What a welcome break

Been too long since I posted a note here - been busy with heat - watering - mowing - watering, marketing, mom broke her toe - doctors' visits.

Picked almost every pear before this storm hit - - figured I best get then off the tree and salvage the best - didn't want them hitting earth with a thud. David had to stand on the top rungs and I played catcher - for the top pears - I have plenty. come and get some.

The market rained out - we worried and almost lost tents - mine got stuck - soaked and didn't sell a thing. God keeps telling me it is time to quit - doh!

That's about it - bee grant turned in very late - ticks, heat, broken hoses - running out of steam. God let it freeze.

The season's changing.

It is funny how even though I am so disconnected living in an urban environment (Downtown Tulsa). My mind is telling me things are changing. I was out watering the garden, yesterday when I noticed the sun was shining on the plants at a different angle. First thing that came to mind was summer is ending, the season is changing. I came across this poem about this phenomenon. Even though it is 100 F outside I feel cooler weather is on the way.

Something told the wild geese

It was time to go,

Though the fields lay golden

Something whispered, "snow."


Leaves were green and stirring,

Berries, luster-glossed,

But beneath warm feathers

Something cautioned, "frost."


All the sagging orchards

Steamed with amber spice,

But each wild breast stiffened

At remembered ice.


Something told the wild geese

It was time to fly,

Summer sun was on their wings,

Winter in their cry. - Rachel Field

The story of neighbors working together.

Here is the story of The birth of Owen Park's community garden . Interesting to find out the "behind the scene" workings that causes events to unfold.

Since this blog is attracting a global following.

I have added a Translator to the bottom of the page. If you want to read the comments written in other languages, just cut and paste into the translator. You can also translate your comments to an other language, however I do not think that would be necessary. Everyone seems to be able to read English. Anyway feel free to converse with each other.

Reporting Something is Up

Hey Bob - have you noticed the commenters on this website are speaking in foreign language - I think the FBI needs to be notified that someone is using your blog as a means to communicate - may be nothing but could be sex ring, drugs, or whatever but it needs to come to a halt.

June Honey Report is out.

You can read it here. Most Beekeepers in Northeast Oklahoma are reporting good Hive conditions and some surplus. I was able to extract a shallow super for a modest harvest. Thanks to the City of Tulsa for limited mowing, and Mother Nature for abundant rain, the Clover and Dandelion flow went for a extended period time. The Bee's are hitting the Pepper Vine heavily now, and the Poison Ivy flow should start in a week or so. I hope to get a modest fall harvest.

I am still in the process of learning the Backward Beekeeping methods and manipulation. I just feel that going forwards by going backwards in the path for me. It just makes more sense to me.

Why is everything crap??

I don't know about you all but I am so tired of buying something expensive (a walk behind lawnmower around $400 is expensive to me) and getting it home and the first thing that breaks is the gears that make it move when in use and then it is heavier but you continue to use it. Then the next thing you do is use it and it just poof breaks down on you. The engine just poofed black smoke and that's it - it's shot.

The warrenty isn't worth the paper or money you pay for it - does anyone remember when a warrenty was free and covered it fully for a minimum amount of time. It isn't just politics that is in the toilet - it is manufacturing. We have shipped so many jobs and products overseas to insure really high returns for the corporations that sell the junk but it has come back to this nation with poison in it, painted on it, containing nuclear waste materials and small engines that fail to run for two years. I had an old LawnBoy that lasted 10 years but today I can't buy a Troy Built and have it last two.

And the younger generations don't even know the difference.

Pink Petunias in the Snow

More information to help you get your fall garden started. This is for zone 5 so here in zone 7 all her tips should work out for you.

Time to get ready.

It is hard to imagine with the heat of the summer outside, but fall garden planting is just two weeks away. Here is the schedule.

Making a new life just like the old life

I wanted to share this article with everyone. For those of you who has shopped at the Nam Hai you can relate to the part about the market. I go into the Nam Hai and I look at the produce and wonder what all the stuff is and how do you cook it. The Nam Hai has a lot of root crops. I wonder if they are different kind of potatoes?

There is a movie called The scent of green papaya. I could not find a link to watch it online, but I would recommend watching it if you see it at the rental place or in a bargain bin. The story is rather boring but the food and garden scenes are my inspiration. As I create my outdoor living space I want to replicate the house in the movie.

A quote from the article; "Without stringent regulations or organic certifications, the Saturday open-air farmers market still welcomes all comers." Here in Tulsa these families selling their surpluses would be considered criminals. As I was driving down Charles Page Blvd, I saw a hand written sign nailed to a telephone pole. The sign advertised Home Grown Veggies for sale straight from the garden. I didn't pursue the location of the garden to see if it was in the city limits (illegal) or in the County (might be illegal). But I could not help thinking, how have we gotten to the point that hard work, skills, and entrepreneurship are considered criminal activities in the City of Tulsa. Is it just to limit competition with the big box corporate stores? Or are there previous produce illness outbreaks that have prompted draco

Times are changing and we need to change our 1950's suburban sprawl zoning. We have to be able to be more local with our food. And if someone has a "Green Thumb" they should be able to sell their surplus with no interferences or burdens placed apon them.

Fourth Year - too much rain

I planted over 80 tomato plants in the lower garden - there's over 80 in another location too - they look ok - in the goose pen - but the lower garden - so sad. I even transplanted a flat of 16 plants that looked good - healthy Lemon Boy yellow tomatoes - they look like sticks and 2 good weeks ago they were healthy plants. I have not been able to get to other parts of the garden successfully to clean up weeds - what didnt' get mulched is about to be tilled under - I am heart sick over the devastation my gardens have incurred with torrential spring rains for 4 years - summer begins tomorrow.

I've given up taking food to downtown Tulsa - I spend my gas, go and sit - find out that the downtown market is now on chopping block if the garage below insists on our $1M insurance policy that I have no idea will come from. DTU used to carry that - they were dissolved last year. I have to have an answer in the morning regarding this issue - will the MayFest group carry a policy on is - I offered to call the mayor's office and the lady from the garage got a bit upset - I didn't mean anything by it - they have a right to ask for insurance but don't they already cover any accidents that might occur on their own behalf? Why duplicate the premiums? Insurance companies are killing us as it is - but then every time a person gets hurt someone has to pay right???

The bungie cord slipped out of my hand the first day of market and slapped me soundly upside my right cheek and then flipped with less force and clipped the other side of my head. I went to my knees and then to my butt - it hurt so bad. I don't know if I had a dimple there before but appears to be one now. Maybe I should sue someone - nah - I caused my own injury. Humans trip and fall. Things happen - I have insurance and a doctor but it wasn't called for. We all carry car insurance - I think we all do.

I expect everyone to care for their tents properly - now we won't be able to tie them to our cars - if we get to continue the market that is. If we close - I won't fight to keep it open - but I have a feeling that all will go ok - someone should have contacted me by now if it wasn't.

Cars and me

I went to town to get paint brushes so I can paint my sink for the farm building. I then went to Subway for a seafood sandwich and as I drove out of the parking lot - my car tried to die. I was so afraid of it stalling that I turned right instead of left and headed into the parking lot of a car parts store. I pulled into a slot and pulled out the owners manual - first time I have looked at it since we bought the car seven years ago - its a Subaru. It's supposed to last a lot of miles - owners in Tulsa have 700,000 + miles on their cars.

David just sold his Harley to a friend at work so he can trade it up to a Goldwing - they have airbags and David rides so faithfully and carefully but so many others don't. I was really thinking - isn't this the way it goes - he gets us deeper in debt and my car breaks down.

I sit in the heat rolling windows down and start looking up what Check Engine means - I am worried - big time. I find the info and it says - to the shop NOW no extra driving. So far to Ferguson in Broken Arrow - I don't think I can handle it. David's at work. Then I keep reading and it says that if we had just put gas in it recently it may be a loose gas cap - OMG - I go around to the other side of the car and open the gas tank and whirl it closed. Then just in case I open it again and close it again. I start the car and angels sing. It is running so smooth and just fine and the light does not come on again.

I drive home and look skyward - a quick 'thank you' is said. And I am a little happy that instead of panicking or freaking out I read the manual, found the problem, put it in order and got to go home. I am grateful.

Farm Building Almost Done

I bought a building almost exactly 1 1/2 yrs ago - my goal was to turn it into an air conditioned, room that customers could use without speaking to me - smiles. Yes, I am not getting much done when I am talking to a customer and I also have faith in humans to actually pick up and pay for vegetables cuz so far humans who leave the garden festivals always send me a check when they find they have run out of money. So far I have not been stiffed.

I am hanging the wallpaper - I finished the floor at least 2 weeks ago - seem longer than that to be frank - offered to pay a friend to do it cuz said friend likes to paper - but yesterday was supposed to be the day and it was just a matter of David helping her put a couple of tables and a container of water - and it didn't work out. I have three more lengths of paper to hang - it looks very nice and I am surprised that it doesn't look worse - I am no papering fool - she would have done a much better job I am sure - but the walls aren't exactly straight. I like the idea of things being perfect at times - but mostly I just want to get by - I am leaning toward Atomic Living. Get close - make do - eliminate waste. I don't care if the vendors at the markets pay me an exactly 10% of profit - just knock off a full 10% to bring your total down - that's set aside for your taxes and market purposes - then figure 10% again with a top of $15 and if there's pennies - oh please!

I keep looking at my 80 tomato plants dying in the lower garden and the clouds getting ready to let go again - they aren't dying from the heat but the lack of air in the soil - fourth year. 13 years we used that lower garden - I cannot remember once the garden dying from rain. Last four scares me to death. Oil spills in the gulf - we are gonna eliminate ourselves. Garrison Keillor's article today in the Sunday Tulsa World was pretty much - "Might as well kiss our behinds," cuz it is all but over.

The young girl at Ace who waited on me was sick to her stomach - ulcers. Ulcers are curable I said. She knows but she is losing her job soon - she's a baby - must be her first out there - bless her heart. I got to leave home and go to DC and had a job that could have been a lifelong career. I came home instead and got married and moved to Minnesota for a couple of years and back here - he's the freak who got me into gardens - into the great outdoors - man am I tanned right now.

Well, the building will house the maters and peppers and whatever I get into it - as much as we go - I feel guilty cuz I don't go enough. Felt guilty at the market for using it to run for office - Rex said that was foolish - since that is what I do. OK - so if I get to shouldn't other candidates - no - he said - they don't do that for a living - hmmmm.

I wish my onions were weeded - paper first - squash into ground next - growling at the rain for a while - please - Dude - I know it is our fault but we have had enough here - but if I pray it away, it may stay away and that doesn't work either. So maybe He will work on the ones of us who don't believe its real or has power to fix it - boy that would be nice.

Ag and Politics

Wow - I did something that I never considered yesterday before in my life - I paid the state of Oklahoma $200 for the privilege of running against Mark McCollough in District 30 in Sapulpa/Kiefer/Mounds/Glenpool yesterday.

Today we raked up our pile of old wood to take to the dump - what a way to start a campaign.

The Republican was running unopposed - seemed just wrong to let him have the job. Shame is that someone asked me if I had to know law to do this - the requirements - be 21 yrs old, registered in the party of choice and resident for 6 months. How many of you are under or unemployed? If you fit that criteria and had an extra bit of cash you could have run for these offices or spend a bit more for senator or governor - what does it pay - I've heard $38,000. That's less than I was making 10 yrs ago when I went to work for Williams Communications - so that's not a lot of incentive. Do I want the job - only if I can really make a difference - cuz I am not happy with how either party is running it today. I am reluctant - oh man I am not into politics - these guys - and they are mostly guys - where is the logic? I am paying taxes on seeds with a Farm Exemption card in my purse but let me buy bags of dog food and those same taxes are exempt - this was the number one reason that set me off this year for being angry over our state laws.

Beekeepers can't extract and bottle honey for public sales without jumping thru hoops, cost $350 dollars this year for a meat producer to use a trailer and sell their beef at the market - it is already USDA inspected - this isn't to look at the meat - it's to look at the trailer. This is outragious but it is the law - rule of health dept - code - whatever - it is too much. Egg license is $50 for small producers - that can mean many dozen eggs to break even.

Familes are hungry, programs are being cut, teachers laid off, we passed tax cuts for the weathiest a few years back - ain't that a hoot. And our healthcare is in the toilet. Our roads - oh man - I drove from the airport to Casa Bonita to eat while waiting on my husband and went down Memorial and over on 21st St - man Tulsa looks bad - worse than Sapulpa. I guess most of you know that Sapulpa's income is a lot lower than say Jenks - overall - been doing a lot less with a lot less so actually Sapulpa looks better than Tulsa. But businesses come and go. The last candidate was the just retired Superintendent of Sapulpa School District - said he was asking Mark for votes on bills for the schools and that Mark voted against them - I have to check the records on this stuff - this is heresay - and inadmissable in court - he's an attorney. And his father was a teacher - and he went to college himself - why vote against education when you have one???

But I am a concerned citizen. I run a mom and pop greenhouse/market garden and have been in business for 17 yrs. I worked the first 10 fulltime and completed college at Bartlesville Weslyan cum laud - I run two farmers markets and draw no salary at this time. One of these was just tied to the Jenks School District and we pay them for that privilege adding 5% of our profit to their coffers for the kids.

My lower garden is drowning for the 4th year in a row. The weather is changing and it isn't for the better. The environmental issues concern me, a year ago I even got my act together to change my health issues and that's another concern. And I did it with more help from taking vitamins and educating myself than I did with traditional medicine but doesn't that just mean we need to educate our doctors better on nutrition. Heaven help us we need to leave this planet cleaner - I have a grandson who's 10 years old.

I am not a politician - I am just a ordinary citizen.

I have worked for a trucking firm, manufacturing, engineering, and healthcare. I spent most of my time in education at the votech, at the electric company in Tulsa and my first job out of high school I worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington DC -back in the 70s - maybe that makes me a Washington insider - NOT!!! I was a file clerk and I met my husband who was in the US Navy back then. I am an Air Force brat and I produced an Air Force veteran and SHE used to load bombs on F16s. I've traveled outside of the US twice - I lived in Great Britain for 3 years as a child - and went to see my Military daughter and son-in-law in Japan about 10 years ago. But I was born at Tinker Air Force base a long time ago - and I graduated in Bristow after Dad's retirement. So I served in the military as dependent for 16 years.

Hope I can count on some help - cuz I am sure running out of time.

Animals in the garden

Just as I finished my last email I went outside to work but I had been hearing the plea of a small creature thru my office windows - I knew that a frog had been caught by a snake - but I didn't know I would find it. The cat had spied it on a plastic tarp - the snake - light green with round eyes 3 feet long had a small bullfrog by one leg - his tiny screams of Help - this loud chirp - this plea. I looked at the snake and that frog - the snake was too small; the frog too large - he only had one leg down its throat and the rest would not go - so I picked up an 18 in handtool and proceeded to pin the snake to the tarp. Oh, he faked it - he rattled that tail - there was no diamonds and it was as pointed as a pen. The frog was still screaming his 'let me goooooo' and finally my tool in the middle of the snakes back caused him to release his grip. The frog leaped 3 feet straight up and the snake slithered into my shade garden - damnit - not exactly a good spot - but I doubt he will stay long. I did try to shoo him further but he is under mulch - its ok - he's harmless - the frog is safe.

Sometimes I even amaze myself - not a scream no hesitation.


My dad was scart to death of things like that - scared - I spelled it incorrectly on purpose. He killed snakes and spiders as if they were the size of volkswagons - initially gardening scared me - bugs - spiders, snakes - worms - now I am one with it all. Yesterday 2 nukes of bees were delivered by my beekeeper - the indominable Ms Della and my hair was still drying and blowing about wildly. I got stung twice by bees who accidently became entangled in my hair. Even my bees did not hurt me for their sake but out of fear of my wild ass hair that was blowing all over the place and they were kinda lost and scared - they got caught - I'll bee more careful.

Planting Foo

Yesterday I planted 105 peppers - habanero, kong pow, black pearl, jalepeno, corno verde, gypsy, parks whopper banana and then my sweet bells, chocolate beauty, gourmet, islander and an entire flat of jupiter. I am going to hit restaurants with bell peppers.

Today I want to plant 100 tomatoes - I know I won't cuz I really intend to get the hoses and the mulching done and I don't have the materials for the mulching. I also plan to plant all my eggplant - (plan/plant/eggplant - can't help it - just turns out sounding repetitive).

Della came out to care for the bees - she coos over the girls and speaks lovingly to them - I smile as I tuck peppers into the ground - then I tell them to sit tight - I will water them into the next day. Most of my cole crops look so pretty except for the weeds that are trying to get toe holds - mulch sits in bags unground - my grass is unmowed, my feet are getting tired and my skin is getting brown. I am not sitting still - tomatoes are being tucked into pots for resale at market - plants being arranged for better viewing and Jenks market may be in trouble again - insurance went from $169 to $503 - market doesn't make enough to justify those costs. It gets to where I don't wanna do this - the OTC is trying to force us to buy permits and collect taxes - for 17 years I have paid my damn taxes - I won't become their lacky. Put me in jail.

I have a lot of left over tomato plants - I plan to use existing fence row for a lot of them - stake and weave where there is no fence row - the plants are indeterminate - they won't last the summer and David suggested we plant another flat of parks whopper in about 6 weeks - sometimes he is brilliant.

I am da FOO who will plant all day today and probably most of tomorrow - best of luck all of ya.

Sudden Death

Just got home from the local feed store - Farmers Feed in Sapulpa. They just lost a son and brother. Sam and Kay Johnson own it - the kids work there - and one of the sons died. This guy has loaded feed and hay into our vehicles for 20 years or more - and it was shocking to me. We forget just how short life is and how quickly it can be taken away. I heard the story but my heart is way to tender and I had to walk out - tears were rolling down my face as I approached our truck that was parked near the cattle panels that I needed to move my plants out of the greenhouse.

It wasn't that he was a close family friend - it was the fact that this handsome, strong, muscular man's life was just snuffed out - gone so quickly to an outsider who didn't know he had cancer. We don't see what is wrong in other peoples lives - we don't tell others our own horror stories as we wage war with emotional pain or deep illnesses.

The greenhouse business makes me nuts - I get very stressed out this time of year and for all intents and purposes, I must get my butt outside and work to get it all ready for sales at Herb Day at Brookside start this next Saturday. And I am so stupid for letting it get to me - that all this stress piles on me and I become a nutcase crazy bitch. Maybe I can slow my mind down and try to enjoy the process - after all, any one of us could die between now and tomorrow.

And then there is the taxes - death and taxes - life's only guarantee.

Finally Dry Enough - We Plant Today

I have waited long enough - the ground is dry and we will till today - David's got two gardens to till - then we finally get our own done. I have lots of overgrown cole crops - and I never plan to start these again cuz I have the shittiest (I'm sorry but this is the word to use) luck when it comes to broccoli and the like. My cherry tomatoes are ready for the big pots - now! Do I dare - and the geese still sit where I plan to move my regular tomatoes - grrrrrr. Lord help me - the forsyntia is in bloom - plant your peas now too - hurry - more rain coming Friday.

Footnote - if you get a huge influx of grasshoppers - grab all you can, stuff them into a blender and make grasshopper sludge - if there is disease in them and you spray it all over your garden, they will consume themselves - they are cannibalistic that way - and the germs the smushy ones have will be shared - and they die quicker. They also do not like the taste of very very hot peppers - a good use for Kong Pow (not the right spelling) and Habanero - she said with a deep bow at hips and whispering - good luck muchachos.

OPCG Work Party

Breaking ground and first planting party at Owen Park Community Garden. Edison and Santa Fe. Tonight at 6pm

The 8th Plague of Egypt.

God then had Moses stretch his staff over Egypt, and a wind picked up from the east. The wind continued until the following day, when it brought a locust swarm. The swarm covered the sky, casting a shadow over Egypt. It consumed all the remaining Egyptian crops, leaving no tree or plant standing.

Scary Stuff. Let's hope the swarm dies down before it reaches us.

Requiem for Detroit

I watched this BBC documentary last night. Very good insight into the rise and fall of American's fourth largest city, and the collapse of the industrial world as well. It ends with the Urban homesteaders raising food on empty lots. I loved the guy talking about he makes $500.00 a week growing food in Detroit, and the other guy exclaiming "That is about the same that I make working at Chrysler. You can watch it online. If you have a slow Internet connection, press play, let it connect and buffer, then hit pause till it downloads.

Nothin Tastes Better...

Than a home grown Tomato. If you are Tomato challenged plan on attending:

Tomato Growing Workshop with Sue Gray, OSU Extension
presented by: The Oklahoma Horticulture Study Group

Plant sales 10am-12Noon & 2pm to 4pm, Program with Sue Gray 12 till 2pm. We will have a small selection of tomato plants, and herbs for purchase.

The Walmart Tax.

Why should it cost a citizen $750.00 to ask permission to do business in Tulsa. When other cities encourage and even fund entrepreneurs. I sure am glad we have all this planners and zoning to protect Walmart opps...I mean us.

Saving your garden seeds

I was watching the documentary Collapse, and one of the things he stressed was to save your seeds for next years planting. I have started growing a variety of sweet pea and I have been successful in saving to seeds and getting them to germinating the next year and actually be the same plant as the parent plant.

I was talking to a friend about saving seeds and she told me that her mother had green bean seeds that had been passed down from mother to daughter for countless generations. She was so distressed about it because at the time she was not gardening and did not get the bean seeds from her mother to plant before her mother died. She has contacted relatives, but no one has the bean seeds for her to start growing. That strain of green beans that her family ate for generations is now lost to the ages.

As I plan my garden this year I want to try and grow varieties I can save the seeds from. I was shopping for seeds at my local garden center, I felt lost. I know I can always refer to the OK State fact sheet. But can you save the seeds and get the same plant year after year?. The fact sheet does not say. The seed packs aren't labeled. Should I just buy some and hope for the best? It could be two seasons before I find out it was a bad decision. Then just because it is an "Heirloom" doesn't mean it will grown well in Oklahoma.

Then just like the Lone Ranger, I get an email discussing the topic of seed saving. It seems the Kerr Center has done the trials and here is the list. So for those of you who are concerned about securing seeds as part of your food security, you will find everything you need to get started.

USDA Honey Report for February

USDA Honey report for February has been revised.

Deconstructing Dinner,

This spring Beekeepers discovered a 90% loss on Vancouver Island. Deconstructed Dinner has an interview with Paul van Westendorp, provincial apiculturist, ministry of agriculture & lands, Province of British Columbia and Bob Liptrot, co-owner, Tugwell Creek Honey Farm & Meadery (Sooke, BC) about the collapse. You can listen online or if you have a slow connection you can download the program.

OH MY GOD! Run for you lives.

Too venomous to allow to exist.

Illicit Gardening

No... Not that kind of gardening...This kind.

Food Deserts

I hear the term "Food Desert" and I wonder what is the cause? Is it Walmart forcing shopping to move from a neighborhood store to a more regional shopping center. Or is it a choice made by the consumer as to this is where I prefer to shop. My shopping choices tend to be places that have the brands I prefer in stock so I know I can get everything on my list in one trip. I am not a person who goes to the store more than once a week, and I hate it when I have to make a second trip just for one item that was out of stock.

For the past three or so years, North Tulsa's shopping issues have been in the news. When you have the Mayor driving across town for a shopping photo op, then you know its all politics. But is it worth the cost of 2.2 million going to one place or one entrepreneur? All your eggs in one basket so to speak.

I ran across the article about how New York City is trying to combat health issues and food deserts and the same time. I came to the conclusion that 2.2 million would fund a lot of vegetable carts, entrepreneurs, and community gardens.

Winter's Back

If I had had time yesterday I would have picked a massive bouquet of daffodils - right now there's an inch of snow on the roses outside the window - Yesterday was over 70 and the greenhouse was hot. No mood to even go look today - so I need to work on taxes and the day is over at 4:43 - shopping was more fun. I am going to spray a bacillius in the greenhouse tomorrow to murder my only pest - fungus gnats disappear when plants hit the great outdoors - they only survive in the warmth and artificial environment of the greenhouse.

I am struggling with not wanting to make labels and not sure if I could get away without them - I could number things - with a silver pen - and then hand out ID sheets or cards - eggplant are up and peppers look ok - most maters have are looking good too. I transplanted a lot of nasturtiums and hyacinth beans - it's funny when you think about how much something costs at fancy restaurants and all it is is a flower or two in a salad.

Well, work isn't getting done without my eyes and hands - so this is a short note. I wish it had not snowed - it makes it all soggy wet again - nothing has been planted here, onions are growing in the sack they were purchased in - sad state of affairs - but it will get there - slowly.

In case you missed it...

Kim Flottum editor of Bee Culture Magazine and author of The Backyard Beekeeper. will be the keynote speaker at Bee Buzz this weekend. Rich Fisher interviewed him this week on Studio Tulsa. You can listen to the Interview online.

More from Cleveland.

I always thought it surreal to go into the Shopping Malls from the 1980's with the imitation outdoors environment under the expansive glass atrium ceilings. Promenade Mall is a good example of this. The outdoor shopping center was enclosed to allow complete control of the shopping experience. And of course you have to have the sound of falling water to give you the right white noise in the background. But what do you do when Macy's packs up and leaves? You revamp the Food Court.

I have been reading a lot about Cleveland Ohio.

Cleveland is one of the northern cities hit hard by job migration. Like Detroit and Flint, Cleveland's citizens are coming up with some innovative survival tactics to rebuild their community. I have ranted before about the Tulsa Development Authority holding land in common just to grow Bermuda grass. I think the concept of a "Land Bank"is much more inline with today's realities than the "Development" concept of the 1970's urban renewal. Why does a place have to hit rock bottom, and land revert back to nature before land use becomes a political topic. It is crazy that we have huge discussions about Tulsa's parks and rec centers. But no one every claims we do not have the money to mow or maintain TDA land.

Food, Inc. The Documentary

For those of you who have not seen Food, Inc. or would like to see it again. You can watch it online HERE.

Big Bee Buzz Starts Tonight.

Registration Starts at 5:30.

Eastside Christian Church.

15th and Harvard

Better Days

Got up early to get dirt picked up at Amanda's. David saw the upside down wheelbarrow in his way at the garage door - guess he took it as a hint. I was still awake when he came in and nothing harsh was exchanged.

Life got a lot better today - he tilled the garden again, helped me get the potting soil and I just took the bird to the greenhouse with me- wore her out. Did I mention we have a Goffin Cockatoo? Time - they eat time up but if you put her on your shoulder and work - hey, killing birds with a stone. Got a lot done - tomatoes transplanted - 2 flats, 5 more hanging baskets, 5 pots of mixed flowers - edible types and even took time to run to store to find trellises. And she's tired - Peaches it the bird's name - whoohoo I won't have to hear her screaming tonight - she's not said a word this afternoon at all - Pooooooped I tell ya!

I mentioned Food Inc to Amanda - she's not seen it - but I think she saw the previews on Oprah's show regarding it. I need to cook a meal or two but my motion right now is plant, plant, plant - and not cook, cook, cook - amazing I've lost weight eating out - just doesn't include Hamburger buns, french fries or large quantities of gravy on anything. I've made sugar my enemy - now if I could get off diet Coke - my last refuge of bad food habituation - I think that's a word.

Like I said, it was a better day - first thing in the morning - two flats must be watered, remaining seedless tomatoes transplanted and then the beefsteaks seem the tallest - oh, I got all kinds of squash planted today - 8-ball zucchini - round stuff, cocozelle - light green zuch, straightneck and white scallop and a whole flat of parks whopper cucumbers - they do well but I am completely hooked on their Whopper line except the stupid squash is treated - I don't like treated seed. Next two days I hope to get cole crops into the garden for our use, peas would be nice, beets, carrots, and all the dang onions are growing in the bag - literally up and green onion sized greens - rolls eyes - not bragging - either - that's not entirely normal.

My lower garden is going to be dedicated to Okra - local grocery will take Okra - can't start it till it warms up - and I keep expecting these cold nights and cool days to burst straight from crappy yucky dampness and chill to blistering heat - we don't have a spring in Oklahoma much and seldom a fall - just Summer and Winter - in all their individual ugly HOT or COLD.

If you get close enough to - kick Inhofe in the shorts - I'll do the same if I get close enough too.

Peace and enjoy

Mad or out of Holy Basil

OK - not a good day in the greenhouse - friend shows up and wants 3 flats and of course he doesn't have potting soil worth anything and so I gave him potting soil, and spaghnum moss and 3 six packs - he gave me $5.00 but he also needed a silver pen - to mark the pots. It was the time that was so precious - and once used up it is gone forever.

David seems useless right now - he doesn't want to wake up before 9 and grudgenly does arise about 8 - but then there's breakfast that he cannot live without - and by the time we get to the feed store and stop at the grocery store we get home around 10 - dang it - the days shot. I mentioned potting soil - he didn't seem to absorb that request - so now I have to go pick it up in the morning - we store it at Amanda's - she grows scented geraniums and has a big building and she works cleaning and restoring gardens - and her season has begun so she's not home this time of year during ordinary hours. And he leaves at 1 pm - to get to work by a quarter to 3 - shrugs - don't ask, I still don't understand.

I am out of my Holy Basil tablets - which I am using for depression so I am not sure I am not rightfully mad or just lacking my happy pills - but the trash is overflowing, the carpet is a mess, the table is loaded with a plethora of crappola and I want my life back and it is only mid March.

As I ate supper I filled in the US Census and the OK Dept of Ag has sent me 3 survey's to fill in - one for my own farm and one each for the two markets - oh glory - goodie, goodie. So while I eat, I work. I came home to find my beekeeper feeding the bees. She needed a check, and somehow could not find her order form or her receipt for the check. I feel for her - cuz that's how my day had been going - then I got a phone call from a former greenhouse getting-back-into-the-business friend - guess she will be at Jenks Herb and Plant Festival and UPS made a deliver - germs to kill the small larvae called fungus gnats. Oh joy - if it would dry out I'd have less of them - but the soil itself that the greenhouse sits on is a haven for those minor greenhouse pests - I should thank God everyday that is the only menace in the greenhouse.

So up to dark - I end up filling large 4 inch pots with dirt so I can water them in first thing AM and then start - yes start - squash - for my own farm and for sales - cuz this year food it where I am focusing - if you can't eat it - well, there's a few things I am growing like Sweet Grass and Aloe Vera - but mostly I am thinking food.

Nuff - maybe it is just a need for Holy Basil to keep my stern in gear - otherwise - if you don't see David at a show - I buried him - with his tiller - out back - under the woodpile - winks.

Transplant Insanity

Tomatoes and peppers are never consistent so I never try to direct sow those for the festivals or the markets. So that means that I use the 6 packs with 72 plants in a tray. I have about 35 flats of transplants and I got one done today. Ten hanging baskets were completed and all of my January tomato starts are now transplanted into gallon pots- there was 68 of those total so it isn't like I was sitting on my hands today.

I noticed in the Tulsa World a picture of plants - I think they were tomatoes and the caption indicated that the disease commonly known as Damping Off - was a huge problem to the home grower - cleanliness was required. I have a better answer to that age old dilemma - get some spaghnum moss - either milled or just a big bag of the brown messy moss and simply sprinkle this over your babies as they emerge. Park's Seed Company sells books on growing plants - years ago I bought the one about successful herb growing and in the first section of the book it discussed the use of milled spaghnum moss as a starter medium. Now don't go dropping the unmilled on top of your plants but do take the stuff and rub it between your hands to create a dusting of this like powdering a babies behind. Moss has a bacteria in it that prevents the bacteria that causes Damping Off to occur. Voila - no more pretty plants one day and nasty looking pinch waisted plants falling over dying. Be careful that you don't suck this stuff into your lungs - I've done this for 17 yrs and thus far, no lung cancer or hacking cough but just be careful - natural doesn't mean be stupid.

Happy Planting ya'll.

Am I the only one without a Debit Card

I stopped today at Garden Ridge - I needed some kind of very inexpensive trellis for hyacinth bean to climb on and found some florist wreath hangers with 3 legs - bend them a bit and they will fit the pots - voila. I pick up ten, meander around to the front and get into line - and of course the new method of checking out seems so odd as the stores line you up like cattle waiting to be branded and take you one at a time. I had my checkbook out with pen in hand and without batting an eyelash, the young lady didn't even say, Oh, I'm sorry - she just flatly said, we don't take checks. Flatly.

I looked at her and simply didn't say a word, I reached over into my basket and yanked my purse out and turned on my heel and walked out. They didn't want me to pay them with a check, I had two credit cards but no debit card and I didn't want to add them to my credit cards enough to want the little wire wreath hanger in the first place. Not if they won't take a check. And I had cash but cash is for meals - checks are for purchases.

I already buy stuff at places where they deduct my check thru some machine the instant I am at their cash register - and I hate getting my check and a receipt stub unstapled but at least they take the check to begin with. I guess Garden Ridge is off my shopping list from now on - I wan't one of their best anyway.

Finally saw Food Inc

Wow, went to Turley last night to see Food Inc. Huge Sigh! OMG - our food system is so screwed up - much like our Corporate America. When the lady spoke of losing her 2 1/2 yr old son to ecoli - I almost lost it.

Something is terribly wrong here - cows being fed corn to grow fatter quicker develop stomach problems that result in ecoli bacteria that are pooped into massive pens with millions of other cows that all shit and stink and are killed and put into our hamburger - chickens are fed massive amounts of antibiotics to control disease and grow fat so fast their lungs and hearts cannot keep up and are loaded into trucks for the slaughter house by men who kick them and stuff them into bins going to Tyson. If you are upset with the illegals from Mexico and other south of the border countries - talk to the slaughter houses where they were encouraged to move here after we shipped cheap corn to their countries putting their farmers out of business. And don't get me started on Monsanto. They have coopted the corn, wheat, soy and now are working on alfalfa seeds. Farmers who have been feeding this nation now belong to their inner sanctum of roundup proof seed users - that resist certain bugs for now - but as those bugs begin to feed and develop resistence - no telling where that will take us. And GMO seeds- are they good for us - has the FDA really tested its affects.

I only eat beef once very two weeks only because of anemia prevention. I still buy too much chicken and ground turkey and I still eat out but my eating has changed enough I've lost 40 lbs. I cut white flour and white sugar out of my diet mostly - white flour creeps in here and there but the sugar is pretty much gone.

I know people who buy gold and horde it as a shield against some future disaster but right now I am thinking seed. Before Monsanto starts in on Tomatoes. Before they get their hands on greenbeans. I have three tom turkeys I need to butcher soon - they are a yr old - and I wish one had been a hen but they were not. I am kinda scared for those who live in town with small yards and more scared for those who live in apartments. I have bees - and am adding a full 10 hives to the property and keeping them alive - two hives are thriving - the third was weak to begin with and may be out of the loop before their is enough food. I am going to get worms - for compost - I have a bunny and I have access to goat nahnah.

Maybe I need to learn to kill bunnies - can't believe I just said that - but they breed pretty fast and aren't huge like a cow or pigs. And I need a dozen or more chickens. Wow - are you planting - are you going to grow enough to eat and put some in your freezer, are you going to take on the job of feeding your own family this year. Yep, I am a market manager for two markets - and I am still scared that no matter how loud we yell, you will still buy from WalMart or even Whole Foods and think you are doing good but maybe it is time you think growing.

I knew I'd be smacked in the face again by the movie Food Inc. I just didn't realize how much I want you all to know I'm still scared.

Wow

What a difference a day makes.

Countdown to Bee Buzzzzzzz

Bee Buzzz is March 19 and 20th. This is the annual NEOBA Trade Show and Workshop. Cost is $25.00 for Friday night and Saturday.

Friday:

5:30pm Registration.
6:00pm Opening Announcements and Welcome.
7:00om BBQ Dinner.

Saturday:

8:30am to 4pm
Speakers and Vendors and Pot Luck Lunch.

It will be held at Eastside Christian Church, 15th & Harvard Ave.

This is a good opportunity to get to know the Honey Bee community here in North East Oklahoma. If you are thinking about getting started with Honey Bees you might find some local Beekeepers who still have some Bees for sale.

Regular NEOBA meetings are the second Monday of the month at Eastside Christian Church at 6:30 pm. This meeting will be the annual plant exchange.

My Bees were flying yesterday.

I has so happy to see the Bees flying yesterday. We are starting to get acquainted. Get acquainted? Yes these are new born bees so they don't know me yet. I was kinda worried about the Dog lying in the sun right in the middle of the Bee yard. I was afraid the Bees would trigger the alarm like a bear was coming in for the attack. But they settled down and started the orientation flights. They still haven't got use to the cat. The girls just don't like dark and woolly. I have mixed feeling about spring being here. I am glad the the cold is got, but I am in my new house and I am surrounded by a Bermuda grass desert. I have a lot of work ahead of me and a blank slate to do what ever I choose.

Hives are Alive

Oh, one other tidbit - Saturday I ventured out to check on the three hives here - all three were active - HOT DANG! Back during the last blast from the north - the one that lasted forever - I put bags and bags of leaves around all three - on the north, east and west sides. I only saw a bit of activity from the little Italian hive - so I was truly worried. Saturday, I took my daughter to see my bees - she was such a chicken standing way back and I was down in front of the hives pointing out the variations in them - (showing off maybe a bit at being fearless of my six legged ladies).

I was so pleased that there is life in all three hives - cuz it's been a booger of a winter - cold, way more snow than usual, ice, overcast and just plain yucky.

Again, I am tickled - terribly terribly tickled.

Planting Annuals

The new moon is here and today is the first day I have free to plant seeds. I can't sleep as a result - which means I will be a bit rattled today in all my efforts. I have most of my perennials up but most perennials are not vegetables. The plants seems to have gotten a fair start despite the weather.

This Saturday the Tulsa Garden Center is having the Information Fair - about 20 various groups and growers show up and discuss the upcoming events for 2010. It's a good time to get the information you need to get started in your gardens this year. I think the event is from 10 to 3 or 4 pm. Enjoy

Snow, cold go away, come back in Dec 2010

I am so tired of the cold - can't imagine the growth we will have with all the moisture - please let the rains of the last 3 Aprils wait until July.

If any of you get a chance, head to Okmulgee to the Mvskoke event on gardening - Friday and Saturday at their event center. There will be stuff for younger people also - a youth event. I have a husband who turned 60 so a birthday party is preventing my attendence.

Late Notice.

Tulsa Community Garden Association Meeting. This evening at the Blue Jackalope on third and Phoenix. 5:30 pm.