tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-111485412011-07-14T09:03:47.154-07:00An online gardening journal from earthy & organic Portland, Oregon"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.comBlogger471100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1124063031722969772005-08-14T16:38:00.000-07:002005-08-14T16:43:51.726-07:00

It's still the down time right now, waiting for things to produce and die. I've picked a few small tomatos at home, but that's about it. Waiting waiting waiting.Also, I'm getting ready to sew seeds for fall crops, but I've put it off 'cause it's so hot and I'm not looking forward to all of the watering I'll have to do for the seedlings.At Caruthers, my fence sunflowers are coming into full bloom,

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1124063774645708832005-08-07T16:44:00.000-07:002005-08-14T16:56:14.653-07:00

Not actually sure when I did this, but at Reed...I pulled out all of the rangeybed of miscelaneous beans and cleared the plot. Someone had come along and taken all of my scarlet runner beans. The fuckers! Somebody also decided to dig up my *decorative* elephant garlics to get bulbs, I guess. Since I let them go to flower, there were none of any size and they just threw down to plants where they

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1123109915700778162005-08-03T15:44:00.000-07:002005-08-03T15:58:35.710-07:00

Well, yesterday at Reed I watered a lot, and in the time between moving the hose, I pulled out all of the arugula plot, weeded it & some others, and picked a large bag full of white bean pods in the bed where I'd thrown the seeds earlier and then forgot about them. Later, I sat on the porch in the warm evening air and shelled beans, just like I used to do at my grandparents' house in the Georgia

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1123110286547236252005-07-27T15:58:00.000-07:002005-08-03T16:04:46.546-07:00

My roomate Elle has a friend, Amanda, who lives on a blueberry farm just outside of the city. Amanda came to our White Trash party and then invited us to pick berries out at her place. We responded with wholehearted enthusiasm.Long story short, four of us went out to the farm and in an hour picked about 45 pounds of blueberries! That was only about six plants worth of berries too! They were

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1122247441967991112005-07-24T16:17:00.000-07:002005-07-24T16:24:01.973-07:00

I've got my first sunflower blooming right now in the sideyard. Took long enough! But at least it got here in time for the White Trash party.Also looks like my first tomatos are ripening at Caruthers Street. Otherwise, just more blooming and growing there.At Reed, I dug the last of my red potatos about two days ago. I got, maybe, 5-7 pounds of beautiful, smooth, thin skinned red spuds. Picked

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1121721297691303512005-07-18T14:07:00.000-07:002005-07-18T14:14:57.693-07:00

I've been looking around town for fruit in public places to pick. There's a lot of that kind of thing here. All of these older houses have apple or cherry or pear trees around them that some previous owner planted, and every year, the fruit just falls to the ground, uneaten. It's rare that I pick anything from in front of somebody's house, since it's in an ethical gray area, though legally

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1121640974119387532005-07-17T15:44:00.000-07:002005-07-17T15:56:14.126-07:00

There's a little edge of parched earth along our fence in the parking lot next door, which is for a bar. Every so often, a landscaping crew of young Mexicans comes along to mow the grass and kill weeds. So far "weeds" has included a lot of what I have planted in the little dry strip. However, a three foot stretch of calendulas has been allowed to survive, and they are large, healthy, and in full

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1121552582297578982005-07-13T15:15:00.000-07:002005-07-18T13:38:10.970-07:00

Picked the last of the turnips today. They just kept on giving til they couldn't give no more. I'll probably be planting more for the fall/winter.Now I have several empty spots in the garden. They'll be saved for winter veggies, like kale, chard, turnips, potatos, collards, whatever.Also dug out some troublesome comfrey plants to plant in the parking lot next to my house. I've been cutting them

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1121720676694802782005-07-12T13:51:00.000-07:002005-07-18T14:06:15.800-07:00

Thyme savedI soaked some rescued thymes from the community garden in buckets of water, and most of them eventually came back to life. Several of them were just decorative varieties, rather than culinary. I planted attractive pairs in some large flower pots in front of the house, with a purple oregano/furry thyme combo, a Wedgewood (culinary) thyme & golden (decorative) thyme combo, and an English

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1121719842794060692005-07-11T13:41:00.000-07:002005-07-18T13:50:42.796-07:00

At Reed...-pulled more Turnips & snow peas-Arugulas are developing interesting bean-like seed pods-red potatos are dying off, possible from sickness, possibly because it's time to dig them out-there were a few raspberries, as usual-elephant garlics are in full bloom-the mystery red beans are forming large pods-the acorn & delicata squashes have suddenly taken off and are huge-roma tomatos are

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1120856274816593172005-07-08T13:52:00.000-07:002005-07-08T13:57:54.820-07:00

The last couple of times I've been to my garden at Reed this week, I've just been harvesting. More Turnips, more turnip greens, more snow peas. Nothing else to report.My home garden at Caruthers is a flower fest. Everything is coming in beautifully. Yesterday, I planted some sprouted spelt, hoping that come fall, I'll have amber waves of grain. I think people plant winter rye for the beneficial

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1120119729997947492005-06-30T00:57:00.000-07:002005-06-30T01:22:10.006-07:00

On Caruthers Street, there is a profusion of flowers. Can't even tell you everything that's blooming. My species cannas have successfully transplanted and started flowering about a week ago. Some blue flower I had last year has come back with a vengance, though it's supposed to be annual. My first tiny tomatos have appeared, one on the Early Girl and one on the heritage red cherry.In the back

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1120118010791776592005-06-28T00:20:00.000-07:002005-06-30T00:53:30.806-07:00

At Reed, I mostly just weeded and picked stuff.-Got another big handful of snow peas, with more on the way, it looks like. I've picked this many about six or seven times off of maybe half a dozen small plants. They've produced very well.-Got five more medium sized turnips.-Cut almost completely down the last of the three giant Siberian Kales. It was the largest and was fully in bloom. Even had

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1119348377883434192005-06-21T02:53:00.000-07:002005-06-21T03:06:17.886-07:00

The nights have finally gotten warm, and an unmistakable harbinger of summer scents the evening air. The sperm trees are giving off pollen, and they smell powerfully and unmistakably like semen. I've always really loved it when I'd smell them riding around on my bike on a balmy night in Atlanta, and now that I'm in Portland, I'm glad they have sperm trees too.It took me years to figure out which

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1119347332826296702005-06-21T02:33:00.000-07:002005-06-21T02:48:52.830-07:00

Been doing a lot of planting around Caruthers Street. Mostly, it's been flowers, since my roommate decided we needed some cool colors to compliment all of the yellows & oranges in the yard. She went and got some lariope, and some other blue & purple bedding flowers, and planted them in the front. Our flower beds are looking great now.Another thing I planted is a mystery weed that I think is

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1119345707991249882005-06-21T02:05:00.000-07:002005-06-21T02:21:47.996-07:00

Buzzed by my Reed garden for a quick weeding and harvesting session.TurnipsGot several big turnips and a big bag of greens to go with 'em. So far, I've gottn about 6 good sized ones, with about 15 to 20 still getting bigger in the plot. They've really produced well and been trouble free, and I'm definitely going to plant more later in the season for late fall.ArugulaIt's all gone hopelessly to

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1119346368804246362005-06-13T02:29:00.000-07:002005-06-21T02:32:48.806-07:00

At Reed, I got more kale, snowpeas, garlic scapes, and turnip greens. Got my first full size turnips this time though. They was purty. Since the previously planted tomatillos were eaten by slugs, I planted more of them--three this time.

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1119346034420025782005-06-08T02:23:00.000-07:002005-06-21T02:27:14.423-07:00

It's finally beginning to get warm and a few summer crops are going in at Reed.I dug one of the sunnier beds that was still covered and put in three eggplants that I grew from seed. In the bed with the other tomatos, I put in two tomatillos. They're tiny & may not make it. Got a large handful of snowpeas, some arugula trimmings, some turnip thinnings with very small turnips attached, and garlic

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1117751162804783992005-06-01T15:10:00.000-07:002005-06-02T15:26:02.810-07:00

At Caruthers, in the front herb bed, I filled in the last open areas with two sad little eggplant seedlings and one more red cherry tomato plant (courtesy of Sauvie's Island Garden share).Unfortunately, the benevolent Mexican lawn crew that mows the grass for the bar next door chopped down most of my new "Guerrilla flowers.

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1117749624590280772005-05-28T14:10:00.000-07:002005-06-02T15:00:24.596-07:00

At ReedGreens againPinched flowers from the arugula & kale. Finally thinned my turnips and got a big bag of greens out of it.New plantingsIn the area that was planted with basil & collard green seeds, nothing ever came up. Too cold I guess. So I turned the soil again and planted new basil seeds--"lune basil," same variety. I also moved two volunteer calendulas into the same bed along the

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1117746071916437292005-05-26T13:10:00.000-07:002005-06-02T14:01:11.930-07:00

At ReedGreens roundupWell, my Bok Choy was a washout, and the tatsoi was really small and starting to go to seed; so I pulled it all up. (Cook some greens with it later, along with kale.)My threee kales, which are all quite large, are trying very hard to go to seed, but I keep trimming the buds. One of them was looking very sorry, and I decided to go ahead and cut down most of it. Ate the leaves

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1116830698843566882005-05-20T23:43:00.000-07:002005-05-22T23:44:58.843-07:00

Gardened in the rain again, though this time at home on Caruthers St..ZucchinisI put in two zucchini seedlings in the front, both of which are likely to die. One is too small, the other is broken, though still miraculously surviving.DillAlso, I planted a good sized dill plant that was in the free area at Reed. I put it in where I'd previously put dill seeds, which have not sprouted.Guerrilla

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1116830517587490102005-05-19T23:31:00.000-07:002005-05-22T23:41:57.590-07:00

Despite the threat of rain, I rode out to my garden at Reed. The weather can't make up its mind lately. One minute bright & sunny. Cold & pouring rain the next. Been like that for days. So of course I got soaked.SlugsAll the water has made my greens very happy. Unfortunately, the slugs love it too. I thinned out the arugula rows, and in the process killed, without exageration, hundreds of slugs.

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1116210275299305162005-05-15T19:22:00.000-07:002005-05-15T19:24:35.303-07:00

Out of town for a week. It rained here the whole time, and by the time I got back, the weeds had gone crazy. Had to catch up on weeding and planting new stuff.At ReedOther than lots of weeding, I planted an organic tomato start I bought at Daily Grind (59 cents!). The variety is "Willamette", and it's a medium red slicing tomato. I put it in the spot where I'd previously put a roma tomato I

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1115353157907129512005-05-02T21:01:00.000-07:002005-05-05T21:19:17.930-07:00

Since I was going out of town for a week, I had to get some stuff taken care of before leaving. So, at Reed,...Roma tomatoesThe Roma seeds I planted in yogurt cups had almost gotten big enough to put out, but not quite. However, slugs were beginning to kill them when they were left out overnight, but they were too big to be left in & get no light for a full week. So I figured that I might as well

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1115351872462991462005-04-25T20:56:00.000-07:002005-05-05T20:59:43.783-07:00

EpazoteAfter looking all around with no luck, I accidentally located an unusual Mexican herb at a local grocery store. It was on a rolling rack of potted plants just outside the door.The herb is called Epazote, and you cook it in beans and a bunch of other stuff. Any authentic Mexican cookbook calls for it quite often, though I'd never heard of it before I actually read such a cook book. I've

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1114412451773134472005-04-23T23:57:00.000-07:002005-04-25T00:10:30.393-07:00

It was kind of a busy day at Caruthers StreetMarigolds & tin cansIt was Earth Day, and the celebration here is always a big hippy, dirt hugging extravaganza put on by a local lefty organization. It was very close by my house, and I walked through to see the festival. At one table, they were giving out free Marigolds; so I got two to put in my little tin cans hanging from the fence at home. I put

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1114412054087841692005-04-22T23:51:00.000-07:002005-04-24T23:54:14.086-07:00

At ReedAll the plots are dug, and I didn't really have much to do, but the weather was supposed to be amazing--in the 70s-- so I made a point of riding out to the garden. What actually happened was that there was a mini-thunderstorm while I was out there, which was actually cool. It barely rained, and tehre was actual thunder, which I havn't heard out in Portland in years. When it was over, there

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1114150901436095172005-04-21T23:06:00.000-07:002005-04-21T23:21:41.436-07:00

Well, it's that time of year, at last. I've been planting seeds around the house like crazy.First, yesterday, I planted that Swiss Chard from my community garden in a semi-sunny spot.Then, I planted a bed of basil in our front herb garden. Also put in a flower pot of oregano seeds, one of lavender seeds, and another of chives. Put in two beds of dill, one meant to be decorative, the other for

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1114149305929319502005-04-19T22:28:00.000-07:002005-04-21T23:06:19.700-07:00

Because it was a nice day, I rode down to Reed & stayed as long as I could in the sun doing some garden chores. I dug out the grass in my paths and added some compost to unplanted beds. Also...CollardsI figured I'd better plant my collards if I'm going to. It's getting late for early season planting. Probelm was, I didn't have a prepared bed. So I just gave in and planted them in the designated

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1113540668264956422005-04-14T21:35:00.000-07:002005-04-14T21:54:27.856-07:00

At ReedI've dug up and turned the soil in all of the beds in my 20x20 plot. In the area where I grew loofa vines last year, I dug out the sage plants from around the edge and replanted them in the newly redesignated herb & perenniel bed on the NW corner of the plot. I already had my rhubarbs there, and I put in two sages & some spearmint.Someone had wedged out giant clumps of iris plants from

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1113258642616424102005-04-11T15:27:00.000-07:002005-04-11T15:33:29.186-07:00

Took some smapshots from my window of the front yard at Caruthers Street. Nothing exciting. Just wanted to get a good "before" picture and provide a visual reference for what I'm describing.Below is a thumbnail of the big composite picture of my yard, which is a large file. Click on the link with caution.Also added some other absolutely thrilling pictures of flowers, seedlings, etc.. Scroll down

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1113087649411987442005-04-09T15:50:00.000-07:002005-04-10T01:40:23.543-07:00

I was puttering around the yard yesterday, puting in a bed of sunflower seeds (more on that scintilating news later), and I had the plastic box with my seeds sitting on the front steps of the house.I rushed out of the house last night running late, then when I came home this afternoon after a downpour, my open box of seeds was still sitting on the front steps. No one bothered to move them for me

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1113086957064353762005-04-07T15:47:00.000-07:002005-04-09T15:49:17.066-07:00

Two days ago at Reed:PotatosSomeone was giving away some interesting red potatos that were sprouting. So on a whim, I turned the soil in a spot that I wasn't using ands put in a potato patch.KaleAlso, I pulled out the two Italian kale plants that lasted through the winter. They were determined to flower, and I think their quality sufferes if that happens. So I harvested the whole plants and make

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1112499855862658872005-04-02T19:41:00.000-08:002005-04-02T19:45:42.203-08:00

Surprisingly dry (if overcast) weather sent me outside to work in the yard today. Mowed the lawn (with an old-fashioned push mower), and planted some flower seeds.ColeusIn the very corner of our front yard, which sits in deep shade all summer under a cherry tree, I decided to attempt some coleus (Coleus hybridus). It's colorful and loves shade. I spread seed, but it may still be too cool for

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1112430284023891852005-04-02T00:22:00.000-08:002005-04-11T15:26:16.266-07:00

Today, the first sprouts poked up from the seeds I started indoors. Some tomatos & the Delicata squashes are the ones growing.Also, in my front yard, the perennial sunflower given to me by Elina has come back and has lots of little sprouts coming out of the ground. And finally, there are signs of life from several other perennial flowers, like Becca's shasta daisies & some other filler stuff.

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1112325817864734192005-03-31T19:09:00.000-08:002005-03-31T19:23:37.873-08:00

StrawberriesStuck around Caruthers Street today. Yesterday I spotted three strawberry plants that someone had put out on the sidewalk to give away, and I grabbed them. This evening, which seemed pleasantly warm, I made some little mounds and put in the plants. Watered them in with my little homemade detergent bottle watering can, which really does work very well.Along with the strawberries on the

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1112230083736304142005-03-30T16:45:00.000-08:002005-03-30T16:48:03.736-08:00

Despite a forecast of rain, it was mostly dry and from time to time sunny. I decided to take advantage of it and ride down to my Reed garden plot. Finished digging one long aisle clean of weeds. I turned the soil in a large corner bed, then enriched the last section of the big bed of greens and sewed Swiss Chard seeds:Swiss ChardAn all red "Rhubarb" variety. Ed Hume brand seeds for current

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1111908828688109162005-03-26T23:31:00.000-08:002005-03-27T16:36:52.666-08:00

At my Reed Community Garden...GerminationBiked down to Reed on a chilly day and spent about three hours digging weeds, turning the soil, cutting the grass, etc.. The most exciting thing is that ALL of my seeds are sprouting, specifically the arugula, turnips, pak choi, bok choy, and snow peas are all just barely getting out of the ground. Awesome! But I also killed a millon little starter slugs;

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1111653619139195322005-03-23T19:33:00.000-08:002005-03-24T00:40:19.143-08:00

Been busy gardening here on Caruthers Street in the last two days. It's been drizzling steadily. Great spring planting weather.Median Planter No. 2In front of my house in the median strip, I've pulled out the grass and dug in some stepping stones. Next to that, around our poorly located Birch tree, I put in another planter. It's made with the last of the wood from our old basement stairs, which,

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1111186166711686412005-03-18T14:39:00.000-08:002005-03-18T14:49:26.713-08:00

Such an exciting blog I've created. Here I am about to talk about the weather, but anyway...After weeks of freakishly warm temperatures and endless brilliant sunshine, we are finally getting some much needed rain, along with the melancholy inducing grayness that everyone moved to Portland to enjoy. Unfortunately, it's also been cold, down in the mid-thirties at night, which is bad for all of the

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1110793012792944492005-03-14T01:32:00.000-08:002005-03-24T01:17:12.543-08:00

Just a note to make sure I note that I put in a large bed of greens today at my Reed garden. Planted seeds for:Turnips "Globe Purple Top" (for greens), two rowsLily Miller brand seeds.Bok Choy (Brassica rapa Chinensis), one rowOne year old Lilly Miller brand seeds.Tatsoy "Spoon Mustard" (a Chinese greens)(Brassica juncea), one rowTwo year old Seeds of Change brand organic seeds. May not

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1110702252483637982005-03-12T23:49:00.000-08:002005-03-24T01:02:23.646-08:00

Peas and weeds at ReedSo Thursday, which was, um, the 10th of March, I rode my bike out to the community garden at Reed College. It was almost evening. The sun was going down, and I had to rush to beat the fading light. In a frenzy, I began ripping weeds out along with their roots. I don't use tools--just squat down, get a firm grip, and pull hard. Not so great for my back, but better than bent

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1110304089827842742005-03-08T09:41:00.000-08:002005-03-14T01:27:43.453-08:00

Just a quick note to track what's currently blooming.Quince-The quince next to our house has been full of hot pink flowers for about a week.Cherry trees-The cherry trees are big pink clouds right now. They started maybe a week ago & are now about mid-bloom. The air here is often filled with their sweet scent, but some of them are actually kind of funky smelling. Lots of trees have not begun to

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1110301970066045322005-03-08T08:32:00.000-08:002005-03-14T01:24:25.100-08:00

Monday the 7th: Planters & bedsOur house is right next to the parking lot of a popular bar, and we have a chain link fence with those privacy strips in it. Aside from being ugly, it also blocks the light from the west. I planted vines in the beds next to it last year, hoping that they'd climb up into the light and cover the fence. They never made it though.This year, I figured I'd grab the light

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1109845553678116072005-03-03T02:12:00.000-08:002005-03-18T14:57:36.376-08:00

Wednesday, Mar 2:Worked in the yard a little at home. Did the folowing:Compost-Finally investigated my compost pile that's been stewing all of last summer & through this winter. I have an addiction to scavenging, and early last year I found a wooden, folding baby's crib and decided that it would be perfect for composting. So I knocked out the bottom, and it's worked like a charm. When I dug into

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11148541.post-1109636657863674332005-02-28T15:59:00.000-08:002005-02-28T16:45:24.906-08:00

Well, this post, my first, seems destined to be deleted. But here goes...For a few years now, I've been keeping notes on when plants are blooming or fruiting here in Portland. And, in an effort to broaden that efort, I'm starting this little blog to document my observations and, more importantly, my own gardening projects.Since late summer in 2003, I've been working on a 20' x 20' plot in a

"Farmer" Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15234443518564007524noreply@blogger.com0