Damn you, seed catalogs...

[prisoner_24601]

Why are you so sexy? How can you make growing heirloom onions from seeds sound like a good idea, when I know damn well that it's a complete pain in the ass? How can you make it seem like I'll be missing out on something completely awesome if I don't grow my own bush beans this year, or try to grow at least four different kinds of salad greens? When did growing my own leeks become necessary?

If my spring crop of garlic and shallots grows even half of what I planted in the fall, I'm not going to have to worry about vampires for the rest of my life. Yet, here I am again, with the intention of doing a small garden this summer, but I just know that that's not going to happen. By the time I get done reading all of my seed catalogs and planning out my vegetable beds, I know I'm going to order too much stuff, just like I did last time. And now, instead of planning my garden to fit into the small amount of space that I have, I'm trying to figure out where I can build a couple of new raised beds in the spring so I can fit sugar snap peas and spinach in amongst all of the tomato plants.

It's probably a good thing that we just rent this house, otherwise I'd be trying to find spaces to cram in asparagus beds, rhubarb and more apple trees.

*cries*

Comments

[foxfire74.livejournal.com]

I feel your pain, and I live in an apartment. The Babycuda and I did a container garden last year, and had a good time even if the only thing that really survived was the basil. (We have a triangle approximately 2x3 feet, and that's the only place that gets sun.) I'm trying to tell myself that I really *shouldn't* smuggle some pots downstairs to soak up sun this spring, but I don't appear to be listening.

[prisoner--24601.livejournal.com]

Oh man, container gardening is hard. I tried growing herbs in containers last year with rather mixed success. I think it's because clay pots dry out so fast, that the herbs just weren't getting enough water.

I say sneak your pots down - or even better, if there's any landscaping around your building, sneak a tomato plant or two in among the bushes. You'd be like the ninja gardener!

I'm Afraid I Can't Relate

[nivenus.livejournal.com]

But maybe it's one of those womanly things ;). That said, I don't mind gardening and have done a fair share in my life. Last year, as a matter of fact, I almost got a summer job at a farm. Not my favorite work (that'd be writing, of course) - but it's earthy and good for the soul :).

But, no, I'm afraid I've never had the temptation to demolish my house and replace it with a botanic garden. Though I suppose it's possible my mother's had the urge from time to time. Only recently though. Hmm....

Re: I'm Afraid I Can't Relate

[prisoner--24601.livejournal.com]

Heh, I never used to be like this. A couple years ago, I could have cared less about gardening, but lately I've been finding it a rather fun hobby. There's just something so cool about a hobby that gives you such yummy and tangible results.

It's also possible that it's a result of the fact that it's -2 outside with six inches of snow, and that in Michigan, we're in for at least another three months of cold, gray weather. It's about this time of year that I start getting a bit of cabin fever and wishing I lived somewhere south of the Mason Dixon line.

Re: I'm Afraid I Can't Relate

[kosiah.livejournal.com]

Negative two? Oh, god. Okay, we are never ever moving there.

I am totally impressed with your gardening prowess. I remember seed catalogs from my childhood that you could sell to other people? It was like a thing? I think I got into it from the back of a comic book. The pictures were always so pretty...

Re: I'm Afraid I Can't Relate

[prisoner--24601.livejournal.com]

Heh, I don't think that it's garden prowess so much as it's being an overenthusiastic dumbass. We'll see how much of this actually ends up growing well.

Usually the great lakes moderate the temperature so that this time of year it's in the low thirties/upper twenties, but we've been having a nasty cold snap lately. If it's this cold here, it most be absolutely horrible out in Minnesota and Wisconsin right now. All I can say is that I'm really looking forward to spring so that my feet will finally thaw out.

Re: Off-topic reading material

[athenaprime.livejournal.com]

Pee Ess--I forgot for a minute that you're a lawyer. If you're looking for Nonfiction, Lawrence Lessig's "Free Culture" is, well, free in ebook form, too. I'm paying close attention to intellectual property law with ebooks, e-rights, and ebook piracy creating very loud ohnoes in the publishing industry, but it's a really fascinating look at internet culture as well as IP and copyright.

Re: Off-topic reading material

[prisoner--24601.livejournal.com]

Ooh thank you for the rec. That sounds really, really interesting because I'm curious about intellectual property and how the internet has impacted it.

Re: Off-topic reading material

[athenaprime.livejournal.com]

You'll have to share your thoughts, then. I don't have a legal background, but with the state of publishing the way it is, it's going to impact me anyway. I like the stuff Lessig makes me think about, and someday I hope to figure out something useful to do with it.

Re: I'm Afraid I Can't Relate

[athenaprime.livejournal.com]

Tonight our wind chill is supposed to hit -20. Bikini weather! And we're south of you and far enough away that Lake Effects (TM) don't apply.

Funny you should say that...Spring Hill nursery is an hour's drive from here and has sweet and delicious catalogs that come a-knocking at the door dressed in organic temptation...

Two years ago, we had a tiny garden and harvested zucchinis out our ears. Last year, we doubled the garden (but we have the land for it). We also, unfortunately, had the deer, and a good hunk of our crop was sacrificed to the denizens of the green wood. This year...I play dirty. Go go gadget Deer Fence!

And...you only think you don't have the room (http://www.squarefootgardening.com/). It's really the lumber you don't have, and I hear Home Depot is having a sale...

Re: I'm Afraid I Can't Relate

[prisoner--24601.livejournal.com]

Oh we're definitely doing the square foot gardening method because our yard is small, especially when you take into account the few patches that get enough sunlight to grow stuff. I've already harassed my husband into making three raised beds to fit the odd spaces that are usable and I may have to harass him for one more to fit everything in.

One of my beds is in a half shaded area and we're going to have to do some creative engineering with things like sheets of tinfoil to see if we can reflect enough light in there to grow crops well. The other beds have to be in the front yard, and I'm going to have to figure out a way to make them look nicer and less hillbilly ghetto (which is what they look like now, lol) if I don't want to piss off the neighbors. Luckily, they seem like rather laid back folks. It also helps that our landlords are so desperate to keep their houses rented, that they'll pretty much let me do whatever I want to the yard.

Living in the city we don't have deer to deal with, although we do have rabbits that live in the front yard, so I'm going to have to have to do something to protect the leaf crops. Plus there is the added bonus of the farmer's market right down the street if I royally mess stuff up and nothing grows well.

Re: Shady bits

[athenaprime.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I know this one! One of my crops that caught a big case of teh_fail last year was cauliflower...because I had it in the sun. Cauliflower likes shady places. Or if you want to brave the bloodletting, raspberries.

Or you could plant zucchini. They grow anywhere.