This summer's vegges

I seem to be doing better this year in our gardens. We have several and though they all haven't been completely fruitful on the table now, they will find their way there somehow. I have grown corn specifically for that. I was thinking that the corn on the cob would be good but letting little boys plant seeds by broadcasting them closely in the row is not such a good idea. However I will get good compost. I think of it as getting a lot from a little. Here i am with very little compost (at the moment) but after pulling up the stalks, I am sure we will get a decent block from that. Not to mention the squash plant! Many are climbing large shrubs and gourds have taken over my laundry line.

We are currently waiting for some heirloom tomatoes to turn their ripe color but I have had several findings of horned worms. aka, catapillars. they eat sooooo much.

I am also very proud to say that I have learned to put in drip system lines. Honestly this is an easy job but I feel accomplished. This allows everything to be watered efficiently and on a timer which helps so much. Also, it was so stinking cheap to buy the necessities!! What have I been doing all this time???

Looking around for planting guides is on the list of things to do. I am getting ready to get some mini pots to start seedlings. A personal goal of mine is to grow enough onions for the whole year without going to the store to buy them..... Is this a lot? Yes. Considering that I often go through an onion per meal. I would love to grow all the veggies we consume. I would also like to continue to share with our friends and neighbors, but more would be great.

Knowing what to plant, and when is so important. We have good long growing seasons here so I have to continue to plant around the year. My problem? saying goodbye to plants that aren't producing as much as before, to make space for new crops.

At one point I got to talking with some folks from my parish after they had seen food inc. (tee hee) and some of them were really hip to starting a church/community garden! I was totally excited but it didn't pan out. If it were ever to come to pass, I certainly know better now some of the things that could be done to grow a lot, in smaller areas, without being wasteful with our precious water here in the desert!

(I feel i am having such a hard time coming here as I have adopted the facebook thing pretty well. I must keep telling myself to blog here.)