Farm to School

Since I was getting ready for a Farm to School meeting set for tonight, I thought I would look around at the USDA website.  Their big initiative (which I LOVE, by the way) is Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food.  The website also has this catch-phrase 'Every family needs a farmer?  Do you know yours?'  I mean, this is great stuff!

But, of course, the first thing you see on the website is this image of 'your average produce farmer'.  That's where I just about lost it.  Here it is:

It's all very cliched.  The gloves is what did it for me.  I mean, this guy is wearing leather gloves you might see a cowboy wear on a bucking bronco!  Can you imagine all the germs living it up on those gloves?  Gave me the creeps almost.

And of course, for vegetable nerds like me, what's in the basket struck me as well.  Broccoli, mainly harvested in the spring or fall (even after a frost!) and tomatoes and sweetcorn which are wonderful summer fare.

I guess I need to get a life and not sweat the small stuff.

Pleeease come SPRING!

OK, we're all tired of winter.  Anyone who isn't has anti-freeze running through their veins.  Over the course of the last week or so, the daffodils have really shown up and the bees are flying.  So just come on now, and show up, Spring!

Just in time for spring is a book called 'Grow the Good Life:  Why a Vegetable Garden Will Make You Happy, Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise' by Michele Owens.  This book is the book I would have written IF 1) I was a decent writer and 2) I had a few more years on me.  I so absolutely agree with everything Michele writes about.  She's got an entire chapter devoted to why kids NEED to get out in the garden with you (or even by themselves).  It so hits home. 

If you are a non-vegetable gardener or still a newbie, please consider reading this book.  It's inexpensive (on Amazon, linked above) but you can also get it on your Kindle for less. It would be great for a Kindle since the book has zero pictures (yes, a book about vegetable gardening with no pictures).

I simply love it and hope you do too! It'll get you in the mood for spring, for sure!

Manure Use on Home Gardens -- Watch Out!

Manures can be a great way to add organic matter to a home garden.  I'm for it.  However, be mindful of a few things:

1. Cow manures that are not well-composted should be used sparingly on gardens where crops like potatoes or onions will be grown.  E. coli is the big deal, and it is a very big deal.
2. Adding too much of a good thing can be bad.  Manure is a great source of nitrogen.  If the manure is still 'hot' -- not well composted -- you will grow a lot of plant but not many fruit or melons or whatever it is you are growing in your garden.
3. Lastly, herbicide carryover in manures is a reality.  Some farmers manage their hayfields with herbicides.  Cows eat the hay.  Cows poop.  You gather tht poop up to spread on your garden.  Bad things can happen.  Take a look at this great publication from NCSU. 

I know this may not be the most interesting subject, but be wise when using manures on your home garden!

2011 Gardener's Toolbox Classes

Are you ready for 2011 Gardener's Toolbox Classes?  Well, here they are!

Bill Best will be teaching the class on Heirloom Vegetables.
UK Meteorologist Tom Priddy will teach the Weather class.
Tom Barnes, UK Extension Specialist in Forestry and well-known author, will be teaching the class on Photography in the Garden.

All classes are $5 except for the class on making cheese.  It will be $20 to $25.  Pre-payment is very much appreciated as is pre-registration in general.  This makes my life easier.

Hope to see you at some of the classes!

Atlanta Botanical Garden

This past weekend I had a very quick tromp through the Atlanta Botanical Garden. We left the truck at 3:30pm and I promised my kiddos that we'd be back in the truck by 4:30. Well, I was an hour off. We had to hurry through so I just got glimpses of things, but you can find a few pictures on the Pulaski County Horticulture Facebook page.

Gnome Management in the Garden

Fall Images from the Extension Office Gardens

Redosier dogwood (red-twig dogwood)

Carolina sweetshrub

Nikko Blue hydrangea on left, Annabelle on right

American beautyberry

American beautyberry fruit


Asian species of beautyberry, fruits are much more prominent than the American!