All the Beds are Ready, King George is No More

Bo is of great help in the garden, especially when he comes around with his sprayer to help cool people off.

After a sustained effort on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, the entire garden is now dug up and ready for new plants.

Sifting rich arroyo soil to "feed" the new raised beds

"Top dressing" the beds with the arroyo soil.

"Sift-turning" the arroyo soil in the top 4" of the new raised beds.

We now have thirteen 15-foot raised beds (800 sq') and about 3,000 seedlings in the hoop house.

This week, we'll be transplanting these two week-old seedlings.  Kale and cabbage will go in "nursery" beds and lettuce will go in transplant boxes.

This process is part of the French-Intensive technique and is quite meticulous.  See this video to get an idea of what we'll be doing on Wednesday and Saturday.

NEXT GARDEN PARTIES

Wednesday August 10, 3:00-6:00pm
Saturday August 13, 3:00-6:00pm

Last Thursday, upon returning from harvest at Synergia Farm, King George the male turkey was nowhere to be found.  I knew immediately that he was the latest victim of the wild predator that has already taken our chickens and rooster.  King George's carcass was found down the arroyo.  He was buried with royal honor.  You will be missed King George.

Mama Zelda is safe and still sitting on her 13 eggs.  No signs of life yet...

Go Zelda!

Mama Zelda has been sitting on her 13 eggs for several days now.  She's been cooped-up because otherwise she's too busy running around with her seven teenagers to bother with her future offsprings.  King George the Dad has taken over the teenagers' education and has been watching over them like an hawk.

Good job Dad!

Michael, Sarah and their friend Sierra getting weeding posture instructions from Juaquin.  Most of the beds were weeded today, peppers and tomatoes were transplanted and beets seeds were sown.

Heavenly blue morning glories and scarlet runner beans were planted in a new bed along the fence.

















Bo and Louis (two of the kids who live on the property) gave us a hand, learning the fine art of watering with a watering can.

Roy, laying straw in the trench of yet another bed in our ever expanding urban farm.

Poki returning from his evening pick-up of compost at Body, our neighborhood restaurant.

A lovely day at the Ranch....

NEXT GARDEN PARTY

Saturday August 6

3:00-6:00pm

Gardening is civil and social, but it wants the vigor and freedom of the forest and the outlaw.  ~Henry David Thoreau

Eat you Greens! Next Garden Party Wed. 8/3

 
















  

Next Garden Party
Wednesday August 3,  3:00-6:00pm

• Double digging remainder of garden space
• Transplanting tomato and squash (delicate transplant)
• Weeding existing beds
• Taking amaranth home to eat ...

We've got lots of wild amaranth in the garden and it's delicious. 
The taste is between spinach and asparagus. 

Come get some on Wednesday (or any other day, but please call first  505-796-6006)

Pick it.

















Steam it.

 and eat it!

(Served here with organic quinoa, fresh farm eggs and a lemon-tahini-miso dressing).

Weeding Amaranth and Dumpster Diving

Michele and ElanaSue weeding the beds

Weeding the beds was high on our agenda today as the wild amaranth was chocking parsley, oregano and eggplant.  The stem of the plant is cut just above ground, leaving the root in the beds for organic matter.  We harvested two 5-gallon buckets of amaranth from just two beds. Next time you come, bring a plastic bag to take some of these edible weeds home. I had a dinner of steamed amaranth tonight.  That so called "weed" is quite delicious and nutritious.  Willem Malten, owner of Cloud Cliff Bakery in Santa Fe writes the following about Amaranth, also called "pigweed".

We planted 32 Jalapeno pepper plants in the bush bean beds. Juaquin and I brought these peppers back from our visit to Abbondanza Farm in Colorado.

The fence was relocated to make room for more raised beds.

 

After the garden party, I couldn't resist going dumpster diving for compost material.  Equipped with rubber boots, rubber gloves and a headlamp, I foraged through a large dumpster near REI where the Flying Star Restaurant throws its garbage.  Well, garbage for them but compost for me!  In 20 minutes, I filled five buckets of vegetable waste and found a large bag of orange rinds.  Our compost pile is now almost to the top of the pallets and is cooking at a steady 135-145 degree.

Roy, who came to help at the garden today, is going to look into zoning for this property.  The idea of building a small legal dwelling for a resident gardener has been suggested as a component of an urban farm such as Dandelion Ranch.  Between the animals, the compost (we pick-up compost from Body every morning) and the garden, it would behove the hosts to have a garden caretaker on the property.

For the next two weeks I will be taking care of the house at Dandelion Ranch as Dan and Giselle went on a road trip with the kids. If our current schedule (Sat. 3-6pm, Wed. 3-6pm) doesn't suit you and you want to come visit (13 turkey eggs are about to hatch any day!), please give me a call 505-796-6006.  I will be working in the garden everyday.

June 26.  First day of gardening at Dandelion Ranch

July 30.

Who says it's hard to grow food in New Mexico?

Correction - Garden Party is this Saturday July 30

GARDEN PARTY  is this Saturday 7/30    3:00-6:00PM

• Building seed flats
• Planting seeds in flats
• Finishing new raised beds and transplanting peppers and tomatoes
• Preparing area for building the greenhouse

As always, bring cookies, gloves, enthusiasm and a curiosity about how to build this new model of community garden/urban farm/education center/playground for the food revolution.

A promising event is happening at the Santa Fe Complex (624 Agua Fria) on Saturday as well:

Brainstorming a Sustainable Lifestyle in Santa Fe
Event co-sponsored by Sustainable Santa Fe and the Green Fire Times
Saturday 7/30  11am - 3pm 
 
What would make a centrally located Sustainable Urban Village in Santa Fe, so compelling, such a great place to live, you'd move in??!! Share your ideas and visions in the September issue of the Green Fire Times! 

To help spur your creative juices, develop your ideas, and collect your thoughts in a supportive environment, join a brainstorming/writing session on Saturday 11-3pm.  More details here....

‎Planting seeds for our fall garden and eating Portulaca Oleracea

According to the Stella Natura Biodynamic Calendar, today was an excellent day to sow seeds.  Juaquin and Giselle used the flats we made a couple weeks ago and planted a variety of vegetables, flowers and herbs for our fall garden.

Juaquin preparing soil with a mix of professional potting soil, bone meal and Soil Secrets products (Earth Magic and Protein Crumbles (extracted from beans))

The two hoop houses we recently built got covered with old Remay cloth we brought back from our visit to Abbondanza Farm in Colorado last weekend (see video here).  The material is quite worn-out and thin so we''ll be looking for some thicker fabric and have an offer from our friend Piper to help sew it properly.

For now, our seed boxes have a home, protected from the harsh sun and birds who love...seeds!

A visitor holding a bowl of Purslane, (also known as Verdolaga, Pigweed, Little Hogweed or Pusley) harvested from the garden.  Considered a weed, Purslane is one of the most nutritious greens on the planet. Purslane has more beta-carotene than spinach, as well as high levels of magnesium and potassium. (Purslane recipes)

The garden is starting to look pretty luscious, and the clover we sowed on the path is starting to grow.

King George (AKA Ivava) is still recovering from his encounter with the creature(s) who got into the chicken coop two days ago and took away all the chickens.  Fortunately, the turkey flock survived as they perch in the trees at night.


GARDEN PARTY  Saturday 7/30    3:00-6:00PM

• Building seed flats
• Planting seeds in flats
• Finishing the new raised beds and transplanting peppers and tomatoes
• Preparing area for building the greenhouse

As always, bring cookies, gloves, enthusiasm and a curiosity about how to build this new model of community garden/urban farm/education center/playground for the food revolution.

A promising event is happening at the Santa Fe Complex (624 Agua Fria) on Saturday as well:

Brainstorming a Sustainable Lifestyle in Santa Fe
Event co-sponsored by Sustainable Santa Fe and the Green Fire Times
Saturday 7/30  11am - 3pm 
 
What would make a centrally located Sustainable Urban Village in Santa Fe, so compelling, such a great place to live, you'd move in??!! Share your ideas and visions in the September issue of the Green Fire Times! 

To help spur your creative juices, develop your ideas, and collect your thoughts in a supportive environment, join a brainstorming/writing session on Saturday 11-3pm.  More details here....

WorkPlay Party Wed. July 27 - 3-6PM

Juaquin and Poki are back from Colorado where they went to help with harvest at their friends' farm (www.eatabbo.org).


WEDNESDAY 7/27 AGENDA

• Finishing hoop houses with recycled Remay cloth from Abbondanza Farm
• Finish double-digging new beds and transplant tomatoes and peppers
• Building seed boxes with recycled fencing material
• Making planting soil and sowing seeds 

Feel free to come at any time between 3 and 6PM.  Jump in, or observe or ask questions.  All are welcome (including children) especially if you bring cookies!



Video of Juaquin and Poki's visit to Abbondanza Farm last weekend (click full screen on bottom right corner to take advantage of Hi-Definition)