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#nedfirsts 'Marianne Charlton' hibiscus flower. I

#nedfirsts 'Marianne Charlton' hibiscus flower. I enjoy collecting flowers that have colors that are either peachy, dark/black, or blue/gray. Since spring, this young cutting propagated plant has bloomed three times. Today, I was around to photograph it.

Our 5th grader's 3D animal cell project. The teach

Our 5th grader's 3D animal cell project. The teacher encouraged models to be made without spending money. While there are more parts to an animal cell, these are the parts that they are studying.

The cytoplasm is a foam sensory toy. The mitochondria are painted corks and detailed with a permanent marker. Superballs (toy bouncy balls) were used to represent vacuoles. The nucleus is a foam basketball. Our son cut a portion out with a saw and stuck in a plastic marble.

Lastly, the cell wall is half of a Corsican gourd that I harvested about a year ago. I'll take full credit for growing and cutting it in half. The rest of the work was Owen.

#animalcell

This is our @meyer_hatchery #MHRealCoops contest e

This is our @meyer_hatchery #MHRealCoops contest entry. The story of our coop started in October 2018. Coming to the realization that we were outgrowing our 2 bed 1 bath home because the two kids were getting bigger, we decided that expanding our home was our best option.

By May of the following year we got the green light to demo. Not wanting to conclude the patio's purpose, it was carefully dismantled with the help of my brother. Fast forward to 2021; when we decided that we would add chickens.

Our coop is constructed from the 2x8, 4x4, and header beams that once worked in tandem to form our patio. From our home expansion we use remnant lath wire. I also made a couple of nest boxes with remnant eaves boards. The roosting bar is from one of our annual tree prunings.

All in all, the coop was built to be structural-- using redwood fence boards to create shear strength. With this confidence, we added a planter to the roof. More recently we pitched and made the roof more robust with rafters and blocking.

This coop is to secure our drake and 5 Meyer Hatchery fulfilled hens during night. Speaking of security, the coop was built with best practices in mind. There is a footprint of hardware cloth to minimize the risk of predators digging their way in. The coop has an inner zone secured by hardware cloth.

We incorporated the use of lath wire due to our lower predator risk environment.

'Tetsukabuto' squash is a hybrid developed in Japa

'Tetsukabuto' squash is a hybrid developed in Japan in the 1960s. Its name is Japanese for "iron helmet." If you were to cut into and peel it, you would feel how the name came to be. The hardness of the peel does the job of keeping moisture in and bacteria out. This gives these kinds of squash a long storage life-- for eating in the winter months (hence the name winter squash in both English and the various Chinese languages.) Before refrigeration and technology enabling greater food security, squashes were part of the food security layer.

"Tetsu squash is a cross between Cucurbita moschata (the species that includes butternut squashes and others) and Cucurbita maxima (the species that includes kabocha squashes and others)." Source: greatsquash.com

Ever so curious, I discovered this variety after reading about a farmer taking a risk on thousands of dollars of seed to plant this variety. He was betting on being able to capture the demand for this better tasting kabocha squash. (There was not a follow up to that story. If you see these at Whole Foods, maybe we can consider that successful bet??)

I cooked the squash two ways. When roasted it has a texture similar to a very good taro. In a braise the squash is less mealy. In either case, the squash was sweet.

We had several more #nedfirsts this summer but I haven't documented them.

#tetsukabuto

'Flame Star' cauliflower, ready a few weeks ago bu

'Flame Star' cauliflower, ready a few weeks ago but harvested on July 1st as a "sprouting cauliflower."

Full disclosure: 'Flame Star' might have been a better cauliflower than a sprouting one. I found the remaining curds to be grainy. I am not sure if this texture is the result of maturity or heat. I will assume it is the former until we grow and harvest another one as a summer cauliflower. At the same time, we will stick to recognized varieties when growing for sprouting cauliflower. Varieties like 'Fioretto' and another variety from seeds shared by a neighbor who is Toisan.

'Flame Star' cauliflower is a #nedfirsts (new to m

'Flame Star' cauliflower is a #nedfirsts (new to me.) We harvested a few since winter sowing. This is the biggest one yet. Colored cauliflower are fun to grow and cook with. At the market they command a little more in pricing. This is also true for the seeds.

#nedfirsts 'Bishop' cauliflower one of a few varie

#nedfirsts 'Bishop' cauliflower one of a few varieties that we are growing this year. We have eaten a few of these. This year my focus is on seeing if cauliflower can be grown year-round; like broccoli.

April 23, 2024 #nedfirsts avocado after many trees

April 23, 2024
#nedfirsts avocado after many trees and many years of trying. First, avocado trees have sensitive root systems. They are vulnerable to too much watering and drought. If I err on not over watering, I risk drying the roots out. That may have been one point of past failure.

Secondly, young trees are heavy feeders. They require a lot of nitrogen, especially when planted in clay soils. I didn't feed them enough.

Third, avocado trees are sensitive to neglect. I have bought trees from retailers that do not tend to the plants other than watering. While these trees look healthy, they were likely very starved by the time I got them home. When buying from these kinds of retailers, buy when the nursery delivers the trees. Otherwise, purchase from a nursery that tends to their trees

Lastly, avocado trees take a long time to establish. A sapling can take between 3-5 years before it produces abundance.

While we have a few varieties of avocado trees growing (for succession harvests) this 'Pinkerton' #avocado is the first for us. It was initially selected as a crop for winter and spring eating.

Strategically, a 'Pinkerton' is a good stop-gap variety to plant (along with your preferred avocado variety.) A 5 gallon tree can begin to produce fruit right away. For us it held one avocado in its first year. As a stop-gap, it can work right away to produce avocados while your preferred variety establishes.

Why not just plant the #pinkertonavocado as the primary variety? It has been noted that this variety is not consistent with fruit quality (according to Greg Alder.) The shape can vary year to year; from pear shaped to goose necked. There can be blemishes with the flesh. He further notes that while 'Pinkerton' can be eaten in the winter, it is a better crop in late winter to early spring.

Following that note, I saved this avocado for a spring harvest. I wasn't ready to eat so I left it on the tree until it could not wait for me any longer (and released the fruit.)

March 15, 2024. #nedfirsts 'Shasta Gold' mandarin.

March 15, 2024. #nedfirsts 'Shasta Gold' mandarin. With a side by side comparison with a 'Cam Sanh' mandarin. (I forgot to photo document the flesh.)

Most mandarins are cultivated into seedless mandarins commercially by screening out the pollinators during the blossom stage. #shastagoldmandarin is one of 3 truly seedless mandarins grown in California. They are also patented varieties of the @uofcalifornia.

#camsành aka King Tangor was originally acquired by the United States Department of Agriculture from South Vietnam in the late 1800 via Japan. Its traits are present in many modern day cultivars; including 'Shasta Gold.' The side by side photos, 'Shasta Gold' is on the left.

Between this being the first fruit set and last year's abnormal weather of successive months of cloudy cover, it is likely that the mild flavor and sweetness was not representative of its true potential. It has been planted in the earth and we're back to our regular schedule of sunny days. I'll be sure to update the results of the next harvest.

#nedcitrus

#nedfirsts 'Snowball Y' #cauliflower. As mentioned

#nedfirsts 'Snowball Y' #cauliflower. As mentioned in a recent cauliflower post, I had been searching for a cauliflower variety that would grow more consistently for me. #snowballycauliflower had not been successful for me in previous attempts.

When the attempts yielded a few cauliflowers, it caused me to reexamine my process. At present, I am finding that cauliflower seedlings have sensitive roots. Adjustments have been made. We'll see if that pans out.

Additionally, it meant revisiting varieties that didn't produce for me. This Snowball Y is the biggest cauliflower I've grown. That is accounting for how I let this go longer and the curds separated a little (I like to harvest when I am ready to eat.)

#botanicalinterests

#Tulips are my favorite flower. More specifically,

#Tulips are my favorite flower. More specifically, the Darwin hybrid; with its egg like form. Within this group, 'Princess Irene' is my favorite for its colors and petal characteristics. The edges of the petals have a subtle ruffle and feathering. In addition to its egg shape, #princessirenetulip appear to have a clear coat that has not filled dried-- like the (protective) bloom of eggs.

Blooms are sensitive to heat. When it is sunny the flower blooms to reveal its iconic 🌷crown (though the #darwinhybridtulips have more subtle crowning compared with traditional types.) During the cooler parts of the day, the flower closes back up. In an evolutionary sense by keeping the petals closed, it may be trying to protect its reproductive parts from harm (as insects are less active when it is cold.)
The response to temperature is called #thermotropism .

In economic history, the cultivation and trade of tulips lead to one of the earliest studied economic bubbles ("Tulip Mania.")

#nedfirsts 'Purple Moon' #cauliflower. Growing cau

#nedfirsts 'Purple Moon' #cauliflower. Growing cauliflower has been a hit or miss for me; mostly a miss when we are talking about traditional non-sprouting cauliflower.

I am trying to figure out a path to more consistent harvests by trying different varieties, seed vendors, and culture. This decent #purplemooncauliflower harvest lets me know that this variety is suitable for my climate. The vendor is @johnnys_seeds; there wasn't a question about seed quality.

That leaves the last variable to work out-- culture/me. Compared with broccoli (something that we can grow year round) cauliflower is more finicky. The seedling is very sensitive to environmental changes. I'll have to pay more attention to the cauliflower seedlings. I am hoping to figure this part out. All the while I will continue sowing to figure out how much of the year we can expect traditional cauliflower from our garden.

This #purplecauliflower is indeed very visually appealing. Turning it over reveals a beautiful contrast between green and purple.

#nedfirsts 'Red Acre' #cabbage. Cabbage are fun to

#nedfirsts 'Red Acre' #cabbage. Cabbage are fun to grow. This variety is the most productive so far (from seed to harvest.)

As far as the kitchen garden, cabbage requires more thought. Unlike most greens (that we eat after a simple stir fry,) we need more flavors to accommodate.

Shredded as a topping is the simplest use of cabbage for me. However, shredded cabbage is added to more complex soups/broths like bun bo hue and posole.

Once in a blue moon I would pickle it. More often I would make a Chinese borscht (#luosongtong aka #luosongtang) with other garden ingredients.

#redacrecabbage #botanicalinterests

P.s. I noticed a few cabbage head side-shoots (think brussel sprouts) forming underneath the main head.

#gardentotable #dưamón (Vietnamese dried then re

#cremebrulee made with pasture raised eggs. Our he

#cremebrulee made with pasture raised eggs. Our hens forage for food in our backyard with supplemental chicken feed and treats like maize and wheat. Their eggs' yolks are richer in color, flavor, and nutrient density.

This year we added onto our original 2021 flock. We found that our flock will take their break from laying from September through most of January. Wanting to have backyard eggs to store through these months, we added onto our flock.

I selected another Maran because our one and only has shown great disposition-- calm, quiet, and matter of fact. Unfortunately the Splash Maran was DOA and I ended up keeping the Black Copper Maran that was supposed to go to my brother. For the second, I wanted a good layer with foraging abilities. I originally selected a hatchery created breed called a "Green Queen." Sometimes hatching expectations don't come to fruition so I was given a choice of breeds to substitute; and chose a Frizzled Easter Egger. The Frizzled genetics is recessive and ours turned out to be a very pragmatically normally feathered hen 👏.

I can't remember how the OG flock laid during their first year. In their first year, the new additions started in late summer/early fall and they have quit. This is welcomed because we continue to have eggs.

P.s. At the same time, we took in my brother's overflow and are waiting on our Blue Polish Crested to lay. By all accounts, it is a hen (the crest feathers are not sharply tapered and there hasn't been any crowing.)

P.s.s. It is late December and our Blue Copper Maran is laying jumbo eggs. Usually she starts back up in late January.

#blackcoppermarans #frizzledeastereggers #eastereggers #regenerativegardening #backyardchickens

Rebloomed this paphiopedilum maudiae 'femma' (hybr

Rebloomed this paphiopedilum maudiae 'femma' (hybrid) ... it only took two years to achieve 🐢😜. This plant last bloomed in May of 2021 when it was acquired. In the horticulture of orchids, it seems that time is scaled much differently. While I have "grown" orchids for many years now, my experience with them can only be categorized as "developing." You see, orchids are sensitive plants and they react to inputs in a very delayed manner. When the plant eventually displays stress, it is difficult to diagnose the cause when a lot of variables are changed over a long period. In other words, when the plant starts to look sick and thinking back to the last thing you did, it may not actually be it. It could have been the thing you did months ago.

As such, I was very conservative about the care of the plant. After over a year of not seeing signs of blooming, I "took a chance" and increased the concentration of fertilizer. That might have been the ticket; but again, my actual experience is limited.

It is also exciting to see the new growth put out a couple of pups. The original portion still exists (though it is now yellow and probably should be snipped.)

Botany-wise, I am drawn to variegated and pitcher plants. I originally knew this as a "pitcher orchid." I would later discover that paphiopedilum is widely distributed. In the more temperate regions above the equator they grow terrestrially. When the flower is viewed from the side, they look like a slipper. As such they are often called, "Lady's Slipper."

In more tropical climates, these pitcher orchids have the common name of, "Venus Slipper" (which is what we have.) While there is a small percentage growing arboreally, many are terrestrial.

Unlike carnivorous plants that rely on their pitchers to act as a stomach, slipper orchids rely on their pitchers for reproductive via seed. Both types of plants rely on an intoxicating nectar near the pitcher as a both lure and drug. Once trapped, the only escape is through a specific channel. In its escape, the insect will brush up against the pollen and brush the pollen on the vulva on its way out.

Happy Halloween 👻. The ghostly photo was create

Happy Halloween 👻. The ghostly photo was created using a long exposure and some light painting. For the layperson: turn the lights down, set the long exposure on the camera, have someone shine a light on you for one second, hold the pose for several seconds, then leave the frame (to create the transparent effect.)
In the world of digital, this can be easily created on the phone or computer. But creating this in a tangible way is much more rewarding.

Speaking of tangible activities, the pumpkins and gourds that we grew were painted and decorated by my wife over the course of a month. These types of de-stressing activities benefit us collectively.

Worth mentioning, the kids got their pumpkins carved.

#happyhalloween #paintedpumpkins, #jackolantern
#canonphotography #longexposure

Our "Pumpkin Wall" inspired by @pallensmith 's "Pu

Our "Pumpkin Wall" inspired by @pallensmith 's "Pumpkin House" annually built on @mossmountainfarm.

Our wall is constructed from the pumpkins, squashes, and gourds that we grew: 'Howen' & 'Small Sugar' & 'Kakai' & pumpkin, an unknown pumpkin variety sprouted in class by our then kindergartner, 'Black Beauty' zucchini, Toisan squash + zucchini hybrid, 'Spinner/Spinning' gourds (dangling from the arch.)

There are a few #nedfirsts in this wall: (Photo 9) Two types of mini pumpkins grown from seeds saved from the mini pumpkins; given by my neighbor last year to compost. (Photo 8) Corsican gourd. (Photo 7) 'Connecticut Field' pumpkin. And 'Winter Luxury' pumpkin.

#regenerativegardening :
We also grew the straw used to line the wall. The straw and some of the pumpkins were grown on the front yard (Photo 10.) The vines act as living mulch and protect the non irrigated ground from hot dry weather. Our harvests are used as #falldecor and will eventually feed us, our chickens, and the soil. The collected vines have already begun to feed the soil.

#pumpkin #squash

Indian cuisine inspired #gardentotable aloo baing

Indian cuisine inspired #gardentotable aloo baingan and bean stew. Both dishes are tomato heavy because we are still working through our tomato harvests.

In the #aloobaingan, we used 'Orient Charm' eggplant, 'French' fingerling potato, 'San Marzano' tomato, 'Chesnok Red' garlic, and 'Granex' onions from our garden. The harvest photo included 'Yukon' potato that we didn't end up needing.

From our garden and into the bean stew went 'Jacob's Cattle' bean, 'Conservor' "shallot," 'Chesnok Red' garlic, and 'San Marzano.' (With lentils from the market.)

2023, the best paste/cooking tomato year to date f

2023, the best paste/cooking tomato year to date for us. Over 120 pounds harvested with more on the way. This year we have tomato weather as our tailwind. The rest was from: developing an intimate understanding of the likes and dislikes of each variety, soil building, and root knot nematode remediation.

This culmination has resulted in bumper crop (harvests); something that I am not used to experiencing per root knot nematodes. Moreover, we are experiencing not one but two bumper crop events.

In a #kitchengarden and/or small space and/or space efficient setup, the concept of succession harvest is crucial.

Pictured are 'San Marzano La Padino.' These are our late crop of #tomatoes. We had a satisfying harvest of filled out trusses-- some smaller plum size fruit from lateral growth that I didn't get around to maintaining and plenty of ones that are true to characteristics.

The cooking varieties that I grow yearly for succession harvest (in order of harvest):
'Principe Borghese,' 'Costoluto Genovese,' 'Oxheart (aka Cuore di Bue,' 'Blue Beech, 'Martino's Roma,' 'Italian Roma,' and '#sanmarzano.'

The tomatoes were grown from originally from @pinetree_garden_seeds. They also have many of varieties listed.

P.s. We sowed for a succession planting of 'Italian Roma' at the beginning of April. Those plants are now coming on and we're looking at a very good harvest.

#sanmarzanotomatoes 17.5 lbs harvested with more on the vines.
August 18, 2023

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