my life in color: April 2016

Monday, April 25, 2016

Raised beds galore

My husband was not my biggest fan this weekend... I asked him to build me the last eight raised beds. He would have preferred taking several naps, I'm sure. So I baked him his favorite treat and fave dinner as a thank you. And told him I loved him multiple times.

I think he's good now :)

We went out to get materials Saturday morning. It made more sense to saw the lumber to length at the store.

My beds are 3x3 feet (92x92cm) made with 1x3" lumber with 2x2" for the corner posts.

Sunday morning as Mika started working, I dug out frosty stuff from the allotment box.

We had sleet falling from the sky the day before...

Eight screws into to each corner post.

They started piling up.

Two beds are a bit higher as I want deeper ones for carrots.

This one will get additional wood pieces and a plastic covering.

It will be a mini greenhouse for my tomatoes.

I've been saving up newspapers for a while to cover the ground.

While Mika went to get some soil, I chatted with the neighbor allotment's owner, dug up weeds, greeted earth worms happily, covered up the garlic as bunnies had been nibbling at them, and noticed that the strawberries are waking up. I also trimmed the thorned bushes from h*ll on the border of my allotment. They are like a torture device cooked up by the Spanish inquisition!

I love how they all are little wonky because the ground isn't quite flat.

I should be able to start planting seeds in two weeks.

Hoping it will warm up by then...

Have you been enjoying our Click Plant Grow gardening blog circle?

I am, very much.

Let's see what Sarah Beth is up to :)

Sunday, April 24, 2016

March

We held circus skill work shops for the kids at work.

I ended up making 50ish twirly ribbon sticks.

freshly baked bread with your work mates... there is no better way to start the day.

Unless there's a Friday bake sale... heh..

Niina and I got to play with three sweet kittens.

And she added to her Star Wars lego collection.

Gotta love this kid.

I finished my winter wool socks!

Took a while to weave in all those ends..

Drove back to Tampere to bring back my dollhouse from the exhibit.

We had eager Easter helpers in the car.

Started new socks.

I've worn through two pairs, I need to stock up.

I also found a pattern to use on this funky yarn.

It will be a scarf, one day.

Easter dinner at my brother's house.

Niina got stuck :)

I switched to spring shoes and jacket.

Still had to wear a fleece underneath though.

Monday, April 11, 2016

Have seeds much?

Yes.

Yes I do.
And then I ordered some more...because you just do, don't you?
Plus I may have picked up some at the garden center.

I use these nifty little pellets when starting my seeds (the brand is Jiffy).

Pop them in the container, water very generously and watch them expand.

Add your seeds, put the cover on and then the hard part of waiting starts.
These are the tomato seeds I got from Courtney.

Why the question marks?

Those two seeds got mixed up in the envelope, so I won't know until I see tomatoes ripening .

I don't mind a little mystery.

...cue impatient waiting...

I tend to grow veggies we like to eat. makes more sense :)

Love, love, love carrots.
Using up left over seeds from last year and added the red and white varieties.
Most of my seeds I ordered from Thompson & Morgan from the UK, some are from the local garden center.

Mixed variety of lettuces. The little gem one was my favorite from last year.

Greens and such...
I had broccoli and chard last year, spinach should be easy enough to grow. The leeks were part of a bonus seed packet I got. I'll give it a go, apparently not the easiest to grow.

Radishes and beets.
Last year I didn't do well with beets, but I know more now.
And you really can't mess up radishes...

Peas, peas and more peas.
Lots of peas. My neighbor at the allotments named me the pea magician last summer :)
Last year I lost all my cucumbers that I had grown in advance, so this year I'm sowing direct.
The pumpkin grew happily in a hugelkultur bed, which I'm making bigger this spring.

I have chives, oregano, thyme and lovage growing already.
Adding the sage.
Anyone interested in lovage seeds? :)

I will be growing equal amounts of veggies and flowers.

Lots and lots of flowers

I believe in a pretty and eclectic garden.
The allotments have their own beehives, so this is a great way of attracting those pollinators.

Calendula and nasturtiums.