Hi all!Been so busy w/ gardens haven't been able to chat.My plants are growing very nicely,we've been having leaf lettuce for a couple weeks.I've Windflowers standing tall and our White Roses are blooming madly.Did some Nature Art w/ a Mulberry Tree thru the yrs. formed an sunburst,or maybe it's a female/male symbol,kind of neat.Stop by and take a look.For natural art mulberry and ash are favorites.Try taking three/four young branches and braiding together,better yet,use seperate trees about 6' apart and you can make a natural arch.In about five years cut both ends from ground level,so beautiful!Got an excellent jump this year.Most of my seedlings took well.Chek w/ u later. Wishes...

rummagesalesrock: thanks for the tip I will be sure to check it out. I already have the canning jar kit, but looking for a canner. Anyone know if Ace hardware or Farm & Fleet have them in stock yet? Or some where else to get them?

Don't mean to be a garden-hog,but you've hit my "love-spot".To youngergirl,I've but our mobile home lot to garden in. And every year I grow the following.Gr.beans,squash,carrots,chry.tom.,onions,beets,BigBoy tom.,pumkins,apples,cukes,muskmelon,and have flowers(perennials) galore.Space has been beaten mostly with "vertical gardening" and "Combination Gardening",my terms.I also use container gardening,and seldom ever need to use a hose.I designed and use a water-retention thingee I built that works with gravity. Stop on by some day. Wishes to All!

TO:"whoanellie"..rabbits,chippy's,squirls,oh my!What I do is buy a good sized container of black pepper,then sprinkle it all around my plants,flowers too.I hate any type of poison for insects or otherwise.I have a two gal. jug sprayer for our apple trees,grapes,etc.and I add a tblspoon of Dawn dishsoap to it for doing away with aphids,etc. works great,cost very little,non-poinsonous to pets,wild birds,etc.,and easy to dispose of right down the toilet.I use the same for slugs/snails but I add a teaspoon of reg. bleach. Then with any leftover I wash out planters,clean metal lawn ornaments.tables & chairs,etc.Works great on patio bricks too. Wishes to All!

Let's get some brag'n goin"...If anyone is interested we've got Kentucky Pole Beans,a wonderfully easy to grow,great tasting,easy to freeze bean..that we've been heirlooming through the past 30 years! We're glad to share some just stop on by!

Can anyone tell me if we could have just 3 laying hens? We live in the township(Rock),actually RockvaleCommunity. I'd love to have fresh eggs without the chemicals again. Wishes to All!

Gardening! A wonderful,profitable way to "waste" time. Each year we sit very impatiently for spring to begin. We've done our best to turn our entire yard into a swedish alpine valley by planting hundreds of early,mid and late crocus throughout our lawn. When in their somewhat full blomm we've quite a treat. People passing by always stop to look,or slow down in their cars for a quick eyeing. Waiting for the apple trees to bloom what wonders our yard has. Wishes to All!

Chickens are fun, yet VERY messy. But they do keep bugs and weeds down. But some will "scratch" in your flowers if left to "scratch" (scratch means run loose during the day). I do know that with the cost of taking care of chickens compared to the amount of money you spend on eggs, you will not be saving money, but the holistic aspect is really nice. I live in the country and have thought about getting chickens, but we have so many coyotes out here that they wouldn't last long at all, and I like them scratching around, so I haven't quite convinced myself yet that I want them all penned up.

Can you really have chickens in town here? If it is only 4 that doesn't sound bad. I know nothing about the birds, bought all my eggs and such in the store. Do they need to be enclosed? Do they need heat in the winter? And how many eggs will 4 chickens produce? It sounds intriguing, I'd like to try. Along with my garden this year.

Sounds like we have a good number of people wanting to have chickens. Anyone know how to proceed from here?

I also can not wait to get my hands dirty! Iam obsessed with my garden, flowers and dead-heading. I think it would be wonderful if we could have a couple chickens in the city - the fresh eggs, the fertilizer, the bug control and just the enjoyment of watching them

FARMGIRL...about 8 years ago I too wanted to learn how to make homemade jam. It is VERY easy. How I started was, I purchased a box of 'SureJel' and the instructions are included in the box, and off I went. The 'thought' of it is way more intimidating then the actual process. Now my boys are lost when the jam runs out. I do black raspberry, blackberry, strawberry, strawberry/rhubarb and triple berry. Very time consuming, but oh so worth the time!!! BIG tip....buy yourself a canning pan. I started out with just a large pot and it was very hard. I wouldn't suggest starting out with Jellies, that will turn you off in a hurry in my opinion if you are a newbie. Jellies require a lot of work. Especially Grape. I also am going to try canning tomatoes this fall. My oldest son and I are going to create our "special" spaghetti sauce recipe to can. I have canned salsa before which was super easy and really yummy!! Good Luck Farmgirl. And remember, black raspberries are abundant in the wild. You probably have some right in your own back yard!!

If anyone has problems with deer, peppermint oil is a wonderful deterrent. Also, a thick lush border of marigolds is a great way to keep out those pesky little bunnies. They have beautiful ones that are giants, and they look SO pretty around a garden and require little tending too. Just pop those dead flowers (i.e. dead-heading) off, and you will have a full season of showy flowers, and they love the heat.

geraldinetheyounger

Chickens are low maintenance Clean feed & water. Shelter that keeps them safe from predators

Regular feed cost $10-$12 for 50 lbs Last time I checked organic was around $30

You can buy day old chicks, full grown or anything in between. Laying chickens are not fed “chemicals”

They start laying around 16 weeks and are good for 2 to 3 years.

You would want a heavy breed or “dual purpose” if you are going to end up eating them. Twin City Pack in Shopiere will do the deed for you.

Chickens sound like a good idea...are they low maintenance...what is the cost of feed? when do they start producing eggs? do you buy them as chicks or can you get full grown chickens? do they come with a history so you know if they have been well fed instead of having chemicals? (chickens on steroids??) what is the life expectancy of egg producing? are there certain breeds/types that are better than others and if/when you realize that you can't take proper care of them, where can you get them butchered so that you have chickens for the barbecue??

Rock Environmental Network, Inc. will be hosting it's monthly "Environmental Cafe" on April 22nd, from 6-7:30 PM at Mocha Moments on Center Ave in Janesville. Guest speaker will be Denny Wright from Wrightway Farms, Beloit. Topic of Discussion: CSA Farming, organic gardening, and preparing your garden for spring planting. Please join us! Come early, get a beverage, and join the discussion.

Yes, we should be allowed to have chickens. It would give us a chance to closely connect with our food, and acquaint children with the idea that eggs actually come from chickens, and not from the refrigerated case at the grocery store. The egg laying process appears fascinating to a child, and they might also find it fun to feed chickens. I know, as a child, I enjoyed these experiences when we had our chicken coop. If more families had their own chickens as a source for eggs, perhaps it would lessen, to some degree, the demand for eggs from industrialized chicken farms that treat chickens so inhumanely.

Allowing chickens would be a great idea. I know my mom has talked about it, and would like to be able to have some in town. I think it is a great way to have fresh eggs and meat, and they help take care of the bug problem too. We use to have some, but we live out in the country where the neighbors don't mind them, that is as long as they aren't roosters! LOL

Yes to chickens! A limit of 4 sounds like a plan. More research should be done on what Madison's ordinance is and we should form a group supporting this idea and present it to the city counsel.

What do people think about raising chickens in the city? Madison allows a typical lot to have up to 4 hens (NO roosters). That lets you have fresh eggs and if you are brave fresh chicken. I have a friend in Madison who gives her extra eggs away and every 6 months or so, harvests 2 of the hens, and gets two chicks from a local farmer. What do people think?

Most of my seeds came today from Johnny's Selected Seeds. I planted 19 beautiful little eggplant seeds in small pots today. The variety is called "Orient Express". I recommend getting the Johnny's Selected Seeds Catalog. It is filled with how-to info and the photos of the many varieties of plants and flowers are fun to look at. It is free!
I marvel how a small, hard, dried up seed can grow into a plant and bear fruit.

Thanks for the info on the topsy turvy tomatoes. I may get one at Farm and fleet just to try it this year. Sounds like cherry ones would be best to save on the weight they will have.

For those wanting info on container vegetable gardening, try this site www.containerseeds.com.

I meant to tell you, Catherine, how much I enjoy reading what you write. I think you are witty and offbeat. I especially enjoyed the story about your piano recital

I think that Creeping Charlie is edible! The leaves can be added to salads...I think it is in the mint family. I don't know if it would make a salad by itself...perhaps with the right dressing?! I hear that reporters aren't fussy eaters : - )

Check out the new Better Homes & Gardens magazine (April issue). It has great ideas for gardens for people with small spaces. Have absolutely no room at all? Check out the possibility of renting out a plot out by the jail on hwy 14. You would need to go through the UW Extension located at the courthouse. I just received my confirmation on my plot and according to their map, they still have spots available. They are $25 for the season and a water supply is out there. Great way to meet other gardners and compare ideas!

;~)

The "devil"' Cathy?!!!

;~(

Hi folks:
A couple of updates.
-Creeping Charlie is the work of the devil. That said, I'll get you some tips from extension.
-Yes, the upside down tomatoes do work, and are fun for kids.
-RetAFMSgt: Check back soon for some info on an easy way to start a garden. I'll include photos.
-And everyone can look forward to some info about keeping rabbits and rodents out of their gardens. I'm sorry, I can't loan out Enid.
Cathy

My daffodils are peaking through the soil! And there are robins everywhere! There was a Turkey Vulture flying over our house yesterday. Maybe Spring is coming!

That fence has got a kitty on it.

(Sorry.)

i found this link when searching for hanging tomato plants, this one sounds a little on the heavy side 30 to 40 lbs. so i am going to try to scale it down a bit using cherry tomatoes.
www.ehow.com/how_2046663_plant-hanging-t...
there is another article that explains how to to other veggies as well. looks like fun for me and the kids.

Creeping Charlie control:
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/...

Gool luck with that weed.

Rabbit control:
http://www.emmitsburg.net/gardens/articl...

I have also had some luck by using French Marigolds. I'll pick the flower buds off until the middle of July and the plant will get very bushy and wide. It will also develope a mass of flowers when it does bloom.

wow, a great idea here. Since more and more of us want our own safer vegetables and fruits I believe many more will plant a garden this year. Just wondered if anyone has ever tried the topsy turvy type tomato plants. Do they really grow well upside down like that?

I am starting a veggie garden this year after an attempt quite a few years ago. What do you do to keep the rabbits and the chipmunks out?/ That was our biggest complaint last time. They seemed to eat all our hard work. Does anyone know what to do, I'd really like to eat something out of there this time.HELP!!!!

Creeping Charlie - HELP!

I want the ideal garden - an outdoor living room, with color every season, low maintenance, native plants & curb appeal.

Is this possible?

Is there some way to have a successful garden when you don't have much space? I have a BLACK thumb and everything stays in the dirt. It would be nice to have something that was pretty AND that could be eaten too. Are there any classes for this? Who would I call?

Maybe a first step for new gardeners would be info on how and where to get your dirt analyzed. Doesn't the UW Extension do that? Is there a cost?

Yeah!!! I needed a new blog to become addicted to. So so happy about this, great idea!

I agree I am getting the gardening itch. I have been getting plant catalogs since January and I am ready to get outside and dig in the dirt.
*
I hope to have a decent garden this year and plan to learn how to can tomatoes, if I find someone who will teach me that is...LOL I would also like to learn how to make jams/jellies.
*
Glad to have the chance to blog about gardening, thanks for the new blog.

What welcome news this garden blog is. It won't be long. The grass is greening up. Bought veg and flower seeds weeks ago when Farm & Fleet had a great sale. Can't wait to get going, and to tase that first tomato right off the vine !!

*waves*

I've heard statistics given that there is a 20% increase in vegetable garden related projects. You've found a great time to get this started, Cathy. There's a big demand for garden information these days.

I'm contemplating putting in a garden, not sure where or when to start. I'll keep checking back for tips. good luck with the blog!

I have only been to your garden once, but I seem to recall it has robots. Most enjoyable. Can't wait to hear more about the plant life!

Hurray! This is an exciting development. I have also been dreaming gardening for the past several weeks. I am expecting a seed order from Johnny's Seeds in a few days. We have had a veg garden in the past but not for the last few years. Now that my husband lost his job at GM he will have time to help me. We are expanding the size of our garden and planting a variety of veggies. Can't wait to get out there and get my hands dirty.