Container Gardening - Part 2

     What a container garden needs first and foremost is containers.  I have some larger terracotta flower pots, but nothing big enough to grow tomatoes or corn.  Having to purchase containers would set me back quite a bit, so I turned to freecycle.org.  I registered and joined several nearby communities.  I posted "wanted" notices for storage bins (for planting or composting), extra large planters, and shelving.  Thanks to all the freecyclers who gave me such good stuff.

These are two of four bins that I got.

 

I drilled drainage holes, necessary for planting or using as a composting container.

I started composting grass clippings, twigs, vegetable scraps, egg shells, coffee and coffee filters.  I found a local place where I can get free horse manure.  None of my bins came with lids.  For now, I am using an old piece of hardware cloth weighted down with a board (to keep critters out).  I put the word out on freecycle for old window screens, but I haven't gotten responses to that request.  No, composting doesn't smell.  

These pots are from Lowe's.  Lowe's and Home Depot are not a good source for pots because they recycle their pots by returning them to the suppliers.  I got lucky the day I asked for these.  Smaller pots like these are good for lettuce.  

The shelving came from a person who was downsizing to a smaller home.  All of the pots in this picture came from another person who is also downsizing.  Because I have collected these items from various communities, I will wash and disinfect them before I plant in them.

     I'll continue with Part 3 when I buy my seeds and start my seedlings in March or April 2019.

Container Gardening - Part 1

     I have an area in the back yard that is covered with a thick layer of  1½ inch river rock.  The picnic table that used to sit on this spot was chewed by squirrels and warped by the elements.  One night my neighbor, with my blessing, used the table to fuel an impressive bonfire.
     That left me with an empty spot.  What to do, what to do?  I decided that next spring I will set up a container vegetable garden.
     This project has its challenges.  My stony plot is outside of the fenced section of the back yard.  That means the deer, ground hogs, and rabbits will ruin it. I'll need a fence.   It would be Pinterest perfect to match the garden fence to my black aluminum backyard fence, but that costs $500 - $1000 depending on if I buy used fencing or brand new materials.  This price includes professional installation since I don't have the skill or the tools for properly installing a metal fence.  My barrier has to be cheaper.  It doesn't make a lot of sense to spend beaucoup bucks on an enclosure for the amount of vegetables that I will produce.  Finding cheaper, yet eye pleasing materials, and doing it myself would bring the price down, but the work would have to be easy.  I'm not as fit as I used to be and a pressure treated 4x4x8 is a bit too heavy for me to tote around in my senectitude.

     Here's my solution: Going rustic, using wood and wire, will blend nicely in the back yard.  Landscape timbers are lighter weight and fairly cheap.  They have a reputation for rotting quickly, but I have a workaround for that.  My garden enclosure is going to cost less than $150.00.  If it lasts five years, I'll be thrilled.

My Stony Plot
The backyard fence will serve as one side of my garden fence.

This is a roll of 14 gauge welded wire.  It is 60" tall.  The backyard fence is 54" tall, and a deer has never jumped over it.  I think a 60" fence will deer proof my garden. 

These are the much maligned landscape timbers.  I'll be using ten pieces - eight for the fence and two for the gate.  I bought one extra post in case something goes wrong.  Of course, when you have it, you never need it.

   

Some say that painting posts with roofing tar will preserve the part that is buried below ground.  I'm hoping this low cost treatment will extend the life of my posts.  The tar had settled and had to be stirred a lot.  Wear old clothes because you will have to throw out anything splattered with tar.  You'll also thrown out your paint brush. 

Paint the sides, but not the bottom.  Supposedly, moisture will drain down and out of the wood.  Coating the bottom would make a sealed cup that traps moisture.  I applied a super thick layer of tar.  It was almost dry 24-36 hours later.  It was completely dry within a few days.  I thought the tar was really going to stink, but it was fairly low odor.

OMG.  It took forever to dig the holes.  I raked the stones out of the way and used a post hole digger.  Holes should be three feet deep.  The first foot was a snap.  I encountered roots in the second and third feet of my excavation.  The post tarring tutorial that I viewed advised that the tar should go up the post a few inches above ground level.  I didn't use concrete to set the posts.  They are sitting on a few inches of sand and rock.  The sides of the holes are also filled in with sand and stones.

I used 1-1/4" fencing staples to attach the wire to the posts.  I cut two lengths of wire.  Each piece goes down one side and wraps around the front.  The top of the wire is not perfectly level along the full run.  I was more concerned about having it meet the ground all the way around, to discourage rabbits.  The wire also is not stretched taut.  It's only has good as one old lady can make it.  I made the gate by ripping two landscape timbers in half lengthwise (Thank you, cousin Tom).  The three cross pieces are attached by drilling through the sides with 4.5" flat head structural wood screws.  The fencing is attached to the gate frame with 3/4" poultry staples.  Since the gate is light weight, I used three of the cheapest galvanized hinges that I could find.  One hook and eye is good enough for keeping the gate closed.   

         

Silicone Drink Covers

     I find that I am inclined to drink much more water if there is always a full glass sitting on the kitchen island.  The thought of stray particles or worse yet, a fly, getting into my glass really skeeves me.  My solution has been to put a sandwich bag over my drink.

Effective, but not pretty.

I found these at a gift shop.  They are silicone drink covers, and they come in a two pack.    

Since they were selling for a special price of "buy one, get one 50% off," I bought pink flowers for me and yellow flowers for a friend.

As you can see, the suction is pretty strong; however, I don't recommend doing this trick with liquid in your glass.  These lids don't stop a fly from walking around the outside rim of the glass, but they are really pretty, so I am going to put that thought out of my mind.

On the Fence

     There are a lot of chickens in my neighborhood.  The young people who have recently moved in like to keep chickens.  I like the birds because they remind me of my childhood.  I enjoy weeding in my front yard because I can hear the chickens clucking across the street.  It's a soothing sound.
     There's also a small flock up the street.  Early one morning, I spied all but one of them lined up, perched atop the fence.  I didn't know chickens liked to sit on fence rails.  I found out that chickens like to roost at night on perches.  In fact, they need a place to roost.  They sleep off the ground where they are safe from predators.  Following the pecking order, the head hen gets the highest (safest) spot.  Members of the flock with less status sleep lower.  If they sleep in a row with the Queen of Clucking, subordinates have to take the outside edges and serve as look-outs.  Chickens' eyes are on opposite sides of their heads.  When a look-out's eye gets fatigued, they do an about face, using a fresh eye for guarding the flock, giving the original eye a rest.  If chickens sleep sitting on the ground or the hen house floor, they are vulnerable to foot infections from bacteria and parasites.  Sometimes rats and mice might even nibble their toes.  Chickens will spread out in warm weather, but they huddle together for warmth during the winter.  Perching on a metal fence is fine in the summer, but metal perches will cause frost bitten feet in the winter.  Some say the best perch is the 4" side of a wooden 2" X 4" board.  Hens can sit flat footed (their favorite stance) on the 4" surface, and they can transfer some of their weight from their feet to their keel-bone.  Their feet will not freeze to a wooden surface.  Plastic perching surfaces (like plastic pipe) are bad because they are slippery.
     If you want to comply with the latest research concerning your chicken's perch, you can measure their feet and make customized perches that will be most comfortable for them.  Custom perches should be flat with rounded edges.  Supposedly, the best perches  are wrapped with something washable that provides some cushioning, like a split open bicycle inner tube.
     One last thing:  Chickens poop in their sleep.  Their perches should not be located above their nesting boxes or their food and water supplies.         

On the Fence
They are not planning the great egg-scape.  They are just doing what chickens do.

             



     

Deer Repellent

     The deer, or maybe it's the chipmunks, are eating my flowers and the tender new growth on my shrubbery.  I tried hanging human hair and dog hair around the feeding ground.  I also sprinkled dog poop and (I am embarrassed to reveal ) human urine around my most nibbled flower bed.  Nothing worked.
     I know someone who swears by coyote urine.  You can get an 8 ounce bottle of the stinky stuff at the Home Depot for $13.58.  I thought I would end up spending a fortune considering that the product would have to be reapplied frequently with all the rain we have been having.
     A friend gave me a recipe for homemade deer repellant that is made from garlic and hot peppers.  She says it is cheap and it works.  Here's the recipe:

     One clove of garlic
     One hot pepper (I bought a serrano pepper, the hottest one in the Shop Rite produce aisle.)
     One pint of water
     One drop of dish soap - add just before bottling
     One drop of cooking oil -add just before bottling.

     My instructions were to blend the garlic, pepper and water, then strain through a coffee filter (or two) to remove all the pulpy particles.  Pulp will clog up a spray bottle or garden sprayer, so it is important to strain out every bit of it.
     Here's where this project went off the rails.  I thought the juice might be more potent if I boiled the garlic and pepper in the 16 ounces of water before I tossed it in the blender.  Of course I cut up the pepper before cooking.  Naturally, I rubbed my nose while I waited for my witches' brew to boil for five or six minutes.  It wasn't long before the tingling started.  Still, I was undeterred.  I pulled the covered pot off the burner and lifted the lid.  I should have worn a respirator.  I coughed.  I sputtered.  My eyes watered and snot poured out of my nose.  The fumes were unbelievable.
     After the liquid cooled a bit, I pulsed it in the blender and strained it.  Then I thoroughly washed every part of my blender imagining the kick my next frozen margarita would have if I didn't get every nook and cranny clean.  As I cleaned up the kitchen counters, I made a mental note that my dish cloth and towels should be washed separately, not with pillow cases, wash clothes, underware, or any items that might touch a sensitive body part.  Maybe I'm going a little overboard, but you can't be too careful.
     I'm pretty sure this stuff is going to work. 

Dream Big, Start Small

     My friend recently mentioned in one of her emails that she has yet to find her passion.  I'm the same.  I like lots of stuff, but there is nothing in this world that I love so much that I have been driven to pursue it like my life depended on it.  As a result, I am a dabbler - Jill of all trades, mistress of none.
     Curiosity is my most pronounced character trait.  I saw a woman walking a pig in Long Bridge Park.  I marched up to her and started interviewing like I was writing an article for the Burlington County Times.  Did she like having a pig for a pet?  Do pigs enjoy walking on a leash?  How old was her pig?  Could I touch her pig?  Another time I heard a rumble and the house shook.  Since it happened only once, I knew the trembling wasn't caused by soldiers playing war games at McGuire Air Force Base.  The TV news didn't report an earthquake.  I googled like crazy for a couple of days until I discovered that there was an enormous sonic boom near Galloway, New Jersey that jiggled the southern half of our state.
     If I have something close to a passion, it is that I love to read.  Combine a love of reading and a nosy nature and you get a person who is pretty good at researching and figuring things out.  I often find that answering one query just leads to more questions.  Once I clicked so many blue highlighted words in a Wikipedia article about quinoa that I ended up learning the biological definition of lumen - the inside of a tubular space, like the inside of a vein or an intestine.
     I think that Wikipedia is a great place to start if you want to know something.  Some people say it contains too much inaccurate information, but I still like Wikipedia.
     One night I was watching a TV news magazine and I saw a segment about a gathering of Wikipedia editors.  Anybody in the whole, wide world can be a Wikipedia contributor/editor.  Anybody = Me.  I mulled this idea over for about three years.  A few months ago I created an account and a few days ago I made my first contribution.  I was watching Season 3, Episode 10 of the TV series "Billions," and I noticed the name Patti D'Arbanville in the credits.  I recognized the name from the 1989 TV series, "Wiseguy."  I remember way too much about the "Wiseguy" series because, though Chris Noth had not yet become Carrie Bradshaw's Mr. Big, I fantasized at the time that he could be mine.   I immediately looked up Patti on Wikipedia, and I noticed that her appearance on two episodes of "Billions" had gone unmentioned among her Wikipedia TV credits.  I checked out the official "Billions" series site through Showtime network.  I also went to IMDb (the Internet Movie Database) to verify all of Ms. D'Arbanville's "Billions" appearances.  Then I added the "Billions" information to the the Wikipedia article.
     Once I actually edited an article, I began to wonder about my fellow editors.  Who are they?  Well, they are mostly men.  In 2011, only 9% of global editors were women and 15% of editors in the United States were female.  Wikipedia hoped to increase its number of female contributors to 25% by 2015, but that didn't happen.  Less than 5% of women have 500 or more edits to their names.
     Dream big.  Five hundred edits.  Four hundred ninety nine to go.


http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/01/28/south-jersey-sonic-boom/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinoa

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashrut

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumen_(anatomy)

https://hbr.org/2016/06/why-do-so-few-women-edit-wikipedia

https://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/a-feminist-edit-a-thon-seeks-to-reshape-wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patti_D%27Arbanville

Mill Hill Garden Tour

     Mill Hill is a gentrified section of downtown Trenton, New Jersey.  The area got its name from Mahlon Stacy's mill located on the Assunpink Creek.  Stacy's mill, built in 1679, was the first industrial site in central New Jersey.  This area was undeveloped until the mid to late 1800s when Trenton underwent rapid industrialization.  Trenton began to decline during the Great Depression.  In the 1980s, a redevelopment plan began that aimed to preserve this historic area.  Today Mill Hill is a quiet, safe enclave within the city.  Street signs welcome visitors to the neighborhood "where people watch out for each other."  The Old Mill Society sponsors summer garden tours, December holiday tours, and numerous other activities.

     Many Mill Hill homes are attached, so visitors trooped through the houses to get to the gardens in the back.  Other back yards were accessed via two foot wide, gated passages between homes.  One lady allowed visitors free access to her fabulously renovated town home besides the visit to her unique back yard.  Many homeowners provided bottled water, iced tea, and yummy cookies.

An Urban Oasis

Several gardens on the tour had water features.  One homeowner expressed appreciation for the wild life that gardens attract, even for the rat that likes to hide under her waterfall!  Ah, city living.

This method of growing herbs inspires me.

Several homeowners incorporated bits of architecture from Trenton's past into their garden designs.

This compass design uses left over pieces from granite counter tops.

This gnome's abode is nestled in an enormous mass of tree roots.

This backyard couldn't be simpler or more eye catching - colorful containers sitting on compacted earth.

Mill Hill is for friendly people.  This shared alley connects the backyards of two attached houses.  The outdoor dining area made me feel like I was walking past a Parisian café. 

Another example of vertical gardening.

This backyard features a sunken garden.

What a grand, old home.

This home would win a prize for having the most inviting front porch. 

This was my favorite house in Mill Hill.