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“Just Keep Doing Something”

(20 Minute Jim) As part of my mid-life crisis, I’m taking a class in motorcycle repair. It’s been a great chance to go back and learn things I missed earlier in life. When other kids were monkeying around under the hood of cars, I probably felt more comfortable on my knees weeding a row of carrots. The class is starting with the basics of tools and measurements and how to fill out a time card.

Which brings me to the piece of wisdom that I want to share. The instructor said something to the effect of “you don’t have to work at some break-neck crazy speed. Just keep doing something all the time and you’ll likely be the most efficient worker in the shop.” So simple. So clear. This week, I’ve really adopted that mantra of “just keep doing something.”

It’s easy to let myself sit down and take a break when I’ve finished some portion of a larger project. I deserve it, right? For instance, the other day when I was planting the tomatoes, it took far less time than I’d imagined. I was going to call it quits but since I still had time left in my “20 minute” allotment, I kept plodding ahead and I also got some squash and some more broccoli planted. Even if I’d banked the unused time, I suspect the effort to overcome the psychic inertia of getting started again would have eaten up most of the time savings. Instead, I just kept working and ended up planting all the seedlings.

I admit that this advice seems a little bit obvious. But so far, it’s working for me, not just around the garden and not just around the motorcycle shop.

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By 20 Minute Jim – May 29, 2010

Organic Pest Control: Handpicking

If you are going to go the organic route in kitchen gardening, sooner or later you will find yourself thinking about insect management. We try to take the attitude that having a healthy garden is having a healthy ecosystem in our yard, one that will attract birds and bees and other living things. One of the important lessons I learned came from reading The Organic Gardener’s Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control edited by Editors Barbara W. Ellis and Fern Marshall Bradley, a book we’ve mentioned previously here. What I learned was this: not all insects are bad. Some of the insects you might see in your garden are actually there for the express purpose of eating the insects you don’t want. How great is that? This book has helped me to recognize ladybug larvae, which are no where near as cute as grown-up ladybugs.

from http://berkeleynaturally.wordpress.com/

Deciding to eliminate insects based on some cute-ness factor is a setting a course for disaster… and a lot of squishing.
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By 20 Minute Jan – May 26, 2010

Mesclun Mix in the Raised Garden Bed

Our neighbor had this commercially manufactured raised garden bed in her garden, and for the last few years we planted it with tomatoes next to the small shed. This year, we decided to try something different. We moved the bed closer to the house and planted it with a mesclun mix. It’s looking great! It’s kind of a funky container, but I think we may have found a good use for it.

I thought that having a dedicated raised bed would make weeding much easier– and I was right on that account. I was able to get the soil nearly weed-free before I planted the mesclun seed so that was a bonus. The sprouts are reaching a good size so our neighbor is planning on making a spring salad for a Memorial Weekend dinner.

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By 20 Minute Jan – May 25, 2010

Transplanting Rhubarb

20MinuteJim made a good deal with a friend: a clump of rhubarb plants from our kitchen garden in exchange for a fantastic rhubarb pie recipe. We did our part. I’m anxiously waiting to try the recipe!

A quick aside here: when I speak of “transplanting rhubarb”, I mean something closer to “dividing and sharing” rhubarb. I do not mean “moving rhubarb” because eliminating rhubarb from a spot where it has become established is recognized by most home gardeners as a highly challenging undertaking. Therefore, when you plant rhubarb, do so with a sense of commitment and serenity about having given your rhubarb a permanent home in your garden.

How does one transplant rhubarb? Here’s the easy steps to follow:

1. Choose a well-established plant to divide.

2. Use a spade to dig deeply around the plant to be sure to get a good portion of the plant’s roots. If you aren’t trying to move the whole plant, you can chop off a section of the plant. Just be sure to dig deep enough to get the root part as well.

Rhubarb plant with a section already removed

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By 20 Minute Jan – May 20, 2010

Local Heroes: Ann Arbor Project Grow

One of the local non-profit organizations that reinforces my sense of civic pride is Ann Arbor’s Project Grow. The mission of Project Grow Community Gardens is to provide “the space, education, and inspiration to make organic gardening accessible to all.” Project Grow has 14 community garden sites around Ann Arbor; residents can sign up for gardening space to grow their own produce. These community gardens are popular! Twelve of their sites are now filled up for the season as of mid-May.
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By 20 Minute Jan – May 12, 2010