tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68775344170054714762024-03-19T02:53:53.431-07:00Victory Gardening For EveryoneMichael Schurterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13994393239550730030noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6877534417005471476.post-91645636735889245052011-04-11T14:00:00.000-07:002011-04-11T14:02:15.217-07:00Germination within a week<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgjwxu_wHn0E3dYqli4gqjhSTkirDu0gzb6CtnpKeA4-gsvDNtc671VOGgi40QQnjjrXZPLjQYzOND2CKwCHe9yCEN1LWLMc6NwWTm5dO8a-ipaTFWhmtU49f0pWpiCpMktNhpHA2ll4/s1600/arugula+germination.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgjwxu_wHn0E3dYqli4gqjhSTkirDu0gzb6CtnpKeA4-gsvDNtc671VOGgi40QQnjjrXZPLjQYzOND2CKwCHe9yCEN1LWLMc6NwWTm5dO8a-ipaTFWhmtU49f0pWpiCpMktNhpHA2ll4/s320/arugula+germination.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594434237501953058" /></a><br />Wow - I planted the first salad table last Wednesday. Just now as I was watering it I saw some germination on the Arugula side of things. Sweeeeeeet!Michael Schurterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13994393239550730030noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6877534417005471476.post-38145732121395192702011-04-06T13:54:00.000-07:002011-04-06T14:05:56.708-07:00First salad table of spring<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Ye2GQGHt4P65xZ1xk5vwaoJRZEBYg-FS71Z1Y0IkD-ENaUBWjfaEvDcNNjBaiD3dtPGm9W812RjRkWpJjR9Nuf8A74lJg5ZAqAWsvxypv4NyvWV_N48cO2ag9_jCHEdzHguB4Bhzc84/s1600/1st+salad+table+2011.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Ye2GQGHt4P65xZ1xk5vwaoJRZEBYg-FS71Z1Y0IkD-ENaUBWjfaEvDcNNjBaiD3dtPGm9W812RjRkWpJjR9Nuf8A74lJg5ZAqAWsvxypv4NyvWV_N48cO2ag9_jCHEdzHguB4Bhzc84/s320/1st+salad+table+2011.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592579757577054290" /></a><br />One of my core beliefs to is say f*ck conventional wisdom and trust my own gut, beliefs, and experience. So in light of that - I'm already more than a week behind last year. <br /><br />Ok - so this winter was a motherf*cker. But I'm looking at a week of straight 50s with some 60s action (and even a bloody flirtation with 70 this Saturday). Night-time temps are going to be low 40s - and tonight's will be 38.<br /><br />So with the hoop-house frame designed by my friend and neighbor Jack over top of one of my salad tables, and plastic sheeting over top of that, my first salad table should be warm and moist by day, and should sleep soundly and well protected at night.<br /><br />Into the first - some good hardy stuff that we LOVE to eat...arugula (aka rocket, both wild and domesticated), lacinato (aka dinosaur) kale, and a mix of endives and escaroles. Everything organic. Everything edible.<br /><br />Mmmmmmm.<br /><br />Let's see how the actualities align with my own gut, wisdom, and experience. Last year, we were eating greens by the end of April. I'm guessing this year it will be no later than May 1st!!!Michael Schurterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13994393239550730030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6877534417005471476.post-43393144421476059462011-04-06T06:43:00.000-07:002011-04-06T06:53:48.333-07:00It's spring again<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sH-aLe0QwrFcOgywAIRr9ytiqUZsVL7YSEukKM3uEU8k9JwGRGI3KxHIHjzmaqJfSaHROL4UpOSz5QAh71DmDHwSZlfEunopSOuE7BRrsGnSMqjgqhLLjZ90SILBxNWnVOP2iLZLuec/s1600/herbs+april+2011.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sH-aLe0QwrFcOgywAIRr9ytiqUZsVL7YSEukKM3uEU8k9JwGRGI3KxHIHjzmaqJfSaHROL4UpOSz5QAh71DmDHwSZlfEunopSOuE7BRrsGnSMqjgqhLLjZ90SILBxNWnVOP2iLZLuec/s320/herbs+april+2011.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592468194543723410" /></a><br />A long time since I've posted. But spring finally came this week in Minneapolis and like a genetic switch in me, the need to plant has come on strong!<br /><br />It's still chilly at night. So I've only started to plant my fresh herbs. I start them indoors, in my front porch, where they can get some tremendous sunlight during the morning and early afternoon hours. BIggest thing is that they're protected from the chill at night.<br /><br />Yesterday I planted three square home-made earthboxes.<br /><br />1: Rosemary, basil x 2, mint<br />2: Thyme, basil, Italian parsley, mint <br />3: Oregano, marjoram, thyme, sage<br /><br />You can see that I've got the cornerstones of the herb garden going, what I like to refer to as Simon & Garfunkel (parsley, sage...)<br /><br />Also, basil for pesto (to freeze for winter) and caprese salads for a summer of goodness.<br /><br />And mint for a summer's worth of mojitos (the warm-weather gardener's best friend).<br /><br />It doesn't take much room to get these precious babies started. All you need is a sunny window.<br /><br />And then you can stop paying for those little plastic packages of herbs at your local grocery store! (At least until November).Michael Schurterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13994393239550730030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6877534417005471476.post-68097832069986560632010-05-13T09:44:00.000-07:002010-05-13T11:43:37.457-07:00How to make your own earth boxesFirst of all - massive apology for taking two weeks to get this video uploaded. Technical issues uploading through blogger. So I think I'm now going to upload to youtube and post the links here.<div><br /></div><div>I make several types of earth boxes.</div><div><br /></div><div>These instructions are for using a plastic planting pot - the kind you'd buy at a nursery or garden center. I believe I got these years ago at a large big box hardware place with an orange & white logo.</div><div><br /></div><div>It should take you less than an hour to convert one of these into a container suitable for herbs.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another post will show you how to make the big 20 gallon ones I use for tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, zucchini, watermelon. etc.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Here is part one...</div><div><br /></div><div><object width="500" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/y_cyj7I_JFk&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/y_cyj7I_JFk&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></object><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: normal; "><div><br /></div><div>Here is part two...</div><div><br /><object width="500" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fd--fkR6A6M&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fd--fkR6A6M&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></object><br /></div></span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" white-space: pre;font-size:12px;"><br /></span></span></div></div>Michael Schurterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13994393239550730030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6877534417005471476.post-45937233023681269002010-04-20T14:06:00.001-07:002010-04-20T14:06:47.275-07:00Home made container gardening with crazy yieldsOK. So there are these things called <a href="http://www.earthbox.com/index.php">EarthBoxes</a>. They're brilliant. My buddy Tim turned me on to them. I'd been doing tomatoes in pots (echos of my apartment-living days in NYC). Once I switched to these babies, I was AMAZED at the yields. I'm talking 12' high heirloom plants, grown organically. Crazy yields.<div><br /></div><div>Downside - they're expensive.</div><div><br /></div><div>So I started making my own.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another day - I'll show you how to make the big 20 gallon tubs that I use a lot for bigger plants (cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, bell peppers).</div><div><br /></div><div>But here is how to make the little ones I use for herbs.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Michael Schurterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13994393239550730030noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6877534417005471476.post-77486498119114510962010-04-13T18:41:00.000-07:002010-04-14T07:44:35.289-07:00Mid April Update<div style="text-align: left;">First serious rain of the season Monday night. Thunder & lightning and everything, including a lightning strike on a house just five blocks away!</div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>Luckily with the rain, the garden is looking good.</div><div><br /></div><div>First daffodil blossom of the season...</div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcEB9rnZ6AmqHZmO_qr54bphRxnovxPCb_iqIMMcAXX43BM-djHePz3rNUALknxouPToTi0LyM-cLzWUqIZMOy_8o8umy71rpQoB10IN9apkD3NRnP7YYzj1LR2bCNfDMv5g3MctdZCk/s1600/Daffodil+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcEB9rnZ6AmqHZmO_qr54bphRxnovxPCb_iqIMMcAXX43BM-djHePz3rNUALknxouPToTi0LyM-cLzWUqIZMOy_8o8umy71rpQoB10IN9apkD3NRnP7YYzj1LR2bCNfDMv5g3MctdZCk/s320/Daffodil+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460001586827407074" /></a>The thrice-moved Peony is starting to break ground...<div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG27XpSYcz-XafJ3DkQj4zpzLAi3UapmygScNGFUW_a863DIP7-b3OuTZPGg-YYUFjYXQKQ0q8yi9DDo5sIVh-26zpWqZgdshCdP_Ku9rG_4NmkgRNREP1_fz9CziGZi-xtJJZiiTk1xo/s1600/Peony.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG27XpSYcz-XafJ3DkQj4zpzLAi3UapmygScNGFUW_a863DIP7-b3OuTZPGg-YYUFjYXQKQ0q8yi9DDo5sIVh-26zpWqZgdshCdP_Ku9rG_4NmkgRNREP1_fz9CziGZi-xtJJZiiTk1xo/s320/Peony.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460001860276793618" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><div>The mystery bush (dare I say Mighty Boosh?) is flowering...</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNiC2fLDAtnE2Kf-RHdcTzrwFOKqDDHGBAUj4GG6qyr5nzBRkch-F5vXWDQ2Nxraaag3fdl8zrcH33Pvpo8JZPkdzOnyi2BtDngbeyHHNX8GauA4YwfOGoKEOQ_INSfPv2CHs6kw0buM/s1600/azalea.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNiC2fLDAtnE2Kf-RHdcTzrwFOKqDDHGBAUj4GG6qyr5nzBRkch-F5vXWDQ2Nxraaag3fdl8zrcH33Pvpo8JZPkdzOnyi2BtDngbeyHHNX8GauA4YwfOGoKEOQ_INSfPv2CHs6kw0buM/s320/azalea.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460003228411673410" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div>Rhubarb is coming up...</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTnUco2U3RiMaqPSRyqcFwMajXrFhI6IM4iFpAhXW0Buh_FhM4UtWoJmebtiuk4blvK-sGthmLF-D-sKWEhzC1cFhIng_VAdrwcckbDoNJHn-noi_OpqXEJatJAeH3NwXR5TOXxgQe1M/s1600/Rhubarb.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTnUco2U3RiMaqPSRyqcFwMajXrFhI6IM4iFpAhXW0Buh_FhM4UtWoJmebtiuk4blvK-sGthmLF-D-sKWEhzC1cFhIng_VAdrwcckbDoNJHn-noi_OpqXEJatJAeH3NwXR5TOXxgQe1M/s320/Rhubarb.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460003221944451458" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div>More importantly, the herbs are coming along nicely in the front-porch/green-house...</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9zii8hspvzDF6d6GF5XanJOWRasOtjEj8OCaVTkgcyJ8JG7-d5RBMkYT5NQfOxh127xYbnX1bHKdyD5DDgTam00qf4PKu3Vv78hKwhe_EzCF4-pCMZBXrUriRdT5eKg7PU_jjaGOjqw/s1600/herb+garden.jpg"><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9zii8hspvzDF6d6GF5XanJOWRasOtjEj8OCaVTkgcyJ8JG7-d5RBMkYT5NQfOxh127xYbnX1bHKdyD5DDgTam00qf4PKu3Vv78hKwhe_EzCF4-pCMZBXrUriRdT5eKg7PU_jjaGOjqw/s320/herb+garden.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460002141134074274" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div>Cucumbers and zucchini seedlings coming along beautifully. I'll transplant into home-made earth boxes soon....</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenELur_fPfYe8KP2PGLj2I75KqaXkjz81kG0_Cd9UZ5cOQgFvHm0vrIKdhsZLT_6Vjq-S_KB8C_5b5eBYq8TAwi1kDpbpET7ADi-QtRTs0RyoaX9lspqdQje_rbyuP2LFua_MD38X-jA/s1600/seedling+cucs+%26+zucs+2.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenELur_fPfYe8KP2PGLj2I75KqaXkjz81kG0_Cd9UZ5cOQgFvHm0vrIKdhsZLT_6Vjq-S_KB8C_5b5eBYq8TAwi1kDpbpET7ADi-QtRTs0RyoaX9lspqdQje_rbyuP2LFua_MD38X-jA/s320/seedling+cucs+%26+zucs+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460002461196204930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div>Tristan and I were so excited to see the first strawberry blossom...</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XviWjG49EqUxVvHCw6nUMEA_fNX9C2tOqjiM6XYVUVwbftnr6-SIxcrDcTvg6gyvhVSgIoGcT63kCB7Qdjyh5r4H5l2A1G_9t7yE7b6vb36KvYVLEVFHvVuaegpU5RFtiV9NWSiRp2g/s1600/strawberries+1.jpg"><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XviWjG49EqUxVvHCw6nUMEA_fNX9C2tOqjiM6XYVUVwbftnr6-SIxcrDcTvg6gyvhVSgIoGcT63kCB7Qdjyh5r4H5l2A1G_9t7yE7b6vb36KvYVLEVFHvVuaegpU5RFtiV9NWSiRp2g/s320/strawberries+1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460002870186108530" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then we noticed another plant with FOUR blossoms...</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHJc5FKlMsGsuEbCtx-nJviBHFP42DwhebswxB1QpJTi3NAxW99zBdISiFOG-03fdGc3PkQzV-JMGC4TTyeDtjX26SBmu0rkgLDzi30FiuXlvMmOpUj-S0LHzPjBnbLYRfaTv2noAAlU/s1600/strawberries+2.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHJc5FKlMsGsuEbCtx-nJviBHFP42DwhebswxB1QpJTi3NAxW99zBdISiFOG-03fdGc3PkQzV-JMGC4TTyeDtjX26SBmu0rkgLDzi30FiuXlvMmOpUj-S0LHzPjBnbLYRfaTv2noAAlU/s320/strawberries+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460002873302629906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div>More to come soon on how to build your own earth boxes for less than $10 each.</div></div>Michael Schurterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13994393239550730030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6877534417005471476.post-77122581813456567432010-04-05T09:52:00.001-07:002010-04-05T10:37:48.355-07:00Hoop houses for salad tablesSo yesterday - after only 6 days since planting!?! - my rapini and arugula started to hit the underside of the old windows acting as cold-frame covers.<div><br /></div><div>I bumped into my neighbor Jack, who told me he'd rigged a hoop-house over his salad table. He showed me what he did, gave me some of his wood-strips and plastic sheeting.</div><div><br /></div><div>And now we have the Salad Table Mach Two.</div><div><br /></div><div>Low and behold how easy it is to cover. Jack and I intend to leave our hoop-house structures up all season. Come the warm weather, we might cover with mesh for a bit of shade. Come fall - I'll put the plastic back on to give us a few more weeks (or maybe even months - we'll see how it works) of fresh and essentially free greens.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here is how to build the hoop-house frame...</div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy0hSDI87mf1i4Rt4c1jIL_ODJcRBxtIpPxLOOOU-oBMSQDCLnhATuUtUob3DTIuwnRvDt29Iewc05BoqPa' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><div><br /></div><div>Here is what it looks like the the plastic cover on top...</div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dybNJPMk7Dj4l5Pahqcg1a9RNMAL2rPFva13rskOiN9WdLeMERUSZM1CIJLWoheeVZmMhFRY21xfOkU1_ArZA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Michael Schurterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13994393239550730030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6877534417005471476.post-89043687636000833692010-04-02T11:49:00.000-07:002010-04-02T12:38:34.330-07:00Salad Table 101 Redux (and expanded)Sorry this took a few days. It's been one hell of a busy week. Now... all about salad tables.<br /><br />I first learned about <a href="http://www.hgic.umd.edu/_media/documents/hg601.pdf">the salad table</a> in the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/10/garden/10garden.html">NY Times on May 10, 2007.</a> They were invented by this genius named Jon Traunfeld at the U of MD Cooperative Extension.<br /><br />They are basically waist-height growing tables. Easy on the back to plant and maintain (and harvest of course). Also - they're relatively light-weight (although Megan grumbles whenever I ask her to help me move one of them - grumbles reside in a few weeks when we start to harvest our lovely little lettuces and leaves!) so they can be moved according to light and temperature. I start mine in full sun. Come the first big heat wave of June every year, I move them into the shade. Come the fall, back into the sun.<br /><br />I built my first one the day after I read <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/10/garden/10garden.html">the article about them.</a> <a href="http://www.hgic.umd.edu/content/documents/HG601SaladTables_SaladBoxes.pdf">Click here for the instructions on how to make one.</a><br /><br />They take about four hours for one person to make. Less time after you've made your first. You can get the materials at your local big box or mom & pop hardware store. Then buy seeds, potting soil, and some Osmocote (a slow-release fertilizer). Mix some of your organic compost into the potting soil for best results. And sprinkle the Osmocote on top for slow-release of fertilizer throughout the summer.<br /><br />Two tricks I've learned to crazily improve the growth of your seedlings:<br />1: lay some old wooden storm windows over the tables after planting in early Spring - they'll act like mini-cold-frames: amplifying the sun and retaining heat & moisture at night<br />2: cut a yard-strength clear garbage bag down the sides to make a long piece of transparent plastic - lay this over them and secure the two ends with short pieces of wood - has the same effect as the glass window route<br /><br />Here is a video about how easy it is to seed them...<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxVE6N96MzUE5KptiC0uTKvLnhGPFXJKYI9Ie9JK2MgSNs7LIMm2fW1Q4EE7Yruthd0i-Ip3mW71nAWnpe6SA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><div><br /></div><div>Here is a video on their portability and making simple cold-frames for them...</div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwkbH6hDIgWxt6sx9CyT6bDq8Mj7JF_zXCg4iOILCkjtpf4zX_XPoS_W6DWmkdfV59z37uRPyA4pQzL5xyvSA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Michael Schurterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13994393239550730030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6877534417005471476.post-66628261585451273782010-04-01T13:32:00.000-07:002010-04-01T17:10:14.777-07:00First signs of life!Those of you who know me might have commented once or twice over the years that I can be a wee bit prone to hyperbole. But trust the video on this one.<br /><br />I planted these seeds on Monday. They've had a home-made cold frame laid over them of old wooden windows I found in the alley two summers ago. And now, on Thursday, we've got seedlings sprouting up!!!<br /><br /> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwqtdeM7AAXKQgHP0HwurLuF10geIQcehvHlyDWg_LG9pxgqKxVNoBfVDNHq5nQg2oVpWX0grkgaTkrWKjgEA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Michael Schurterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13994393239550730030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6877534417005471476.post-5672006492256118072010-04-01T13:19:00.001-07:002010-04-01T13:31:56.447-07:00What a crazy week!Tuesday, I planted the rest of the first salad table. It now has arugula, rapini, and bright lights swiss chard.<div><br /></div><div>Wednesday, I planted salad table number two. Baby romaine, butter-crunch head lettuce, and spinach.</div><div><br /></div><div>On Wednesday, Megan shot this mini video of what to do once you've made your salad table (instructions to come once I've got more time - I promise!).</div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxrmtUp7mW3RjeIgmy-EFvltBQKDYr7ngXiGP-Sq_wB699-9p0_wSm-7pECLZ4S0Y-99fqa-_fAvJJ8M4802g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><div>Don't you love the falling shovel at the end? HAD to leave that in!</div><div><br /></div><div>Most videos to follow...</div>Michael Schurterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13994393239550730030noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6877534417005471476.post-22187017069690198372010-03-30T13:05:00.000-07:002010-03-30T13:25:22.374-07:00Sunny and 69 and it ain't even April in Minnesota<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxkKb_hOkge8onUocqOiv7qwmnyfHtQ01G-HykmZY1Arw8paQNx-kBESItprjeSjwUPg80NF4EbLK5nbKEKEwhBNqfDiaJ0qsEurnwHdG8o1USdKVelSINTany5yL3sKyxLf0hTKja8k/s1600/earthbox+of+herbs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxkKb_hOkge8onUocqOiv7qwmnyfHtQ01G-HykmZY1Arw8paQNx-kBESItprjeSjwUPg80NF4EbLK5nbKEKEwhBNqfDiaJ0qsEurnwHdG8o1USdKVelSINTany5yL3sKyxLf0hTKja8k/s320/earthbox+of+herbs.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454525617381590866" /></a><br />Spring is my favorite time in my adopted home of Minnesota. After the brutal winter (which is shorter than the ones I grew up with in Hamilton, Ontario, but is far more severe in terms of sub-zero temperatures, amount of snowfall, and lack of sunlight), we really like to make the most of spring here.<div><br /></div><div>In this blog, I'm going to try to document what I do in the spring to get my garden up and running. Part of the reason why is political. During WWII, Victory Gardens were used as a way of providing cheap sustainable nourishment to people suffering from the effects of rationing and wartime privations. In the current financial meltdown, I see it as an additional way to break away from dependence on the corporate/factory food machine. Perhaps it's a small step. But better to start with a small step than not at all.</div><div><br /></div><div>I began this year's garden on Sunday, March 30, 2010, the day we returned from our spring break trip to Mexico (banish all thoughts of a frat party in Acapulco - we were in the Unesco biosphere reserve in Sian Ka'an). </div><div><br /></div><div>Sunday was sunny and high 50s. I began by planting one of my salad tables (more instructions on & photos of salad tables to follow, as well as full credits to the guy who invented them - this is simply a quick post before I bike over to collect my son Tristan at school). </div><div><br /></div><div>Yesterday (sunny and low 60s), I finished planting the first salad table. Today (partly cloudy and high 60s) I transplanted some herbs from Trader Joe's (rosemary, sage, and two bunches of thyme) into one of my homemade, eco-friendly container boxes (more on those later - including photos & instructions on how to build).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>But today - simply a beginning to this journal. And a few quick pix (all taken by my iPhone since I have no idea where Megan's stashed the Nikon SLR).</div><div><br /></div><div>Enjoy...</div>Michael Schurterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13994393239550730030noreply@blogger.com0