Update on seedlings

Back to the blog after a small hiatus.  Here are lots of photos showing progress of the seedlings and new things unfolding in the garden.  I've finally planted the snow peas in the ground (it has been too wet here to do it earlier) and am turning the "green manure" cover crops into the earth, filling the raised beds with last year's compost adding minerals such as potash and lime and getting seedlings into the cold frame!  Whew!

Red Russian Kale

 Around Day 7

Around day 21

Merlot Lettuce

Early 

Middle

Looks like micro greens! 

Cilantro

Seed is still attached

Looks like cilantro

Bigger...

Ready to harvest - 2 months later













In the garden - Pasque Flowers

What is Phenology and why should we care?

The first snowdrop of the season in my garden and sign of the new season.  Recently, I learned of using plant flowering as a guide to various gardening related items:  when to plant/transplant seedlings, when certain pests are emerging, and when pollination is occurring.

This is called phenology.  And low and behold, there is a lot more value in this interdisciplinary science - various plant phases can be monitored over time - as one way to understand climate change.  Here is a definition from this national website:   Phenology is the study of recurring plant and animal life cycle stages, or phenophases, such as leafing and flowering of plants, maturation of agricultural crops, emergence of insects, and migration of birds. Many of these events are sensitive to climatic variation and change, and are simple to observe and record.


Here in my zone 6a garden snowdrops are a sure sign of the ground warming up.  Another sign is the witch hazel tree, which has these amazing blossoms.  If you don't know what a garden zone is, check out the map at the US National Arboretum (it includes Canada too!).

How to start seeds: 

There are many many great resources out there with good "how to" advice.  I'm including a link to Renee's Garden - great seeds and informative website and blog because I like her product and company profile.

Wow - be your own SEED BANK!

Sometimes, I love the connections we can find on the internet, it balances out the times when I'm freaked out that the internet is a place where everyone knows everyone.  Recently I found a link to someone in Canada, who has started her own Seed Bank!  What a great project.  Unfortunately, I've been unable to open her  blog recently,  but here is the address.  http://populuxe.ca/blog/?page_id=43 or try her Etsy shop.  

I am going to donate some of the tomato seeds I have that she doesn't have yet, and maybe even volunteer for her pepper "dehybridization" project.  I needed something to get me jazzed about being a seed grower - and not having Phd. after my name.  Of course we can all save seeds in our own seed bank - of course we can all work to create more open pollinated plants!  I really like my Canadian gardening friends, not only are they growing wonderful plants in a cold climate, but they are so friendly.  Somewhere, my Canadian grandparents are smiling (even though they never new me). 

And here are some photos of the sprouting seeds - Merlot lettuce, Black tomato, Arugula, Coriander, and Jalapeno pepper.  For those of you new to seed starting, peppers and tomatoes look similar at this stage, but soon the articulated tomato leaves will appear.  It's nice to have green things growing when our forecast this week is for sleet, rain, and snow. Check out the coriander/cilantro seed covering still attached to the tender leaves!

I discover the USDA Food Atlas and a cool new journal

For those of you who are data junkies, here is a link to a bunch of geographical data from the USDA describing the general "health" of the our food consumption and food availability.  I spent a little time looking at the data, and some of it is very compelling.  I have not really looked into the data sources, but if sound, this could be a quick way for those of us interested in Agricultural Development to present information.

Random Agricultural image

I got the term "Agricultural Development" from Duncan Hilchey of New Leaf Associates, Inc. who posted a call for papers on a listserv I belong to.  You can read about his new venture -- The Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development here.

UPDATE on SEEDLINGS
The coir seems to be a great growing medium - and the hot pad spurred germination of the tomato, peppers, basil, and two flowers that I sowed last weekend.  Whoop!

Why I signed the "Safe Seed Pledge"

This weekend I got the first pepper and tomato seeds started on my new "heat mat" - so in addition to being in a sunny south facing window, they are getting gentle warming from the bottom. This should create that 70 degree temperature that those warm loving seeds need to germinate. This year I will "harden off" these plants in my hand built cold frame when they are about 2 months old. Here are a few pictures.  Note that I'm using a mixture of coir (from renewable coconut hulls) and perlite/vermiculite as a seed starting mix.  We'll see how this goes. 

 

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I wanted to write about the "Safe Seed Pledge" and why it is important to me.  The SSP was started by the folks at High Mowing Seeds, who say "In signing the Safe Seed Pledge we affirm our commitment to non-GMO (genetically modified organism) seed.  We feel that the regulatory framework for the introduction of genetically modified crop varieties is flawed, and that GMO seeds themselves present a threat to plants' genetic diversity through their ability to pollinate non-GMO plants."

I've signed it, I post it on my website to educate folks about why we even NEED to have something like this.  You can sign the pledge too - go to:   Gene-Watch Org :  

"Agriculture and seeds provide the basis upon which our lives depend. We must protect this
foundations as a safe and genetically stable source for future generations. For the benefit of all
farmers, gardeners and consumers who want an alternative, we pledge that we do not knowingly buy
or sell genetically engineered seeds or plants. The mechanical transfer of genetic material outside of
natural reproductive methods and between genera, families or kingdoms, poses great biological risks
as well as economic, political, and cultural threats. We feel that genetically engineered varieties have
been insufficiently tested prior to public release. More research and testing is necessary to further
assess the potential risks of genetically engineered seeds. Further, we wish to support agricultural
progress that leads to healthier soils, genetically diverse agricultural ecosystems and ultimately
people and communities."

I understand  that improving seed viability and productivity is a significant achievement - however, I don't think that this is a safe way to go about it, and frankly, I don't trust the largest companies that control fertilizers and insecticides to use sound judgment in promulgating such "forward progress".  

What do you think?  

Go Green for Valentine's Day

When I was growing up, my mom used to send me a valentine's day card in the mail with the sentiment "from Guess Who"  Thinking back on that - what a sweet thing for her to do.  What a great way for her to let me know she was thinking of me, and would mail me something even though we lived in the same house.

Everyone likes to get mail!

If you want to show someone you care about them this February 14th - send them a card, and include something they can plant and watch grow.  For those of us in the northeastern corner of the United States, March is the month when we start tomato and pepper seeds inside on a sunny windowsill.  I've posted earlier about the simple steps to start seeds, so why not send a Valentine's Card with a few seed packets in it?  Then, your beloved can grow their own fresh, organic, and local food or flowers that they will enjoy the rest of the year. 

If your beloved is an avid gardener, then consider a selection of seeds - like this Garden Seed Collection or a Gift Certificate from a seed company.  Alternatively, you could sign them up to get fresh and local vegetables from a farm through a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA).  A great source for CSAs near you is Local Harvest, a national web site that has CSAs, Farms, and seed sellers like Frog Pond Gardens too.  Even if you don't send seeds, send something and have the best day ever!

How are local growers doing?

 Have you been wondering how local growers (farmers, dairies, seed growers, and cooperatives) are doing?  Well those of us close to it wonder about it all the time.  We are constantly told that more and more people are "buying local" and want to raise their families knowing their farmer. There is a great site out there that allows you to search by location (zip code, city or state) to find farmers near you.  

Local Harvest:  www.localharvest.org

For those of you who sell your own agricultural products, this site also has a way for you to list items in a "store".  In all disclosure, Frog Pond Gardens has a store on Local Harvest, but I've found it a useful tool to find other farmers and growers near my home here in eastern Massachusetts.  It lists Farmers Markets and CSAs as well!