Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt) is a natural bacterium which is selectively toxic to many moth and butterfly larvae (caterpillars). I have used it occasionally in the past to combat cabbage loopers and undesirable caterpillars, however I only use it in extreme cases because it kills beneficial butterflies as well, like this beautiful Monarch caterpillar (picture taken several days ago) and its cocoon (picture taken today). Beauty!
Summer time is a shady time for one of my backyard plots. I’m putting half of my shadiest plot to sleep for the summer and finally got my last round of summer veggies in the ground before I leave for Portland, OR. Oh, my! That’s right, I’m leaving nola for the summer to start Montessori teacher training. I can hardly believe it! I’m gonna miss my beautiful backyard this summer, not to mention my love, Simon.
Following are some pics to took yesterday and today, enjoy! In order of appearance… Yellow Maize, Mexican Sunflowers (grown from seeds saved by Ms Kittee;), Oak Leaf Lettuce, Cherry Tomatoes, the last of the Baby Round “Romeo” Carrots and Chioggia Beats, and newly transplanted bell pepper plants in mid afternoon shade.
Gotta love that compost! This is the first I’ve harvested compost from this year old compost pile! So rich, soft and beautiful! And so many worms!
In the past year I’ve learned alot about conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) which are only found in organic pastured cows milk, particularly raw butter. They are invaluable in the human human diet and promote health benefits including antioxidants, anti-cancer properties as well as hindering the growth of tumors in mammary, skin, and colon tissues. Very interesting, as well as the most delicious butter I’ve ever eaten. Yes, it’s more expensive than other butters and yes, much better for you than inhumane corn fed, hormone fed, antibiotic fed cow’s milk. Yuck!
I’m loving wheatgrass juice these days. Its amazing restorative and cleansing properties give a wonderful lift (like many raw foods and veggie juices), complementing a healthy alkalinizing diet. Enjoy!
Get the Flash Player to see this player.
Love is what I have for my wonderful productive garden. I give it love and it gives it right back to me. Here are some pics of new veggies up for harvest this week, in addition to the broccoli I let go to flower for the bees. Our wonderful hardworking pollenating friends!
Just to mention a word about the birds- or rather chickens I still plan to get this Spring… We have finally chosen a spot to build the chicken coop after loosing approval of a chicken tractor. It’s all good. We still get to have chickens! The coop is on it’s way and I will happily report once it is built!
Sunflowers, pole beans, carrots & bushbeans - sprouts!
Can we say Spring? Ample showers and warm weather makes for wonderful sprouting conditions! Beautiful 75 degree weather gracing us this week is the ultimate cherry on top for getting tons of work done in the garden. Here are some pics of what’s sprouting right now in our beautiful backyard. The garden is budding and becoming more and more beautiful everyday we approach… wait, Spring has Sprung! It’s technically still winter, but we aint complaining now are we?! One of the many reasons my love for this city continues to grow, going on 24 strong years.
These are pictures of what’s coming up for harvest in the garden this week.
We ate a delicious breakfast today that included collards and kohlrabi leaves. In the future I hope to replicate the picture above of our breakfast plate and be able to say that we not only grew the veggies, but raised the chickens that laid the eggs & Simon can bake the bread. We’ve accomplished two out of three already- no eggs yet.
I told my husband that when we got back from Hawaii I would get some baby chickens. We’ll, we’re back! I’m planning to build a coop in the next few weeks, during which time I’ll prepare for the 3 three to 5 baby chicks I’ll probably buy from Jefferson Feed in the early Spring. I’d like a variety of good layers- Rhode Island Reds and Plymouth Rocks. Fortunately we have a large enough back yard for my two veggie plots and a chicken tractor / coop with room to spare for the fire pit and seating. So, do I know anything about raising chickens? Apparently there’s not that much to it other than caring for them like you would any pet you didn’t want to neglect. I’ll be making their feed mix from a variety of seeds, grains and legumes. There is the potential for parasites and other unwanted critters but moving them around the yard and keeping their pen clean will certainly do the trick. Plus I’m more than sure they will be far more hygienic than any factory farmed chicken or eggs. With all of the resources online, I feel confident enough raising a few hens. An added bonus is that my good friend and neighbor raised chickens and geese in his early years and knows a thing or two. The only problem with raising baby chicks is that it’s hard to tell what sex they are until they mature. So, I’m hoping for all hen’s- I wouldn’t mid having one rooster, but they make so much noise and I’m sure our neighbors wouldn’t love a neurotic cock as much as we would. What will I do if there is a rooster or two, or three even? I don’t know… My options are giving them away or keeping them until they start crowing and then… I’m still waking up to the reality that I’m not a vegetarian anymore- after 10 years of vegetarianism and 3 years of veganism… We’ll I’ll cross that bridge and post my decision when I get there.
Sweet Garden Dreams!
