Growing radishes are great for my self esteem!

I love growing radishes!
I feel so accomplished and smart!  LOL!
Growing radishes are awesome for my self esteem.  They grow fast and are very hardy and forgiving with a first timer urban farmer.
They are the first veggies to mature in my garden and I am so grateful for them.
I don't know what it is, but when you take a bite of the first vegetable that you have ever grown from seed, it's an amazing feeling!
Thank you radishes for growing and teaching me that I can do it!
Feeling Blessed!

Mushrooms!

I was shopping at the grocery store the other day and came upon this Organic mini mushroom farm! It says, grow mushrooms right out of this box!  Just add water. Harvest in 10 days.  How can I not try it.  I love mushrooms!

I cut open the box according to the directions, cut a + into the plastic and scraped the white stuff off.  It said this stimulates mushroom growth.

Then, I took the bag out of the box and placed it into a bucket of water for 8 hours. The bag floats so I had to place it scraped (white) side down and then place the bag back into the box after 8 hours.

Stayed tuned for the results!  

I will be setting the box indoors (some light is needed but no direct sun) and sprinkling 1tsp of water per day on the scraped area until the mushrooms are fully grown.

Check back in 10 days for a yummy mushroom recipe with my homegrown mushrooms!

Transplants are growing and thriving!

Here are some pictures of the transplants I started from seed.  I mixed some potting soil with compost that I have been preparing over the last 4 months.  Then I added some food and water. I then placed woodchips on the top. I watched Garden of Eden and really like this method.  I noticed a huge difference in my plants growth after I added wood chips to the top of the soil. I also have to water it much less.  Loving that!

Growing vegetables from seed

Here are some green peppers, cucumbers, green lettuce, and spinach.  I also took a pumpkin seed (not pictured) from a pumpkin and sprouted it inside with paper towel in a plastic bag then planted it outside in a container. I started the seeds in the picture inside from seed, and I started some outside too, to see which way they do better.  I used organic seed, which I am super excited about.  I could not find any organic transplants and by starting from seed I had so much more to choose from!

Live Simply, Bloom Wildly

Live Simply and Bloom Wildly sounds like my life, including my garden, plants, etc.

What exactly is Simply?
Well according to Oxford Dictionaries, it means, "the quality or condition of being plain" and this is not what I am at all, or what I strive to be in my life.

To me, living simply, is to get rid of all the clutter in our heads as well as in our homes.  To remove all the 'junk' that is thrown at us as we travel on our journey of life.  To laugh more, and to love more.  To be less occupied with material things, money, what people think, how we look, etc and to really enjoy the present moment.  This frees us up to really live, instead of just existing and going through the motions.  It's simple, Live simply, live more!  When all the clutter is stripped away, we can find ourselves and our purpose.  The fog is lifted and we are able to bloom, and bloom wildly that is!

To bloom wildly?  What does that mean?
According to Oxford Dictionary, bloom, means "to produce a flower or be in flower. "
Wild means, "uncontrolled or unrestrained."
Hmm.. need I say more?
I strive to grow and produce many flowers throughout my life.  I want my flowers to reach very far across the wild globe, like a wild, untamed, ripple, making a difference in many peoples lives.

I want my garden to grow like they do in the wild, perfect in every way.  The less human interaction, the more yield.  I know this is how we can create more organic, nutritious food, for the planet.  It will save our planet's food supply one day!

Rain, Rain and More Rain!

I am sitting here looking out my kitchen window at the rain pouring down.  The pictures do not do it justice.  There is so much water and it's not getting used to water the plants, trees, etc.  It's literally watering the cement.  After taking some urban farming classes on permaculture I look at all water very differently.  I am constantly thinking,  "How can I put this rain water, or grey water to good use."  "How can it water my plants efficiently, so I have to do less and use less water from the hose?"

Watching the water fall to the ground with no purpose is killing me.  I am going to figure out a way to collect it and channel it for good use!

Let's get this show on the road!

Hello,

I am creating this blog for an externship at school. When I am done I will have a certificate in Urban Farming, as well as receive a diploma in Holistic Health and Nutrition.

For my Urban Farming Externship, I plan on doing a container garden and showing people how fun and easy it is to grow your own fruits and vegetables in a container using little space! You don't need a huge garden to grow yummy organic produce.  I will also be growing sprouts! They are full of nutrients and so good for you. I love adding them to salads, sandwiches and smoothies.  We will also compost and maybe start a worm bin!  Ohhh.. This is way out of my comfort zone, but I am excited to give it a try and take you along the journey!  If I have time, I will also attempt to ferment some cabbage and other vegetables.  This is something I have always wanted to try for the probiotics.  So SO good for you!

I hope you enjoy the adventure.  Let's get this show on the road!