"Production production, production"

Last night at SB Food/Garden Guild meeting I learned about a community greenhouse project based in Wallingford producing plant starts for food bank plots in p-patch gardens. Distributed by Lettuce Link. A similar project is starting in Sunset Hill to produce lettuce starts for Interbay Food Bank plots. Basically all volunteer run. The overall goal is to demonstrate intensive gardening, high yield from greenhouse to food bank, in order to feed as many people as possible. Great idea.

Just watched film about Eliot Coleman regarding high yield food production, a pioneer in the organic gardening movement. Lot's of good learning that puts my little garden to shame. I'm super excited to learn more. Watch the DVD trailer above to see what he's all about.

Seeds arrived! + spotlight on German Chamomile (Metricaria recutita)

Abundant seeds arrived today, although without the pole beans. So I contacted them to let them know, yet I hope they believe me. So here I am interpreting the pretty seed packages. Also at work I was chatting with a parent from Germany, and we looked up a map of where my grandmother grew up (I can't believe I hadn't done that before). She loved sunflowers, and I've shared a cup of tea or two with her. Chamomile also happens to be the tea of most abundance at my current home, here before I arrived, some which was sent from Latvia, so I can't read the packaging. But the look and smell can't be mistaken. So I am happy to grow this plant for Dita when she returns in the summer.

[Photo taken from Abundant Life Seeds website]

Of any tea to have in abundance chamomile is a wise choice. I'm sure it's in the house of every tea drinker. When I was first introduced to the tea I was told it was a relaxant and sleep aid, and good to drink when you are sick. I now understand there are better herbs for easing these ailments, but still I am attached to chamomile like a best friend. Because it's so gentle. I'm currently drinking it in a blend with St Johns Wort, Peppermint, Spearmint and Gingko, I'm calling "Dream Dance" (carminitive, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, bitter, nervine, tonic, vulnerary, hypnotic, astringent, anti-spasmodic). If you are wondering what these terms mean check out this resource: healthy people, healthy planet.

But I should say more about this wonderful plant. As an "hypnotic", the flowers are indeed a sleep aid, and a relaxant counteracting anxiety. Modern research can defend this diagnosis and treatment (although more research is always needed), while among folk therapy it's rarely disputed. In one study from University of Pennsylvania, 57 participants diagnosed with generalized anxiety received chamomile extract over 8 weeks. Compared with placebo, chamomile-takers demonstrated a greater reduction in anxiety (HAM-A scores) - in a way that was "clinically meaningful and statistically significant". Go figure centuries of traditional plant medicine could prove to be meaningful and significant in these modern times.

Still I'm not sure how I will grow chamomile. Direct sow is not advised, except in soil temps between 60-75 degrees. For best germination, I'm supposed to use a seedling tray, and expect something slow and erratic. On top of that the seeds are said to need a 4-6 week period of "cold stratification" in soil temps of 33-35 degrees. Basically I need an indoor grow lamp for that initial heat, than should leave them outside in their seed tray covered. I'm praying that my friend's offer for use of grow lamps at her house actually pans out.

Allium sativum

My first experience harvesting garlic was on a farm in Oakwood, OH, in a summer's late morning, overcast with drizzle. I don't know if this added moisture enhanced the scent of the garlic as I was digging it. Although it was hard work to unearth two entire rows of garlic, carefully, so that I wouldn't stab any of the bulbs, and took a couple a hours, it was totally worth it for the constant incense. I fell in love with garlic then, and have since been developing my relationship with it. Learning how to eat the cloves raw, how to cook without burning it. This past November I planted some cloves and I'm pleased to watch them continue to grow, now in February.

I recently read allium's are good to plant around the borders of garden beds to detract pests. So I will do that. And the November sow and February sow can have a race. In the meantime I will continue to research this plant for it's health-bearing qualities. In the past I've eaten a raw clove to ward off early stages of cold. It seems to trap illness in my belly, sit there really heavy for about a half hour, then disappate. Not fool proof, but works too well to ignore.

I finally have a workable camera, which is how I've brought these photos at you today. I also couldn't resist capturing a photo of one of the many mole hills on the property. I've been watching them migrate since last July and they don't do much harm. I just have to avoid stepping on them. I'm curious to see how these moles interact with the garden this spring.

Biodynamic chart for February

Picked up a few more books for the library and starting reading Gardening for Life the Biodynamic Way by Maria Thun (Hawthorn Press, 1994). Which is based off  Steiner's Eight Lectures (Rudolf Steiner Press, 2005). Just for fun I created a biodynamic chart for my own February gardening. You do chores at the right time too.

Feb 7-8 (Tue/Wed) is Leo Fruit/Seed time, which I take to mean time to do last minute garden chores. Such as turning in the cover crop. Testing the soil. Weed around the wooden perimeter. Clean/santize tools. Pull the hoses back out. Organize tools. That's probably all I'll get to this month. Unfortunately I will be out of town Feb 11-15, which actually makes me realize I should put all that bed prep on hold for one more cycle and just sow later. But I'll see what happens.
I still want to only experiment in biodynamics with the biodynamic seed. Because it seems more authentic. And it could be less work. It could also be more complicated, maintaining charts for some plants and not others. Although once I got into a groove it would probably be fine. February will show what I can take care of.

Purchased Commitment

The group seed order was cancelled last Thursday in lieu of being coordinated on google document. I'm taking it as a sign that my real desire not to order through Territorial is simply manifesting itself. Just ordered seeds online from Abundant Life. The final selection is (in addition to Aslan's sunflower and snap pea):

Ura pole bean, Major bush bean, Rote Kugel beet, Spring Mix greens, Sora radish, French sorrel, German chamomile, Mammoth dill - the beans, beet and radish are biodynamic seed

The final draft bed plan is here:

Inspiration yields...

Went to a talk last night at UW by Jonathan Foley, a scientist and writer of food policy. There are 11 articles you can read by him in Scientific American here. He was very optimistic despite data he is working with (you have to be I guess) and I am so glad their are thinkers like him working on these issues. His general philosophy regards our global responsibility to feed everyone while eradicating damage to the planet. So there are many agricultural practices to work on needing the involvement of farmers, consumers, policy makers, agri-business. One thing I took away from his talk was the necessity of enhancing efficiency and yield. It made me think of the square-foot gardening method which is fully focused on maximizing yield.

A few days ago I picked up a few gardening books from the library, one of which is titled small-plot, high-yield gardening by Sal Gilbertie & Larry Sheehan (Ten Speed Press, 2010). I'm skimming it, like I do most textbooks. Paying particular attention to the section on growing tips and also the section for novus growers. One thing lasting in my mind is their recommendation not to go purchase-crazy on seeds, don't spend $80-100 on seeds in the first year, and don't jam too many crops in one space. My budget is a good constraint for my overambition. I've narrowed my original wish-list of 30 varieties down to 17, and am ready for the seed buying party tonight. Updated bed plan is on the way.

Also related to this whole "maximizing yield" concept arrives Mark Winne's talk next Tuesday, co-hosted by Sustainable Ballarda at Sunset Hill Community Association, 6 PM! Lettuce Link posted something about the event in their blog. I haven't read his book Food Rebels, Guerrilla Gardeners, and Smart-Cookin’ Mamas but am stoked to have this inspiration to look forward to. Yay food!

Welcoming to February

My mom gave me a book Gardening Month by Month in Washington, which is a handy little guide on all the small details easily overlooked. Useful for a novus like me who lacks the bigger picture and sense of details... Something that arrived in my inbox today at the head of this new month was a blog post by Margaret Roach regarding her February chores. So I have looked at her list, and in this here book, and have started compiling a long to-do. Which I will not bother with you here. I would rather mention these things after I have accomplished them... But here are some of those chores:

*Clean/sanitize tools/equipment
*Prune grape vines/plum trees
*Clear turf/weeds in beds-especially cascading beds
*Build cold frame

Also in my inbox today came Tilth's monthly newsletter, and I finally put their events calendar in my planner. Another event is the Northwest Flower & Garden Show, which I will attend for the first time this year. Although I will miss some of that because I will be in NV for my grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary...