. Others say that tomatoes should be ripened on a counter top, away from the harsh sunlight. Some also say to keep tomatoes completely in the dark. I figure that my tomatoes are outside anyway, so I'm using the windowsill. It's an area that is mostly shaded as you can tell by the photos that were taken well after sunrise. So far, the ripening process has been successful, and it has only been a couple of days.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Training on the Elliptical
Though "official" training doesn't start for two more weeks, I woke up yesterday morning refreshed and ready to run. I put in a four mile run on the elliptical. It took me 43 minutes. I am slow.
I love running outdoors, but sometimes it simply isn't practical. When I awake in the morning, I get to work almost immediately and work until the children wake up - sometimes even after. The gym gives me the opportunity to run while the children are cared for in a safe environment. I can feel like they are having fun (although the six-year-old is increasingly reluctant) while I get a workout in.
Training on the treadmill is one way to get in training runs, but I prefer the elliptical. I find it is easier to change my pace, which gives me a more "real world" run. Indeed, last year I PR'ed at the St. Louis Rock-N-Roll marathon having trained entirely on the elliptical for all but two runs.
I love running outdoors, but sometimes it simply isn't practical. When I awake in the morning, I get to work almost immediately and work until the children wake up - sometimes even after. The gym gives me the opportunity to run while the children are cared for in a safe environment. I can feel like they are having fun (although the six-year-old is increasingly reluctant) while I get a workout in.
Training on the treadmill is one way to get in training runs, but I prefer the elliptical. I find it is easier to change my pace, which gives me a more "real world" run. Indeed, last year I PR'ed at the St. Louis Rock-N-Roll marathon having trained entirely on the elliptical for all but two runs.
I have done a great deal of research on training on the elliptical vs. the treadmill. What I've found are pros and cons to both. As I said, the elliptical makes changing pace much easier, which is great for people like me who are not good with consistency. It is also easier on knees and other joints than a treadmill. On the other hand, a treadmill does bring consistency, which is something we should all work on. It has also been said that while on an elliptical, the runner can let the machine do most of the work.
Ideally, each run would be outdoors, but barring that, the elliptical is my weapon of choice. What's yours?
Sunday, July 8, 2012
I'm Going to Run a Marathon
I have decided that I am going to run another marathon. I've been saying that since the last one, which was almost three years ago. Now, I am ready. I have the time and the desire to train. Let's get started!
I promised my husband that I would take it slowly. This means that I have to start with a half marathon and work my way up to a full. I can start training as soon as we return from our vacation, which means my first training run will be on July 23. A typical training schedule for a half marathon is about 10 weeks long. That means my half will be on the weekend of my birthday. Quite the coincidence.
Luckily, there are several half marathons in the state that weekend and the following. No, I have not yet registered and I don't have one particular race that I am passionate about. In fact, I have completed a couple of half marathons in the past and they simply don't do it for me. I'm much more excited about the full.
Speaking of which, I do have a plan for the marathon. The Run for the Ranch marathon is held in Springfield, Missouri each winter. This year, it is on December 30. It will be cold, it may be miserable, but this is what I plan to do. Getting my husband to agree to spend New Year's Eve eve waiting for me to finish a multi-hour race is another issue entirely. Indeed, if he doesn't go along with this plan I may need to wait until spring to run a marathon, but that will just get me even more amped.
I'm very excited about beginning training for realsies. Of course, my ultimate goal is an ultra, but that training will definitely have to wait a while. A long, long while.
I promised my husband that I would take it slowly. This means that I have to start with a half marathon and work my way up to a full. I can start training as soon as we return from our vacation, which means my first training run will be on July 23. A typical training schedule for a half marathon is about 10 weeks long. That means my half will be on the weekend of my birthday. Quite the coincidence.
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| Half Marathon Training Calendar from MarathonRookie |
Speaking of which, I do have a plan for the marathon. The Run for the Ranch marathon is held in Springfield, Missouri each winter. This year, it is on December 30. It will be cold, it may be miserable, but this is what I plan to do. Getting my husband to agree to spend New Year's Eve eve waiting for me to finish a multi-hour race is another issue entirely. Indeed, if he doesn't go along with this plan I may need to wait until spring to run a marathon, but that will just get me even more amped.
I'm very excited about beginning training for realsies. Of course, my ultimate goal is an ultra, but that training will definitely have to wait a while. A long, long while.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Cheap Vegetable Seeds
If you are reading this blog, you know that one of my main goals in life is to be healthy and to lead by example for my children. Another goal in my life is to spend as little money as possible. This is where you, dear reader, can benefit from my stinginess. I have done all of the research and I am passing all of my knowledge onto you for the not so low price of your oh so valuable time.
Plan Your Purchase
Only buy seeds you intend to grow and only grow foods you intend to eat. If everyone in your family hates turnips, as they should because turnips are disgusting, why buy turnip seeds? If you have never actually tasted kohlrabi, don't invest money and time into planting a crop that you don't want and can't use. Instead, make a plan for your garden then seek out the seeds.
Know Your Zone
Guess what? Not everything grows everywhere. If you live in Casper, Wyoming, you will have a shorter season for summer crops than if you live in Mobile, Alabama. Keep this in mind when deciding when and if to plant long-season crops like watermelon. Also, if you have a garden that is mostly shaded, some plants that like full sun won't be wise financial choices for you.
Look for Discounts, but Shop Wisely
When you buy the most inexpensive seeds, you can save a lot of money. I have purchased seed packets at four for one dollar at the local dollar store. However, once I arrived home, I found that one of the packets had no seeds in it at all. I have also purchased some very inexpensive seed packets that never sprouted. I usually assume this is my fault, but it could also be the fault of poorly sealed, stored, and old seeds.
Collect Your Own
Now this is where we really get into the cheap of the cheap. I have actually never done this before, but I intend to try it out this year. I have already collected seed heads from my chives and I will certainly do the same for many of my flowers. The vegetables, however, I'm a little iffy on. If you really want to give collecting your own seeds a shot, I suggest you read through this guide at Mother Earth News. Note that if your currently growing crops are hybrids, they may not grow true to type or may not grow at all from the seeds that you collect.
Buy at the End of the Season
I admit that I already have two envelopes filled with seeds for next year's garden. Many stores that carry seeds discount their packets significantly during this time of year. Most gardeners are not interested in seeds in July and do not realize that seeds can stay in sealed packages for an extended period of time and still yield hearty crops. Indeed, the carrots I had last year were one of my only crops to actually grow and the seed packet I used was about five years old at the time. Purchase your seeds on discount, then store them in a cool, dry place.
Buy in Bulk
Generally speaking, you can save money when buying anything in large quantities. Though you may not have the need for 1,000 zucchini seeds, you can find friends and neighbors who are willing to share the seeds and the expense. You can also host a seed swapping party. Have your like-minded gardening friends bring all of their unused and unneeded seeds to share and exchange with others.
Shop Online
For the most part, online seed sellers are less expensive than their brick-and-mortar counterparts. Many companies offer free or inexpensive shipping. I have ordered from Dirt Cheap Seeds a number of times and have always had a very positive experience. Listed below are a number of other seed sites that offer inexpensive options for the home gardener. Please note: I have not purchased from all of these places, therefore I can't attest to their quality or ship times.
You can also find great deals through Amazon. A number of people swear by purchasing their seeds through eBay, though I have also heard mixed messages about the quality of the seeds.
Friday, July 6, 2012
Garden Experiment Updates
I have several ongoing experiments in and around the garden. They are each seeing varying degrees of success and failure. Following is an update to each of them.
The Healthy Tomato Plant Experiment
The experiment with my tomatoes was a noble one. I chose four different tomato plants and side-dressed one with epsom salt, one with coffee grounds, one with egg shells, and one was left to accept its nutrients from the soil. The dog immediately ate the plant that was treated with egg shells. The day after I updated the experiment, the dog also demolished the plant that was treated with coffee grounds. The experiment was no more. However, I did continue giving epsom salt to one plant and nothing to the other to see what would happen. The tomato plant with the epsom salt treatments grew fast and strong and was the first to bear fruit. It has many more little green tomatoes than the other one, though the other one is looking quite healthy now as well. Still, I'm more than ever sold on the merits of epsom salt on tomatoes.
The Power of Epsom Salts
I have heard and read that epsom salt is an amazing choice for gardens. Supposedly, it makes leaves greener, vegetables brighter, and the soil healthier. I have used epsom salt throughout the garden, both on inground plants and in containers. I have learned that epsom salt is excellent on tomatoes, peppers, and flowers. It definitely had the opposite effect on the cucumbers. While the vegetables themselves are still going strong, the leaves are very unhappy.
Natural Pest Repellents
I have used no chemicals on my garden this year to repel bugs, a trend that I plan to continue. I tried several methods and found the ones that work and don't work:
Planting the Fall Garden
My 6-year-old and I are planning the fall garden and we decided to start our plants as suggested. We had to place the seed tray outside due to lack of adequate sunny spots in the house. We chose the filtered sun of the shade garden for the location of the seed pots. I'm happy to report that, after only three days, seedlings are already emerging. In fact, all of the varieties have sprouted and only three out of fourteen seed pots do not have signs of life yet. Now the question is, can we keep the momentum going until it is time to plant these little guys in the ground?
Planting a Kids' Garden
I let Gus decide what he wanted to plant, when to water, where the seeds would go, and basically gave him complete control over the destiny of the kids' garden. He placed a variety of vegetables and herbs through the garden in an assortment of containers. I am pleased to report that the pumpkin, green beans, and cucumbers are growing very well. In fact, we are ready to begin pruning back some of the growth. The rest of the plants have not yet grown and it looks unlikely that they will at this point. I have mostly found that giving the kids their own garden helps them to be excited about the entire process. I consider the kids' garden to be a huge success.
The Healthy Tomato Plant Experiment
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| The garden is so overgrown you can scarcely see how awesome Esther Epsom looks. |
The Power of Epsom Salts
I have heard and read that epsom salt is an amazing choice for gardens. Supposedly, it makes leaves greener, vegetables brighter, and the soil healthier. I have used epsom salt throughout the garden, both on inground plants and in containers. I have learned that epsom salt is excellent on tomatoes, peppers, and flowers. It definitely had the opposite effect on the cucumbers. While the vegetables themselves are still going strong, the leaves are very unhappy.
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| Brown cucumber leaves due to a direct application of epsom salt. |
Natural Pest Repellents
I have used no chemicals on my garden this year to repel bugs, a trend that I plan to continue. I tried several methods and found the ones that work and don't work:
- Peppermint rubbed on the undersides of leaves repelled nearly all pests from squash and okra. The okra plants were covered in aphids until a quick treatment with peppermint.
- Ground chili pepper around the perimeter of the garden kept rabbits away. This had to be replaced after rain, but after a while they just stopped coming around.
- Coffee grounds keeps slugs away. However, the coffee grounds must stay on the soil and can't actually touch leaves, especially lettuce.
- Lemon balm and garlic were ineffective in combating pests.
A number of plants were given to me and I conducted an experiment with them, putting some in an area that is shaded for the majority of the day and the rest in a spot that receives full sun all day long. The results were a bit surprising to me. They do not receive the same amount of water - I have been watering the sun-plants every day and the shade-plants every other day. They are in various sizes of containers and some of the shaded plants are in the ground.
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| Sunlight is a foe when temperatures are 105. |
I expected the shade garden plants to die quickly. Quite the opposite is true. All but one of the sun plants are dead. The high temperatures and extreme sunlight has destroyed them almost completely. On the other hand, the shade garden plants look okay. They are certainly not dying, but they are not growing either. In fact, they look pretty much the same now as they did when I first planted them almost a month ago.
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| Shade Garden: June 17 |
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| Shade Garden: July 5 |
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| Tomato Plant in Shade Garden: July 5 |
Planting the Fall Garden
My 6-year-old and I are planning the fall garden and we decided to start our plants as suggested. We had to place the seed tray outside due to lack of adequate sunny spots in the house. We chose the filtered sun of the shade garden for the location of the seed pots. I'm happy to report that, after only three days, seedlings are already emerging. In fact, all of the varieties have sprouted and only three out of fourteen seed pots do not have signs of life yet. Now the question is, can we keep the momentum going until it is time to plant these little guys in the ground?
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| Seed Pots: July 5 |
I let Gus decide what he wanted to plant, when to water, where the seeds would go, and basically gave him complete control over the destiny of the kids' garden. He placed a variety of vegetables and herbs through the garden in an assortment of containers. I am pleased to report that the pumpkin, green beans, and cucumbers are growing very well. In fact, we are ready to begin pruning back some of the growth. The rest of the plants have not yet grown and it looks unlikely that they will at this point. I have mostly found that giving the kids their own garden helps them to be excited about the entire process. I consider the kids' garden to be a huge success.
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| Kids' Garden Container Pumpkins: July 5 |
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Abs in 7 Days
I am leaving for a trip to the beach in seven days. Unfortunately, I am seriously not bikini ready. I am laughably not bikini ready. In fact, this is how I look:
One of my best friends in the entire world has given me some amazing advice on how to turn this:
Into this:
In only seven days.
My friend, who you may know by the name of Google, had several pretty astounding ideas on how to get beach ready abs in seven days. I have tried a couple of Oxygen routines that have definitely helped me to tone and firm, but they have not delivered results even close to those that will get me to uncover my mid-section in public. So instead of continuing with the trusted advice from the experts at Oxygen, I have decided to put my abdominal fate in the hands of random bloggers and paid SEO content providers who obviously know what they are talking about.
Random Google Ab Tip #1: Eat less food.
It's pretty amazing when you think about it. All of the sites I visited that told me how to get killer abs in seven days suggested that I put down the Twinkies. Of course, I don't eat Twinkies, but I do love food. Even with a whole foods diet, I sometimes find myself over-indulging. This is a big no-no for abs.
Random Google Ab Tip #2: Exercise more.
Another jaw-dropper. Sites say that working out can help you to get six pack abs. Who knew? Of course, the variance is on what kind of exercises are required as well as the amount of time dedicated and the frequency. One super-helpful article said that I should perform cardio to lose weight and do sit-ups to tone. Who would have ever guessed it?
Random Google Ab Tip #3: Take Supplements
You probably couldn't have guessed, but a number of web sites suggest that taking pills are the way to go to burn mid-section fat and to release the inner gods and goddesses that are lurking underneath all of those pancakes. Mmmmm. Pancakes.
Of course, Google didn't tell me anything I didn't already know and didn't tell me anything I'm not already doing. The problem with me is the frequency that I am doing these things. As summer hit, I have decreased my workouts rather than increased them. No more! For the next seven days, I am going to work my core, work my cardio, and work my weights. I may not be able to spot-reduce the fat around my mid-section, but I can share my research with the world so that I too can join the esteemed ranks of Google's most powerful links. Someday, someone searching for abs in seven days may find this blog and they too will be inspired to eat less and workout. Because they probably never heard that before ever. Ever.
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| This is a big deal. |
Into this:
In only seven days.
My friend, who you may know by the name of Google, had several pretty astounding ideas on how to get beach ready abs in seven days. I have tried a couple of Oxygen routines that have definitely helped me to tone and firm, but they have not delivered results even close to those that will get me to uncover my mid-section in public. So instead of continuing with the trusted advice from the experts at Oxygen, I have decided to put my abdominal fate in the hands of random bloggers and paid SEO content providers who obviously know what they are talking about.
Random Google Ab Tip #1: Eat less food.
It's pretty amazing when you think about it. All of the sites I visited that told me how to get killer abs in seven days suggested that I put down the Twinkies. Of course, I don't eat Twinkies, but I do love food. Even with a whole foods diet, I sometimes find myself over-indulging. This is a big no-no for abs.
Random Google Ab Tip #2: Exercise more.
Another jaw-dropper. Sites say that working out can help you to get six pack abs. Who knew? Of course, the variance is on what kind of exercises are required as well as the amount of time dedicated and the frequency. One super-helpful article said that I should perform cardio to lose weight and do sit-ups to tone. Who would have ever guessed it?
Random Google Ab Tip #3: Take Supplements
You probably couldn't have guessed, but a number of web sites suggest that taking pills are the way to go to burn mid-section fat and to release the inner gods and goddesses that are lurking underneath all of those pancakes. Mmmmm. Pancakes.
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| These tips are dripping in delicious sarcasm. |
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Planning the Fall Garden
Summer has already been brutal here in the Midwest. For the past week or so, we have experienced extreme temperatures, ranging from 101 to 105 most days. We haven't seen any rain for weeks and the forecast as of now is to expect more of the same.
I checked out some books from our public library to help me to be the best hobby gardener I could be. So far, the best I've read is The Essential Urban Farmer. This book gives a lot of detail, and goes into much greater ventures than I ever plan to undertake, but it's quite helpful and a good resource for anyone who wants to start giving themselves a healthier alternative to store bought foods. As I've said repeatedly, the cleanest foods are those you grow yourself, organically, without the need of pesticides, growth agents, and other chemicals.
One thing that stood out for me with this book, and others, is the thought of a garden being a year-round project. I grew up with a garden in the backyard. My family ate a bounty of zucchini, cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, and green beans every year. Still, I never once thought that gardening was a project that could continue through the fall and even winter months. It's hard to think about fall crops when temps are topping out at 106, but according to the resources I've consulted, it's time to start those seeds.
Yesterday, the 6-year-old and I dug out our seed album. A tip from Pinterest suggested that we store our seeds in a photo album, which has turned out to be a great way to sort and organize the seeds we want to plant at various times of the year. Right now, our album is filled with fall seeds. Supposedly, we will need to plant our seeds for the fall garden in mid-July for a fall harvest. However, the extreme heat, I feel, may be too much for the plants to grow well. Instead, we are going to wait until August and see what happens. If nothing grows, we chock it up to experience.
The Essential Urban Farmer suggests that we focus on crops that are fast-maturing, easy-to-grow, high-yielding, and are relatively expensive in stores. This will help the most with food bills and will make the biggest impact on daily meals. Because of this, according to the book, we should focus our efforts on broccoli, potatoes, spinach, lettuce, and carrots. So, we're going to do that. Sort of.
Gus and I started our broccoli seedlings yesterday, but we also threw in some cauliflower and brussels sprouts. Gus wanted to try to start lettuce and sunflowers early, and since we had extra seeds, we did that as well. We don't have adequate light inside our house, so we put the seedling tray in the shade garden. It will still be hot, but the filtered sunlight may be enough to help the plants grow. Really, it's our only shot at growing seedlings unless I invest in a grow lamp, so my fingers are crossed that the heat doesn't overwhelm.
The other issue that we face is our extremely limited garden space. Some people can plant fall gardens in the summer when their summer gardens are still producing, but I haven't the area from which to choose. Instead, I need to wait until some crops have stopped producing, or have died, and then use that spot for our new veggies. Or maybe I'll end up digging up a new spot for the fall garden. The grass is already dead, and by that I mean completely and totally dead to the point that we will probably have to re-sod. So, a new garden bed? Yes, that could happen.
Either way, along with the seedlings that may or may not happen, we will be planting kale, spinach, carrots, bunching onions, radishes, beets, and chard. With any luck, we'll have fresh veggies through early winter, at which time the winter garden should be in full-swing.
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| We're not quite there yet, but it's getting Grapes of Wrath-ier. |
One thing that stood out for me with this book, and others, is the thought of a garden being a year-round project. I grew up with a garden in the backyard. My family ate a bounty of zucchini, cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, and green beans every year. Still, I never once thought that gardening was a project that could continue through the fall and even winter months. It's hard to think about fall crops when temps are topping out at 106, but according to the resources I've consulted, it's time to start those seeds.
Yesterday, the 6-year-old and I dug out our seed album. A tip from Pinterest suggested that we store our seeds in a photo album, which has turned out to be a great way to sort and organize the seeds we want to plant at various times of the year. Right now, our album is filled with fall seeds. Supposedly, we will need to plant our seeds for the fall garden in mid-July for a fall harvest. However, the extreme heat, I feel, may be too much for the plants to grow well. Instead, we are going to wait until August and see what happens. If nothing grows, we chock it up to experience.
The Essential Urban Farmer suggests that we focus on crops that are fast-maturing, easy-to-grow, high-yielding, and are relatively expensive in stores. This will help the most with food bills and will make the biggest impact on daily meals. Because of this, according to the book, we should focus our efforts on broccoli, potatoes, spinach, lettuce, and carrots. So, we're going to do that. Sort of.
Gus and I started our broccoli seedlings yesterday, but we also threw in some cauliflower and brussels sprouts. Gus wanted to try to start lettuce and sunflowers early, and since we had extra seeds, we did that as well. We don't have adequate light inside our house, so we put the seedling tray in the shade garden. It will still be hot, but the filtered sunlight may be enough to help the plants grow. Really, it's our only shot at growing seedlings unless I invest in a grow lamp, so my fingers are crossed that the heat doesn't overwhelm.
The other issue that we face is our extremely limited garden space. Some people can plant fall gardens in the summer when their summer gardens are still producing, but I haven't the area from which to choose. Instead, I need to wait until some crops have stopped producing, or have died, and then use that spot for our new veggies. Or maybe I'll end up digging up a new spot for the fall garden. The grass is already dead, and by that I mean completely and totally dead to the point that we will probably have to re-sod. So, a new garden bed? Yes, that could happen.
Either way, along with the seedlings that may or may not happen, we will be planting kale, spinach, carrots, bunching onions, radishes, beets, and chard. With any luck, we'll have fresh veggies through early winter, at which time the winter garden should be in full-swing.
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