Comments on: Spring Planting In The White House Garden http://christyhardinsmith.firedoglake.com/2009/04/10/spring-planting-in-the-white-house-garden/ Dip your toe in the legal waters and change politics as you know it. http://christyhardinsmith.firedoglake.com Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:06:02 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Kitt http://christyhardinsmith.firedoglake.com/2009/04/10/spring-planting-in-the-white-house-garden/#comment-8939 Kitt Sun, 12 Apr 2009 02:32:20 +0000 http://christyhardinsmith.firedoglake.com/2009/04/10/spring-planting-in-the-white-house-garden/#comment-8939 <p>I never heard of no need for deer fences. I didn’t know that people live in places where deer aren’t prevalent and they don’t have access to the gardens.</p> <p>I never heard of kitchen waste compost and I didn’t know that it was the only kind of organic compost on Earth.</p> <p>I never knew that fish emulsion was something that could be made other than ’store bought’. I thought it just came like I found it in the jar.</p> <p>I never knew that shovels and hoes were available at the hardware store, or that they should be sharp and that I should clean them before I put them away.</p> <p>I wonder if maybe a garden hose might work better than a “Wally World” watering can. What do you think? One trip out to the garden instead of a hundred. Seems like a garden hose might be better. They probably cost more than a watering can but hey, cheaper than drip, right?</p> <p>I didn’t know you could buy seeds. I thought you could only buy full grown plants.</p> <p>I see that you pulled weeds and thinned the beets. Didn’t you thin the corn? Seems you might have had a better harvest if you had done so. You said that you “put up” the corn. Why? Corn is pretty much great when eaten a few minutes after harvest. After that, not so much.</p> <p>And in conclusion, I think you missed my point of my original post completely. But, hey.</p> I never heard of no need for deer fences. I didn’t know that people live in places where deer aren’t prevalent and they don’t have access to the gardens.

I never heard of kitchen waste compost and I didn’t know that it was the only kind of organic compost on Earth.

I never knew that fish emulsion was something that could be made other than ’store bought’. I thought it just came like I found it in the jar.

I never knew that shovels and hoes were available at the hardware store, or that they should be sharp and that I should clean them before I put them away.

I wonder if maybe a garden hose might work better than a “Wally World” watering can. What do you think? One trip out to the garden instead of a hundred. Seems like a garden hose might be better. They probably cost more than a watering can but hey, cheaper than drip, right?

I didn’t know you could buy seeds. I thought you could only buy full grown plants.

I see that you pulled weeds and thinned the beets. Didn’t you thin the corn? Seems you might have had a better harvest if you had done so. You said that you “put up” the corn. Why? Corn is pretty much great when eaten a few minutes after harvest. After that, not so much.

And in conclusion, I think you missed my point of my original post completely. But, hey.

]]> By: Fallenmonk http://christyhardinsmith.firedoglake.com/2009/04/10/spring-planting-in-the-white-house-garden/#comment-8927 Fallenmonk Sat, 11 Apr 2009 15:51:18 +0000 http://christyhardinsmith.firedoglake.com/2009/04/10/spring-planting-in-the-white-house-garden/#comment-8927 <p>I have been a gardener since I could walk I guess. First it was my grandparents then my parents and I have kept the tradition alive all my almost 60 years. As Christy will testify, if you grew up in West Virginia, anywhere except the middle of a big city, then a vegetable garden was a required part of your life as was putting up beans and tomatoes all summer for the winter. The WH garden is a brilliant idea and it will surely encourage more people to plant at least a few tomatoes and peppers. Planting heirloom vegetable is good as well. We have been spoiled by all the new fangled hybrids and have lost some of the virtues of saving seed from year to year. I plant all heirloom vegetables, some from saved seed, and the rest from Seed Savers. You always get a crop and while the tomatoes may not be as big and pretty as some of the hybrids the taste of a Cherokee Purple makes up for it in spades. There is something about planting an heirloom bean that has been nurtured and saved and replanted year after year for sometimes hundreds of years that makes gardening almost a spiritual experience. I don’t think I am ever as happy as I am when I am in my garden unless it is enjoying that first tomato of the season or the first cob of fresh corn which has been rushed from the garden to the pot of boiling water to capture every bit of its glory.<br /> Happy gardening everyone!</p> I have been a gardener since I could walk I guess. First it was my grandparents then my parents and I have kept the tradition alive all my almost 60 years. As Christy will testify, if you grew up in West Virginia, anywhere except the middle of a big city, then a vegetable garden was a required part of your life as was putting up beans and tomatoes all summer for the winter. The WH garden is a brilliant idea and it will surely encourage more people to plant at least a few tomatoes and peppers. Planting heirloom vegetable is good as well. We have been spoiled by all the new fangled hybrids and have lost some of the virtues of saving seed from year to year. I plant all heirloom vegetables, some from saved seed, and the rest from Seed Savers. You always get a crop and while the tomatoes may not be as big and pretty as some of the hybrids the taste of a Cherokee Purple makes up for it in spades. There is something about planting an heirloom bean that has been nurtured and saved and replanted year after year for sometimes hundreds of years that makes gardening almost a spiritual experience. I don’t think I am ever as happy as I am when I am in my garden unless it is enjoying that first tomato of the season or the first cob of fresh corn which has been rushed from the garden to the pot of boiling water to capture every bit of its glory.
Happy gardening everyone!

]]> By: damfino1920 http://christyhardinsmith.firedoglake.com/2009/04/10/spring-planting-in-the-white-house-garden/#comment-8921 damfino1920 Sat, 11 Apr 2009 15:04:36 +0000 http://christyhardinsmith.firedoglake.com/2009/04/10/spring-planting-in-the-white-house-garden/#comment-8921 <p>Rabbits’ digestive systems aren’t able to handle starchy foods and legumes, so that’s why the beans, peas, and corn are safe. I planted a garden once with a lot of “rabbit-proof” foods that I preferred, and then planted a plot separately with lettuce, chard, cilantro, and parsley so they could have something too. :)</p> Rabbits’ digestive systems aren’t able to handle starchy foods and legumes, so that’s why the beans, peas, and corn are safe. I planted a garden once with a lot of “rabbit-proof” foods that I preferred, and then planted a plot separately with lettuce, chard, cilantro, and parsley so they could have something too. :)

]]> By: lokywoky http://christyhardinsmith.firedoglake.com/2009/04/10/spring-planting-in-the-white-house-garden/#comment-8835 lokywoky Sat, 11 Apr 2009 13:19:19 +0000 http://christyhardinsmith.firedoglake.com/2009/04/10/spring-planting-in-the-white-house-garden/#comment-8835 <p>Deer fencing is only needed if you are at the suburban/rural boundaries in most places. Fertilizer? If you are gardening organically - compost is free. You make it with kitchen waste, a little dirt, some grass clippings, and time. If you want to mess around with it you can make fish emulsion. Get some bait fish from your local sports outlet, grind them up in the blender, put in a large container with water and let this ferment for a month in the sun. Stinky but well worth it.<br /> Tools? The only things you need are a good shovel, and a good hoe. That’s two things, and you can get them at your local hardware store. Just make sure the handles are long enough for you, and that the edges are pretty sharp. Make sure you clean them before you put them away and they will last for years.<br /> If you can’t afford drip irrigation, the watering can still works. You can get a plastic one of those at Wally World for about $2 that hold 1.5 gallons of water.<br /> Spend what money you need on seeds from a good seed supply. </p> <p>I had a garden that was 10 x 11 feet in Hayward California. I had a shovel already, and bought a hoe. Bought seeds. Made compost. In town, so no deer fencing. Just takes time to pull weeds and thin some crops (carrots, beets, etc). Got enough food for me and the tyke all summer, plus put up tomatoes, corn and green beans that lasted all winter. Whole project cost me about $35.</p> Deer fencing is only needed if you are at the suburban/rural boundaries in most places. Fertilizer? If you are gardening organically – compost is free. You make it with kitchen waste, a little dirt, some grass clippings, and time. If you want to mess around with it you can make fish emulsion. Get some bait fish from your local sports outlet, grind them up in the blender, put in a large container with water and let this ferment for a month in the sun. Stinky but well worth it.
Tools? The only things you need are a good shovel, and a good hoe. That’s two things, and you can get them at your local hardware store. Just make sure the handles are long enough for you, and that the edges are pretty sharp. Make sure you clean them before you put them away and they will last for years.
If you can’t afford drip irrigation, the watering can still works. You can get a plastic one of those at Wally World for about $2 that hold 1.5 gallons of water.
Spend what money you need on seeds from a good seed supply.

I had a garden that was 10 x 11 feet in Hayward California. I had a shovel already, and bought a hoe. Bought seeds. Made compost. In town, so no deer fencing. Just takes time to pull weeds and thin some crops (carrots, beets, etc). Got enough food for me and the tyke all summer, plus put up tomatoes, corn and green beans that lasted all winter. Whole project cost me about $35.

]]> By: Kitt http://christyhardinsmith.firedoglake.com/2009/04/10/spring-planting-in-the-white-house-garden/#comment-8820 Kitt Sat, 11 Apr 2009 13:02:40 +0000 http://christyhardinsmith.firedoglake.com/2009/04/10/spring-planting-in-the-white-house-garden/#comment-8820 <p>While I am in enthusiastic agreement that the garden project is a wonderful activity to be pursuing, it has not been my experience that gardening is necessarily an “inexpensive way of making that happen”. Most gardens need deer fencing, and immense amounts of fertilizers, a watering system - usually drip of some sort. Lots of tools are needed. That’s all fine and dandy and a big part of the fun, but it ain’t cheap. Just read any organic gardening supply catalog and see if you aren’t tempted to spend a bit before you close the book.</p> <p>Check out Peacful Valley Farm and Garden Supply for an example. I have no affiliation, I just happen to know of it as an example.<br /><a href="http://www.groworganic.com/default.html?welcome=T&theses=4504159" rel="nofollow">http://www.groworganic.com/def.....es=4504159</a></p> While I am in enthusiastic agreement that the garden project is a wonderful activity to be pursuing, it has not been my experience that gardening is necessarily an “inexpensive way of making that happen”. Most gardens need deer fencing, and immense amounts of fertilizers, a watering system – usually drip of some sort. Lots of tools are needed. That’s all fine and dandy and a big part of the fun, but it ain’t cheap. Just read any organic gardening supply catalog and see if you aren’t tempted to spend a bit before you close the book.

Check out Peacful Valley Farm and Garden Supply for an example. I have no affiliation, I just happen to know of it as an example.
http://www.groworganic.com/def…..es=4504159

]]> By: TexasEllen http://christyhardinsmith.firedoglake.com/2009/04/10/spring-planting-in-the-white-house-garden/#comment-8789 TexasEllen Sat, 11 Apr 2009 07:16:53 +0000 http://christyhardinsmith.firedoglake.com/2009/04/10/spring-planting-in-the-white-house-garden/#comment-8789 <p>Our garden is being plagued by rabbits. (all but five of the 36 tomato plants have been ravaged.) Fortunately, I can get more plants, and the bunnies (both cotton tails and jacks) don’t seem to care for the sweet peas, green beans, or corn. Onions and garlic and peppers are thriving, cantalopes seem to have all come up.</p> Our garden is being plagued by rabbits. (all but five of the 36 tomato plants have been ravaged.) Fortunately, I can get more plants, and the bunnies (both cotton tails and jacks) don’t seem to care for the sweet peas, green beans, or corn. Onions and garlic and peppers are thriving, cantalopes seem to have all come up.

]]> By: nahant http://christyhardinsmith.firedoglake.com/2009/04/10/spring-planting-in-the-white-house-garden/#comment-8788 nahant Sat, 11 Apr 2009 04:54:21 +0000 http://christyhardinsmith.firedoglake.com/2009/04/10/spring-planting-in-the-white-house-garden/#comment-8788 <p>I have had a veggie garden for years and look forward to getting it startd!! I have most of the plants planted and have just a few more to to get in the ground. I plant tomatoes, beans, peas, lots of Basil, several types of peppers, from hot to sweet. I have cucumbers, zucchini , summer squash, lettuce oh and potatoes. We always look forward to harvest time, several of the tomatoes never make it into the house as they are eaten as quickly as we pick the ripe ones!!</p> I have had a veggie garden for years and look forward to getting it startd!! I have most of the plants planted and have just a few more to to get in the ground. I plant tomatoes, beans, peas, lots of Basil, several types of peppers, from hot to sweet. I have cucumbers, zucchini , summer squash, lettuce oh and potatoes. We always look forward to harvest time, several of the tomatoes never make it into the house as they are eaten as quickly as we pick the ripe ones!!

]]> By: Loo Hoo. http://christyhardinsmith.firedoglake.com/2009/04/10/spring-planting-in-the-white-house-garden/#comment-8787 Loo Hoo. Sat, 11 Apr 2009 04:49:38 +0000 http://christyhardinsmith.firedoglake.com/2009/04/10/spring-planting-in-the-white-house-garden/#comment-8787 <p>Just plant what you like to eat that works for this season. Depending on the size of your garden, don’t plant what’s cheap to buy in the grocery.</p> Just plant what you like to eat that works for this season. Depending on the size of your garden, don’t plant what’s cheap to buy in the grocery.

]]> By: Waccamaw http://christyhardinsmith.firedoglake.com/2009/04/10/spring-planting-in-the-white-house-garden/#comment-8786 Waccamaw Sat, 11 Apr 2009 04:44:51 +0000 http://christyhardinsmith.firedoglake.com/2009/04/10/spring-planting-in-the-white-house-garden/#comment-8786 <p>Wrt the WH garden -</p> <p>Saw a clip today of the woman (can’t remember her name) who was instrumental in pushing the idea for years. She looked so happy and seemed almost speechless to see her dream fulfilled.</p> Wrt the WH garden -

Saw a clip today of the woman (can’t remember her name) who was instrumental in pushing the idea for years. She looked so happy and seemed almost speechless to see her dream fulfilled.

]]> By: maggiesboy http://christyhardinsmith.firedoglake.com/2009/04/10/spring-planting-in-the-white-house-garden/#comment-8785 maggiesboy Sat, 11 Apr 2009 04:44:34 +0000 http://christyhardinsmith.firedoglake.com/2009/04/10/spring-planting-in-the-white-house-garden/#comment-8785 <p>Gardening is good therapy.</p> <p>On a lark, 4 years ago, I bought some “Seeds of Change” tomato and red chile seeds and started them in my basement. Moved them out to some Earth Boxes in May and have doubled my “farm” over the years. I thought I was doing it for the food, now I know I was just feeding my soul.</p> <p>Plus it tastes really good! ;-)</p> Gardening is good therapy.

On a lark, 4 years ago, I bought some “Seeds of Change” tomato and red chile seeds and started them in my basement. Moved them out to some Earth Boxes in May and have doubled my “farm” over the years. I thought I was doing it for the food, now I know I was just feeding my soul.

Plus it tastes really good! ;-)

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