Fishflies, Beans and Aloe

First of all, I would like to share that on my birthday (back in June), I woke up and looked out the window, and what caught my eye - the very first fishfly... This is what the Michiganders call 'em. Which I guess is actually a "Mayfly" after doing some Googling. For those of you who don't understand, allow me to explain how this has a significant impact on the lives of us who live by Lake Huron (one of the five greatest bestest lakes).

They pretty much feel like they are taking over, and they smell like ... well... fish. They love gas stations.

Yeah, those are dead fishflies.

 NEXT

16 weeks or something like that

My Burgundy Bean Bush plants are making beans!

I picked three because that's all that were ready, and I sauteed them in olive oil and added fresh chopped garlic. I read somewhere they turned green when you heat them, so I was only partially startled to find my beans turning green. And, I was kind of in denial. Like, "No way! They are purple not green. If I wanted green beans I'd get green beans!" However, it was true... I was a little disappointed, but, whatever.

They were delicious.

AND

Lastly, I wanted to scrip scrapple about aloe... I was buying this amazing aloe drink that made me feel pretty good when I drank it... It was *Alo* (I put their Facebook page because their website took too damn long and wasn't loading). (alodrink.com) ... Anyway I always got the cranberry pomegranate aloe one from Whole Foods Market, and it was always a treat. It's sweetness on a factor of 1-10 was maybe a 4, and it was fun to chew on the aloe in the bottle. I heard it was good for inflammation, so when my knees were hurting, I thought it wouldn't hurt to eat some... Just be sure not to choke on the aloe in your drink 0.0

So instead of throwing monies away, polluting the air for plastic production/recycling, I decided to try this experiment myself. My boyfriend Kyle's mother has aloe plants, and she doesn't know yet but I butchered one of the plants. (...You can't really tell). 

At the base where I cut it, the Aloe smells bad like B.O. I'm not even kidding. It was gross and I was wondering why anyone would want to put that in their mouth. Its secretion was yellow-ish and unappealing. However, I poured a glass of 365 Cranberry Juice and mixed some other random juice I found in the refrigerator, added cut aloe, and voila! I made an aloe drink.

Fresh Aloe

I only cut off five leafy thinger ma bobs

And I just found out the yellow stuff was used as a laxative... Ehhhhhhhhhhh >.<

This is actually what aloe looks like without the skin. Yes, cut/peel the skin off before you eat it! I never used a fresh aloe "leaf" before for anything, so this was fun. If you don't know, its just like the stuff you buy at the store for your sunburn... gooey and clear. 

Final result.

Now I am going to try it. Yes, I am sitting here thinking "Why am I writing this... I don't even know if its any good..."

...

...

...

Verdict: Perfect. I can't even taste the aloe. I would suggest putting maybe a quarter cup of cranberry juice and mixing it with other sweet juices though, it was too much cranberry :(

-End.

Easy Access

Happy Birthday to ME! My birthday was the 13th. It was lovely. I worked.

I also got a new job.
And my plants are looking FABULOUS.

Take a looksy:

 

 

^ One of the Burgundy Bean Bushes FLOWERING :D (They are all flowering)

 

 

We got some new additions (as stated in the last post). Here are the tomato plants you all have been waiting patiently for:

^ Marglobe Tomato (Marglobe Tommies)

^ Roma Tomato Plant (Romas)

^ Jetsetter (This is not me, but I'd love that tomato)

^ Cherry Tomato Plant (Sounds Promising)

 

 

Sorry again, for all the grass. However, I found the button on my camera phone to change the lighting. Finally. 6 months after my purchase.

 

 

ANYWAYS

 

^ Overall Progress

 

^ Weepy on 06-16-13 (lower plant pictured)

 

^ Weepy on 06-18-13! (lower plant pictured) Just two days later. We have flowers!!!

 

 

------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

These were the Scallion/Onion. The left was grown outdoors, the right was grown indoors. I brought the one from the indoors to the outdoors about 2 or 3 weeks ago. It became a dark green like the one pictured on the left. When I transplanted them today, I noticed the one that started outdoors had bulbish roots and were stronger roots. I would suggest planting the seeds OUTDOORS to start. No need to start them indoors. They do come up later than planting them indoors - about 2-3 weeks.

 

^ What I call bulbish roots

^ New habitat.

 

The planter is metal with a painted finish. I am hesitant about it because it does not drain. However, I figure eventually it will rust out by nature if I'm lucky ;) It was $6.99.

The potting soil and flower pot I got from a place called Christmas Tree Shops. The soil was $2.99 a bag and claims to be organic. And it said "ready to use" which, I didn't know that soil was never really ready to use... I used a little over half a bag to fill the metal flower pot. I took the plastic milk jug half and put it in the backyard to collect rainwater for watering. I also did this with all the other containers. I am ignoring the fact that it may indeed look like a small recycled garbage pit. As long as mom and pops don't say anything about it, I'm golden.

 

 

My plants are easy. Easily accessible :)

 

 

Anddddd I'm done for today.

-D

plants go through a poor college life, too

9 or 10 weeks
short update.

The planties are doing well. After they moved out of the house, they are realizing what a struggle it is in the real world on their own.

Livestrong (bean bush) is doing pretty well, but he lost a leaf the other day. I think it was the bunnies. I will have to put up some chicken wire soon.

 

^He has grown maybe an inch since the last post (approx. 2 weeks ago) and is budding :)

^His buddy (bean bush) next to him needed a little assistance standing upward, so I used a local rock.

The photo directly above shows our zucchini bunch. They are mingling well. Weepy the zucchini plant is pictured as the third one in the bottom row. She never recovered from being weepy, but she is healthy.

The bean plant bushes are getting a little lost in the grass, but I have been pulling the grass around the plants. I wanted my planter box to be a surprise with the existing foliage, but it is difficult to define the plant space and frustrating to have to keep pulling clods of dirt out of the box with the grass. I will think twice next time.

Side note: The onion I found in my refrigerator is not sprouting anymore. I thought for sure something dug him up, but with a closer eye, I realized he is just hiding.

One more view of the box overall.

so. much. grass.

I also planted some tomato plants. Mom bought them from a local store, so I planted those with the rest of the babes. Photos and info to come next time!

-D

12345SIX.5

6.5 Weeks

Moo HAHA now that Kyle left for the night, I can focus on my bliggity blog.

I took some more photos.
Things have been happening, and happening super fast.
I named my bean plant Livestrong. He was the first one to make an appearance to the world.
Here is Livestrong in his new habitat. (Yes we transferred!) He is growing up so fast and has moved out of the house with his sister, who I am now naming Weepy. I'm not sure when or if the zucchini plants are supposed to start growing sideways like pumpkins, but as long as there is healthy leaves, I am okay with it.

Here is Weepy in her new home:

 

She has a friend to keep her company. I think it's helping her self-esteem.
Probably going to use those leaves in a smoothie or a salad - the dandelion leaves, that is. Did you know all of the hundreds of types of dandelion leaves are edible? So instead of using that weed-killer, go out there and pick those leaves. All leaves are edible - yes the ones you have between the cracks of your sidewalk too. Just be careful if you have used chemicals with your lawn already... NOT a good idea to eat them. Dandelions are high in nutrients and you can use their roots for tea. Read about the herb you have been mistaken for a nuisance.  Dandelions!

...

Family photo:
L 2 R
Weepy, Livestrong, and John.

(This is a photo from a few days ago)

 

John likes to pretend he's a girl. He was very happy today:

 

The onions I will refer to as the minions. They are doing very well as anticipated. I really want to pick one and eat it to see if a young plant is delicious, but I feel bad... which worries me... Will I want to eat my plants once they fruit? EEK!

 

 

 

So basically we have the family that started from the inside, and the family that started from the outside. The outside family is finally making an appearance, and a grand one at that. They all wanted to surprise me, and that they did. Super sassy, they are.

 

Outside family photo:

 

 

 

NOW

 

I went to make a stir-fry dish and when I was looking for an onion, I notice they were no good anymore. One of them was molding and looked like it was rotting, but had sprouted. I felt really bad, so I decided to give it a chance since it was working so hard, and planted the onion (yellow onion) in the soil and gave it some water.

 

 

I left his greens above the soil so he could do his photosynthesis stuff.
I also planted some red, yellow and orange pepper seeds that were in the peppers I used to cook today. I mixed the seeds so I would get a surprise :)
Bell pepper seeds:

 

So now, I have burgundy beans, scallions, summer squash zucchini, yellow onion, red pepper, yellow pepper, and orange pepper AND morning glories outside.

 

 

I project in a few weeks my lovely piece of Earth will be filled with yums and pretties.

 

...

 

So new idea: Ending an entry with an inspirational quote...

Today I chose this one because I have beaten myself up enough these past few weeks about not achieving some goals that are important to me and that I may never actually accomplish. But...

 

fuck it all.

 

"Good people are good because they've come to wisdom through failure. We get very little wisdom from success, you know." William Saroyan

 

 

End.

 

 

 





April 25 (via March 23) Seed Babies

Michigan likes to be unpredictable... I guess we have that in common.

Short update.
It has been a little over 4 weeks since I started my first seed batch OUTDOORS.
The three containers I planted last month I thought would not make it. However, I took a peek today, and discovered that the onions are growing! I was surprised, because it snowed a few more times.
I had to take off the top so the soil does not mold anymore. It only molded a little in the corner. PHEW!

Here are the original containers from the porch as they appear now:

The bean and zucchini seeds did not sprout.



I wasn't sure how the porch babies would do, so I planted some seeds INDOORS about a week an a half ago. Here I used a quart-sized milk jug with the same organic soil. I placed the containers in a window that allows ample sunlight. I planted the bean and zucchini seeds (two of each). One of each has sprouted (you can only see one sprouted in the photo below).

It only took about 9 days for these seeds to sprout. However, I planted onion seeds in another gallon container indoors, but they have not surfaced (yet?)

I have been watering them as needed, keeping the soil moist or watering approximately every 3 days.

Michigan had a very warm day last week, and I was able to plant even more of the seeds in the back of my yard.

Notes:

The successful seedlings:

I believe the scallion/onions OUTDOORS were successful because it was suggested to start the seeds 4 to 6 weeks BEFORE last frost and OUTDOORS. And the seed babies were to emerge 10 - 15 days after planting.

However, zucchini seeds INDOORS called for planting outside 2 to 4 weeks AFTER last frost and NOT recommended to be started indoors, emerging 5 - 10 days after planting. Soil temperature was to be 60 degrees +.

The bean bush recommended outdoor planting 1 to 2 weeks AFTER last frost & when temperatures are warm. It was NOT recommended to start inside. Days to emerge: 10.

The last frost for my area is anticipated for June 21st. BUT WHO REALLY KNOWS?

I Found Your List

Have you ever wondered what people want to buy or expect to find at Whole Foods Market?

No? Well I don't care. Here are some shopping lists.

This person doesn't like their peas and carrots to touch^

This person wanted PICKLES!^

This person didn't want their grocery list anymore, found in parking lot crumpled up^

This person wanted extra ranch^

Katie wasn't sure if she wanted chicken or fruit^ 

This person had a normal sized post-it but decided to write itty bitty^

This person just brought their kid to the doctor/dentist before shopping^

MMM FOOOOOD.

Day 1 - Attempt 1. Spring 2013

I AM SO EXCITED

I was able to purchase some organic seeds from Whole Foods the other night, and so now I am ready to plant again!

What I bought:
White Lisbon SCALLION ($1.79) for 2 grams.
Black Beauty ZUCCHINI ($2.39) USDA ORGANIC for 3 grams.
Royal Burgundy BEANS ($2.39) USDA ORGANIC for 15 grams.
Heavenly Blue MORNING GLORY ($1.69) for 2.5 grams.
These were Botanical Interests brand, and prices were determined by the packaging.
I only planted some of the seeds in each packet. I did not plant any of the Morning Glories yet.
One other excellent thing about this product is that they educate their consumers. Each packet has information on the inside of the seed bag such as general information, to storage, to what family they are from. However, I am not sure if other seed producers also offer the same information.

What I started with were some odd plastic containers (2 milk jugs and a juice jug).
I bought Organic Choice Potting Mix for $5.95 at the local Home Depot. It is formulated with compost bark, sphagnum peat moss and pasteurized poultry litter.
And somehow I was suckered into buying a friendly cactus for the same price. It is my sunshine for today :)

I cut the jugs in half. These will act as a greenhouse for the plants. I removed the cap for air circulation.

 

ONION seeds ^

 

ZUCCHINI seeds^

BEAN seeds ^

I filled the bottoms of the containers, and read the packets of seeds to see how deep the seed needed to be planted as well as the horizontal distances. The average depth range for these seeds were 1/4" - 1", and the spacing was all over the board (so I used a few seeds for the small jugs) and added a little water to start.

I placed the jugs outside in direct/indirect sunlight after attaching the tops with tape and a label. Some lady I spoke with at work told me that she did this (a few weeks ago) and they were already sprouting. Now, it is still snowing here occasionally, so I don't know how trustworthy this is, but I am giving it a shot. Due to space allowances, I am not able to keep a control plant indoors. The seed packets did not suggest to start seeds indoors anyway!

I will keep you all updated on the babies.

xD