My camera batteries have finally died and it's time for me to get some more rechargeable batteries so I can take photos and share them with you.
Recently, as of yesterday, everything has started to look very promising. Our potatoes are really coming up nicely. The peas are about 2-3" tall, our bush beans are 3" tall. The tomatoes are growing very slowly but I think they're doing fine. The corn looks beautiful and will definitely be "knee high by July (4)." Today I transplanted our Sun Gold Tomatoes, sweet peppers and hot peppers. I did a poor job of labeling so I'm not quite sure which are the sweet peppers and which are hot or if I planted two rows of sweets or hots.
We're going to be able to put the chickens out in about two weeks. Progress on the chicken run has slowed down since we can't get a post hole digger but Joel's going to ask around at work to see if anyone has one. They're getting really big and feathery but are still very adolescent as well.
Tomorrow one of my old roommates and another friend from Baltimore will be visiting! I'm very excited to show them our new city and our house, garden and chickens. They'll be here for two days which should be lovely.
Pictures to come in the near future!
Also, I thought this video was hilarious. It's by Don Herzfeldt, some of you may know what that means.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fpc5vgi9zbM
24 May 2009
17 May 2009
Garden Update
As I've promised some of you, here are some pictures of the progress of our miniature farming escapade. Things are starting to come together better and our yard looks more respectable. The front yard still needs some work but I'm off for the summer (with no job *sigh*) so I've got a while to work on it.
I finally got the big patch of dirt in our yard into mounds and have most of the rows planted. We have two rows of corn and four rows of heirloom tomatoes.
We also got the two raised beds together and planted. Those are full of heirloom beats, peas and beans.
This is our table of starters and pots that aren't going in the ground. The starters here are heirloom sweet (Marconi Red) and hot (Early Jalapenos) peppers.
This is our potato and onion patch. I planted them together because potatoes have low roots and onions have high roots and figured they would do okay for the long haul.
Joel has been putting together our chicken house and run recently and it's almost done! The big empty corner is where we'll be putting up the fence and house for the chickens. I dug the post holes today and tomorrow we'll be cementing in the posts and then we can put up the fence! It's coming along nicely and very quick.
Some lilacs that will be located in the chicken run. They smell so good!
Chicken time! Our chickens are getting really big now. They're in a sort of dorky adolescent phase. They've gotten a lot more calm as of late, they might be stressed out from growing/molting. Apparently they stress out easily, almost to a ridiculous extent.
All in all, things are going well. The corn is coming up well and is very reassuring. And we've had no problems with the chickens. I feel a little like I need these reassurances because gardening (when not in pots) seems to be trickier than I was anticipating. I know I started late on a couple things. I also know not to put the basil in straight away. This has been a learning process for me. I know how to tend and harvest but the beginning part is the hardest. I figure, plants want to grow even more than I want them to so they're going to try their hardest. Plants just want to grow and they will do so in their own timing.
I finally got the big patch of dirt in our yard into mounds and have most of the rows planted. We have two rows of corn and four rows of heirloom tomatoes.
We also got the two raised beds together and planted. Those are full of heirloom beats, peas and beans.
This is our table of starters and pots that aren't going in the ground. The starters here are heirloom sweet (Marconi Red) and hot (Early Jalapenos) peppers.
This is our potato and onion patch. I planted them together because potatoes have low roots and onions have high roots and figured they would do okay for the long haul.
Joel has been putting together our chicken house and run recently and it's almost done! The big empty corner is where we'll be putting up the fence and house for the chickens. I dug the post holes today and tomorrow we'll be cementing in the posts and then we can put up the fence! It's coming along nicely and very quick.
Some lilacs that will be located in the chicken run. They smell so good!
Chicken time! Our chickens are getting really big now. They're in a sort of dorky adolescent phase. They've gotten a lot more calm as of late, they might be stressed out from growing/molting. Apparently they stress out easily, almost to a ridiculous extent.
All in all, things are going well. The corn is coming up well and is very reassuring. And we've had no problems with the chickens. I feel a little like I need these reassurances because gardening (when not in pots) seems to be trickier than I was anticipating. I know I started late on a couple things. I also know not to put the basil in straight away. This has been a learning process for me. I know how to tend and harvest but the beginning part is the hardest. I figure, plants want to grow even more than I want them to so they're going to try their hardest. Plants just want to grow and they will do so in their own timing.
12 May 2009
Resume Portfolio
I just put together a portfolio for a resume and thought I would share it.
http://homeroom.pnca.edu/members/hvail/portfolios/5856/public
It has both old and new work but its the work I am the most proud of overall. I applied for a job as a Studio Coordinator for an artist that lives here in Portland but we'll see how that ends up. I just really want a job this summer.
http://homeroom.pnca.edu/members/hvail/portfolios/5856/public
It has both old and new work but its the work I am the most proud of overall. I applied for a job as a Studio Coordinator for an artist that lives here in Portland but we'll see how that ends up. I just really want a job this summer.
07 May 2009
A New House
This is a very long overdue post. However, as a disclaimer, I am sick so if I rattle or miss words that is why. So three weeks ago Joel and I moved into a house with four of our other friends (one is temporary). It's been really great so far. We started a couple raised beds, a compost pile and got chicks!
And our yard has *HUGE* worms in it. This one that Clara is holding was actually a lot longer when he stretched out.
On Craigslist I found these picket fences for free which will be our chicken run. :0) We painted them with bad-batch paint so they're light pink, I guess that's appropriate for an all girl flock. :0)
We all got our own chickens and they're all different colours and breeds. Mine is a Black Australorp, Joel has a Buff Orpington, Clara got a Delaware White (a heritage breed [like an heirloom vegetable] that is more dominant than the rest), Marie got a Salmon Faverolles, and Kevin got a Gold-Laced Wyandotte.
We're keeping them in the basement in a bath tub until they get big enough to go outside and then Kevin is going to fix it up to be a proper shower.
Last week was Marie's 26th birthday. I made lasagna and chocolate cake, both were a smashing success.
At any rate, its been really nice to live with friends and to hang out in the kitchen often and drink tea together. :0)
And our yard has *HUGE* worms in it. This one that Clara is holding was actually a lot longer when he stretched out.
On Craigslist I found these picket fences for free which will be our chicken run. :0) We painted them with bad-batch paint so they're light pink, I guess that's appropriate for an all girl flock. :0)
We all got our own chickens and they're all different colours and breeds. Mine is a Black Australorp, Joel has a Buff Orpington, Clara got a Delaware White (a heritage breed [like an heirloom vegetable] that is more dominant than the rest), Marie got a Salmon Faverolles, and Kevin got a Gold-Laced Wyandotte.
We're keeping them in the basement in a bath tub until they get big enough to go outside and then Kevin is going to fix it up to be a proper shower.
Last week was Marie's 26th birthday. I made lasagna and chocolate cake, both were a smashing success.
At any rate, its been really nice to live with friends and to hang out in the kitchen often and drink tea together. :0)
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