Wood Streets Gardens

Gardeners, Start Your Seeds! Fall Gardens Begin Mid-Summer

2015-07-30T10:10:00.003-07:00

Start these seeds now for a beautifully delicious fall garden.Photo credit: SeedsNow

Yes, it is that time again. Time to start your seeds for the fall gardens. We have already started lots and lots of seeds. We buy most of our seeds from SeedsNow. I love this company. I always get good seed, fast delivery, and everyone is so nice, and fun to chat with. They have a little chat box on their website. While you're there shopping, they are ready to answer questions, help you find things, talk garden stuff. I think they like to get to know their customers. And they really do care. I love them so much that I am a SeedsNow affiliate. You should really check them out.

And, so you know, I don't do vanity posts for anyone - if I endorse a company, it is because I believe in them and I do business with them. When you're ready to get your fall seeds - which should be right now, check out SeedsNow.com. Everything is nonGMO, untreated, heirloom and open pollinated, so you can be sure your seed is safe. You'll be supporting small business, which I think is so important. And, you'll be helping us continue to grow and help others learn, eat and enjoy what our gardens produce. And we thank you for that.

Happy gardening,

~Julie

Enter code SAVE10NOW for a 10% discount on your purchase at SeedsNow.com

This post contains affiliate links.

Bruschetta: because you have to do something delicious with all those tomatoes.

2015-07-28T13:31:00.000-07:00

Garden fresh bruschetta and home baked garlic crostini

Does it get any better than garden fresh and home baked?

Bruschetta

Ingredients:

2 cups diced, fresh Roma tomatoes

6 (or more) cloves of fresh garlic, finely diced

A handful of fresh basil leaves, chiffonade them please

Olive oil to drizzle

Salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Drizzle lightly with extra virgin olive oil. Toss lightly. Cover and let stand for at least 20 minutes before serving.

Garlic Crostini

Ingredients:

1 baguette, cut in 1/3 to 1/2 inch slices

Olive oil

Fresh sea salt

1 clove fresh garlic, cut in half

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375.

Lightly brush one side of each baguette slice with olive oil. Bake oiled side up on a baking sheet at 375 F until golden brown.

Remove from oven. Rub each slice with the cut side of the garlic clove. Season lightly with a sprinkle of sea salt if desired.

Top each slice with tomato mixture.

Eat.

Napa Cabbage and Arugula Salad with Microgreens and Berries

2015-07-10T06:20:00.001-07:00

What's all this talk about microgreens?

Napa Cabbage and Arugula Salad with Microgreens and Berries

My latest growing endeavor is happening inside. Microgreens and baby greens are becoming my favorite garden products because they are so easy and fast to grow, taste great and are packed with nutrients. We've been eating them on salads all week.

This salad is loaded with all the good nutrients that come from our favorite cruciferous vegetables, and no empty calories. Napa cabbage replaces lettuce as the foundation, and then it is piled high with broccoli microgreens, baby arugula, raspberries, blackberries and sunflower seeds It doesn't really constitute a recipe, just use as much as you want of each ingredient.

I am a blue cheese fanatic, so I went with a little dollop of creamy dressing, but you might choose a healthier vinaigrette or just a drizzle of olive oil with some lemon.

The microgreens and baby arugula may not be easy to find in the grocery store. If you do get lucky and find them be prepared to pay dearly. If you skip buying the greens and invest in some sprouting seeds instead, you will save yourself a boatload of money. Micro and baby greens can be grown indoors all year long, so you can always have a fresh supply of whatever you want.. You get all the benefits of fresh, healthy greens with none of the cost.

This post contains affiliate links.

Copyright 2015, Julie McMurchie. All rights reserved.

I Went to the Grocery Store and It Made Me Mad!

2015-07-09T13:57:00.002-07:00

Healthy food should never be a luxury.

I don't go to the grocery store. Last week was probably the first time in 6 months that I stepped foot in a grocery store. I don't go because they infuriate me. The price of food, the sad state of the food available, the garbage I see people spend their money on. It makes me want to send people to nutrition camp and give them a free side course in finance. These are the reasons why my husband shops and I don't.

This is not a rant post. Because the rant is over. Despite the anger and frustration I felt, the dreaded bi-annual trip to the market motivated me to get up, speak out and maybe make a difference in a life or two.

Good, healthy food does not have to be expensive. Low to moderate income families do not have to resort to sugar cereal and crap to keep food on the table. The problem is not merely that healthy food is too expensive. It is not as simple as that. There is a multitude of reasons why people eat junk. Affordability is only one of them. I believe the answers lie in social conditioning, lack of knowledge, inability to cook and laziness.

You might disagree and argue that people can't afford good-for-them food. Bull. I will argue that point with you all day long. People don't know how to cook, don't know how or are unwilling to change and convince themselves that ramen noodles and hotdogs are the best they can do. Easy, greasy and cheap. That satisfies the cravings that junk foods create. The more you eat it, the more you crave it, which leads to more junk-eating, more health problems and a very unhealthy, unfit population.

So why is a garden girl getting so worked up about this? Because I lived that low-income, struggle-to-keep-food-on-the-table life. I know firsthand what it means to not eat so your kids can. I know that providing healthy food on a very limited budget is hard. But it isn't impossible. You can do it. I did. I had to learn how to do it; so can you.

Living that hard life is one of the biggest reasons I learned how to grow food, cook healthy meals and provide the best I could for my family. People may see me now and think I have no idea what it is like to struggle. Yeah. I do. I know all about it. I lived it. Now I can take what I have learned and help you make the most of what you have. That is the purpose for what I do.

It has taken me some time to be able to verbalize all of this in what I hope is a way that makes sense. I have been taking a long, hard look at what I do and why I do it for several days now. To finally be able to put it in words and put it out there is a good thing. Because now, maybe it will make more sense why I am so adamant about making food and growing food accessible and doable for all people. Healthy food should never be a luxury. I hope that my story encourages you to take a look at your life, your foods, your family and maybe move you to make some healthy changes.

Thanks for reading,

Happy growing and healthy eating,

~Julie

Madly in Love With Microgreens

2015-07-08T16:18:00.001-07:00

Broccoli microgreens are ready to harvest in about 10 days.

I need to grow stuff. I love starting seeds, growing food, eating food and I am really getting to the point that I don't so much love gardening anymore, especially in the summer months. Ah, but all is not lost. Enter the microgarden where the growing is easy. And fast. And inside. Microgreens are making me a happy grower.

I am not going to preach the health benefits of microgreens because the jury is still out on whether they are the magic, nutritional bullet some people are claiming. There have been studies that suggest some micros pack a nutrient punch as much as 40 times stronger than their mature counterparts, but these studies are few and far between..There is a significant lack of research because microgreens are relatively new to the retail market. The research just hasn't been done and the nutrient data is not there...yet.

Fast-growing radish microgreens, growing here with
wasabi arugula and mustard taste just like a radish.

None of this means that I don't wholeheartedly recommend eating and growing microgreens. Plant food is good for you and these tiny little plants happen to taste really good. There are certainly nutritional benefits that come with eating greens and so we will leave it at that. Microgreens are a wonderfully tasty way to add more green to your daily diet. With so many varieties to choose from with flavor profiles, from sweet or nutty to hot and spicy, there is something to satisfy your particular palate or complement a favorite recipe.

Back to my infatuation/love affair with microgreens. I love greens, particularly fresh, crunchy, raw greens. Sauteed greens are good and have their place, but serve me a salad with some serious flavor and I'll be your friend forever. Microgreens fit the bill when it comes to flavor and texture. The tiny little plantlings are just crunchy enough without being annoying or too much work to enjoy. Some are milder in flavor than the mature variety, some are stronger in flavor. Some are things that most of us would eat only in the early stages of plant life if ever at all, like sunflower greens. Honestly, how often have you picked a huge sunflower leaf and popped into your mouth? But the tiny, new suflower plant is delicious and full of nutrients.

How do you eat microgreens?

Alfalfa microgreens are delicious as a salad topper
and instead of lettuce on a sandwich.

Salads and sandwiches are probably the most common way to enjoy them, but they can also top a pizza, flavor a soup, dress up an entree and even spice up a dessert. And don't forget the smoothies. Who wouldn't love the versatility and variety?

Flavor and texture accounted for, let us move on to just how fast and easy they grow. Five days to 2 weeks and most microgreens are ready to harvest. Yes, it really is that quick and simple to grow greens indoors. I won't bore you with the details as to why these things grow so fast compared to the same seeds you plant outside in a garden, but they do. While you are still waiting for the seeds in your garden to sprout, the microgreens growing in your windowsill are just about ready to eat. Fast and easy. That works for me. Did I mention how easy they are to grow?

So why not give them a try? Grow your daily greens in the comfort and coolness of your home. Gardening has never been this easy.

Happy (micro)gardening,

~Julie

Shop SeedsNow.com for sprouting and microgreen seeds. (You actually use sprouting seeds for growing microgreens - and you can use the same seeds in the garden.)

This post contains affiliate links.

Copyright 2015, Julie McMurchie. All rights reserved.

Stacking Vertical Gardening Containers! Why Didn't I Know About These?

2015-05-04T16:48:00.001-07:00

Stacking Vertical Garden Containers

Growing space problem solved. I can grow so much with these 5 Tiered Vertical Gardening Planters. I'm excited.

I cannot wait to get these delivered. I'm tempted to order 20 sets, but I will have to settle for two or three right now.

Each tier has four planters - that's 20 plants in a space I could normally grow only a few. The top has a reservoir to fill with water, which drains down and waters each pot. This is perfect. It's genius.

You can put these in the garden, on the patio, in the greenhouse or in the house. Water trays are also available to catch the leaks.

5 Tiered Hanging and Stacking

Indoor Outdoor Vertical Strawberry Planter

This is what I've been looking for! Think about how much you can grow in a small space with these, and how easy it will be to harvest. They will be perfect for strawberries and lettuce, but you can grow peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, and lots more in them. I've been reading through the product reviews and people are happy with this. I'm so glad they are. My gardening prayers have been answered.

Watch for these garden towers in my gardens.

Happy gardening,

~Julie

This post contains affiliate links.

Sprouting Alfalfa? Save That Water

2015-05-04T10:54:00.001-07:00

Sprouting alfalfa seed? Save that water
and feed your garden.

Alfalfa sprouts are quick and easy to grow. They also require soaking, rinsing and draining throughout the growing process. Save that water! We are in a drought, you know.

Drought concerns aside, the water from sprouting seeds has a few nutrients that will help your garden grow. Alfalfa tea is a rose grower's favorite nutrient, but it isn't just for roses. Use it in your container and vegetable gardens. Alfalfa tea provides nutrients for the life living in your soil. I use it weekly in our container gardens to keep the soil nutrient-rich and the plants green and healthy. We also use alfalfa tea on flowering plants to encourage more blooms.

The first soak - when you hydrate your seeds - will produce a dark brown water. That's the good stuff. Dilute it with fresh water 5:1 and pour it into the soil. Remember, we are feeding the soil, not the plants. The soil feeds the plants.

Subsequent rinses and drains will provide a nominal amount of nutrients in the water. Use the rinse water straight up. I usually save it in a container until I have enough to water a few plants. Once you have rinsed and drained the sprouts for a few days you will have saved quite a bit.

So let's get to it. Sprout alfalfa. Grow alfalfa. Click here to buy alfalfa sprouting seeds.

Related Articles: (coming soon)

Alfalfa Baby Greens

Alfalfa in the Garden!

Alfalfa Sprout Tea

This post contains affiliate links.

Drought and the California Mentality

2015-04-14T13:11:00.000-07:00

This morning, while speaking with someone on the phone, the topic of gardening came up. Huh! Go figure!

Through the course of this conversation it became clear that this avid gardener I was speaking with has either no clue or no care about the California drought. Most likely, it is no care or concern. Her statement to me this morning was this, "I am not letting my grass and landscape die because of this drought. I have invested too much money."

And so there you have it. The California mentality all wrapped up into 2 simple sentences. And it all comes down to money.

Money people have spent on landscaping.

Money people have spent on landscaping and plants that have no purpose other than to look pretty and have no business growing in Southern California.

I have not blogged in a while because I have made a decision to not say anything until I have something to say.

Today, my gardening friends, is the day. I have something to say.

And I have one question for you: What is your garden doing?

In other words, why is it there? Why is it growing? Does it have a purpose other than looking pretty? Is it a responsible use of resources?

Does it really all come down to money for you? The money you've spent? Are appearances all that important? Will you feel the same way when you are paying for water to be trucked in so you can brush your teeth every and flush your toilet?

Get over the perfect landscape, people. Do yourself and the rest of us a favor and start thinking about the future of life in our state. Your lawn is not going to feed you. And, eventually, it will die because your water will either be cut off or too expensive to waste on growing grass and ornamental landscape. .

Rant over. Thank you for reading.

Amazon's Patio, Lawn and Garden Spring Event.

2015-04-10T09:53:00.001-07:00

Shop Amazon's Patio, Lawn & Garden Spring Event Shop for all your gardening, pool and patio, grilling and outdoor enternaining needs. Get ready for spring and summer!

Wood Streets Gardens: The Exit Strategy

2015-03-15T07:53:00.003-07:00

Wood Streets Gardens growing food for health and posterity.

Yes, we do plan on leaving Wood Streets Gardens behind us. Truth be told, it is going to be a tough move. If I could I would pick up the gardens, load them on a truck and take them with us.

We - I - really want out of the city. I want more open space. I want freedom to do what I want on my property. I don't want to hear our neighbors flush their toilet. I don't want to smell the perfumed dryer exhaust when they are doing laundry or the scent of their freshly, over-chlorinated pool. I want the freedom to have as many chickens and roosters as I choose.

It won't be this year. We have a five year move-out plan. In five years we are outta here! Sooner if things go well, and that would be a welcome change. At the end of the term Tom will be able to retire, we will be able to sell the property with cash out and move to our dream destination, wherever that is. Somewhere cool, but not cold, with plenty of water.

We have much to do to prepare. While 5 years seems like an eternity, it will go by quickly. It will. It has to or I will go insane. Keeping busy will help preserve my sanity

It is a bit ironic that our move- out plan is the impetus for starting a real garden business with products and marketing and profit or loss statements. Though our little postage stamp in the city may not produce a full-fledged farm income, every bit of cash it generates will fund the move. A bit of ingenuity and creative use of space and resources just might bring in more cash than even we think possible. And I tend to dream big.

The business will rely on the gardens we have grown. We have several products in the development stage which I hope people will love so much that we can't keep them on the shelves. The best part is none of these products require cooking or baking for people. Been there, done that. Not again.

Teas, tisanes, and a variety of specialty products from our gardens will be hitting the market soon, and I sincerely hope they are all huge hits. We really need to be wildly successful now so we aren't the proverbial burden on the kids when we are old and decrepit. Not that I plan on becoming decrepit, but stuff happens. Who knows?

It is time to get to it, get serious and get out of the city. Wherever we go, we will take with us our belief and practice of growing food for health and posterity.

I hope you'll follow us on our journey. I would love to hear your comments and suggestions.

Happy gardening,

~Julie

Recipe: Beets That Don't Taste Like Dirt

2015-02-28T06:29:00.001-08:00

Roasted, chilled beets with blue cheese.

Finally! Beets that don't taste like dirt. My kids say it all the time. Beets smell and taste like dirt.

Beets, although they are among the vegetables highest in carbs, are still incredibly healthy and a food you should consider eating on occasion.

But I get it. They taste like dirt.

Beets do have a rather earthy aroma and flavor. And some people are just not into eating dirt or anything that tastes like it. But there are ways to make beets delicious. Well, at least one way.

Here is my version of the best way to cook and eat beets. No added sugar, no salt, no pickling. And so delicious.

Chilled Beets with Blue Cheese Recipe

Beets

Balsamic vinegar

Crumbled blue cheese

Black pepper

1. Roast beets, covered or wrapped in foil, at 350 degrees until tender, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

2. Remove beets from the oven and peel.

3. Cut beets into half-inch thick slices.

4. Place beet slices in a covered container and chill for 1 to 2 hours.

5. Drizzle beet slices with balsamic vinegar. Top with crumbled blue cheese or blue cheese dressing. Season with black pepper.

Enjoy!

~Julie

Planting Tomatoes and Companion Plants

2015-02-27T18:10:00.000-08:00

It's Tomato Time - Get your seeds now

Yes, I really am planting tomatoes in February. I already have about 20 in the ground, nice and cozy with plenty of mulch, and lots more to plant. This is part of my 2015 Tomato Strategy - get them in before I plant myself out of tomato growing space.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I have had zero success with growing tomatoes the last few years. They will be growing fine and then, wham! Something happens and wipes them all out. The whammo usually occurs when the weather starts heating up and the plants have been in the gardens for months. Our biggest problem, besides the heat has been red spider mites. I hate them.

I could use sprays and kill every living creature on the plants, but that is so counterproductive and completely against my philosophy. But there are still things I can try, like planting short season tomatoes, succession planting and companions. Planting lots of companions for my tomatoes will, fingers crossed, be effective.

Here is the list of the companions I am planting for my tomatoes:

Garlic. My research has led me to believe that this may be the magic bullet to keep the tomatoes clear of spider mites. Again, fingers crossed.

Basil. Also deters spider mites, aphids, white flies, and horn worms. They may also attract pollinators and improve tomato flavor.

Marigolds. Deters nematodes, slugs and tomato worms.

Nasturtium. An edible flower (eat the leaves too) that deters white flies, aphids, squash bugs and beetles. Nasturtiums reseed every year in my garden and they are so pretty. They are also a good companion for tomatoes because they don't need much care or water.

Parsley. This extremely healthy herb attracts hover wasps which feast on tomato worms.

Chives and borage are also good companions for tomatoes, but I only have so much space.

All Together Now

The best defense is a good offense. I am going on the offensive from the start this year. No waiting for the problems to appear, or lagging in the planting schedule. Every tomato plant is surrounded by a variety of companions. Garlic, for sure. I even put a tomato plant in the middle of a garlic stand I planted last fall.

I started the seeds for the companions one to two weeks before the tomato seeds. I wanted to make sure there were plenty to go around, because I am planting just a few tomatoes. About 90, I'm hoping. And more through the growing season.

Here's to a successful season. Happy gardening,

~Julie

This post contains affiliate links.

Casual Garden Planning and Planting

2015-02-06T10:05:00.001-08:00

Wood Streets Gardens Planning and Planting the Gardens

It is that time again. Time to plant the garden. The planting part is easy. It is the garden planning part that I always seem to mess up. This is pretty much how it goes every year: I go nuts planting all the early crops in February and March, and I never leave enough space for my tomatoes. I plan on setting out tomatoes earlier this year, as I am planting other things. So maybe I won't screw up so badly on the plan implementation part of the process.

Garden planning is not my favorite thing. I take a casual approach to the whole planning process. The way our gardens have evolved through the years, sketching it out would be nearly impossible. I find a suitable spot and plant something. There is a little more to it than that, but not much. I do make a list of what needs to go in, then develop a vision in my mind and make it happen. Usually, it works out, except for the tomato part.

I probably haven't been much help to anyone looking for information on how to plan a garden, If you need a solid plan, there are countless free garden planning apps, software and tools online that will help you grow the garden of your dreams. But, if you are more of a laid-back casual gardener then you'll probably do what I do and figure it out as you go along.

The beauty of our garden plan is the diversity. Large sections of mono-crops are non-existent. With all of our interplanting, succession planting and willful disregard of most traditional vegetable gardening rules, the gardens are always in a constant state of change. Nothing static or boring about it. There are so many varieties of foods growing. Annuals are tucked in between perennials and under fruit trees. As plants finish in the garden they are replaced with something different and appropriate for the season. Every season, every year it is different but it is always beautiful and productive. Our garden plan works for me.

What are your garden plans this year?

Happy gardening,

~Julie

Need Seeds? Check out the huge selection of heirloom vegetable seeds at SeedsNow. Low prices, excellent quality and customer service.

This post contains affiliate links.

Introducing the Mustard Seed Pod: Sweet, Crunchy, Peppery Garden Snacks

2015-01-31T07:41:00.000-08:00

Edible mustard seed pods

Introducing the mustard seed pod. My new favorite garden snack.

In the world of garden greens, mustard may not be the most popular, but this brassica produces the tastiest little treat. Once you try them, you'll want to grow mustard just for the pods.

The pods are delicious raw, but you will want to try them in stir fry as well. Toss them in right at the end so they maintain their crunch.

Blooming mustard in the garden.

After mustard plants have bolted and bloomed, the seed pods begin to form, just like on broccoli plants. Each plant will produce lots and lots of flowers, which in turn grow lots and lots of pods. You won't have to plant very many mustard seeds to grow a bountiful crop of pods. Enough to toss in salads, soups and stir fries.

Mustard plant seed pods ready
to harvest.

Mustard plant seed pods are ready to harvest when they are two to three inches long and have begun to plump up just a bit. Don't leave them too long on the plant or the seeds get too large to be tasty.

Of course, you'll want to leave some pods on the plant to ripen and harvest for the next season's crop.

We purchased our mustard seed from SeedsNow. They have several heirloom varieties to choose from, including Mizuna, Tendergreen, Giant Red and Florida Broadleaf. They also have mustard sprouting seeds, which is what we seeded directly into the garden.

Enjoy, and happy gardening,

~Julie

This post contains affiliate links. When you purchase seeds through the SeedsNow link on our pages you are helping us grow and share the bounty of the gardens, and it doesn't cost you anything extra. I'm sure you will be pleased with the quality of their products, their prices and service. Thank you.

One Superior Garden Hack for the Impatient Gardener

2015-01-28T18:47:00.001-08:00

I admit, I am probably the most impatient gardener alive. I hate waiting. I especially loathe waiting on seedlings to emerge from the soil. Honestly, the wait is sheer torture. It has been my experience that direct seeding into the garden gives me the healthiest, most productive plants. I could just buy plants, but that doesn't always get good results and it doesn't give me the same DIY satisfaction. Nor can I afford to buy as many plants as I want or need in the garden.

I could also start seeds indoors in little pots and grow those little plants into bigger, little plants that need to be transplanted into the garden. But, as you may have inferred from my intentional, run-on sentence, that is a painfully long, drawn-out process which usually results in some plants never getting planted because I just don't get to it before they get all leggy and ugly and useless.

So seeding it is. And waiting is my destiny. But, in a way, I have discovered a way to cheat destiny and speed things up considerably.

Pre-sprout the seeds before you sow them in the garden. Yes, before they go into the garden. Save yourself the agony of the wait.

Pre-Sprout Seeds

Mung bean sprouts. Plant pre-sprouted seeds to
save water and time in the garden.

Pre-sprouting seeds takes the method of soaking seeds before planting one step further. Sprouted seeds have already germinated. They can be planted in the garden with a light covering of soil and lightly watered. While it is important to keep the soil consistently moist, the amount of water needed to get your sprouts established and growing is considerably less than if you were to plant dry seed in the soil and keep it wet enough for germination to occur. If you are an impatient gardener like me, you'll enjoy the added bonus of having plants coming up sooner. We are having great success with mung bean sprouts, sunflowers and carrots.

I am pre-sprouting all of my seeds now. Artichokes, strawberries, cardoons, lettuce, spinach, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, etc. Harder seeds like broccoli, kale, beans, peas, and especially peppers get soaked overnight in Haven's Authentic Manure Tea, drained and left to sprout in a jar in a dark location. Softer seeds like sunflower and squash or cucumbers only need a couple hours in the tea before draining to sprout. Some seeds will sprout within a few hours, others may take a day or two.

As soon as I can see evidence of germination, I sow the seeds directly into the garden, cover lightly with garden soil or compost, water lightly and let them grow.

If you are an impatient gardener, give it a go and see if it works for you. And you're welcome. I'm always here to alleviate any garden anxiety I can.

Happy gardening,

~Julie

This post contains affiliate links.

2015 Tomato Strategy and Heat-Loving Tomatoes

2015-01-11T08:53:00.000-08:00

The tomato - a garden must!

I am by no means a tomato expert. In fact, the last few years I have failed miserably at growing tomatoes. But I am determined to grow a bumper crop this year. I want tomatoes!

We have tried several of the popular heirloom varieties, with very little success. Black krim, Cherokee, Oxheart and a few other varieties have been a disappointment. About the only tomato that we can always count on is the tried and true cherry. Not that I don't enjoy the tasty little treats, but they aren't really much good for anything other than salads, snacks, or roasted and served with pasta. I want to make sauces and salsa and soup and tomato sandwiches! I need tomato sandwiches!

One of the problems we have here is that it gets so hot in the summer that tomato production shuts down and the plants go into survival mode. Tomato plants don't like it when it gets much warmer than 85 degrees or so. But I have found one determinate variety that may just solve the problem for us. The Floradade tomato is reportedly a heat loving tomato that will continue to produce heavily in temps up to 100 degrees, as well as dry and humid conditions. That is the tomato we need to get us through the summer with a steady supply. You can order Floradade Tomato seed from SeedsNow - click the link at the end of this post and use the coupon code to save 10%.

The other challenge we face with tomatoes in the garden is space. We simply don't have enough space to plant indeterminate varieties. They get too big and take over. While I want a good tomato harvest, tomatoes are not the only thing I want to grow. This year I have decided to go with successive plantings of more compact, determinate varieties such as Roma, Rutgers and the Floradade spread throughout the garden and interplanted with herbs, vegetables and lots of flowers to attract beneficial insects to eat the bad guys.

I hope that my new strategy will prove successful. I don't think I can bear another year without homegrown tomatoes.

Click on the SeedsNow graphic to shop for seeds and get 10% off your order. Happy gardening.

This post contains affiliate links.

DIY Hanging Drying Rack

2014-12-30T06:33:00.000-08:00

Metal bands from a wine barrel repurposed to
create a rustic drying rack.

Part of the farm plan this year is to grow and produce some really fun and unique herbal products, teas and tisanes. To make that happen, we need drying racks.

Being the frugal farmer girl that I am, spending money was not an option. I have been hanging onto some metal bands from an old wine barrel for years, knowing one day we would find a good use for them. Yesterday we made the first of three hanging drying racks. We put a screen basket in the bottom of the band. The screen is secured on the inside with a thin metal strip bent to fit inside the band (actually a corner protector for drywall) and a few nuts and bolts.

Repurposed metal bands from
an old wine barrel make
a rustic drying rack for herbs.

We drilled holes through the sides to attach the chains, and found some metal hooks for hanging herbs. The screen basket in the bottom is perfect for drying smaller leaves, flower petals and peppers.

That is all there was to it. It was an easy, fun project we did together. And I love the crusty, rusty, rustic functional design.

There you go! Another example of why you should never throw anything out.

Happy Gardening - and repurposing,

~Julie

How to Grow Pea Shoots: Edible Greens to Grow Indoors

2014-12-13T06:57:00.002-08:00

How to grow pea shoots indoors.

Pea shoots are baby pea plants. You can grow them indoors in small containers, harvest them a few times, then transplant outdoors where they can grow into full-sized, pea-pod producing plants.

Why grow pea shoots inside? They are a fast, easy-to-grow, edible green with fabulous flavor. And, because we want you to start growing some of your own food. Pea shoots are an excellent way to get started. We started with Green Pea Sprouting seeds from SeedsNow.

Start now, and your first harvest will be ready in about 2 weeks.

Here's the how to.

1. We started with a pie plate, measured out enough seed to cover the surface of the plate.
2. Put the seeds in a jar, cover them with water and soak them for about 12 hours.
3. Drain and rinse the peas. You'll notice some are already starting to sprout.
4. Fill the pie plate with about 1 inch of moistened, organic seed starter medium.
5. Spread the soaked seed over the top of the growing medium.
6. Cover the pie plate with a plastic lid, or slip into a plastic bag to help keep them moist.
7. Spritz the top of the garden with water as needed. Use just enough to keep it moist but not wet.
8. Once the sprouts are starting to root in and produce green stems, remove the cover and place in a sunny window.
9. Mist the garden daily with water and watch those shoots grow. Once the shoots have grown thick and taller, you may need to pour water in the bottom of the tray to keep them moist.
10. Harvest the pea shoots when they are about 6 inches tall. Cut them with clean scissors to about 2 inches tall, leaving leaf nodes on the stem so they will continue to grow.

Enjoy raw pea shoots in salads and on sandwiches. They are delicious sauteed with garlic and olive oil.

Happy gardening,

~Julie

5 Health Benefits of Sprouts and Why You Should Grow Your Own

2014-12-05T08:19:00.003-08:00

Sprouts are higher in essential nutrients than mature fruits and vegetables.

We are growing sprouts for health. Specifically to fight the cancers and health issues that seem to plague our family. Everyone knows nutrition is the foundation for healthy living, and sprouts pack a bigger punch than the mature plants they grow into. They are so easy to grow, and they are ready to eat in just a few days.

Sprouts can be grown indoors all year long, which makes it easy to have fresh food on hand at all times. You can't get more local than grown in your own kitchen. When you grow your own, you can be sure they're clean, safe and 100% organic.

The health benefits of sprouts are the best reason to grow and eat your own.

1. More enzymes and antioxidants than mature plants. Sprouted seeds, nuts and grains can have up to 100x the enzymes of raw fruits and vegetables. Enzymes are special proteins that are the building blocks of life. They keep your body running smooth and healthy. Antioxidants are essential in warding off chronic and serious diseases, including cancer.

2. Sprouts can help you lose weight and maintain a healthy weight. The fiber content in sprouts binds to fats and toxins in our body and escorts them out.

3. Sprouts supply essential fatty acids that promote heart health, help build healthy cells and help maintain brain and nerve function. Most Americans don't get enough of these nutrients in their diet. Sprouts are an easy and delicious way to make sure you are getting the nutrients your body needs to maintain health.

4. Sprouts are packed with vitamins. The sprouting process increases the vitamin content by up to 20%.

5. The fiber content in sprouts is helpful in preventing diabetes and heart disease and helps maintain colon health.

If these 5 reasons aren't enough to get you sprouting, do some research and learn more about the health benefits of fresh sprouts.

If you are ready to get started, make sure you buy seeds intended for sprouting. You can find a good variety of sprouting seeds and supplies at SeedsNow.

Happy sprouting,

~Julie

This post contains affiliate links.

Sustainability on Our Little Urban Farm

2014-11-19T10:33:00.000-08:00

Sustainability and finances on the farm.

I know sustainability is one of those buzz words people are probably tired of hearing, at least when it is about environmental issues. It is important to practice sustainability for the environment, and that is one reason we do it. But I'll be honest, it is as much or more about money, at least for us.

Even a small farm like ours can suck up the cash. Animals need food, gardens need food, people need food. Everything needs to be fed and cared for. If you are buying everything you need, it gets expensive. It makes sense to produce as much as you can and eliminate as many expenses as possible.

That is what we have been working for. I have plans in motion to seriously amp up our production. We already grow a good deal of our own food. We are also going to grow more of the animal feed, especially for the chickens. If we can reduce our feed bill, then I can justify more chickens. More chickens is good. More chickens means more eggs. More eggs without killing the budget would be excellent.

There are so many things we can do to reduce costs and increase output. Everything we do to become more sustainable equates to higher savings and earning potential. Our little farm is a tidy little business venture. It doesn't make a fortune, but we do alright. I think it comes down to producing as much as possible, using what we have and not letting anything go to waste.

Ultimately, my goal is to get this property to pay for itself. I need to make the intermittent income a regular, reliable, predictable income. We have a ways to go but we will get there. Just having the opportunity to make it happen excites me.

So with all that said, I'm off to the gardens to work on it.

Happy gardening,

~Julie

Another Reason to Mulch

2014-11-16T06:18:00.000-08:00

Protect topsoil with mulch.

The Santa Ana winds are blowing through Riverside today. Weather likes this reminds me of how important mulch is. It not only holds moisture in the ground, it prevents precious topsoil from getting blown away. And it reduces dust around the property.

Remember the Dust Bowl? It happened when the Plains farmers ripped up the natural grasses and planted crops, over-farmed and generally abused the soil. Then the drought came, and the exposed soil blew all the way to the Atlantic ocean.

It takes over 500 years to form an inch of topsoil. Topsoil is perhaps the most precious resource we have. Without it, there would be no crops. No food. Without it, civilizations crumble; people starve. So now you understand why it is so important to protect it.

Mulch is simply a covering for your soil. Organic is best, obviously. Aged wood chips, untreated grass clippings, straw, compost, even shredded paper can be used to cover the soil. Most experts recommend a mulch layer at least 2 inches deep. Some gardeners, like ourselves, like to lay it on a bit thicker.

So get your mulch on and protect that soil. We all need it to survive.

Build Your Neighborhood Food Network.

2014-11-15T14:10:00.001-08:00

Neighborhood food networks build food security.

America produces more than enough food to feed every person living here. And yet, hunger and food insecurity are very real problems. That is because there is an uneven distribution of the food we produce. Food needs to be accessible.

Neighborhood and backyard food gardens can meet much of the need. It may not be as simple as planting rows of lettuce and carrots, but it is a starting point. And maybe, when more people start growing, we might see neighborhood cooperatives where growers and members of the community trade food for food or food for services. When cities finally get with the program, we might even see more opportunities for gardeners to legally sell and trade produce in front yard garden stands. Wouldn't it be awesome if every neighborhood had its own garden market, where growers could offer produce to their neighbors?

Not everyone can grow or raise their own food, but we can all support our local growers, gardeners and food producers. Think about what you can do to support the people who are raising and making food in your area. Do you know who or where they are? Do you grow or raise food at home? Connect with others and start building your neighborhood food hub.

You need a neighborhood food network. Just think about the possibilities. Fresh produce, eggs, baked goods, meats, milks, cheese grown and made just down the street or around the corner.

Get started. Go door to door, find those gardeners and food producers. Build those relationships. You could be the start of something amazing in your community. There will be people who pay for the food, people who volunteer their time to help produce the food, and people who help with provisions to keep gardens and urban farms growing and producing. You will find people who can help you with promotion and admin duties. You can be the one who makes it happen in your neighborhood, on your street, in your city.

Make it happen.

How to Feed 9 Billion People

2014-11-14T09:57:00.002-08:00

Food gardens are food security.

The world population will reach 9 billion people by 2050. That is, in food terms, 9 billion hungry people who will need to be fed.

I read recently that the world has already maxed out the arable farmland. We only have a mere 7 billion people to feed right now, and people are already going hungry. How are we supposed to support another 2 billion if we can't keep people fed and healthy now?

If it is true that there is no more farmland to farm, that is a very scary thing. But I don't think it is true. Not when we have so much real estate in backyards everywhere. That is where food production needs to happen. In backyards, front yards, vacant city lots, on a local level. We can grow a good deal of our own food in very small spaces.

We need to build our own local food supplies and stop relying on the food system to feed us. The system is broken. A broken system is not going to keep up with demand. That is why people like you and I need to step up and start producing food for ourselves and our neighborhoods. And we need to do it with environmentally sound methods that conserve and preserve our resources.

In simple terms, we need to get back to taking care of ourselves and being responsible for our own food. Like people used to do. It isn't difficult. Time consuming, yes. But not hard.

I think neighborhood garden cooperatives, community gardens and edible landscapes are where food security is going to happen. Rather than planting water-sucking landscapes that don't feed anyone, cities need to rethink their beautification plans and zoning laws. People need to add edible plants to their landscape. And we all need to do it now.

Be one of the people that gets it. Start growing some of your own food. And then grow more and more. Be a part of the solution, not just another mouth to feed.

And if you don't have the ability or space to grow, consider supporting your local grower.

Grow some greens. Eat fresh from the garden.

2014-11-12T07:15:00.001-08:00

I have heard numerous times that the food from our garden tastes different. It tastes different than the produce from the stores. It tastes different than the organic produce from the stores.

Why do people say our food is different? Because it is fresh. Like, really fresh. Like picked no more than an hour or two before people get it.

Fresh really does make a difference. Having a garden makes eating fresh so easy. Most of the time you can harvest what you need when you need it. Of course, those bumper crops of squash and cucumbers and tomatoes need to be dealt with before they rot. Greens, however, are one of those cut-and-come-again vegetables that will continue growing and giving for a long time.

Nothing from a store compares to garden-fresh greens. They still have all of their flavor, the nutrients are all still there. They haven't been sitting in a vegetable bin at the supermarket for days after traveling hundreds of miles to get there. Every moment a vegetable is in transit or waiting to be purchased nutrients and flavor are lost.

Greens are some of the easiest vegetables to grow. There are several that are fast growing. Many can be harvested in the baby stage. If you are thinking about growing some of your own food, greens are probably the easiest way to get started. Grow what you like, experiment with different varieties and try some new things.

Plant your greens in rich, loamy soil with plenty of organic matter. Keep the soil consistently moist and your greens will produce tender, sweet leaves. They will need at least 4 hours of sun each day. Lettuce, chard, kale, spinach, mustard greens are some of the easiest greens to grow in your garden.

Once you start eating garden-fresh greens, you'll never want store-bought again, because your food will taste different too. In a good way.

Happy gardening,

~Julie

How well do you know your food?

2014-11-08T09:01:00.003-08:00

Wood Streets Gardens

Gardeners, Start Your Seeds! Fall Gardens Begin Mid-Summer

Bruschetta: because you have to do something delicious with all those tomatoes.

Does it get any better than garden fresh and home baked?

Bruschetta

Ingredients:

Instructions

Garlic Crostini

Ingredients:

Instructions:

Napa Cabbage and Arugula Salad with Microgreens and Berries

I Went to the Grocery Store and It Made Me Mad!

Madly in Love With Microgreens

How do you eat microgreens?

Stacking Vertical Gardening Containers! Why Didn't I Know About These?

5 Tiered Hanging and Stacking

Indoor Outdoor Vertical Strawberry Planter

Sprouting Alfalfa? Save That Water

Drought and the California Mentality

Amazon's Patio, Lawn and Garden Spring Event.

Wood Streets Gardens: The Exit Strategy

Recipe: Beets That Don't Taste Like Dirt

Chilled Beets with Blue Cheese Recipe

Planting Tomatoes and Companion Plants

Here is the list of the companions I am planting for my tomatoes:

All Together Now

Casual Garden Planning and Planting

Introducing the Mustard Seed Pod: Sweet, Crunchy, Peppery Garden Snacks

One Superior Garden Hack for the Impatient Gardener

Pre-Sprout Seeds

2015 Tomato Strategy and Heat-Loving Tomatoes

DIY Hanging Drying Rack

How to Grow Pea Shoots: Edible Greens to Grow Indoors

5 Health Benefits of Sprouts and Why You Should Grow Your Own

Sustainability on Our Little Urban Farm

Another Reason to Mulch

Build Your Neighborhood Food Network.

How to Feed 9 Billion People

Grow some greens. Eat fresh from the garden.

How well do you know your food?

Know your food and make good decisions about what you eat.