Tomato Talk

When I think of a vegetable garden immediately my mind goes to tomatoes. Tomatoes! You know those warmed-by-the-sun juicy amazing tomatoes? Yes. To me, summer is just that. Sitting in the garden in the dirt, eating tomatoes.

Garden Goals, challenge accepted

Each year I become a tomato hoarder. A hoarder of tomatoes, and this year has already proven to not be an exception. Currently, I have two yellow pear tomatoes planted already in the garden.

This year in my greenhouse I attempted to start cherry, beefsteak, and mixed heirlooms but my first two tries were unsuccessful. Eventually that container, getting glares from me, was pushed towards the back and left to rot. But hey! I noticed yesterday that the flat of dirt that held my failed tomato attempts actually had two little sprouts! And today I had another. Maybe it just didn’t like my bad attitude towards it. Now I can say that two variety heirlooms and one beefsteak are growing happily. Can’t wait to get them in the garden.

So you know how I said I was a tomato hoarder? Here we go. So You would think that with two yellow pear tomatoes, two variety heirlooms, and one beefsteak maybe I would be happy? fulfilled? Pffft. Clearly not. Today I found myself at one of my favorite places: our local co-op. Well I intended to just drive by but as my Jeep putted by I happened to glance over and what should my eyes see. Oh yes the magic cart was out. The “magic cart” is the start cart. Local farmers sell their organic starts and oh the awesome finds that cart has. So of course I circled the block and found myself hot footing it to check it out because you can never have too many things in the garden. I no sooner was standing in line with a little 4 inch Golden sunburst because you know… Hello I am a Tomatoaholic.

This should be the end of the story but why end there right. I also failed to mention that there is (wait for it….) a mystery tomato plant hanging out in my greenhouse, all tall and mysterious in the corner. He was a gift from my mama from her own co-op sprout cart trip. The cashier didn’t know what it was but smiled and said, “it’s a surprise!” So yea. Tomatoes are kind of my thing and no I am not sorry.

So the end tally:

2 yellow pear

2 mixed heirloom

1 beefsteak

1 golden sunburst

1 Mystery Mato

Cheers to tomatoes!!!

I think I need more garden boxes, Oh husband of mine….. 😉

The World Is Wild

It is one of those mornings that I love. A Saturday in the mountains. I can always count on a soft, low hanging, lazy fog. A sun that is just getting warmed up. Dew drops blanket the greenhouse windows, and the birds are already busy, probably have been for hours.

No one is awake but me. I can kiss two rosy cheeked sleepers that have both magically managed to find their way between me and my husband during the night. I can then slowly tiptoe to the front door and sneak outside. Always barefoot. Mornings like this, barefoot is a requirement. My little greenhouse always smells the best in the morning. I can close the foggy glass door and just have a few quiet moments.

Wild Lane Acre.

We live nestled in a small community high in the Sierras. Our property is just perfect at an acre and a half. If you know which dirt lane to turn down you will probably be greeted by our two dogs wagging hellos. A four year old running through the pines, sometimes sans clothing. His little brother, who is just one, usually laughing not far away in his play yard. Our home has always been a little wild. Which will never be a complaint.

We have goals for this little piece of heaven. Goals that are just starting to take shape. My husband and I crave a lifestyle that is less reliant on the grocery store and more comprised of the sweat, hard work, and tears of our own creation. There is something to be said about a fresh homegrown tomato from your own garden. Knowing where our food comes from, choosing to live in a more sustainable, organic way. That is our goal. We have the space, we have the willpower. Cheers to that.

Now as I stand in my greenhouse, over sized coffee mug steaming that amazing aroma, I can see that my little starts have grown since yesterday. Today maybe some of them can be moved into the garden. I love Saturdays.

Welcome to the journey that is Wild Lane.

A small view of the greenhouse happenings

Cucumbers

Let It Grow

I asked my four year old what we should name our garden and since he had just finished watching The Lorax. Naturally he responded with, “Let it grow!”

It stuck. Let It Grow Garden.

Our greenhouse has seen quite a bit of action the last few weeks. We have six raised garden beds in an enclosed area. Over the years I have used maybe three boxes at once. This year I am determined to use all of the space. Flowers. I do flowers. Vegetables are a bit foreign to me. I am fluent in the beauty of growing tomatoes. Lettuce, cucumbers, watermelon, onions, beans and potatoes not so much. I had success a couple years ago with planting way too many pumpkins which resulted in our very own pumpkin patch. But growing all of these and more at once is a bit daunting. Exciting. But as I learned this morning, while looking at cold sad droopy cucumber sprouts, I have very much to learn.

Apparently starting cucumbers in the greenhouse isn’t usually how it is done. Usually they (and by they I mean google people) plant the seed directly into the earth and when it is warm enough they will sprout and grow, no need to transplant. Starting them as I did, too early means you must condition them? which I gathered meant taking them outside when it is warm, a little windy, letting them hang out and chat with the birds and bugs. But then bringing them back in before they decide to do their death droop. This is done from what I gathered no less than 5,000 times until they are ready to be outside permanently. Sounds like next year I may just do as googsperts say and plant directly in the ground. Lesson officially learned. Until then I will continue to nurse my little cucumbers back to health which I am pleased to say are standing back up and looking happy again.

       Cucumbers bounced back