Updates:

lettuce 3.21.08


spinach 3.21.08


tomatoes 3.21.08

The seedcoats on the ensalada tomatoes (foreground) won't fall off. They are just too hard or strong. So after looking at the little seedling struggling to grow and push the seedcoat off, I decided to get involved. After all, nature is limited in a NYC apartment and there would be wind and insects doing little chores for the seedlings that just don't get done. Well as you can see from the photo I popped its head off (the one on the left) in my attempt to help...oops. I'll be more careful next time.

The seedlings are coming along. I am doing my best not to fret too much. I spritz a couple of times a day and fill the bowls they're sitting in, hoping the water wicks up the toilet paper rolls.
They are sitting under a 15watt CFL bulb for now but I am thinking about getting a grow bulb in the next few days.

little gem lettuce 3.19.08

I am not sure when to replant the lettuce. It's looking a little crowded but I want them to be strong enough to take the handling of repotting; it would be devastating to kill them at this point.

grape tomatoes 3.19.08

That is a little ensalada tomato seedling coming up in the background.

teton hybrid spinach 3.19.08


Still nothing from the mint....we'll see. I may have poured some water in the pot and washed the seed too low or maybe I should just be patient.

I am going to apply to intern for myself next week.....whatya think?
Resume to follow.

I want to grow a few vegetables in my New York City apartment window this summer. It's just about all I can think about these days. There is plenty of information online about gardening so I am currently reading as much as I can about how to garden. I wish there was a little more written about indoor gardening; I worry about things like how involved I will have to be with flower pollination without insects to do the job. There is a lot to learn.
I have been vermicomposting since early October and figure indoor gardening is a great way to use the worm castings. The little bit of compost tea I have poured into my other houseplants has made a noticeable difference. A rubber tree plant that was trying to die has found the energy to grow a little sprout among the dead stalks.
The windows in our living room face south and we get some pretty strong sun but I am anxious so I did a little photo study of our window to see how our sun looks.

February 21, 2008 10:54am


February 21, 2008 11:47am


February 21, 2008 12:21pm


February 21, 2008 1:34pm


February 21, 2008 2:12pm


February 21, 2008 2:47pm


February 21, 2008 4:10pm


It doesn't look great for us right now but in a month or so the sun will be higher in the sky and pass over some tall buildings instead of getting lost behind them. There is a new building (I think it is the new New York Times building) in the sun's path, but I am hoping the sun gets high enough to pass over it.
We'll see.

Listening to my friend Peter Villa on his podcast and lovin it.

Recorded 2/23/08

http://www.petervilla.com/694/podcasts/podcast.xml

like catchin' up

Here are some links to stuff I read about vermicomposting. I have been following Savage Worms since they started a month or two ago but check out the video on Ryan is Hungry (it's a pretty good 'How To...').

Savage Worms Archive
http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/?cat=57

Lot's of pictures.
Don't let them scare you; it's not that stinky...at least it shouldn't be


Video Diary...things get a little out of control. This is the first info I found after Martha Stewart did an exerpt on her show about vermicomposting. Watch this first video with the expert and you'll be hooked but also do more research. I think they put colored newspaper in the bin when starting but everything I have read says only black ink, white paper.

http://ryanishungry.com/2007/03/24/apartment-composting-101-vermicompost-with-barb-finnin/

http://ryanishungry.com/2007/04/04/a-conversation-with-barb-finnin-master-composter/

http://ryanishungry.com/2007/05/16/vermicomposting-jay-gives-a-worm-bin-update/

There are a few more videos but check out the archives.


Clear concise onesheet

http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/vermicompost107.shtml

I read this article in the new york times magazine a stretch ago all about blogging and how it is the new and exciting thing to do, so I want to do it.