Fascinating podcast - how the invisible fungal network of a forest helps move nutrients from the sun, air, rocks & death into living trees - and how these organisms communicate, share, ask for help, and even plan.  One thing to remember: most large-scale farming (organic or not) obliterates the microbial soil network.  They grow plants in dead soil to avoid weeds, adding nutrients (chemically or naturally) To help these (nutritionally depleted) crops survive.  Without this network, WE are cut off from this cycle of nutrients.  Composting, gardening, buying from small local farms with good practices - all of these are ways to get ourselves back in this loop!

RadioLab - From Tree to Shining Tree

New Moon Spring Self-Care

Spent an amazing Saturday evening *by myself*.  This week has been a really intense ending to a fairly intense semester.   As part of my self-care, I finally got out in my garden and planted all the seedlings I bought weeks ago (some of which look the worse for wear after waiting outside for me to find time for them).   I sifted through the springy, alive compost I spent all winter making, and just got back in touch with the ground that I hadn't touched for almost nine months.  I pulled weeds, cleared ground, and dug nutrient-rich compost into some of the harder winter dirt and planted about half my garden with kale, cabbage and tomatoes.   Last year, I tried, as usual, to have it all - but my cabbages, shoved into a shady corner, grew slowly and  were ravaged by bugs and bunnies.  This year, I thought about what I *really* wanted, and what I had energy for.   Instead of tucking in carrots or onions where they really wouldn't have space to grow, or crowding in larger plants in an effort to "have it all," I chose a few plants I really wanted to prosper - cabbage, kale, spinach, tomatoes - and spread them out all over the garden.  I gave them a crap-ton of compost and plenty of room to be strong and well.   I knew this meant I would have to give up some things - eggplants, for one, and maybe green peppers - but I know that I won't have time to tend high-maintenance seedlings or slow-growing, disease-prone tropical plants like them.   So I did the hardest thing for me - I said "no" to possibility and variety.   Instead, I channeled strength and power into the "few good things."  Cabbage, kale and spinach have become staples- this summer, I'm hoping to provide weekly food instead of dazzling breadth.   We'll see if I can hold back, though.   I do love the *4* eggplants or peppers I usually get.


This is, as usual, a metaphor for my life.  I am fueled by the possibilities - or my dreams of how life *could* be.    This is both beautiful and dangerous.  

Planning a garden?

Every year, I try to boost this website (the precursor to the Backyard Garden blog) that I made in 2010 giving advice and resources for urban folks trying to start their own gardens.    If you fall in that category, please check it out.   It has information on what to plant ("easy" vs. "hard" plants, cold vs. heat loving plants, shade tolerant plants, etc.) and where to plant it.    Also, where to get good cheap stuff around Boston.     It also starts out with a very cute essay about why gardening is so awesome (and how Dawn and I started our own backyard garden from a trash-filled lot!)

Enjoy!

https://sites.google.com/site/abbymachsoncarter/home/boston-backyard-gardener

Spring has sprung!

well....I already know from looking at my garden calendars that spring is actually WAY early this year (compared to the last few).    While in years past we've had nights still down to freezing at this point, my early April hardy plants (lettuce, spinach, radishes & peas) seem to be doing just fine.   Usually at this time of year I'm reminding folks that the last frost date isn't until Mother's Day, at least!   Now, however, I feel like we have no idea - so this year I'm trying to get on board and plant hardy plants ASAP...so that they can be of harvestable size before whatever is coming next (namely, tender squash, beans and cukes!)  Is global warming helping my garden?

Also, the dandelions are up!  I used to think these were just completely obnoxious weeds..until, perusing some garden reading, some author mentioned how helpful dandelions are.    So many beneficial insects need flower nectar to feed off of, and dandelions, one of the first flowers up in spring, provide an excellent source before the real cornacopia of spring and summer flowers get going.   So, the advice goes, let dandelions flower with reckless abandon - and then uproot the heck out of them when they start going to seed!

Spring lettuce and spinach in the front raised bed

hardy urban dandelions

First day of "eatin' season!"

Well, it's official - i ate something that grew out in my backyard!   I guess this season I'll be making paleo, seasonal food  - which shouldn't be too hard, since what I grow is vegetables, and that's what we're supposed to eat...right?

So this morning I made myself a mushroom and backyard chive-and-marjoram omelet.   These tender herbs are the very first things to come up in spring (other than garlic shoots...which I skipped in the fall and, as always, miss in the spring!)  verdict?    I don't actually like Marjoram.   Bought it at the local garden shop to try something new...turns out it was the ubiquitous herb-of-choice in Ecuador during my study abroad....and although I enjoy the time warp quality of eating something I haven't had in a while, I pretty much made myself forever sick of that herb (as well as chamomile tea!).

So....anyone want some marjoram?  (ie, wild oregano?)

Bees!

These people grow bees in Jamaica Plain - I love bees!   I want to grow some (but I fear our backyard is tooooo small :(   )  

but maybe I can visit their backyard and check out how their bees are doing!

http://www.nofamass.org/articles/2013/02/addicted-bugs#.UVjUlBmd4fF

Worm Moon & a Brand New Way to Compost!

This past week marked the March full moon, also known as the "Worm Moon".
From the Farmer's Almanac website:

The Full Worm Moon was given its name by the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior.
At the time of this spring Moon, the ground begins to soften and earthworm casts reappear, inviting the return of robins. This is also known as the Sap Moon, as it marks the time when maple sap begins to flow and the annual tapping of maple trees begins.

Well, global warming or no global warming, it is beginning to feel like springtime here, with warm days alternating with raw, windy nights, and, of course, the hallmark of New England spring: MUD!

I love the feeling of this time of year, the energy shift that it brings.   The days and nights are equal length, the daylight lasts longer and the earth is coming back to life.   It's subtle, animal things that our body instinctively feels: more bird noises, more smells coming out of the wet ground.  Crocuses, daffodils and all my perennial buds pushing their way out of the ground.    Yesterday I saw a dove sitting on our front porch.