Out, darn'd weeds! out, I say!

Thanks to Tractor Supply Co. in Irmo for their donation to the garden.  We got 12, 6 foot bamboo tomato stakes, a garden fertilizer sprayer and three packages of seeds, 2 marigolds and 1 Chives.  We must name a bed for Tractor Supply Co.and make sure they get pictures.

Thanks to Priscilla, Mr. reed and JC at the Lowe's in Harbison.  Lowe's donated 2 bags of peat moss, 3 bags of mushroom compost and 12 pair of garden gloves.  We can finish bed 5 and start on bed 6 thanks to them.  Another bed, named for Lowe's!

Gordon met a new friend, Dean Chanter, last evening!  Dean was out tending his garden when we got there.  He is known as the Food Dude in Cola, FoodDudeincola@gmail.com.  He is a personal chef and he is interested in working with us, cooking with the kids and recipes!  We have video, but…  I need a few minutes to figure out how to post it!!  Thanks Dean!

 

Annette, Barbara and Sarah, tat soi on the ground

Annette, Barbara and Sarah weeded the lettuce and squash beds last night.  The weeds proliferate... we need a concentrated effort to get rid of them this weekend.   Look at that beautiful  tat soi on the far end!  I braised some for dinner last night and boy, was it good.  Can't wait for our harvest!!

The lettuce will be ready to harvest this weekend.   Have you tried one of the dressings on our recipe page yet?

Heirloom Sun Gold, Green Zebra and Cherokee Purple

The plants we got from Mr. Mustafa have come alive.  Ingenuity was the keyword to our ‘staking’ process! Bamboo, knitting yarn… you can imagine the rest!   We need to finish the job this weekend.  

Heirloom Green Zebra and Cherokee Purple

Some of our tomato plants are at least a foot tall.  The sun Gold cherry tomatoes are full of blossoms!   Some of our Heirloom indeterminate plants were bending over.  We MUST get some cages or we are at risk for losing them.    

Heirloom Rutgers

Our Heirloom Rutgers, determinant tomatoes, are blossoming as well..

Growth Spurt... Reaching Toddler-Hood

Boy, when I said rainwater was an elixir, I didn't realize how potent it could be!  Our garden is lush, green and growing!  Sarah and I were there on Thursday evening.  Things looked really good so, we didn't water.  We didn't get to the garden on Friday or Saturday.  Sunday, were we SUPRISED! 

The tomato plants are no longer babies, they have reached toddler-hood!  They grew at least 3-4 inches taller and have grown fat little stems since Thursday.  Both the cherry tomatoes and the determinant tomatoes have blossoms! 

Sad news, we lost three sunflower plants.  We also lost two tomato plants and two are struggling but all others look good.  The toddler tomatoes really NEED some Fish Emulsion,($11.00 at Lowe's) and  If the tomatoes continue to grow at this rate we will also need at least 10 tomato stakes and 14 tomato cages very, very soon!

The sweet and hot peppers have grown 2-3 inches and all are bright green and bushy!

The squash beds are growing.  The cukes are coming along.  The beets are still little slow but new leaves sprout through every day! 

The lettuce and tat soi bed is full, Lettuce soon!!

Thanks to Linda and Lisa for watering the babies last week! 

Thanks to Uncle Donald!  He called today and offered to get into our watering rotation.  He also wants to help us plant out last beds.  Speaking of beds, we are still in need of 6 bags of Mushroom compost to finish our prep work. 

Is Your Fairy Status In Jeopardy!

Linda, our Morning Water the Garden Elf, checked yesterday and the garden was still moist from the previous day's watering.  The cool weather is somewhat reducing our workload.  Elf Linda reports the babies are fine, growing like weeds... I mean plants! 

We are still in need of a Fairy Godmother or Godfather to help us with the materials to complete our last two beds.  Are you about to lose your Wish Granting Fairy status? Are you in jeopardy of having your Wand revoked and your Fairy Dust suspended?  Are there any Fairy Godmothers or Godfathers out there who need Good Deed Continuing Education credits in order to keep their license to wand?

We would be glad to help you keep your Fairy status in tact and your wands spewing dust!  5 bags of mushroom compost, a bottle of Fish emulsion and a few tomato cages and stakes, are high on our list.  Any contribution will bring you current on your dues.   

If your wand has already been suspended, come and help us weed, rake, hoe and plant.  You may earn enough Containing Education credits to restore your privileges.  

Leave a comment and one of Gordon’s Gardeners will contact you.   

Gordon says THANKS!!

Meet Our Lettuce!

Every time we miss a day, things seem to shoot up overnight!  We won't get out to the garden again before Sunday so, I expect the beds will be in full bloom! 

Ahhhhh, rainwater, natures garden elixir!  Nothing is any better then God and Mother Nature tending your garden for you!  Thank you Lord, for the RAIN!!

The lettuce is looking good... The rains will probably make them ready for a harvest some time next week.  Since we are not in the garden today, let me take the time to introduce you to our Lettuce bed.  

Winter Density

Winter Density is heat and frost tolerant for an all season selection.  It has dark green leaves and heads that are tightly folded and rounded in when mature.  The texture is a cross between a Buttercrunch and a romaine with good flavor throughout the season.

 

Buttercrunch

Buttercrunch Holds into the fall without bolting, and as the weather turns cool, it gets even sweeter!
It is similar to bibb types but with thick, juicy green leaves and a small tight head. You'll appreciate Buttercrunch maintaining its sweetness during summers' heat without turning bitter.

Black Seeded Simpson

Black Seeded Simpson withstands a lot of adverse conditions including some drought, frost, and heat.  It

is an old favorite, both because of its flavor and because of its earliness.

Tat Soi

Tatsoi has sturdy emerald spoon-shaped leaves with a sweet, earthy, mustardy taste.The stalks are sweet and almost creamy. The texture is similar to mache, but much heartier. This green is popular in spring mix/mesclun mixtures.

It is low in calories yet high in minerals, vitamins, and health-promoting antioxidants.  Tatsoi is high in beta-carotene and Vitamins A, C, and K; they also have good amounts of calcium, potassium, phosphorous and iron.
Mix with lettuces and other greens; drizzle with dressing or vinaigrette. Steam, wilt, lightly stir fry or sauté and serve as an accompaniment to chicken, fish, or other proteins or as a cooked, chilled salad. Toss in soups for flavor and texture or use as a bed or garnish. Substitute for basil in pesto. Use quickly after harvesting.

Red Romain

Red Romaine, a colorful romaine lettuce with leaves in shades of red, bronze and green. Flavor is somewhat tart and spicy. Best color and flavor are achieved when grown in the cooler parts of the growing season.

We will be ready for salad soon. To keep it healthy, check out some of our homemade salad dressings on our recipe page!  

Everything is growing...Including the WEEDS

We are looking good! Sarah and Joan watered the beds late this afternoon.  Everything is growing, including WEEDS!!   We pulled the grassy looking ones, BUT virtual gardener that I am, I can't tell if the others are weeds or not.  Can anyone help a virtual gardener out!!

We still need mushroom compost to finish our last beds.  we need mulch and fish emulsion for the tomatoes.  We need a new 75 ft, lightweight hose.  Right now, we are fighting Godzilla the hose!  He is old, tangled and hard to manage.  Check our wish list page for our other needs and donate if you can.

Gordon Needs a Hand

Sarah, Terry and I stopped by the garden after we went to the Earth Day event at the museum. We watered all of the beds.  The squash are poppin' up all over the bed and the beets are multiplying!  There are cucumber sprouting up where there was dirt yesterday.  It seems things grow overnight. 

The tomatoes need food, they like Fish emulsion.  Does anybody want to sponsor, Feed a Tomato Plant? We will name the plant after you!!

The lettuce and tat soi look good.  We may have a harvest in the next two weeks.  Check out the homemade salad dressing recipe page on the blog for some delicious alternatives to store bought.

We are hoping for rain,  hope with us!

Our last two beds need to be planted by Friday.  We need 6 bags of mushroom compost and a bag of peat moss to complete preparing the beds. We also need some help planting the last seeds.

Sarah, Barbara, Lisa and I will not be at the garden on Saturday.  We will be at a workshop on the Scf Organic Farm in Sumter.  If you can work on Saturday, contact me and let me know.

Cherry Tomato Plants Are Blooming!!!

Sun Gold

Sarah and I watered the beds after the Press Conference.  I pulled the dead leaves and suckers off of the tomato plants. Suckers are the branches of a tomato that grow out of a leaf axil, where the leaf meets the stem.  A leaf AXIL is the angle between the upper side of a leaf or stem and the supporting stem or branch.  (Not bad 'Mater language for a city girl!)  

Isis Candy

The lettuce and tat soi are looking good.  We will probably have a lettuce harvest in the next two weeks!  

Green Tint Patty Pan Squash

The Green Tint and White Patty Pan squash are coming up. 

Crosby's Egyptian Beets

The beets are peeking through

  Green Bush Beans 

               

                                                           

The green Bush Beans are awesome!  We will plant more in our last two beds!

Keep checking in!  We have to prep and plant out last two beds by FRIDAY!  Any new gardeners out there want to help?

Columbia City Garden's Press Conference

The city of Columbia held a Press Conference at the NOMA community garden today to Kick off Earth Week.  Councilwoman Tamika Isaac Devine hosted the conference and Mayor Steve Benjamin expressed pleasure in seeing the community garden project come to life.  

The conference kept the “Green” thing theme going with remarks from Dr. Shannon Baxter-Clemmons, Executive Director of the SC Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Alliance, spoke briefly about recycling used cooking oil to fuel city vehicles.  Dr. Baxter-Clemmons and her Communications Assistant, Anna Newell invited us to attend the Earth Fest 2011 on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 from 11am – 2pm at the Columbia Museum of Art’s Boyd Plaza (corner of Main and Hampton Street).

Exhibitors will be present to display environmental information materials for citizens. Participants will also be able to enjoy music, food and a fleet of energy efficient vehicles. Attendees will also have the opportunity to receive half-price vouchers for the SC Philharmonic's Fantastique Finale from which proceeds will be given to Keep the Midlands Beautiful. Other giveaways including free seeds and reusable grocery bags will also be distributed.

S. Allison Baker, Sr. Assistant City Manager, spoke to me about the importance of coming together to create the Community Garden project.  He stressed That the City is interested in putting the framework in place to insure the successful growth of community gardens.  

Eric, from WLTX interviewed me about our garden.  Gordon and our program were a HIT!!!!

Sarah and I spent quite a bit of time talking with Becky Bailey, Editor of the New Survey, Eau Clair and North Columbia Community Newspaper.   She will have a story on Gordon’s Garden in the may issue.  Becky is interested in coming back to take pictures of the kids tending and planting Gordon’s Garden.  

Lisa let Sarah and I know about the press conference.  She was there taking pictures and dropping off mushroom compost!

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

Sunday was a lazy day.  Sarah and I stopped by in the afternoon to check on the Kids.  They ae sprouting up all over the place!

Green Zebra Heirloom Tomato

Bush Green Beans

Crosby's Egyptian Beets

Dancin' in the Street... Garden

Annette, Sarah and I stopped by the garden after seeing Martha and the Vandellas at Finley Park.

The babies are growing, they are Dancin' in the Street...garden.  The green beans, some of the squash and beets had Nowhere to Run so, they have burst through the soil, stretching their little leaves for the sun!  The cukes are a little slow, but like a Livewire, they will warm up and they will catch up soon.   

Please stop by and see them grow, soon you will have to Come Get These Memories in order to look and see how small they were.

We didn't water because the weather is cool.  We will check tomorrow, but it will take a Heatwave for the ground to dry out before then.  

The Tomatoes are standing tall!  We will need to stake the ones we got from Mr. Mustafa as soon as possible and we will need tomato cages for the others as well.  

Both the sweet and hot peppers are nice and green and shiny! 

Good work all and THANKS!!!!! 

Friday Care

Friday, Lisa and her daughter Dawn took care of our garden.  They watered everything and added mushroom compost to our fifth bed.  Lisa called me, all excited, because WE HAVE BABIES.  It seems the garden is growing and we have sprouts everywhere!!

Thanks Lisa and Dawn!!

From the Farm to the Garden

At Asa Farms, Sumter,SC.  Mrs. Mustafa gave us lettuce plants from the farm. 

 Planting our first seeds

Gordon's Cucumbers

                                       Gordon's Squash

 Gordon's Lettuce

One of Gordon's Gardeners

We Are Proud Parents!!

Friday morning, April 15, Linda called me to let me know that we have babies! She said they must have "sprouted up overnight! cause they weren't there last night!"  The squash bed has many leafy sprouts and the bed with the beets and the beans teeny  tiny green specks coming up!

We look to prep our last bed on Saturday.  Come out to help, we would love to see you! 

Friday afternoon, Lisa and her daughter Dawn watered today.  Lisa was so excited when she called.  "We got plants!"  she exclaimed.

Routine Maintenance Day

Thursday April 14, Linda watered in the morning.  The weather was cool , so we did not water Thursday afternoon.  

Prep, Prep, Prep

Wednesday, April 13 was another prep day.  Sarah and Joan brought their neighbor, Terry Grayson, to help.  Terry is a seasoned gardener who volunteered to help us.  The three of us raked and hoed in a half bag of peat moss, plant food and two bags of mushroom compost.  We watered all of the beds  and called it an evening 

Gardening 101

On Monday and Tuesday, April 11 and 12, Linda watered the beds each morning.  On Monday evening, Joan and  Sarah watered.  While the dirt on top of the beds looked dry, the soil underneath was moist so we did not water Tuesday evening. 

Planting Continues

On Sunday April 10, 2011 Gordon's Gardner's  Linda Wilson, Sarah Watson, Annette Lewis and Joan Mobley added three more bags of mushroom compost to our tomato beds and planted tomatoes.  We planted 15 plants from Azeez Mustafa and the following additional Heirloom plants: 

3 green Zebra
2 Cherokee purple
2 Black Krim
2 Rutgers
2 sun gold cherry

2 Chocolate Beauty sweet peppers
2 Purple Beauty sweet peppers
2 Blushing Beauty sweet peppers
2 Thai hot pepper plants

We now have 4 of our six beds planted! 

Our First Seeds

On Saturday April 9, 2011 Donald Wood joined Gordon's Gardner's, Linda Wilson, Donald Wood, Sarah Watson Lisa Macon, Barbara Bowman, Spencer Bowman and Joan Mobley hauled more compost and peat moss and prepped two more beds.  

We planted Benning Green Tint Scallop Squash, Early White Bush Scallop Squash, Golden Summer Crook Neck, Early Straight neck Prolific Squash, Black Zucchini Squash seeds and sunflower plants in one bed and Muncher Burpless, Cucumbers, Marketmore 76 Cucumbers, Giant Stringless Bush Beans, Crosby Egyptian Beets, Bulls Blood Beets seeds in the other.  

Donald donated mushroom compost, peat moss and vegetable food for the rest of our plots. Thanks Donald!!  


We will be planting our tomato plants tomorrow. 

Getting Started

On Friday evening, April 8, 2011, Linda Wilson, Sarah Watson Annette Lewis and Joan Mobley got Gordon's Garden started by prepping two of our raised beds.  Since the city only furnished Top Soil, Gordon's Gardner's dragged  six 40 pound bags of mushroom compost and two 40 pound bag of peat moss from the car to our beds.  We dumped three bags of mushroom compost, 1/2 bag of peat moss and 1/2 bag of vegetable food into each bed to nourish the soil.

We planted all of our lettuce, Black Seeded Simpson Leaf Lettuce, Buttercrunch Lettuce, Heirloom Acres Spring Mix, Red Romaine Lettuce, Organic Winter Density Lettuce and Tat soi. 

Donald and Karen provided moral support.   Karen brought Gordon’s Garden signs for each of our beds and had water and fruit for all!! One down, five to go!!!