Gardening in Miami

Planting by Moonlight

2011-11-15T11:35:00.000-08:00

I did it and did it literally. I planted as much empty soil space as I could. And I planted in the light of the full moon last week. I write today because already a sprout of cucumber is busting forth.

It's funny to operate in the dark. There are several Biblical passages about light and dark, Jesus as the light of the world, etc. The experience left me pondering. Here are a few raw thoughts.

It takes a while for your perspective to adjust. Dropping into a new situation, it's best to sit and acclimate to the view. Short-term mission teams get this wrong all the time. They just drop in and start to work. Often making a mess of things.

You really ought not get in the way of the light source. If you block the moonlight, you become the shadow. Get out of the way. Oh how often we block the source of light!

Thursday= Full Moon= Garden Begins

2011-11-08T20:24:00.000-08:00

I've heard rumored advice to plant at the full moon that follows the equinox. But I'm still pretty sure that gardening in Zone 10b probably shouldn't follow advice from zones 5 and 6.

If I had taken that advice and planted at October's full moon, I'm sure my garden would have washed out with the late tropical storm activity we had. However my habeneros and pineapples all seem to be perfectly happy.

Waiting one more month has been essentially a great excuse for pure procrastination.
But Thursday is the day. I'll plant seeds any where I can see dirt and sunshine. And I'll let you know how it goes.

A new gardening season is upon us!

2011-10-06T05:54:00.000-07:00

The upcoming winter months will be full of new experiences for me. Every year I like to try something new. Last year it was heirloom tomatoes in my backyard raised garden and this year it's sweet corn in that garden and an entirely new community garden at the church (which I'll get to in a future blog).

Almost two weeks ago I finally got around to preparing my garden by pulling out the sweet potatoes I used to keep down the weeds over the summer and adding some compost. The only survivor was the Malabar spinach which really started to grow later in the summer. Now, I have two large, healthy plants...and yes, it really does taste like spinach making it great for salad.

So, what's new? I decided to add a little (emphasis on the "little") sweet corn. I've been hesitant to plant any in the past because it takes up so much space. However, we simply love sweet corn too much and the prospect of 2-3 meals this winter was too much to resist. The corn is already 3-4 inches tall.

Last weekend I also planted peas, carrots, leaf lettuce, spinach, cukes and cantaloupe. As always I also threw in a few marigolds to help keep the bugs away. Heirloom tomatoes, radishes and broccoli will all be in before the end of the month.

I'll try to do a better job with regular updates this season. Stay tuned!

Backward Seasons

2011-09-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

This sad little blog reflects my sad little garden.
OK, It's not as sad as it is backwards. Miami's growing seasons can be all year around. My pineapples are certainly growing fine and they're happy it seems. Mangos, avocados, peppers and okra are all summer season.
But our fall is your spring. August and September are the months to clean up the beds and get ready. It's way too rainy with regularly passing tropical storm systems.
Late September and October is time to plant. We still have to pray the seeds don't wash away in a down pour, but they usually hold on pretty well. And in the winter, we have all kinds of beautiful vegetation while the rest of the country is in winter gridlock.
It's getting cooler though. I'm more inclined to get this mess under control. You'll see and read more updates.

My Summer Garden in Miami

2011-06-07T16:24:00.000-07:00

I thought I should post something before the summer gets too hectic. So here goes....

It's been about a month since I planted my first ever summer garden. With only a couple exceptions, I was completely unfamiliar with the plants I decided to put in the garden. So, I didn't know what to expect (and still don't in many ways) but that's part of the fun.

It's been a very dry summer so far but with a little irrigation the plants are really starting to take off. The sweet potatoes are growing like a weed, the winged beans seem to grow 3-4 inches every day, the everglades tomato plant is filling with flowers and I'll soon get to enjoy my first pepper. I've already starting stealing a leaf or two from time to time from the cranberry hibiscus and malabar spinach plants. I can't wait until I get enough for a full salad.

The big surprises have been my strawberries and muskmelon. They continue to grow and produce. I'm getting a couple strawberries every day. They are small but as sweet as I've ever eaten. As for the melon, there are several marble to golfball size fruits but only time will tell if anything comes of them. I'll keep you posted.

I've included some photos for those that might be interested.

Everglades Tomato

Pepper plant w/one large pepper

Cranberry Hibiscus (the leaves are edible and the flowers make great tea)

Malabar Spinach

Sweet Potato (from a start I got for free)

A Lychee by Any Other Name...

2011-06-02T06:38:00.000-07:00

We have one lychee tree. I only discovered it was a lychee after learning a bit from a dear neighbor. It hadn't produced fruit before, probably because of my inappropriate pruning.
But this year, I was ready. I waited and yes, it fruited. One fruit in the whole tree. (Pictured here.)
But this is my question South Florida friends: What other names are there for these fruits? Have you heard of them called Soapberries?

The summer garden

2011-05-09T07:08:00.000-07:00

This is my first year with a summer garden in SoFla. I'm pretty excited about the prospect of eating from the garden year round. About a week ago, I bought a few plants from one of the vendors at Fairchild. Each is supposed to do well during the hottest part of the year. I've planted some herbs (e.g. basil), cranberry hibiscus, winged bean, hot peppers, everglades tomatoes, malabar spinach and sweet potatoes. I'll let you know how it goes. :)

What are Loquats.

2011-03-24T14:40:00.000-07:00

Loquats are also known as Chinese pears. I learned this from Nathaniel, native of Miami, neighbor of the West Grove and friend to Erica and Kristy in the Urban Resurrection Community. Nathaniel was nice enough to barbeque/smoke a delicious meal for a college group of DOOR participants from Reinhardt College.
Once I figured out they weren't Kumquats, I described them to Nathaniel who knew them as Chinese Pears. I finally checked the wikipedia article for confirmation.
Most trees around town are kept much smaller. But like so much in my yard, it was already planted and growing a little wild. They make me extra happy when they ripen. It was this time a few years ago, we moved into this wonderful place. The kids climbed the trees and ate enough to make me worry they'd get a stomach ache. (How mommish of me.)
I'll bet they are all over Miami and most folks don't know the fruits are delicious. But almond trees grow here as well, and most folks don't know it either. So much to learn.

The Variety of March in Miami

2011-03-23T06:27:00.000-07:00

In addition to Pina Nina growing every day, there are bananas coming along. What I had mistaken for kumquats, simply because I guessed, are really loquats. The three trees have a large crop this year. Tomatoes, potatoes, basil, mint, spinach, watermelon and sage are all doing well. The grape vine has burst into bright green. I still struggle with oregano and cilantro. For some reason, I just haven't been able to convince them to germinate well in three tries. And I sadly buried the habenero. Looks like a soil problem took it from the bottom up. The tropical climate of Miami has so much going for it, but I think the humidity lends itself to strange molds and mildews. I'm going to try 'solarizing' that particular bunch of soil before mixing it with compost and trying something else.

Baby Pina

2011-02-16T19:03:00.000-08:00

It's a baby pineapple being born!
I think this plant has been gestating for 3 years. It was the top from a willing participant in my gardening experiments.

Slice the top off, remove extra juicy bits. Let it sit to dry out a little. I think I sat mine next to the sink for 3-4 days. Then plant it into the ground and water.

Three years later, viola'. Although I read it would only be two years. Oh well. Since this one, I've started 6-7 others.

Look what God grew!

2011-02-10T20:25:00.000-08:00

I've been on a kick of posting photos of warm & sunny So. Florida on to Facebook. Last month I had the honor of attending the youth worker Extravaganza in Kansas City and the APCE Conference in ABQ. In both cases those locations received record snow falls and low temps the day I arrived.

All that travel just made me love this place more. Giant spinach leaves growing in January. Potatoes growing from the peels I threw out after Christmas dinner. Pineapples making little baby pineapples from a top sliced off the grocery store fruit (after 3 years of waiting!)

When it gets cold in SoFla

2010-12-06T15:18:00.000-08:00

From time to time the temperatures really drop...even in sunny South Florida. Tonight is one of those nights with temperatures expected to get down into the 30s...there is even a frost watch.

So, if you find yourself in such a situation regardless of where you live, be sure to cover your plants. Tomatoes, melon, cukes, lettuce and herbs are particularly suseptible to the cold. Old sheets and towels work best but you can also use a bucket or old tire, if needed. Try to stay away from plastic or tarp, if you can. Even though they provide some protection (and are better than nothing, they don't do a very good job keeping the cold out. For some added protection spray down your plants before you go to bed or, if you have a drip irrigation system, you can mist them overnight. Any ice that forms on the plant will provide some insulation and protection.

Things are coming along in the new raised garden

2010-11-15T16:30:00.000-08:00

The garden took off after the weather started to cool down. The cukes (to the right of Jonas) and lettuce (to the right of the marigolds in the foreground) are particularly happy. The tomatoes are a bit slow this year and peas got a bit of blight which I was fortunately able to treat before too much damage was done. I've also been very happy with the marigolds...as I haven't had to deal with a single bug issue so far.

At this point the garden is really low maintenance. I go out to pull the random weed a couple times each day and turn on the drip irrigation for about 10 minutes every other day. It's great therapy and gets me away from my desk and into the fresh air. It also gives me some opportunities to do a little "teaching" with the kids. I'm proud to say that they know how their food grows and that it doesn't come from a room in the back of a supermarket or a truck. It actually grows somewhere.

Here I plant

2010-11-15T13:45:00.000-08:00

Traveling a lot can do funny things to you. It can certainly keep you from posting on a blog.

When I travel, I have odd habits getting more ingrained as I go. I always get a meal just before getting onto a plane. I carry some snacks that could be shared easily with seat mates if we’re all stuck on a runway for hours. Almonds and peanut M&Ms are favorites.

When I get home there is a list of items I need to check through. I first check in with the important people in my life- just to touch base at least a little. I get laundry caught up, unpack and pack the clothes I only wear when traveling away from Miami. The turtlenecks & wool socks go right back into the suitcase when they are clean and ready. We don’t usually need such clothing down here in sunny Miami, although I wear them if it gets down into the 60s. yikes.

Traveling could keep me from tending my garden. But it hasn’t. Instead, every stretch of time I have been home this last month, I’ve planted something. Honestly, I have killed as much as I have planted. Irregular irrigation probably.

The important part to me, is the planting. It is a very real physical representation that HERE are my roots. This is where I hope to produce fruit. And later, it is the great hope to feast together on all that God has grown.

I leave for another meeting this week. Today I planted more spinach.

Vines of Stories Intertwine

2010-11-05T23:11:00.000-07:00

It is so much easier to write about plants. I know less about plants than I do about people. We’ve been in Miami for nearly 15 years. We packed up the essentials into our “Old Man” Van and moved from comfortable, friendly, cute and Christian Nashville to Miami. I’ve been involved in urban cross-cultural nitty-gritty, super fun heart-wrenching ministry ever since.
In the beginning we moved 12 times in 9 years. We finally settled into out our current house (insert “Gift from GOD!”) I’m settled enough to have had a garden for 3 years and I love to talk about it.
I like to go out to water at 10 pm after the kids are asleep. I like planting seeds in strange places to see if they’ll grow. I like starting pineapples from the tops of the store bought fruit. And I love talking about it all.
Maybe it’s because it’s easier to tell you of the trials of the fruit and the pruning of plants than the fruit or pruning in a life. I can’t even begin to tell you of the many wonderful people God has in our life.
Their stories are their stories except when we are tangled up. And of course we are because our lives are intertwined like my cucumbers that are growing through the bushes.
Whose story is it? Is it the cucumbers sprawling ways? Or is it the bush with the strength to hold up the dear vine? I feel like both at different times.

Harvest Moon

2010-10-18T08:51:00.000-07:00

I finally built a small raised garden this summer (complete with drip irrigation) and planted on the harvest moon (full moon on the autumnal equinox) for the first time. I was hesitant to do so b/c it was still pretty hot and humid. However, the garden has done really well. I think nearly every seed I planted has come up and the plants are thriving. The peas, cucumbers and melons have been particularly happy. I'd encourage everyone to try it next year....it's more than an old wives' tale.

If you haven't already, IT'S TIME TO PlANT!!!

2010-10-18T08:42:00.000-07:00

The fun thing about living in Miami, is being able to plant when the rest of the country is digging their gardens under.
Heck, I'm still havesting! I don't have anything fancy just some nice cucumbers, peppers, basil and sage.
My friend Jason was showing me his new raised bed garden. And he already has 10-12 varieties planted. I planted over the weekend.
What are you planting and when?

Sunflower - Update

2010-09-09T20:41:00.000-07:00

First more details- Planted 8-10, Black Russian Variety from the ECHO seed bank, Ft. Myers in early May. All but one sprouted and grew well. They reached about 3-4 feet. Blossums about 8" in diameter.
Now they're bowing their heads. The yellow petals are falling.
In theory, this is when you just let them sit as they dry out. The seeds, in the center hidden under all the pollen and fun stuff the bees love, will swell but will eventually dry out and will slide out as you pick at them lightly.
However, in my earlier post, I explained I had tried these in a planter that catches the run off from a flat roof. They have been a lovely site out the back window. But, if you live in South Florida with me, you know we're getting at least a little rain every day. It's September, that's what happens. So today I inspected the heads of forming seeds. At least two look to be overcome with mildew. I will wait it out and see how it turns out.
Also I am going to plant additional 8-10 tomorrow. I'm thinking the rainy season of the month with allow for good growth. But the dry season should be taking over, just as the heads bow down and want to dry out. We'll see.

Grapes

2010-07-19T21:59:00.000-07:00

The grapes are ripening. They are a lovely shade of purple-blue but the size of large blueberries.

First recipe trial will be a grape pie. (Thanks Krista's Mom for the recipes!) After that we'll see if we might be up for Jam.

They are time intensive and my fingers are seriously stained but I'm excited. There must be thousands- Not that I'm counting.

Sunflowers

2010-07-17T09:57:00.000-07:00

We don't commonly have rain gutters in Miami. Mostly we just let the rain fall. We can take it and nothing can kill a crab grass lawn anyway. Tropical plants like water or they wouldn't live here. Many houses have barrel tile on the roof. It does not lend itself to a gutter. Many of the older houses (old is used loosely since there isn't much here that is old really) have flat roofs since we don't have to worry about the weight of a snow fall.
But I have a flower bed that the rain slides off the mostly flat roof and directly in the bed. This was okay for the bushes that were originally planted there. It has often provided a great collection spot for a rain barrel. But the bushes were a haven to one of the many species of insects we have gotten to know too well. They had a fungus of some sort, common in our humid climate and they just looked ugly.
As I tear them out I'm experimenting with what edible plants will be able to with stand the down pour that will slide off the roof on them. First try, sunflowers (purchased from ECHOnet.org.) So far they are loving it! They germinated within 3 days (I'm not kidding.) They're about a foot high and they've been taking the rain as often as God wants to send it. I'm excited because this bed is directly below a large window. Sunflowers will be nice to see.

Check out ECHO. Located in Ft. Myers, ECHO is on a mission to eliminate hunger, in all types of climates, through a seed bank, education, experimenting, conferences and general exchange of knowledge. If you can make it there, take their 'world farm' tour and see the exhibition gardens. You'll be impressed and inspired. You can support them through donations, purchases from the seed/book/supply store and nursery.

Ooh Grapes!

2010-06-21T11:06:00.000-07:00

It's a fence full of grapes in Miami. When we moved in a few years ago, we were blessed by the previous owner's green thumb and love of good food, particularly food from Greece. Beside this fence vine, we have figs, kumquats & bay leaves.

However, grape vines were intimidating. The first few years, I did nothing. But two years ago, I read up on pruning. As it turns out, it's a two year process. The vine 'fruits' upon 1 year old wood. This means you need to have planned the pruning to allow for such 1 year old wood for the fruit the following year.

Looks like I managed to prune it well because there is an abundance of clusters. I have no idea what type of grape it is yet nor do I know when it will ripen. I've tried to thin a few of the clusters. They seem bunched too tightly to ripen well.

I have met a neighbor with a grapevine and stopped to ask his advice. However, he only grows them for the leaves. At least I have plenty to share. We'll see if they taste good enough for him.
If all goes well, I'll post later in the season with results.

Some of the websites I've been looking for advice;

Florida Grape Growers Association
http://www.fgga.org/index.html
Wouldn't it be fun to try wine making? Well maybe fun- maybe a pain in the neck, we'll see.
http://winemaking.jackkeller.net/riparia.asp
The University of Florida Online Extension site
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg105

Who knew Coconuts were so Versatile? the Samoans

2010-06-01T19:57:00.000-07:00

From the National Park of American Samoa, our tropical cousins...

June 1, 2010 by Pacific Island Ranger

A coil of sennit, hand-woven from coconut husk fibers at the National Park of American Samoa. The coconut is the most useful of all plants in American Samoa. The tree provides a wide range of useful products, and nearly all its parts except its roots are used.

Meat of the green nut is eaten raw or grated and used as a basic ingredient in a number of dishes. Grated coconut, when compressed..... Read the post
http://pacificislandparks.com/2010/06/01/its-just-a-coconut-right/

Starting Pineapples

2010-05-28T18:21:00.000-07:00

This is what a pineapple top looks like when taken hold and beginning new growth.
Note the leaves of the pineapple top will die off as the new growth emerges from the inside.

How do your potatoes grow?

2010-05-28T18:15:00.000-07:00

The potato seedlings that were planted at the beginning of April are pretty much done. The leaves are all brown and no potatoes developed at the roots.
I didn't try them during this month before.
Has anyone had success with potatoes at this time of year?

Tropical South Florida Planting Calendar

2010-05-08T06:47:00.000-07:00

This may be incomplete, but at least a start, at gathering planting calendar information. When we first moved to Florida, I went to get some tomato seedlings and was told I was too late. I was shocked. It was still warm and beautiful. I gave up too easily. Likewise, the garden centers are full of seeds at this time of the year but in our climate, it is too late for many of them. Either it is already too hot, it will be too rainy or some other reason I haven't figured out yet.
Please add your experience and advise and let's create a calendar that you be a good guide for Miami gardening. I haven't planted much in the fall, so please add your experience.

Dec-February Tomato, Basil, Spinach/Lettuce, Pineapple, Broccoli,
Mar-April Tomato, Herbs, Beans, Strawberries, Cucumbers, Spinach/Lettuce,
May-June Beans, Strawberries, Cucumbers, Spinach/Lettuce,
Year around Pepper, Potato,

Found this fellow Miami gardening blogger with an article they wrote about their summer plantings.
http://www.urbanoasisproject.org/gardening-in-south-florida/tropical-summer-veggie-growing

Measure it and you'll be careful using it

2010-04-26T21:04:00.000-07:00

We have friends visiting South Florida on their way back to their home/farm on a mountain in the DR and off the grid. They live there self-sufficiently, local materials, solar panel, chickens, garden, the whole nine yards. They've let me borrow a electrical meter they own. It measures the wattage drawn by an electrical appliance/device.
I have been collecting the water used to wash hands and rinse dishes in the kitchen sink. Just by merely measuring, I use less. It's the equivalent to calorie counting. Count them as you go and you eat less.
The last couple of days I've measured everything with a plug and attaching a sticky note with the watt usage so I'll remember. For comparison- My mostly new printer uses 50 watts when ON. My lamp, using a CFL bulb, draws 39 watts. My window AC unit draws 87 when it's a fan, but when it's an AC it draws 550.
Also, I checked the watts used by my computer (13" macbook.) At a party on Sunday, someone wondered if it would use more in different operations. It does increase to 220 watts when opening a new program but then it settles into it's normal "Im charging while you're using me" range of 185 watts. It doesn't matter how many tabs I have open or how many different programs were running, just when a new one launched. When charging in sleep mode it drew differing levels depending the various ways I left it. And when the charger was only plugged into the wall and wasn't attached to the computer (so doing nothing basically) it drew 6 watts. [None of this was done scientifically!}

I didn't pull out the refrigerator.... hmmm maybe tomorrow.

The garden is doing very well. More experiments, more lessons. I'll post more tomorrow.

Info on the meter- This one is called AmWatt appliance load tester by Reliance Controls.
If you write with requests soon, I'll measure before I send it back.

Erin's first post on Gardening in Miami

2010-03-13T09:46:00.000-08:00

Hey, Everyone! My name is Erin, I'm serving for a year in the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s Young Adult Volunteer program and DOOR in Miami. Its been really fun to start a garden down here, because I'm originally from Iowa... which has been covered with snow while I'm starting a garden in Florida.

So far, my lettuce, cilantro, onions, and broccoli are doing really well. I also have spinach, cayenne pepper, and basil, which are sprouted, but not taking off like the others yet. I had also planted carrots, cherry tomatoes, and sweet peas, but those didn't come up at all - I'm blaming it on the recent cold weather. I've replanted tomatoes from seed, and I plan on planting green beans, so we'll see what happens. Also, Heidi just gave us two tomato plants which she had started, and I just planted those today.

Like Heidi, we threw some potatoes into our compost and have two beautiful plants growing very well. At first we had no idea what they were, but they were growing so well that my roommate, Megan, decided against weeding it. I've recently discovered that one plant has a good size potato, and the other has a tiny little potato that's started.

Another exciting addition to our garden is a lime tree! My sister and brother-in-law, who live in Vero Beach, gave me two lime trees from their yard. One did not take well with the transplant. It had a lot of roots, and I couldn't dig more than a foot into the ground before I hit solid rock. I read that lime trees don't do well if there are air pockets around the roots, and with the challenge of not being able to plant it very deep (because of the roots), it didn't have much of a chance. The other tree - which might be a key lime - is doing very well. It has new leaves and little buds, so maybe we'll have limes this year!

There you are- my first update of our garden. Here are a couple more pictures:

2,000 Dollars & Hours (not related to gardening!)

2010-02-17T09:07:00.000-08:00

Tape your business card to the back of your laptop.

Today I left my laptop inside the seatback pocket of my airline seat. I didn't realize it until I was driving away from the airport. Oh how my heart skipped. Such a big airport. What if the plane takes off, with my little mac still in the seat? Ugh.
As I run into the door to get a pass to go back through security, my phone rings. A gate agent has my mac and is saving it for me at gate K7. They called because my cell phone number was right there. They said in all the years they worked at the gate and all the many laptops left, this was the first with id information.

Speaking of Fruit

2010-02-12T21:21:00.000-08:00

For all the fun I've had with composting, the surprise potatoes and the accidental beginning of all this gardening, I learned a little too late last year about coffee. My house has become something of a coffee laboratory. There has been a lot of coffee grounds in the wake. Last year I was flinging them all over. Until I read up on possible reasons why my tomatoes weren't blooming. Coffee has a lot of nitrogen, and while that is mostly good, it can inhibit the tomato/ pepper family from blooming.
All week I've been thinking about weeding and gardening and how similar those things are to church. The difference, says the Jesus parable, is the fruit. You'll know if it's a weed by its fruit. The fruit is the key to what that plant produces and reproduces.
What if it never even blooms? No blooms, no fruit.What keeps us from blooming? We see a lot of reasons why folks don't bloom; abuse, neglect, abandonment, lack of resources.
Kids are so resilient though. A little coffee wouldn't stop the blooming. They'll bloom anyway. They'll be strong, something like fertilizer. But too much, stops the process.
The challenge I think, is once a plant doesn't bloom. The soil is all wrong. How can a gardener provide the conditions for blooming next season and coax the blooms? Can the soil be balanced to get things back on track? Can a life be balanced back to blooming?

Weeding is a Part of Gardening

2010-02-08T19:23:00.000-08:00

The Bible is chock full of gardening imagery. It starts in the garden of Eden for crying out loud. The "New" testament is full of great parables that include harvests and workers and such. Anyone who has even tried some gardening knows that there are weeds, weeds that need to be pulled. There is a great parable (Matthew 13:29-31) of the master of the vineyard decides to let the weeds grow with the grain and it'll be figured out in the end. It's not a very popular parable, not one I learned in Sunday school.
It ends up being all about fruit. We'll know if it's a weed or not by it's fruit. There's a groovy tune left from the Hippy Jesus movement- "and they'll know we are Christians by our love."
Or not. Seems like an awful lot of weeds in some churches.

More New Potatoes- from Compost

2010-01-15T16:55:00.000-08:00

It happened again this year. I don't know if I ever posted my potato story. Last year I found a nice looking plant in the beds where I bury the various table scraps. I left it going. A couple more popped up in other beds and I left them as well.
One day as I was burying more compost near by, I found what I thought to be a red rubber ball. It wasn't a ball, it was a new potato! I had no idea that new potatoes would grow in Miami. I assumed it was a northern thing and that was that.
I didn't mean to repeat it (or I would have 'planted' in a better spot) but it happened again. The problem this year is that I didn't leave it growing long enough. The cute little taters aren't even the width of a quarter. Now I'm going to try to do it on purpose. I've picked a spot and tomorrow I'll clear it of the various weeds. I'll keep you posted.
Anyone else successful in growing potatoes down here? types? start times? suggestions?

A little warmer must be time to plant

2010-01-13T15:58:00.000-08:00

I know that winter is not over, but I'm betting that it is for our beloved sunny South Florida. The freeze warnings of last week are hopefully behind us as the days are getting longer. But maybe it's just the warmth that gets me inching to plant. I'm guessing that's how it feels up north.
So today, in hope of sunshine and new life, seeds were planted. Onions, spinach, oregano, cayenne peppers join the family.

Freeze Warning in Miami- Are you kidding me!?!?

2010-01-05T21:39:00.000-08:00

I live close enough to the coast that we are supposed to be more protected by the 'warm' ocean winds. But just to be safe, I have watered and covered by little outdoor garden in sheets. I felt like I was tucking them in and I guess I am, minus the lullabye.
It's always funny when it gets cold in Miami. Usually we think 65 is cold. Folks out on South Beach bring out the fur coats for the 5 special "cold" days a year. But when it gets cold, as in 40-50, it honestly IS cold. We don't have heaters! We only have air conditioners. Right now, I've got my feet wrapped in a heating pad while the kids share a room with a space heater left over from our days up north.
Hope the pretty little new blooms on the red peppers and tomatoes fair as well.

Christmas isn't over- Today is only the 4th day- but when it is...

2009-12-27T10:50:00.000-08:00

Sunday December 27 is the 4th day of Christmas. Here is when you begin to sing "Four Calling Birds, Three French Hens, Two..." As Daniel Medina reminded the Lighthouse fellowship last night, there are many more days of Christmas celebration than your local retailer will remind you. For the stores, it's time to buy your Champagne for New Year's but for Christians in a traditional celebration there are 12 days- thus the carol of old. And for that matter, Christians should be celebrating Emmanuel-"God with us" all year long.
But when you wind down your Christmas celebrations in as far as decorations go, there are some environmental considerations. There are several options for recycling your Christmas tree. (If you had the heart to cut down a lovely tree just to look at it for a couple of weeks.) It takes time, but if you'll flatten out the large pieces of wrapping and tissue paper, fold up the 'gift bags, you may have plenty for future gift wrapping opportunities. You can reuse some of the Christmas card envelops to hold seeds but at least get the snail mail addresses of friends and family for future letter writing.
As for post Christmas Miami community celebrations, look for the Three Kings Parade in Little Havana to celebrate Epiphany and the King Mango Strut- the Orange Bowl parade that feature political spoofs and general tongue-in-cheek parade humor.

Gifts for the Gardener

2009-12-20T19:03:00.000-08:00

Do all the gardeners on your list and the rest of the world, a big favor and choose your gifts well. Quality, recycled and Fair trade are items they'll appreciate the most.
-Don't buy cheaply made anything. If it's just going to break, why waste your money.
-Give seeds from your garden last summer. Ok, maybe you've already used them. Fun to plan for next year.
-Save hair from your next hair cut. Don't think I'm crazy. Hair is an excellent composting material and a good mulch. It has more nitrogen than manure and is slow to release.
-Composting worms would be a nice gift for your friend that doesn't like to turn their pile very often.
-The ashes from a fire are great for soil here in South Florida, any where for that matter. Since very few homes have fireplaces here, have a party with the bonfire and then give the cooled ashes for the present later as a remembrance of the fun.
-Please don't buy anything remotely made by slave, underpaid, underfed labor. (Almost anything made cheaply by large corporations or anything not certified "fair trade.") The fact that you and I are both reading computers means we're rich by World standards. The idea that any of us would buy something made by a poor soul that left their agrigarian life to move to a factory to be sitting all day long to assemble meaningless gadgets for us to give as a gift to someone who has the privledge and choice to grow a little garden on the side is ironic, wrong and sad.
- There's a bonus to looking for real tools, made well, by folks who use the money directly to support their families and give work to the neighbors. You'll probably need to shop in a locally owned store. Many Ace hardware stores are locally owned. Look closer. You'll find some. Antique, thrift and second hand stores often have old tools. They've lasted this long, they'll last the gift receiver.

How Carolling is like Gardening

2009-12-17T21:08:00.000-08:00

A large group of friends and school pals gathered to carol tonight. We have a great neighborhood and figured they 'get it.' You'd think South Florida warm weather would encourage such an activity. But in my 13 years here, I haven't seen it until tonight.
As we planned, folks started joining on organically. Without trying we had 8 families. One mom had a great idea to put out some flyers to let the neighbors know we were coming. I googled "how to go carolling" to find a example.
Carolling in Miami is like gardening, there is very little information on it. Almost none. It's a lost American tradition. Now granted, Miami isn't "American." It's a special case. Arguably, (read- Immigrant Power in Miami) the only US city that became a new creation as immigrants did not assimilate but recreated a new community. Latin America has Las Posadas. Caroling is different. It's actually much easier. Just walk around and sign together. Maybe that's why there isn't much information posted.
However, the neighbors didn't know what to do. Most didn't come to the door. A sweet elderly woman peeked out of her front window from behind her blinds. A couple of houses came to listen. Overall it seemed this was the missing link- the uncomfort of mismatched social expectations.
In the end, we had a great time. It was cold (75 F) and drizzling. We decided to pretend it was snow and plow ahead. Our homemade song books (Thanks Melissa) disintegrated. We sang anyway. We sang for our jewish neighbors with the inflatable polar bear holding a dreidel. They invited the pack of kids in to light the next menorah candle. We sang for the older neighbors. We splashed in puddles. We feasted on impromptu "pot luck" of the non-requested items that the families brought to the gathering house. (a great Latin tradition- always bring something when you go to someone's house.)
The lesson- next year we'll do it again. And we'll put out flyers so the neighbors know we're coming. But next year, the flyer will explain what the neighborhood should do as follows...

Open the door. Say Hello. Politely listen to song or two. Say a big Thank you and wave the kids good bye. We'll happily move along.

Recycling Water

2009-12-15T10:39:00.000-08:00

Living in Miami in the winter is glorious. Your summer is our winter. With highs of 84 each day, sun, sun, and more sun. We get an occasional rain, but it only happens when a major cold front blasts across the States. Denver gets 14 inches of snow. Chicago gets ice. We get a rain of clouds and some rain.

In this dry season, it's important to get enough water to our gardens. The standard way would be to water the garden from the hose. However, Miami is in a drought. Crazy right? we are surrounded by water, it's true. But we get our drinkable water supply from a large underground aquifer that starts at Lake Okeechobee in the central part of Florida. To water our lawns or wash our cars from the hose, is literally taking water from our mouths. Instead we can easily recycle gallons of water.

Simple. Keep a bucket near the shower and a pitcher next to the kitchen sink. The shower bucket can catch the extra water from the shower. Many people let the water warm up a bit before jumping in, catch it instead of wasting it. Most people rinse their dishes before loading dish washer. Many people toss out the water left undrunk in a glass. Catch it in the pitcher. The plants won't mind the bits of orange juice pulp or the crumbs from the sandwich.

Try it and tell us how it goes.

Those darn hookworms again

2009-12-11T17:15:00.000-08:00

And yet again, I went to check on my dear pepper plants, red bell pepper and habenero peppers only to find that two enormous hookworms had eaten every leaf available and half of any fruit hanging!! The amount they had eaten tells you how long it had been since I had checked on the plants- it was a very busy month. Oh well.
They were huge! I should have taken photos! I pulled them off and threw them in the lake to be a very happy snack for a nice fish.
The point of writing about this incident is the plants survived. I kept them watered. God helped with some occasional rains due to the cold fronts coming across the rest of the country. And leaves are coming back and there is the beginning of a flower. So to those of you struggling, I hope this is encouraging. Just keep at it.
I was so inspired that I've planted for the winter. Trying peas again, more tomatoes of course, spinach, iceberg lettuce, and spearmint. The pineapples are growing along nicely and the new key lime tree is happy as well.
Any fun winter gardening stories from you?

Growing your Pineapple Tops

2009-11-10T16:32:00.000-08:00

Maybe it's our tropical climate but growing pineapples seems easier than what I had read about on various websites, dedicated to gardening in the temperate climates.
Fresh pineapple is one of those things that will spoil you by living here. I don't think I'll ever eat canned pineapple again as long as I can help it. The canned version sucks up so much of the tin flavor you can hardly recognize the pineapple.
Anyway, every time I get a fresh pineapple, I simply slice across the tip top of the main fruit just below the fountain spray of leaves out of the top. I've left it sitting next to the sink for a few days, mostly because I forget to take it outside. This lets it dry out a little. Drying is supposed to help it from rotting. Next I stick it in a shallow hole, cover the bottom well and press it down, just like planting any other seedling.
After a month, the bottom most leaves die off and you can start to see a little new growth coming in the center of the leaves. But I haven't been doing this long enough to count the months until a new fruit comes along. Everyone tells me it averages 2 years. We'll see and we'll post when it comes time.
Try it and tell us how it goes.

Herald Covers our Friends at Roots in the City

2009-10-25T19:26:00.001-07:00

Check out the story!
http://www.miamiherald.com/460/story/1292283.html

Coffee Grounds Great for Pineapples but not good for the Peppers

2009-10-21T18:02:00.000-07:00

After wondering why the Habenero Pepper plants were not blooming, a little research turned up vital information on my habit of tossing the coffee grounds around. Coffee grounds are rich in Nitrogen. Pineapples love them. But Peppers and Tomatoes in the same family, do not. The additional Nitrogen inhibits blooming.
I stopped sprinkling the grounds, added a little manure mixture, plenty of water (it's been dry lately.) and the pepper plants bloomed accordingly. We've already harvested 2 fine looking peppers. I can't stand the heat, but the pepper lover in the family said they were perfectly hot and extra tasty.

Gardening around the world

2009-10-05T15:55:00.000-07:00

This article isn't directly connected to gardening but I just had to share it as I seek to understand what gardening means in other parts of the world. How would our lives be changed if we had to deal with the implications of gardening where cluster bombs are present? This is the reality for many in Laos, Cambodia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, and Vietnam.

http://www.themennonite.org/issues/12-18/articles/Battle_zones_lethal_harvest

May we think beyond ourselves and realize the implications our individual and countries actions have on those in our neighborhood as well as across the ocean.

snakes....community....neighborhoods

2009-09-28T17:41:00.000-07:00

a plan has been made...the layout has been measured...the land has been stirred...the grass has arrived...the community gathers...grass is laid...a knock on the door...a neighbor stops by...there are snakes coming out of your grass...the snakes are entering my yard...

Snakes...should we be alarmed? Little black ones (garden snakes) are crossing into the neighbors yard. We appreciate the neighbors concern for the children of the school as well as the neighborhood but what do you do? After a wonderful discussion with the creator of the Outdoor Living Lab project I see with new eyes how this project could impact the community.

It brings people to the school. It is action and new movement. Stirring up the dirt to lay sod probably stirred up the snakes habitat. Maybe we're stirring up the neighborhood too. The snakes could have been there all along but seeing change and new things can be scary, seeing snakes even though they've probably been there all along might have come with the new grass. Are they harmful? Where does the fear come from? from change? from culture?

It is wonderful to see the good neighbors concern for the neighborhood and the school. While at the same time how do we learn about and teach about good snakes? How do we bring a sense of security and comfort with the change? it will take time, education and dialogue.... Snakes can be helpful in the environment. If snakes are good we should leave them be and if they're harmful we should leave them alone because we could be severely injured....

May conversations continue as we learn from each other and grow in community through a changing environment. A change for the better...for sustainability...for the future of mother earth and our livelihood!

Productive Compost Again

2009-09-06T20:09:00.001-07:00

It's happened again. A perfectly good plant has risen from the compost. I don't compost like folks do 'up north.' I simply go out and dig a hole for the kitchen scraps. It never fails. A few days will pass and it has all been turned back into lovely unrecognizable, organic matter.
I now have three beautiful baby Mango trees. They are just striving to be the biggest best sweetest mangoes ever. I've gotten the "go" to replant these tree-wannabes elsewhere. Another 5-6 years and we'll see some blooms hopefully.

Garden Fatigue- or on-going program

2009-08-15T20:51:00.000-07:00

A while back, Glenn, the national director for DOOR, likened the running of the DOOR program to growing a garden not building a building. It's not something we build and it's done. Instead it's the kind of thing that takes constant care.
In the case of my garden, it's time to remove the seeds atop the old lettuce stalks, dig under the unproductive tomato vines, keep spraying the pepper plant leaves, plant the new mint and start new seeds. Florida is supposed to have 3 growing seasons. Let's try to get as many as we can. Square foot gardening should indicate we can keep growing all year.
But the warning comes in the example of my mother. She planted much too big of a garden. She's 74 this year and honestly she does not need the production of the 20 or so tomato plants she has. She and my dad cannot eat the remaining 24 watermelons. She canned as many of the green beans as she could and they keep coming. She's been at this since April and she's pooped.
If we run programs in a way that we're overworked, we'll wear out before the harvest is finished for the season.

Basil Plants per Pesto recipe

2009-08-13T07:32:00.000-07:00

It takes 8 basil plants to produce enough leaves for the 2 cups called for in the recipe I have for Pesto. I am totally blessed that I happened to have planted enough seeds for 8 plants. I'll mark that up to God for the help. Of course I should note that my basil variety produces broad leaves about 2 inches wide and 3 1/2 long approximately. I'll make more this weekend.

Unidentified egg sacks under leaves

2009-08-08T21:12:00.000-07:00

The habenero plants I started in May are getting along fine and a few flowers starting to appear. However, this month they're being invaded by white eggs sacks. I haven't been able to identify them yet but they maybe aphids. We'll figure that out later. Until then, a simple home remedy is working great. I've sprayed them with a solution of about 40% white vinegar and 60% water. it is the same solution we used to spray wayward trails of ants when they've come in the house. The ants are to lay down the fearful hormone trail and never come back. That has only been somewhat helpful at best. But the egg sacks respond as hoped. The sacks shrivel and go away. The white flying pests that hang around also go away. And that's all I want. Leave my peppers alone so they can bloom and grow and produce some peppers.

Gardening Practice

2009-07-21T09:23:00.000-07:00

I'm in the small Amish community of Summertown, TN. This is the town where my parents live and my little 74yr old mother has a garden much too big for her to handle. I'm excited to have a few days to spend with her and to be in this area.

The produce is abundant and varied. It's amazing. Hopefully I'll bring home a lot of it.

August will be a good time to come visit.

Not a Year Around growing season

2009-06-12T06:18:00.000-07:00

In theory a tropical climate does have a year around growing season. The exception is the rainy season. For us it's June. It rains often enough that even a very protected, well drained plot is nearly drowning. The mildew on the peas won. I'll give it some time off and see about July.

Location Location Location

2009-05-29T20:51:00.000-07:00

I've planted all over the yard. There is full sun and in Miami full sun can mean 14 hours of sun. I have some things planted in shade, which still means 6-7 hours of sun. With the summer rains beginning, I'm not as concerned with sun as I am with flooding. It seems the best location has been on the south side of the house, in a raised bed, without roof run off. The daily rains this week blow in but don't drown. The plants are dark green and growing strong.

The peas are not doing well though. They've grown tall but my research tells me they are suffering from powdery mildew. Some reading tells me to try sulphur powder. Any advice out there?

Seasonal Rhythym

2009-05-26T23:29:00.000-07:00

Gardening, and I'm guessing farming, is the trying not to kill what you've planted. There are other good things to do, pruning and thinning are new to me. I can't really control the "growing" part of growing veggies. That's completely God's work. I can make sure it gets some water. I can bring pots in for light or warmth. But I think I'm only trying to keep them from dying.
I've been out of town this week. I can't be there to watch over the plants, especially the new baby carrot sprouts that have only just appeared. This time of year, there is usually an afternoon shower to provide moisture and plenty of sun. I'm much more peaceful with letting God take care of my plants. I don't always feel that peace in the care of the people around me. I feel that I need to nurture, water, encourage, urge the growing process. But it's the same as those baby plants. God is in charge of the growing.
If some of the other gardening principals work then there is much more to learn.

Hookworms on my Tomato plants

2009-05-15T15:57:00.000-07:00

The bright green, rather hansom, caterpillar ate. I waited. He ate. I wondered, maybe he's a beautiful butterfly getting ready to hide away for the big metamorphosis. He ate. And I resorted to research. He's destined to eat the whole plant and then become a moth. Not that I have anything against moths, but I'm not as willing to sacrifice my tomato plant for them. Removal was the answer. Tomato plant saved for future humans not future moths.

Composting in Miami must be the easiest thing ever

2009-05-13T19:42:00.000-07:00

I've grown to love the humidity here. I miss it when I travel to dry states. My lips immediately rebel upon entering MIA and overkill air conditioning sucking every last drop of moisture from the air.
Humidity and heat make the easiest place to compost. Disintegration maybe what the thing that is done best here. Having some friendly earthworms crawling around the landscaping beds is helpful too certainly. But I only need to bury the kitchen scraps. Two days later they're gone. Worm food. New dirt.
If you're new to composting there are a few rules. Don't try to compost the meat or the oily.

Reduce- Reuse- Recycle

2009-05-07T21:45:00.000-07:00

I was in college when Earth Day made it's big comeback. Maybe not big enough, but we're getting there (well maybe not.) The 3 word phrase reduce- reuse- recycle gets thrown around a lot more now. But so often folks don't realize, there is an order to which it goes.
First you want to REDUCE your consumption. Cut back. Buy less. Take your own beverage in a cup. Drive less. Wear the same clothes.
Then if you have to buy it, or you already bought it, then REUSE it as many times as possible. I was reusing the bread wire ties to tie up my beans today. I packed the kids lunch in the bag the bread came in. Of course this lends itself to the many appliances that are being repaired instead of tossed. A friend of mine said he fixed his own refrigerator 3 times- I was impressed.
Lastly, if you have to toss it, RECYCLE. Cutler Bay's new recycling program added many more plastics that can be recycled than before. Good for them. Of course my favorite recycling these days is composting. Recycling food waste back into dirt. Amazing.

Cucumber flowers and the sexes

2009-05-05T18:15:00.001-07:00

In this new hobby, I've taken on some reading. They don't call these years the information age for nothing. There's a ton of information out there. I was reading about cucumbers. I have 3 vines and one is doing super well.
The interesting cucumber fact is the first flowers are the male flowers. Following a bit later are the female flowers. Pollen has to make it from one to the other and if all goes well, just below the female flower the baby cucumber will begin to form.
The male flowers are slightly larger and all of mine have been really good-looking hearty flowers. The female flowers may be slightly smaller and sometimes more hidden under the broad leaves of the vine, but they are the creative and productive members of this little family. Amazing.

First Fruit Offered

2009-05-02T20:38:00.000-07:00

yep, the first Tomato was laid as an offering tonight at church. And like good Levites, we ate it. Maybe the second will be ready for the elder's meeting tomorrow.

Might apply but probably doesn't

2009-04-30T05:41:00.000-07:00

Here's a web 'community' I stumbled upon yesterday. Freedom Gardens I honestly wasn't looking. It covers the US and has a great vibe to it and a great philosphy behind it, but as with most general gardening sites, books, and advice it doesn't always apply to Tropical Miami (Gardening Zone 10b-11.)
Which is actually true about everything. When we first moved to Miami in 96, my dear supervisor sent me two books to read ahead of my assignment. They covered wonderful information and their exciting experience in their context. But no it didn't apply here.
Even our laws, especially traffic laws, seem like only suggestions. They don't actually apply. Can you see anywhere else in the country, a vehicle with a home made vehicle tag on cardboard? Surely you remember where the 2000 election of the president of the USA was decided! To vote you don't have to be alive.
This advice will save you a lot of money in buying books. It'll save you time in reading what other people in other places have done. It might apply, but maybe not. It always amazes me and still sometimes surprises me.

Sharing Tropical Gardening Advice

2009-04-29T06:28:00.000-07:00

Are you gardening in Miami as well? Please email or post a comment and please consider contributing to this blog. I think we should share as much good advice as we can. But at least add on as a follower.

Lettuce- the lesson for the day

2009-04-25T21:21:00.000-07:00

Lettuce here, or at least the type I've planted, needs more shade to thrive. Also lettuce needs to be picked younger before it gets bitter.

Uses for Used Coffee Grounds

2009-04-24T20:43:00.000-07:00

No sense in re-creating the wheel. Go to this website for a good list compiled over the last 3-4 years. http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf442790.tip.html
Lots of uses include but not limited to- fertilizer, worm food, grass greener, wood or cloth stain, exfolient, and my favorite idea- stuffing for a pin cushion.

Folks don't try to make their friends garden

2009-04-23T17:48:00.000-07:00

Gardening doesn't lend itself to the evangelical. However, gardening is incredibly related to my view of Christianity. It's certainly used over and over as fonder for parables in both old and new testaments.
It's patient, for sure. It is slow and careful.
It's based upon a simple and complex relationship. I guess all relationships are complex. In gardening it's soil, seed, sunlight, rain, pollenation, etc.
You can't force it, but it happens naturally as if it were forced.
It's productive. Hopefully fruit is produced.
It can be done alone or with others. I think of the solitary guru on the mountain as well as the communes or abbeys.
But gardening is interesting in that it's not something folks try to get their friends to do. Thought provoking...

Growing Pineapples

2009-04-23T17:36:00.000-07:00

Today's subject of interest and eventual research, Pineapples. Here in Miami, it seems a natural to grow pineapple. Of course I was shocked to see my first plant. Our friends Bob and Debbie had a pineapple plant growing at every corner of their pool. She told me how she did it and I was inspired. I've found some others who are growing pineapples.

Here are links to pages that will be more helpful than if I write something on my own.
From Hawii a very informative article, heavy on the science. http://tpss.hawaii.edu/pineapple/pinegrow.htm
A personal article from Southern California http://wierdling.longboys.net/images/pineapples/pineapples.html

Worthy of note: Pineapples like acidic soil. To help that along, sprinkle used coffee grounds in when you plant it, and later around the plant.

Tomato Gardening Tip

2009-04-22T19:13:00.000-07:00

In the best case scenario, each blossom will produce a fruit. Maybe not the first couple of blossoms but the second or third bunch should. Mine aren't "setting fruit" so well. So I went researching.
Tomatoes are self-pollenating. Having a pot of tomatoes on your porch up against a wall may mean they won't get enough breeze to blow the pollen around. According to one of the gardening gotta have books, Square Foot Gardening, you can gently shake the plant. The author says it's best to do this at mid-day or early afternoon. I'll keep you posted on my results.

Planting a Relationship

2009-04-18T20:13:00.000-07:00

A simple introduction of yourself may seem innocent enough. Hi, I'm Heidi. And you are? Small conversation starts. It's a seed and a seedling. So easy.
Will the plant be a vegetable, a fruit or a weed? You just don't know at the beginning. Watch and see.

It's a Food Driven Book

2009-04-12T19:48:00.000-07:00

I get to arrange speakers to share their local insights with interested groups that not only want to volunteer in the community but learn while they're at it. A few summers ago, a local pastor and good friend was asked to speak to a group. He declared, the Bible is a food driven book. I lost all train of thought and focused in. Yes!
It starts in a Garden. In some ways, eating starts the whole SIN thing. It ends in a big party. There are countless feasts along the way. Jesus brings the wine to a wedding feast. When their aren't enough guests the servants were told to get folks off the street. It's beautiful.
What could be less violent? Sitting together and eating. What a great expression of Christ's call to peace. "Eat and drink and Remember me." Ok.