April 18, 2011
I signed up for 2 community garden plots here in Boulder that are 20′ x 20′ each.
This is my view driving on my way home from my garden plots. I couldn’t have asked for a nicer place to garden….except my garden in Arizona, but this will do. :)
[ 2 Comments ] Posted on 04.18.11 under From My Garden
Boulder-High Desert Climate
March 29, 2011
I was researching the gardening zone, which is 5a, and weather here in Boulder to determine when to start planting my garden. I discovered that Boulder has a “high desert” climate, although it isn’t located in a desert, with 300 sunny days a year. Not bad. I can deal with 300 sunny days and I definitely know how to deal with dry weather. The cold I’m not so sure about.
This morning I woke up to 3/4 of an inch of snow- at the end of March? To me that’s just weird and I don’t know if this native Arizonan will ever get used to this weather. Yesterday, it was totally beautiful, getting up in the middle 50’s, and my kids played outside all afternoon without heavy jackets. And then this morning the kids run into my room telling me there’s snow on the ground. Confused. Yes, that’s what I am.
I have my broccoli, cauliflower, chard and kale starts going and actually set them outside this morning atop the snow so they can get their much needed sunlight. I haven’t set up any grow lights and I’m not sure I will, so I’ll have to rely on bringing my seedlings in at night and taking them back out in the morning. I need to wait until it warms up a little more before I start tomatoes and the warm season veggies because I know they can’t deal with the cold very well at all.
In other news, we have started going to a church up the road that just started a community garden this year. Can I tell you how excited I am about that? I found out about it last Sunday and was at their office first thing Monday morning with my registration and money just to make sure I’d get a plot. Yes, I’m a little eager, especially after not having any garden for over a year. And this plot is 20′ x 20′. Did you hear that? The plot sits up on a hill that has beautiful views of the Flat Iron mountains. When no one is looking I might find myself bringing my camp chair and just sitting in my plot on days that I need a break. : )
My landlord also says that she doesn’t mind me putting in 4 5′ x 5′ garden boxes here at my house, so I think we might be rolling in the veggies come this summer if I can figure out this new gardening climate and what not.
My son, Jaedon, decided that he wanted to take over my fern root thing project. Costco had a bunch of bulbs and root things for sale, so I thought I’d buy some ferns because that is a new thing for me. If you remember, he is the one who decided that he wanted to plant sunflower seeds in our little itty bitty patio back yard, so he rallied all of his neighborhood friends to clear the rock and dig up the native dirt. Some of them actually grew, so that must have given him the inspiration to want to plant fern roots because honestly, what 11 year old boy wants to plant ferns these days? He must have the “farmer” blood in him.
So, there you go…just a little bit of what is going on in our new Colorado home.
P.S. I would love to see some pictures of your garden, Farmer Darrell. :)
[ 1 Comment ] Posted on 03.29.11 under From My Garden
Farmer Darrell, where are you????
February 06, 2011
Dear Farmer Darrell,
Where are you??? Please come back and share some of your garden wisdom with us!!!!
It’s so cold here in Boulder and I want to see some Arizona garden pictures to remind me that it won’t be like this forever and that springs coming. My hands are itching to get into the dirt because I have this timer in my brain that says it’s almost time to plant tomatoes. But, it’s only February and here in the high desert I won’t be able to until May, so keep me posted on the Arizona desert gardens so I don’t get too homesick!!!!
Love you much,
P.S. Read the previous post if you’re wondering what’s going on!
[ 1 Comment ] Posted on 02.06.11 under From My Garden
Moved!
January 18, 2011
I just wanted to let y’all know that have I moved…to Boulder, Colorado. I greatly miss the gardening weather in Arizona, but I have a new climate to acclimate to and learn how to garden in.
I am bummed that I can’t garden in the winter, though. I went to Home Depot, here in Boulder last week and almost teared up looking at their completely empty garden area. Empty! I am not used to that at all! And I believe I have about 4 more months until I can plant anything which means the nurseries will probably remain empty until then. I’ll try to get used to it or at least start a houseplant collection or something until I get used to no garden.
My dad, Farmer Darrell, continues his gardening adventures in the Phoenix metro area and will post some pictures of what he’s up to in his garden from time to time so keep checking back!
So, for all of you Phoenicians that are wanting to plant a garden, the time is coming up very soon for tomatoes! Get digging and tilling up that dirt with compost and manure. February 15 is the date my dad always says to plant them…sometimes a little sooner depending on the weather. Check out the link for the planting and harvesting calendar over to the lefthand side of the website for all of the other things you can plant, which is almost anything!
I don’t care how hot Arizona gets, I will always love it’s weather and miss my garden in the desert.
[ 1 Comment ] Posted on 01.18.11 under From My Garden
Harvest Crusade
August 05, 2010
Once again, the Harvest Crusade is going on this weekend in Anaheim, California. I got saved there 10 years ago, along with my dad, and my life has never been the same, so I have a special place in my heart for why I share it every year with y’all.
If you’re looking for Jesus, Greg Laurie will lead you right to Him…plus there are some really great bands playing.
You can watch it live Friday, Saturday and Sunday night or you can watch the video of it after it’s over, just click on the banner for more details.
[ 1 Comment ] Posted on 08.05.10 under From My Garden
Life’s Simple Pleasures
May 18, 2010
My son, Jaedon, who is 10, decided that he was going to plant some sunflower seeds in our little itty bitty patio that gets a little itty bitty row of sunshine. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am so excited that we actually get a little foot wide row of sunshine because I didn’t think we would get ANY this summer.
So, anyway, back to my story. We have been learning about botany for science and a few weeks ago we read about the different kind of plants that would attract butterflies and hummingbirds to our yard. Jaedon got really interested because we had a little momma hummingbird sitting on her eggs at eye level in a little tree out in front of our house.
Well, we went to Home Depot and looked up some of the plants that we read would attract them and couldn’t find any of them. Eventually, we gave up on that idea, but Jaedon wanted to plant sunflowers all on his own because he saw some leftover sunflower seeds from last year.
So Jaedon rallied his brothers and friends to clear some of the rocks, dug some holes and planted sunflower seeds. I kept an eye on his progress throughout the week and wondered if they would really come up in just the native soil right underneath landscaping rock. I had my doubts.
But, bless his little heart, he faithfully went out and watered those little seeds for a week straight and then came and told me that he was giving up because they weren’t coming up. I tried to encourage him, but this was his project and I didn’t want to interfere too much. I told him that sometimes it takes a while, but I don’t think he believed me.
A few days later he came running in, so excited, and said that one had popped up. And for the last couple of weeks five little seeds have sprouted. Every single day now, right after he wakes up, he runs outside to water his plants and I haven’t had to remind him one time.
Can I tell you how much fun that has been to watch? It’s so much fun to watch my son enjoy the same miracle that I enjoy. I get as much enjoyment watching my son take care of his plants as I did taking care of my own garden.
I love it!
[ 5 Comments ] Posted on 05.18.10 under From My Garden
Who Was That Masked Man?
April 24, 2010
When I was selling my tomato plants, the father of the neighbors that live right next door stopped and bought some tomato plants from me back in February. He told me that he had a large garden and I told him to feel free to bring whatever he had extra on over to me since we moved and I have no garden this year.
So, for the last couple of months I have found large bags of lettuce, oranges or grapefruits by the door or he humbly rings my doorbell, hands the goods to me and takes off before I can hardly say a word.
Today, it was 2 bags of lettuce and a few scallions. He has no idea how it makes me smile. Actually, I think he smiles just as big as I do, but he won’t let me see it.
Thanks, Masked Man.
[ 4 Comments ] Posted on 04.24.10 under From My Garden
Creamed Chard
April 19, 2010
When I visited my dad’s, Farmer Darrell’s, this past weekend I left with a bag full of swiss chard. As I was looking for some interesting way to cook it, different from my usual, stand by way, I ran across a bunch of creamed spinach recipes. So I thought I would try a creamed spinach recipe and sub chard for the spinach. I don’t remember the exact recipe, but this is how I made it.
Creamed Chard
1 big bunch of Swiss Chard, chopped in 1 inch strips
2 T butter
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 cup cream
2 T parmesan cheese
pressed garlic (I used 3 cloves)
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Wash and shake all of the excess water out of the chard. Grab a stalk at the bottom where the leaf starts and pull the stalk, like a zipper. The leaf should rip apart pretty easily from the stalk. Do this to all of the leaves.
Melt the 2 tablespoons of butter in a pan over medium heat and then add the chopped onion. Put on low heat and cook onion for 15 minutes, stirring a couple of times, until the onion is a nice light brown color.
Add the garlic, cream and chard, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper and cook covered over medium heat for about 3-5 minutes, stirring a couple of times.
Remove the lid, increase the heat and cook until the cream is reduced and thickened slightly, stirring regularly. Cook until the desired reduction, however long that takes. Just don’t burn it or let it get too mushy!
This was so good!
[ 2 Comments ] Posted on 04.19.10 under Swiss Chard/Beet Tops/Kale
Farmer Darrell’s March Gardening Tip
March 26, 2010
Well, here it is March madness time for gardens. I haven’t been keeping you up to date and I apologize. You should either have or be putting in your spring gardens NOW !! If you wait any longer it will get too hot for your veggies to produce and will disappoint your efforts. NOW IS THE TIME!
I decided to put in tomatoes, peppers, squash, onions and swiss chard.as my main crops. I have limited pumpkins, sunflowers (seed varieties) eggplants, edamame (soy beans) shallots, garlic and strawberries. I have several varieties of each vegetable of the main groups. I also dedicated a portion of my garden to herbs, of which I have 20 different kinds. I am excited to use them all in some form of my cooking recipes.
If any of you are wondering about what to put in you can choose from different varieties from each of the groups that I have planted. If you need to know what to do with your soil remember to work in a top layer of at least 4-6 inches of compost to your 12 inch seedbed. Our soil here tends to get hard and this will help conserve water and keep your soil fertile. You can check the archives on this site for further tips that I have given in the past year.
So, with that being said I hope all of you will get out and get some dirt under your fingernails (just kidding) and enjoy the great outdoors that we have this time of year. You will find peace, inner satisfaction and pride in growing your own food. Good luck and good planting.
[ 2 Comments ] Posted on 03.26.10 under Farmer Darrell's Tips
Pepper Plants
February 18, 2010
I have a bunch of peppers available so if you are near Surprise or in Phoenix near 35th Ave & Peoria let me know and I will get them ready for you.
I have Orange Habenero, Sweet Chocolate Bell, Purple Bell, Cayenne, Serrano and CalWonder, $.75 each. I also have about 20 plants that are a mystery (funny how the name tags mysteriously disappear 
) that you can have for $.25. They are any of the above varieties.
I also have some very tiny tomato seedlings that are getting their first set of true leaves that got dumped (I might add, by my sweet 5 year old, on my white carpet (white carpet with 5 kids?…that’s a whole other story), on a day that my vacuum was broken) and are growing in a heap of dirt in/on the seed tray. They are either Early Girl, Sweet 100 or Yellow Pear and you can have them for FREE. I could pot those up if someone might want them. There’s probably half a dozen or so.
Email me if interested in any of the above at clm_sam@msn.com
[ 3 Comments ] Posted on 02.18.10 under Recommended Books
