SomeUnknownFemale

About my garden: Why vegan and organic?

2010-07-02T16:13:00.000-07:00

My garden is grown in what used to be a flower bed. I don't know what fertilizers may have been used there or pesticides that may have been used on weeds there, but I do know that I can't just let the land go to waste. It is good soil, and good land, and although years ago it may have been exposed to garden weed killer or fertilizers that came from less than preferable sources, it can still be made organic.
My garden is grown for a vegan (myself) and anything I don't use can be composted in the woods, or if it's food still, given to my family and or best friend. I chose not to use nasty byproducts of animals because blood meal just isn't something I find ethical. I know the soil here is good because it was good before anyone touched it. It is also rich because years of flowers broken down into the soil. It is also organic.
I don't believe in pesticides where they are not needed. Perhaps in some places where malaria is a constant threat or entire fields can be destroyed by pests, it may be appropriate. It is not where I am. I believe there are natural alternatives, and especially because I have a small garden, I don't need to worry about crop yields. When I found black aphids on my zucchini the other day, I brushed them off and applied dried pepper and water to the leaves. Since I've checked there have been no black aphids. There are alternatives to harsh man made chemicals with unknown side effects. I don't need to poison the well water of my neighbors that live down hill from me, in order to have home grown veggies.
Why vegan and organic? Organic food tastes better. It does less damage to the land, water, and animals. Mostly it tastes better. :) I feel better eating it, because I don't have to remind myself of how little fresh water is available on our planet, and how much can be poisoned from run off. Why vegan? Because things like blood, bone, and fish meal are nasty and unnecessary for a garden. Nothing should have to suffer (except a few hungry or displeased insects) in order for me to eat.
Why my own garden? Not only do I get to care for it, but I can also make sure things are done to my standards. It is right outside my door. No fuels to transport the food. It brightens up what would otherwise be weed-filled or empty flower beds, and it is fun. It is fun to take pictures, inspect my plants, and care for them. :) Cost is another big factor. What I spent on seeds I can be returned to me and my family by not needing to buy what veggies I grow. If I wanted a vegetable before at the store, I had to justify my want for the cost. With my own garden, the only cost was the seeds, and the energy to get our water. Really, the benefits outweigh the burdens.
For me there is no why or how in this, only try, only do. I want my garden, I have what I need in order to do it, so if all it takes is some time and effort, then I will make my garden and do it how I want. It's as simple as that.

Squash, peas, and zucchini

2010-06-28T11:30:00.000-07:00

My idea to plant a garden of my own has been sitting with me for a while. While I was living with my family at my grandfather's house, I had bought seeds and was prepared to do the work to make my garden almost two years ago. Before I decided toplant I was told I was not allowed to plant myown garden because it would interfere with my dad cutting the grass on the 10 acre+ property. This year we are living back in our house, and my mom allowed me to not only plant my garden, but plant it in the garden in the front of the house.

The "front" of the house has two terraced gardens slanting down from a cement walk way, with stones holding the terraces in place. They are divided by 3 steps defined by wood walls, making them much more solid then the stone-lined terracing.

About 4 weeks ago I started the overhaul of the garden, which hadn't been touched in over

a year. There were hundreds of weeds Out of respect for the day lilies, which have been growing in the same place for years, I decided to leave them in place. The daffodils had been on the lowest terrace, and I wasn't able to find the bulbs due to the amount of thick rooted weeds covering them. They should survive, but nextyear they will grow under where some herbs are now and we can transplant them. The middle terrace was filled with weeds and the remainder of a balloon flower plant (wiki).

I tore out most of the weeds and the remainder black sheets that once covered the beds, and mixed up the soil. After several hours I had gotten the entire bed ready for the 5 largest of my mini plants: 2 black beauty zucchini's, 2 summer squashes, and 1 determined little pea plant. Since I had planted my plastic starter tray late in the season, I had figured I would have at least a few plants that grew. When only 5 managed to survive (6 if you include the little carrot I accidentally killed while attempting to transplant), I was a bit disappointed (Ihadplanted 3 tray-cups of each plant).

My plants did well with the transplanting, to my delight. The zucchinis had managed to grow to 2 1/2 inches with 5-6 inch roots. With our clay-like soil in the main flower beds, it was hard to dig deep enough for the plants to have room, but they didn't seem to mind. The squashes were a bit smaller, and the pea was a good bit smaller, so I waited on the pea and planted the squash and the zucchini.

A few days later they seemed to be thriving so I plantedthe pea with them. I have a water spritzer bottle for acrylic painting, so I spritzed them along with watering twice daily for a few days and have continued with once a day watering and rare spritzing once daily since.

After about a week the plants seemed to be having trouble during rain and wind (they had gotten about 5-6 inches tall), so I used kabob skewers, sticks, and pipe cleaners to support them a little. They have seemed to do well and all but one has decided to continue growing vertically. The other, a zucchini, has decided to grow foreword and spread out.

As of two weeks ago (and two big storms ago), the plants looked like what you see to the left (a squash) with a wormy to tell if it has enough water. That same day I also took pictures of the zucchinis, below (right) is the larger ofthe two. The pea was also adjusting to life outside with it's wormy then.

This week we had a storm that knocked out our power for two days, and was powerful enough that I thought I had heard a tornado not too far off. Branches at least a foot long and some whole trees came down all over the property and roads. Our drive way became blockedby a whole tree and the horses field had a few 10 foot branches in it. Last night another storm hit, though it was smaller, it made the power flicker. After the first storm, which I was sure had destroyed my plants, luckily, had only sheared some of the leaves off of one zucchini.

While I have a lot of pictures in between, I feel that would be overdoing it, so I'm going to skip to today's pictures.

My makeshift tripod trellis (made with kebab skewers, pipe cleaners, and electrical twisty ties) seems to be approved by my pea plant. Here's it grabbing onto one of the legs, adorably. :)

The second photo is after I've de-teaed a used tea bag, putting the tea remains at the base of the plant and the bag over the trellis, the plant seemed to be under the hot sun a lot, and unlike the zukes and squash, didn't enjoy that, so I added a little shade this way.

I've heard tea/tea bags keeps away some pests in a garden, is that true?

Some of my zucchini's buds! Flowers soon I hope? :)

Some damage to another zuke, I wonder what did it? :(

There were small, black, aphid looking bugs that were very camera shy hanging onto the blank, along with small blank ants. There is a red ant and a black ant colony within 10 feet of it however, and I have seen green aphids and red mites around, but all insects have been sparse.

Thoma Animal Jump (Platypus) Pencil Test

2010-04-13T10:27:00.000-07:00

This is what my traditional animation 1 class has led up to so far, near the end of the semester.

The Video on Youtube.

SomeUnknownPost

2010-03-03T17:55:00.000-08:00

My reemergence into blogging culture has been slowly budding as my boredom boils under the summer sun. I have been slowly trying to dig up ideas for what exactly a person as boring as me can blog about... this is an experiment. Perhaps not so dastardly as most experiments, but it's a start.

SUF a blog about experiments in gaming, art, comics, cooking, gardening, and various other random things.