To do List

now that it's starting to be fall like I thought I'd write down an actual "to do list" perhaps it will all get done that way :)

• dig out beds, layer in mulch and compost, plant cover crop seeds
• buy cover crop seed
• rake out chicken run to get mulch for beds
• make hard apple cider
• buy cider supplies-buckets, yeast, large pot for cooking
• rent cider press from tool library
• pick apples
• add "debris board" to the bottom of the chicken run - hopefully using scrap wood
• go thru seeds - order any new 
• set up seed growing space in basement
• set up old dining room table
• locate grow light  & extension cords
• organize gardening supplies
• buy compost to start seeds in
• bring small pots and seed trays into basement
• Decide how many beds we want and offer others to friends 
• they will need to amend soil too
• Create winter tool storage space
• back porch or shed
• move all tools into storage space
• clean tools off first

I think that's all of the major things - I'm hoping to get all of this done by the end of October so that in November we can focus on starting seeds!

New house & gardening

We went over to the new house this weekend to do some yardwork and see what all we would want to do. There is a LOT of work to be done.  We all came home and made lists of what we want to do - just to start. *sigh* I do love projects but this is a ton.  First there is a lot, no that doesn't begin to describe it - there is a massive amount of english ivy there.  It's growing up and over the back fence and garden shed and must be pulled down before it pulls down the shed.  There's Ivy all over the front  rockery climbing the trees and pulling the front fence down too.  We pulled part of it from the front just by the entry stairs, it's a lot of work. The property is much larger than our current property and has a lot of mature plants onsite including an apple and pear tree!  I'm excited about that and with the addition of our plum and peach tree we'll have a small orchard going!  There are also a few raspberry bushes so we'll have those and our blueberries.

  Then there's building the new chicken coop.  We've decided to make it a few feet longer and wider since we plan to add 2 ducks and a few more chickens (2 I think) and we picked  a space for it.  It will be perfect, right next to the garden and on the opposite side of the house from the BBQ and patio area except there's a full grown juniper there right now...actually 4 of them.  *rolls eyes*  Fortunately they have grown sideways so you can actually walk behind them and cut them down - we'll need to remove 1 completely to make space for the run and we may end up moving them all so we can put the fruit trees there.  I'm so very thankful that we can get a chain 'saw and wood chipper from the tool library!!!  The mulch will come in quite handy. 

Once some major pruning is done, the chicken run is built and the ivy is under control (work party, anyone?!?) we should be able to do some fun things!  Jen thinks a rosemary hedge would be nice on top of the rockery and I LOVE this idea!  Also, I'm hoping to cover the front of the rock wall with some sedums, Iberis and stonecrop.  It should be really beautiful.  We would also like to make the raised beds taller and are considering using cement blocks but most likely we'll end up using the burlap since that will be free.  There are also some overgrown concord grapes that we would like to build a larger trellis for or perhaps an arbor! 

There's lots of list making and planning going on right now, I guess I'm glad to have fall quarter off from school since there will be so much to do...I'm hoping to get some help from classmates though for some of the pruning and perhaps even some plant ID...

We'll going to try to post before and after pictures but things are busy right now so we'll likely be behind. :)

free projects stuff

We've had a few fun conversations about the millions of things you end up doing when you have no money and lots and lots of time. (which is where we are at now) Funny thing is I think I've had more fun doing things this way then I would if we'd had plenty of money and no time, or for that matter even if there had been a balance.  I love that our garden projects have taken time and effort, somehow it makes the success better!   While thinking about this I felt like making a list of all the awesomeness because I like lists.  This starts from last year.

-free plant starts: tomatoes, cabbages, brussel sprouts, shiso, broccoli, peppers, dill
-free seeds: carrots, lettuce, beans, tomatoes, squash, kohlrabi, beets, broccoli, multiple herbs
-free burlap from coffee roasters
-free pallets from coffee roasters
-free 4x4's from neighbor
-free dresser (used to make potting table)       
-free table (used to build chicken coop)
-free bricks
-free mulch
-4" and 1 gallon pots

I'm sure there's more that I'm not remembering.  It's an amazing list.