I have been composting since I’ve started my vegetable garden in my backyard in 2008. It gives me great satisfaction to be able to compost our kitchen waste, grass clippings, dry leaves, and all other garden waste to use them in our garden again. We initially purchased a standard rectangular stationary compost bin and set it up at a corner of my … [Read more...]
How to grow potatoes in a reusable bag
This year, I wanted to try out growing potatoes in my garden. I had a reusable potato growing bag that I got for a buck last year. I would have purchased more, if I had known how many seeds I could fit in a bag. I found seed potatoes at a grocery store. Planting them was fairly easy. Directions to grow potatoes in a bag: 1. Open up the … [Read more...]
Vegetable Garden 2014 – Update
Another year of gardening, filled with organic and fresh greens and vegetables in my backyard gives me joy and peace during this hectic summer. This year the harvest is quite delayed due to excessive rains, overcast skies and low temperatures. We have abundance of tomato plants but very low yield with beans and corns. This is late spring, when … [Read more...]
Last 2 weeks for Chicago’s Sustainable Backyards Program Rebates
We've had our compost bin for the last 5 years, but it's been opening at the seams and duct tape isn't holding it together anymore. So I've been eyeing tumbling compost bins for a long time. I purchased this 80-gallon tumbling compost bin from Walmart. It's not as big as the old one. Hopefully, if it holds to its promise, it should compost … [Read more...]
Vegetable Garden 2013: Planning the garden
Finally spring has sprung in Chicago and I was able to, at least, sow the seeds for the greens in my vegetable garden. Going back to my old posts, I notices, I sow the seeds for greens in mid March last year. This year, I could do it on April 9th. I had some leftover seeds from last year. The rest, I got from Natural Gardening Company. I've been … [Read more...]
Preparing the garden for fall and winter
Our vegetable garden was like a jungle for quite a while. Especially after our one month away from home, everything grew out branches and leaves without much of a fruit (i.e. veggies). We wanted to get the dried plants out of the way. I pulled out all bean, corn, broccoli etc. There is still some kale. My husband pulled out the tomatoes and … [Read more...]
Russian Mammoth Sunflowers and Carrots
I had two new residents in my vegetable garden this year. The first one was something I seeded, expecting something else, much smaller in size. The second one, we got from our neighbors because they didn't have the space to plant everything they grew for their science project. This is the flowers of one of the "seven" Russian "Mammoth" … [Read more...]
Vegetable Garden 2012 – Harvest
These are photos that I've taken 3 weeks ago from my vegetable garden. We can only go on vacation in August because of kid's camp and school schedule and that is right during harvest time. I hope there will be some veggies left when we return.These are bush beans. We were able to cook and eat some before we left for vacation. My husband is freezing … [Read more...]
How to lay new sod by yourself
I've explained how we prepared the soil to resod the lawn in my post, "When weeds took over". I was closely following the weather forecast. I gave the order for the ready sod rolls from a sod farm, Central Sod Farm, for the first sunny day I spotted. Based on my research, sod farms, instead of Home Depot or Lowe's, was the best way to go. We … [Read more...]
When weeds took over our lawn
When we were looking for our house, I was leaning towards the ones with a big yard. Universe heard my wishes, God heard my prayers and we got a house with with a big yard. We moved in, in the fall. Next spring we hired landscapers to straighten out the lawn, that was untouched for years. They sodded the lawn. They helped me prepare the vegetable … [Read more...]
Hail damage in my veggie garden
Last Thursday, just as we were getting ready to put the kids to bed, suddenly, pouring rain came down. The weather was so nice that day with 82F, storm, thunder and lightning with rain was a bad sign for the weather getting worse. Then with an exploding rumble, hail started. Kids got quite startled. It was torrential. I poked my head out of the … [Read more...]
Update from my Vegetable Garden – April
I wanted to give an update on my vegetable garden, which I've started on the third week of March, with some photos. A week after planting the seeds, the summer-like weather faded away and the temperatures came down to season averages. Unfortunately, we have been terribly spoiled. Everyone things it's too cold now. Since then 2 had 2 nights of … [Read more...]
Planning the vegetable garden layout
I always plan the layout of the vegetable garden before planting for that year. I usually plant new items and drop some items that I cannot grow really well. Sometime I just change the amount I am planting. Eventually, I do a new plan every year. I start with taking the measurements of the areas I am planning to grow vegetables. Here my helpers … [Read more...]
Preparing vegetable garden soil for seeding and planting
As the temperatures went up to 70F on Sunday, I couldn't wait to tackle the soil preparation for my vegetable garden. Every spring,I prep the soil before I plant the seeds and the seedlings. This process includes the gruesome tasks such as pulling out the weeds, tilling and mixing the soil that comes out of the compost bin. You can see my … [Read more...]
Preparation for vegetable garden 2012
I received the second catalog from the seed company. Since the weather has ben unseasonably warm in Chicago I decided to roll up my sleeves and get ready for "vegetable garden 2012". If you are looking forward to grow your own veggies in your garden this summer, you better get preparing. This is my 5th year in my garden. I feel seasoned enough … [Read more...]