First of all I want to say that while during the summer months I was able to post daily or every other day, now that my son is in Kindergarten and I have started teaching again, I am going to start posting on a weekly basis. My goal of harvesting something for the table each and every day has not changed and I will continue to keep tabs on the daily harvests. I really want to show that this can be done in our fine climate!!
The title...it has been a crazy weather week. All summer it has been the summer that never happened...or perhaps the best summer weather that anybody could ever ask for! Cool mornings, sunny afternoons in the 80's, then cooling in the evenings. Never a need for the energy sucking air conditioner for we have had the perfect cooling each evening. This all ended on Monday and for 3 days we had sunny mornings and temperatures in the mid-100's. What a shock for the garden. I can see the effect on the cucumbers, zuchinni, and the citrus trees. It might mark the end of the cukes and zukes and time will tell whether the citrus will be affected.
Something that I have done since 2005 is keep a spreadsheet about the fruit trees in the yard. I keep tabs on when the tree was planted and the following on a yearly basis:
1) Date of pruning
2) Date of bud break
3) Date of first harvest
4) Amount of fruit (light, medium, heavy)
5) Quality of fruit
I also keep tabs on any weather pattern that defined the year.
It is amazing how regular trees are in their bud break. I can almost predict to the day when our trees will start budding out and I am curious if this will change with the predicted climate change coming to a neighborhood near you!!
Harvested over the past week:
Day 53
1) Two bunches of Chard ($6.00)
2) Basket of cherry tomatoes ($2.00)
Day 54
1) Nine cucumbers ($11.00)
2) One apple (Red delicious) ($1.00)
3) 1 pound pickling cukes ($2.00)
Day 55
1) 2 1/2 pounds green grapes ($5.00)
2) One apple ($1.00)
3) One pound tomatoes ($2.00)
4) Two zuchinni ($2.50)
Day 56
1) 1 3/4 pounds green grapes ($3.50)
2) one apple ($0.50)
Day 57
1) 1 pound tomatoes ($2.00)
2) Two zuchinni ($2.00)
3) Five cucumbers ($4.50)
4) 3/4 pounds pickling cucumbers ($1.50)
5) Basket of Strawberries ($2.00)
Day 58
1) Two apples ($1.00)
2) Two bunches of chard ($6.00)
Day 59
1) Two tomatoes ($1.00)
2) One pound green grapes ($2.00)
Weekly harvest: $58.50
Total Produce Harvested (Year-to-Date): $456.50
Total Honey Harvested (Year-to-Date): $220.00
Expenses (Year-to-Date): $26.00
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Days 48, 49, 50, 51, 52 - Honey Harvest
Although I have not posting as often, I continue to do my daily harvests. Being a teacher makes for less free time once school starts...
Well, it has been 6 weeks since I broke my shoulder blade. Been waiting for the time so I could harvest honey and today was the day!! I was expecting around 5 gallons from the two hives, but one hive had a lot of brood in the upper super...so I left them be. The harvest was still very good with 11 quarts to make it through next year.
Harvested over the past few days
Day 48
1) Two zuchinni ($4.00)
2) Two bunches of chard ($6.00)
Day 49
1) Two cucumbers ($1.00)
2) 1 pound Tomatoes ($2.00)
Day 50
1) 4 1/2 pounds cucumbers ($9.00)
2) 2 pounds zuchinni ($4.00)
3) Baste of cherry tomatoes ($2.00)
4) 1 pound green grapes ($2.00)
Day 51
1) Two tomatos ($1.00)
2) Two baskets of strawberries ($4.00)
Day 52
1) 1 pound tomatoes ($2.00)
2) One zuchinni ($0.50)
3) 1/2 pound green grapes ($1.00)
Total Produce Harvested (Year-to-Date): $398.00
Total Honey Harvested (Year-to-Date): $220.00
Expenses (Year-to-Date): $26.00
Well, it has been 6 weeks since I broke my shoulder blade. Been waiting for the time so I could harvest honey and today was the day!! I was expecting around 5 gallons from the two hives, but one hive had a lot of brood in the upper super...so I left them be. The harvest was still very good with 11 quarts to make it through next year.
Harvested over the past few days
Day 48
1) Two zuchinni ($4.00)
2) Two bunches of chard ($6.00)
Day 49
1) Two cucumbers ($1.00)
2) 1 pound Tomatoes ($2.00)
Day 50
1) 4 1/2 pounds cucumbers ($9.00)
2) 2 pounds zuchinni ($4.00)
3) Baste of cherry tomatoes ($2.00)
4) 1 pound green grapes ($2.00)
Day 51
1) Two tomatos ($1.00)
2) Two baskets of strawberries ($4.00)
Day 52
1) 1 pound tomatoes ($2.00)
2) One zuchinni ($0.50)
3) 1/2 pound green grapes ($1.00)
Total Produce Harvested (Year-to-Date): $398.00
Total Honey Harvested (Year-to-Date): $220.00
Expenses (Year-to-Date): $26.00
Monday, August 16, 2010
Days 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 - Pruning in the Summer
What? Pruning now? Well, if you have an Apricot tree you should be pruning it 6 weeks before the first rains so that it gives the tree some time to heal the pruning cuts...since Apricots are susceptible to diseases.
Been busy lately...so six days here.
Day 42
1) 1 1/2 lbs pickling cucumbers ($3.00)
2) Two cucumbers ($2.00)
3) Three zuchini ($4.00)
4) 21 pears ($18.00)
Day 43
1) One zuchini ($1.50)
2) 1/2 lb pickling cucumbers ($1.00)
3) Two cucumbers ($1.00)
4) 1 1/2 lbs green grapes ($3.00)
5) 10 Peaches ($8.00)
6) Two bunches of Chard ($6.00)
Day 44, 45 - Gone
Day 46
1) Two tomatoes (Celebrity) ($1.00)
2) Eleven peaches ($8.00)
Day 47
1) 2 1/2 lbs pickling cucumbers ($5.00)
2) Four cucumbers ($4.00)
3) Four zuchini ($7.00)
Total Harvested (Year-to-Date): $359.50
Expenses (Year-to-Date): $26.00
Been busy lately...so six days here.
Day 42
1) 1 1/2 lbs pickling cucumbers ($3.00)
2) Two cucumbers ($2.00)
3) Three zuchini ($4.00)
4) 21 pears ($18.00)
Day 43
1) One zuchini ($1.50)
2) 1/2 lb pickling cucumbers ($1.00)
3) Two cucumbers ($1.00)
4) 1 1/2 lbs green grapes ($3.00)
5) 10 Peaches ($8.00)
6) Two bunches of Chard ($6.00)
Day 44, 45 - Gone
Day 46
1) Two tomatoes (Celebrity) ($1.00)
2) Eleven peaches ($8.00)
Day 47
1) 2 1/2 lbs pickling cucumbers ($5.00)
2) Four cucumbers ($4.00)
3) Four zuchini ($7.00)
Total Harvested (Year-to-Date): $359.50
Expenses (Year-to-Date): $26.00
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Days 40, 41 - Opportunity to Learn!
Just received a note from a follower about an opportunity to learn about Biointensive Gardening (double dig technique) and vermiculture. Below is a copy of the flyer or go to the Compost Club Website.
Day 40
1) Six pears ($5.00)
2) 1/2 lb of pickling cukes ($1.00)
3) Three cucumbers ($3.00)
4) 1 lb green grapes ($2.00)
Day 41
1) 14 peaches (last of the Frost tree) ($6.00)
2) 1/2 lb green grapes ($1.00)
Total Harvested (Year-to-Date): $287.00
Expenses (Year-to-Date): $26.00
Day 40
1) Six pears ($5.00)
2) 1/2 lb of pickling cukes ($1.00)
3) Three cucumbers ($3.00)
4) 1 lb green grapes ($2.00)
Day 41
1) 14 peaches (last of the Frost tree) ($6.00)
2) 1/2 lb green grapes ($1.00)
Total Harvested (Year-to-Date): $287.00
Expenses (Year-to-Date): $26.00
Monday, August 9, 2010
Days 36, 37, 38, 39 - Health and the Garden
Sorry about being somewhat slack about this post. Been a busy weekend, packing and being gone for part of the time and then udoing the packing after returning.
Something that I have been thinking about is how our family stays pretty healthy. Cannot say that it is directly related to the garden, but since we eat lots of fruit and veggies daily (as you can see in the daily harvests) it may have a real correlation. Visiting others, I notice that there is a lot of people who eat a lot of pre-packaged, processed foods. Easy for sure, especially when you can buy so much of it at places like Costco at such a low cost, but not necessarily the best for us. On our latest road trip it was so easy to pack sliced cucumbers, a couple of clusters of grapes, and we made a couple of sandwiches with peanut butter and our honey and peach preserves (just made my first batch the other night). All pretty much whole foods and low in processed sweeteners. My wife has really changed her outloook on the food we eat after watching the film, Food Inc.
While others catch colds, our family often skirts around the illnesses without a symptom. Not many people are sick this time of the year, but come winter, our citrus crop is a real boon for staying healthy. Nothing scientific but just seeing what I see.
Harvests
Day 36
1) Ten peaches ($5.00)
2) Two bunches of chard ($6.00)
3) Two small zukes ($0.50)
Day 37
1) 1 1/2 lbs pickling cucumbers ($2.00)
2) Two zukes ($2.00)
3) Six cukes ($8.00)
4) 1 lb green grapes (interlaken) ($2.00)
Day 38 (Gone)
Day 39
1) Five peaches ($2.50)
2) Basket of cherry tomatoes ($2.00)
3) Two bunches of chard ($6.00)
4) One Cherokee Purple Tomato ($1.50)
5) Five pears ($4.00)
Total Harvested (Year-to-Date): $269.00
Expenses (Year-to-Date): $26.00
Something that I have been thinking about is how our family stays pretty healthy. Cannot say that it is directly related to the garden, but since we eat lots of fruit and veggies daily (as you can see in the daily harvests) it may have a real correlation. Visiting others, I notice that there is a lot of people who eat a lot of pre-packaged, processed foods. Easy for sure, especially when you can buy so much of it at places like Costco at such a low cost, but not necessarily the best for us. On our latest road trip it was so easy to pack sliced cucumbers, a couple of clusters of grapes, and we made a couple of sandwiches with peanut butter and our honey and peach preserves (just made my first batch the other night). All pretty much whole foods and low in processed sweeteners. My wife has really changed her outloook on the food we eat after watching the film, Food Inc.
While others catch colds, our family often skirts around the illnesses without a symptom. Not many people are sick this time of the year, but come winter, our citrus crop is a real boon for staying healthy. Nothing scientific but just seeing what I see.
Harvests
Day 36
1) Ten peaches ($5.00)
2) Two bunches of chard ($6.00)
3) Two small zukes ($0.50)
Day 37
1) 1 1/2 lbs pickling cucumbers ($2.00)
2) Two zukes ($2.00)
3) Six cukes ($8.00)
4) 1 lb green grapes (interlaken) ($2.00)
Day 38 (Gone)
Day 39
1) Five peaches ($2.50)
2) Basket of cherry tomatoes ($2.00)
3) Two bunches of chard ($6.00)
4) One Cherokee Purple Tomato ($1.50)
5) Five pears ($4.00)
Total Harvested (Year-to-Date): $269.00
Expenses (Year-to-Date): $26.00
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Days 33, 34, 35 - Irrigation
The frequent question for me is, "What do you do for irrigation?".
Well, first of all, I have much of the yard on an automatic system. The veggie garden is on for 15 minutes, three times per week. My controller allows me to do a seasonal adjustment (% of current setting) and I generally set that percent to the current high temperatures for the week. If it is forecast to be in the 90's, I will set it to 90%, if it is going to be a scorcher,I will set it above 100%. As the sun lowers in the fall, I lower it to 50 - 60%. As a general rule of thumb, I activate the irrigation when I turn the heat off for the year (April) and deactivate it when the heat goes back on (October). We do live in a unique climate where it is either raining and cool or not raining and warm...with very little transition time.
So, what does the irrigation system look like?
Fruit Trees
- The fruit trees are not on the automatic system. I want my fruit trees to set a very deep root system so that they are more resiliant to my watering schedule. I have had good luck with my system: an hour of low running hose for each tree every three weeks. A little labor intensive, but is is only for about half of the year, so I really only water these trees about 8 - 10 times.
Veggie Garden
- This has been frustrating over time. I have tried to set up a dripper system with emmiters in series, snaking through the garden. This enevitably turns into a blown out emmiter with overwatering in some areas and no watering in others. With much of my irrigation done at night, it could be weeks before I detect it (especially this time of the year where the plants are large). It is especially frustrating when you leave for vacation and you come back to a huge water bill. So, what has been a reliable solution? Two strategies. For plants where you have many plants (Chard, Beans, Cucumbers) I have gone to a series of sprayers placed directly into the main black irrigation line (the BIG black hose). For more space intensive plants where you only have a few (tomatoes, zuchinni) I use individual emmiters, but the emmiter is plugged into the BIG black hose and a small line directs the water to the plant. This way the only pressurized water is in the BIG black hose, which has shown to be reliable with regard to leaks.
This post I will add the expense of irrigation. After receiving my water bill, I will charge $20. Seems like a lot, but if you look at what we have harvested, it is really just a drop in the bucket.
Three days of harvests
Day 33
1) Seven pears ($5.00)
2) Six peaches ($3.00)
3) Two cukes ($2.50)
4) Two zukes ($1.50)
5) 3/4 lb of green grapes ($1.50)
6) 2 lbs of frozen peaches ($4.00)
Day 34
1) Ten peaches ($4.00)
2) Bunch of chard ($3.00)
3) Two zukes ($1.00)
4) 1 1/2 lbs of green grapes ($3.00)
Day 35
1) Eleven peaches ($5.50)
2) Four cukes ($4.00)
3) 1 1/2 lbs of pickling cukes ($3.00)
4) Basket of Cherry Tomatoes ($2.00)
5) Four large tomatoes ($3.00)
Total Harvested (Year-to-Date): $227.50
Expenses (Year-to-Date): $26.00
Well, first of all, I have much of the yard on an automatic system. The veggie garden is on for 15 minutes, three times per week. My controller allows me to do a seasonal adjustment (% of current setting) and I generally set that percent to the current high temperatures for the week. If it is forecast to be in the 90's, I will set it to 90%, if it is going to be a scorcher,I will set it above 100%. As the sun lowers in the fall, I lower it to 50 - 60%. As a general rule of thumb, I activate the irrigation when I turn the heat off for the year (April) and deactivate it when the heat goes back on (October). We do live in a unique climate where it is either raining and cool or not raining and warm...with very little transition time.
So, what does the irrigation system look like?
Fruit Trees
- The fruit trees are not on the automatic system. I want my fruit trees to set a very deep root system so that they are more resiliant to my watering schedule. I have had good luck with my system: an hour of low running hose for each tree every three weeks. A little labor intensive, but is is only for about half of the year, so I really only water these trees about 8 - 10 times.
Veggie Garden
- This has been frustrating over time. I have tried to set up a dripper system with emmiters in series, snaking through the garden. This enevitably turns into a blown out emmiter with overwatering in some areas and no watering in others. With much of my irrigation done at night, it could be weeks before I detect it (especially this time of the year where the plants are large). It is especially frustrating when you leave for vacation and you come back to a huge water bill. So, what has been a reliable solution? Two strategies. For plants where you have many plants (Chard, Beans, Cucumbers) I have gone to a series of sprayers placed directly into the main black irrigation line (the BIG black hose). For more space intensive plants where you only have a few (tomatoes, zuchinni) I use individual emmiters, but the emmiter is plugged into the BIG black hose and a small line directs the water to the plant. This way the only pressurized water is in the BIG black hose, which has shown to be reliable with regard to leaks.
This post I will add the expense of irrigation. After receiving my water bill, I will charge $20. Seems like a lot, but if you look at what we have harvested, it is really just a drop in the bucket.
Three days of harvests
Day 33
1) Seven pears ($5.00)
2) Six peaches ($3.00)
3) Two cukes ($2.50)
4) Two zukes ($1.50)
5) 3/4 lb of green grapes ($1.50)
6) 2 lbs of frozen peaches ($4.00)
Day 34
1) Ten peaches ($4.00)
2) Bunch of chard ($3.00)
3) Two zukes ($1.00)
4) 1 1/2 lbs of green grapes ($3.00)
Day 35
1) Eleven peaches ($5.50)
2) Four cukes ($4.00)
3) 1 1/2 lbs of pickling cukes ($3.00)
4) Basket of Cherry Tomatoes ($2.00)
5) Four large tomatoes ($3.00)
Total Harvested (Year-to-Date): $227.50
Expenses (Year-to-Date): $26.00
Monday, August 2, 2010
Days 31, 32 - Excess Crops
What can you do with excess crops? It seems like only a week ago we had very little, but as you can see now (harvest below) we are in excess. Of course you can give stuff away. Perhaps even better, in using the concept of "distributed agrigulture", you can barter with friends and neighbors. Perhaps you have extra pears now and they may have extra tangerines in the winter.
That may be too much for you to do though. I am really quite lazy at heart and in a previous post talked about how a garden saves time because we do so little food shopping when the garden is in full swing (what was a long weekly shopping trip now is a quick stop for bread and milk).
Here are some ideas for excess crops that take little time:
1) Cukes - See pickle recipe in last post
2) Peaches - Cut in half, take out pit, and freeze on cookie sheet. Put in ziploc bag and you have peaches all year for baking, smoothies, etc.
3) Zukes - Our kids (and us) love BBQ zukes. We ate almost 3 lbs for dinner yesterday. Simply slice lengthwise, coat with a little olive oil, then Balsalmic Vinegar, salt and pepper. BBQ skin side down first then flip to the sides.
Any other quick ideas out there?
Harvested
Day 31
1) Eight pears ($6.50)
2) Ten peaches ($5.00)
Day 32
1) Four zuchinni ($5.00)
2) Three cucumbers ($3.00)
3) Five pickling cukes ($1.50)
4) Ten peaches ($5.00)
5) Basket of Strawberries ($2.00)
6) 1/2 pound green grapes ($1.00)
7) Three pounds frozen peaches ($6.00)
Total Harvested (Year-to-Date): $181.50
Expenses (Year-to-Date): $6.00
That may be too much for you to do though. I am really quite lazy at heart and in a previous post talked about how a garden saves time because we do so little food shopping when the garden is in full swing (what was a long weekly shopping trip now is a quick stop for bread and milk).
Here are some ideas for excess crops that take little time:
1) Cukes - See pickle recipe in last post
2) Peaches - Cut in half, take out pit, and freeze on cookie sheet. Put in ziploc bag and you have peaches all year for baking, smoothies, etc.
3) Zukes - Our kids (and us) love BBQ zukes. We ate almost 3 lbs for dinner yesterday. Simply slice lengthwise, coat with a little olive oil, then Balsalmic Vinegar, salt and pepper. BBQ skin side down first then flip to the sides.
Any other quick ideas out there?
Harvested
Day 31
1) Eight pears ($6.50)
2) Ten peaches ($5.00)
Day 32
1) Four zuchinni ($5.00)
2) Three cucumbers ($3.00)
3) Five pickling cukes ($1.50)
4) Ten peaches ($5.00)
5) Basket of Strawberries ($2.00)
6) 1/2 pound green grapes ($1.00)
7) Three pounds frozen peaches ($6.00)
Total Harvested (Year-to-Date): $181.50
Expenses (Year-to-Date): $6.00
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