Drive for Life

IMG_0182, a photo by okfuskee on Flickr.

Check out this crazy grocery store potato. He spent a winter in the ole potato n onion box and spent the time sending out roots on a quest to nowhere. That failed and so then he started some baby taters right there in the box. Never saw that before. You gotta admire his pluck. He really is endeavoring to persevere. I rewarded his efforts by planting him in a nice spot. We shall see what comes of this.

Taters!

IMG_0180, a photo by okfuskee on Flickr.

Here's some red fingerlings just about to go into the ground. They are from the Maine Potato Lady. I've always felt potatoes could be my ticket to financial independence. Largest harvest for least acreage. Worked for the Irish (never mind that pesky famine thing) and it can work for me. Although we've gotten some tasty tubers (argh) we've never quite realized my potato dream. Last year was particularly disastrous. I went looking for my bag of seed potatoes to plant and found them, but they didn't look lke what I ordered - different kinds of potatoes, not red fingerlings, not the right size. I considered complaining to the Tater Lady, but planted them anyway in my designated potato spots. Couple months later, I find my actual seed potatoes and realize I just planted grocery store spuds in my prime spots. Didn't get much.

This year will be different as these guys all have their own dedicated spot with nice mulchy leaves and decent sun. I can almost taste them now.

And here's an idea that I might try someday: http://www.re-nest.com/re-nest/gardening/how-to-grow-100-pounds-of-potatoes-in-4-square-feet-081760

Half and Half

red and yellow living in perfect harmony

Onion sets about to be planted. Got these from the Maine Potato Lady.  I didn't naturally think of using these, but seeds never seemed to work and Bambi's parents always used them and so...we tried them out last year. They worked well and we discovered another vegetable that squirrels, mice, rats, and rabbits mostly ignore. They do well, don't need too much love, and you can consume them at your leisure. For about 4 bucks plus shipping ( 50 cents more for the red) you get 70 starter onions. That works out to about a 6 or 7 cents apiece. It should also be noted that onions, like so many other things, have a lot more flavor when you grow them yourself. 

Last year's did well, but didn't get much bigger than a golf ball. I read something about planting them near the surface for increased size. I did not try this since the squirrels mess with anythig they see even if they don't want to eat it. I am hoping the new loose "soil" will allow bigger growth. I have doubts about the ground up leaves, but I think they are closer to soil than I previously thought....and getting closer all the time. 

Extra Compost

IMG_0134, a photo by okfuskee on Flickr.

The joy of unintended consequences: Pollan writes a a book about food production, Michelle Obama starts an anti-obesity push for school children, my school district starts a "fresh snacks" program to get kids HOOKED on healthy new foods - my class gets fruit or veggies every Friday...so far so good. But the stuff is sent to the school on Monday (or Tuesday) and doled out to a couple grades each day. My day is Friday - the end of the week. Turns out that if you want kids HOOKED on healthy foods, you probably should not send slightly damaged veggies, or maybe they shouldn't be sliced on Sunday and served on Friday. This week's peppers were slimy...not high on a ten year olds list of "ways to make veggies fun." Anyway - I got a nice pile of compost this time. Yum!