April 15, 2012

Still Spring…but ready for summer!

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March 25, 2012
This year’s garden plan - perhaps a bit more post modern than previous years. But ambitious!

This year’s garden plan - perhaps a bit more post modern than previous years. But ambitious!

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March 22, 2012
Small Urban Garden v2.0  My new house on Marion St. has a backyard about the same size as my previous home - but without a clear delineation between garden and parking spaces like before. I must admit to being a bit daunted by the task of taming this space and turning it into something productive…

Small Urban Garden v2.0 

My new house on Marion St. has a backyard about the same size as my previous home - but without a clear delineation between garden and parking spaces like before. I must admit to being a bit daunted by the task of taming this space and turning it into something productive…

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March 12, 2012
After 4 terrific years on Florida Ave - I recently moved across town into a new house. The new residents at 1329 certainly have a super sweet garden plot in their backyard though. I dearly hope they use it!  Here is a photo of what it looked like when I left, complete with mutant rosemary bush and super hearty cabbage plant. See ya later boys!

After 4 terrific years on Florida Ave - I recently moved across town into a new house. The new residents at 1329 certainly have a super sweet garden plot in their backyard though. I dearly hope they use it!  Here is a photo of what it looked like when I left, complete with mutant rosemary bush and super hearty cabbage plant. See ya later boys!

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October 24, 2011
Late breaking tomatoes

Late breaking tomatoes

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September 26, 2011
Sunflowers have been a great addition to the garden this year. Particularly since they were a gift from Ellen down the street. Thanks Ellen!

Sunflowers have been a great addition to the garden this year. Particularly since they were a gift from Ellen down the street. Thanks Ellen!

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July 31, 2011

Swamp Summer. 

It is hot. Very hot. So much so that my time outdoors harvesting has been minimal to say the least. 100+ days are best spent in the mountains, by the pool, or sipping cocktails on roof decks. That said, even with minimal gardening I managed to gather up cucumbers, beets, carrots, yellow heirloom tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, cabbage, and zucchini. 

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July 4, 2011

First signs of produce! 

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July 1, 2011

A Feast with Friends

Our good friends came over last night for a truly southern feast: pulled pork barbeque, creamy coleslaw, jalapeno cornbread, and wilted swiss chard. I am happy to report that the fresh chard from the garden was the star of the show - although the coleslaw with homegrown carrots and cabbages was also excellent. 

Here are some recipes - I was having too much fun for photos! 

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June 26, 2011
The world’s tiniest beet. How do I know when they are ready?

The world’s tiniest beet. How do I know when they are ready?

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June 22, 2011
DC Edible Urban Garden Tour

And yes, I take full credit for the flourishing urban garden scene in our city!

*****

Explore city spaces and residential gardens that will open their doors and gates for the public to see what growing good food in our own backyards, front yards, rooftops, and empty lots is all about. It’s a chance to ask questions, learn from and hear what inspires some of DC’s best gardeners.

The tour will start at Old City Green, a beautiful, plant-filled garden shop and stretch through the revitalized neighborhoods of Shaw, Bloomingdale and Ledroit Park. Plus, see for yourself and learn more about Common Good City Farm, the community garden that Prince Charles recently toured as part of his inspiring Future of Food visit to DC. A map of tour locations will be distributed on the day of the event at Old City Green. Purchase tickets online or pay with credit/cash at the door.

The tour is self-guided and will cover several miles so a bike or a car is recommended.


LOCATION: Old City Green at 902 N Street NW
DATE: July 15, 2011
TIME: 3pm to 8pm

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June 21, 2011

I’ve had a hankering for some coleslaw lately and turned to the internets to see if and/or when those cabbages would mature. Some of the leaves are already over 12 inches long and looked pretty ripe to me. But they haven’t formed a solid head in the middle like the cabbages you get at the store so I wasn’t sure. 

A quick google search for the variety I have in the garden “Late Flat Dutch Cabbage” turned up … this!

Holy Moly!

I had no idea I should expect 15 pounds of cabbage from these guys. WHOA, that is a lot of coleslaw to consume. 

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June 20, 2011
A Sad Tomato

This has to be one of the most depressing pieces I’ve ever read. The article is an excerpt from Tomatoland: How Modern Industrial Agriculture Destroyed Our Most Alluring Fruit and describes the politics of my most favoritest, non-vegetable ever.

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June 15, 2011

Okra.

I cannot believe that the okra are all up already! Each seed appears to have sprouted and now I have a pretty uniform little line of them along the back wall of the garden. Apparently, it’s never too late for okra.

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June 13, 2011
From the Mailbox

I finally discovered my problem…but maybe you can spare yourself!

“Don’t ever threaten your plants, or mention your doubts and disappointments within hearing range of the plant.”

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