Hey Everyone!

I agree, this is a great thread! And a great listserv!

My name is Ginger Deason and my husband and I have lived in East Raleigh for almost two years (but were gone for 1.5 yr in the middle - we just came back!). I have had a backyard garden of some form for about five years, but gardened a LOT with my dad when I was growing up in rural Alabama. For years I have worked in some form or fashion in outreach and education associated with sustainable agriculture or forestry and community gardening, so I have a lot of "book knowledge" and courses behind me, although I often still feel like a novice! There's always something to learn!

I am a perpetual student of John Jeavons' Biointensive Gardening and still have quite a way to go since we were gone last year, which would have been the third year into my garden. I kinda had to start all over this year, but it's not been too hard. My focus right now is on diversified veggies, mainly ones that I know we will eat all of. I plan on getting some fruit trees, but that might be a year or so down the road. The tornado has given us a lot more sun in the back yard so I also plan on expanding my garden, also down the road. And adding some chickens (also down the road!).

The bike tour idea is a great one! I'd be into that! And I was the one who suggested an East Raleigh Urban Garden tour and a couple of people have emailed me (gdeason@gmail.com) to say they were interested in helping plan. If you are interested and haven't emailed me yet, please do!

Have a great day!
Ginger
2319 Stevens

PS: I LOVE birds too and am trying my best to make my yard as bird friendly as possible. We have a nest of baby bluebirds in a box that's close enough to the deck to hear! They're awesome and will probably fledge around Memorial Day weekend, so come on over if you want to see some babies blues!

PPS: The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) has many courses on gardening/farming/animal husbandry throughout the year. They're located in Goldsboro, so it's a hike, but check out their calendar if you're interested and maybe if people ever want to attend a course we could carpool. Most courses are cheap to free and there's one on On-Farm Habitat for Ecosystem Services (May 25) which may or may not be appropriate for smaller-scale urban gardens, but I might look into it. And it's free!



On Sun, May 15, 2011 at 9:41 AM, Ryan Parker <kennethryanparker@gmail.com> wrote:
Fellow garden geeks,

I live on Drew St., which is in the area commonly referred to as "the other side of Mordecai" in local CAC meetings.  I have lived in this house for 7 years and have planted many shrubs and flowers around on our one tenth of an acre.  I also have a dedicated vegetable garden that is subdivided into five semi-raised beds and a compost bin.  Three of the beds are 4'x4', two are 4'x6' and the compost bin is also 4'x4'.  This year's crop features the following:

(4) Jalapeno Peppers
(4) Sweet Banana Peppers
(4) Better Boy Tomatoes
(4) Sweet Basil
(10) Bush Bean
(4) Cantaloupe
(4) Burpless Cucumber

All plants came from the farmer's market in either 4 or 6 packs and were planted the weekend of Earth Day (as per tradition) except for 6 bush bean plants which I planted this week.  All beds are separated with a rock path made of small smooth river jack gravel.  This area of the yard I refer to as the "South Garden."  The perimeter of this section has ligustrum japonicum shrubs for a privette (non-native) and an abelia.  The edge of our patio is home to three varities of knock out roses (red, pink and yellow) that are in their second year and now in full bloom.

The front facade of the house (or the "North Garden") has a Kleim's Hearty gardenia, Pink Snowball azalea, a shrubby yew pine, and a leland cypress (which I am considering up rooting and replacing with a japanese maple, so free leland cypress with a one year in-ground rooting system is up for grabs. 

Although I try to keep the garden organic, I can see when the plants are nutrient poor and I can readily correct their shortcomings with Miracle Grow's 10-35-10 or fish emulsion 5-1-1.  When plants are in the final stages of their fruit producing cycle I use only fish emulsion.  The only time I use 7 dust or a pesticide is when I see the evil horned tomato worms devouring my plants.  I also use a supplement that prevents blossom rot.

I keep a garden journal so I can see the progress of certain plants and get a handle on watering cyles.  Plus it's also great to see how the garden has evolved.

I hope that we can plan a floating party sometime during the summer that would allow us to tour each other's garden's and show off our hard work. 

Thanks
Ryan


On Sun, May 15, 2011 at 8:30 AM, Hope Rollins <hrollins1@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Sarah Jessica and others,

Good to see you on the list serve.  Sounds like you have some great ideas.

I live in Oakwood.  I have several raised beds.  Had poor luck with even
tomatoes last year. Frequently, something got to them before I was able to
bring them in.

However, I am having great luck with lavender, herbs, knockout roses, and
perennials.  Also, I have pond with 2 koi, 2 gold fish and recent purchased
3 bullfrog fish. I am looking forward to hearing about everyone's successes
and frustrations in the garden.

Hope Rollins
326 Oakwood Ave.

-----Original Message-----
From: gardening-bounces@eastraleigh.org
[mailto:gardening-bounces@eastraleigh.org] On Behalf Of SJF
Sent: Sunday, May 15, 2011 12:09 AM
To: Gardening
Subject: Re: [Gardening] Introductions?

Hey gang!

I am new to North Carolina gardening.  I had a big garden in my
parents' backyard about 15 years ago where I grew lilacs, roses,
lilies (Asiatic type and hemerocallis) and penstemon and Jacob's
ladder, among other things.  I'm really surprised I can remember
everything I had growing back there!  Well, here I am, still a renter
15 years later and I can't put off gardening until I buy a home.

This year I'm working on creating some front perennial beds.  I am
also thinking about starting a veggie garden out back using straw
bales to create a raised bed (and to give the baby vegetables a bit of
a buffer from my three rowdy dogs).  I'm late to that particular game
so I'll probably head to the farmer's market for some starter plants.

I prefer to use organic gardening methods, I'm beginning to think even
a nuclear-type toxin could not eliminate the poison ivy that is
winding its way around the pine tree in my backyard.  I didn't have
many problems in NJ with pests or disease -- there is a reason they
call that place the garden state - and I am keeping my fingers crossed
that the dirt here is also kind to me.  I try to swap plants when I
can (I might have some spare irises soon) and to choose species that
spread rather than specimens that are higher maintenance.  I have a
baby compost pile that I hope to get some good use out of this summer,
so your composting tips are most welcome.  I have lots to learn and
hope to soon have lots to share as well!

Sarah Jessica ("SJ")
213 Dennis


_______________________________________________
Gardening mailing list
Gardening@eastraleigh.org
http://www.eastraleigh.org/mailman/listinfo/gardening

_______________________________________________
Gardening mailing list
Gardening@eastraleigh.org
http://www.eastraleigh.org/mailman/listinfo/gardening


_______________________________________________
Gardening mailing list
Gardening@eastraleigh.org
http://www.eastraleigh.org/mailman/listinfo/gardening




--
Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught, will we realize that we cannot eat money.
~ 19th century Cree saying

Hasta que el último árbol sea cortado, hasta que el último río sea contaminado, hasta que el último pescado sea atrapado; solo entonces nos daremos cuenta que el dinero no se puede comer.
~ profecia Indios Cree