Texas Veggie Harvest

Here are some photos of recently picked veggies from the garden:

Texas Veggies

What is growing in the garden?  Here is an update as a couple weeks ago, and I will post more recent photos soon!

April Showers bring May flowers

Flowers are an added benefit to your landscape, especially for your vegetable garden.  They attract beneficial insects likes bees, assassin bugs, ladybugs, butterflies, and many more...

Here are some flowers I like to keep around my garden that are relatively low maintenance, but add beauty and help to the gardens:

Purty Landscape

I was on my way to a baby shower, and drove by a landscape installation I did six months prior.  I had to stop and check out its progress.  Here are some photos I took as everything is growing in and the wildflowers were in full bloom:

Volunteer Effort at Andrew's

Here are the volunteers and after pics:

Volunteer Effort at Andrew's

In May, I volunteered with the Entrepeneur's Foundation to renovate another school, Andrew's Elementary.  I worked with this group last year at Govalle Elementary and was thoroughly impressed with the number of volunteers who came out, and their fundraising efforts.

I suggested that they work on the school my sister teaches at because they were in need of some repair.  Luckily, they agreed, and I was in charge of the landscaping again.  We asked the Sustainable Food Center to send out some volunteers as well to help co-ordinate the installation and work on a veggie garden in their courtyard!

Here are some before photos of the school (the next post will be the afters):

June Monthly Maintenance Tips

I don't know if you have noticed, but it is HOT!  So, here are a few tips for this month to assist your landscape in its survival:

Lawn-

Depending on the type of grass you have, water on average of 10 minutes 3x/week.  

Mow every 8-12 days to keep the roots strong.

Beds-

Water your plants 12 minutes two times a week and air on the side of deep waters less frequently.  You can also apply a Liquid Seaweed Fertilizer to them for extra fertilizations and encourage blooms.  Mulch, mulch, mulch to keep all bare soil covered, roots cool, and weeds out!

Veggie Gardens-

Mix in some compost, make sure your beds are mulched, and water daily.  There is still time to put some melons in the ground if you are running behind.  Herbs can be planted too, and they take less water.  

Flowers-

Water your flowers three times a week if they are not native, and all can benefit from Hasta Gro fertilizer or Natural Gardener tonic.  This will encourage more blooms.  Dead head spent flower buds.  

New Farmer's Markets in Austin

The Sustainable Food Center is launching a new initiative to open six neighborhood farmer's markets.    They will also be able to except food stamps by using the lone star card!  

This is why I like to volunteer for them, because I believe in their programs.  I hope they will allow local residents to sell items at the market with limited regulations as well.  Times are tough, and being able to trade services and goods is such an asset for community dwellers!

Here are the new markets opening on June 17th:

Wednesdays, 10am-12pm
South Austin Multipurpose Center
2508 Durwood
Austin 78704
 
Wednesday, 9-11am
Northwest WIC Clinic
8701A Research Blvd
Austin 78758
 
Wednesdays, 12-2pm 
Dove Springs Recreation Center
5801 Ainez Drive
Austin, TX 78744
  
Wednesdays, 11-1pm
Rosewood-Zaragosa Neighborhood Center
2800 Webberville Road
Austin 78702

Wednesday, 12-2 pm
St. John's Community Center
7500 Blessing
Austin 78752

Wednesdays, 11am-1pm
Montopolis WIC Clinic
1416 Montopolis Dr.
Austin 78741

June Gardening Events

Here are some things to do to expand your gardening knowledge or to get you outside!

 

06/06/2009 - 9:00am - 10:00am at the Natural Gardener

Judy Barrett of "homegrown" Magazine presents “What Can I Do With My Herbs?” Judy has been publishing the Texas gardener’s favorite local bimonthly magazine for over a decade.

6/07/2009 - 8:15pm - 9:45pm

Live Music at Barton Springs Pool on Sunday, June 7th, at the Full Moon Swim
Poolside Live, our summer monthly music series at Barton Springs Pool starts
June 7th, with local bluegrass band Onion Creek Crawdaddies.

06/13/2009 - 9:00am - 1:00pm

Come enjoy the best local food in Central Texas, from farm fresh produce, humanely raised meats, artisanal cheeses, prepared foods, coffee and tea. Taste of Summer Day continues Austin Farmers' Market's 2009 Fruit and Veggie Fest - don't miss a demo by Chef Mizael Saucedo of Bess Bistro at 10:30am, and free tastings of the season's best fruits and veggies.

June 17th:  SFC launces 6 new local farmer's markets.  See previous post for details.

06/17/2009 - 8:00am - 12:00pm

Positive Impact is a not for profit project providing education to the
event industry on sustainability.
This is a free, interactive event suitable for event organizers,
venues or suppliers to the event industry.

To register for this free event please see ‘Education Projects’ at
wwww.positiveimpact events.co.uk

Attendees to this event will:
1. Understand how sustainability can benefit your business by giving
you a competitive advantage
and a greater economic return.
2. Learn about international best practice with sustainability in the
event industry
3. Learn about tools to support the implementation of sustainability
within your events including
carbon footprint measurement

For questions on the event please email
julie at positiveimpactevents.co.uk or call Michele Hallahan
on (512) 731 4851

06/23/2009 - 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Join us in learning about utilizing sustainable energy resources as well as defraying the costs associated through our local power company.

Natalie Marquis with the Texas Solar Energy Society will speak to us about how solar energy has progressed to be a viable source of electricity. Austin Energy will have a representative to educate us about the use of rebates and financing to ameliorate the costs of solar technology. Meridian Solar will have a consultant to answer any site specific questions about our homes and solar installation.

06/25/2009 - 9:00am - 5:00pm

From: Rachel Proctor May

Parks. Trails. Streetscapes. Paseos. Gardens. These are the places that strengthen our identity, nurture our community, and make Austin great. Join CNU-Central Texas in partnership with the American Planning Association Central Texas Section for a one-day action session to figure out what's working, what's not, and what we need to do to more quickly implement the community's vision of a comlete network of interconnected public spaces.

Speakers will cover the design, development, and policy decisions that can make or break a public space plan. Over lunch, Lori Houston of the City of San Antonio and Irby Hightower of Alamo Architects will go in-depth on the best practices and lessons learned from the decade-long San Antonio River Improvements Project. Throughout the day, all attendees will participate in the development of a policy agenda for continuing action.

7.75 units of AICP continuing education credit have been applied for.

$40 for entire day
$20 for lunch speakers only

For more information or to register, please visit: http://centraltexascnu.org/

06/28/2009 - 10:00am - 6:00pm

An artist's studio in South Austin, a historic remodel in Bouldin Creek, a custom home on Hamilton Pool Road. You can see all these and more on Sunday, June 28, at the 2009 Cool House Tour. All the homes on the tour feature energy-efficient, environmentally friendly design, construction and landscaping. The tour includes nine new construction and three remodeled homes, which range from small to large, very affordable to high-end, and are constructed with a wide variety of materials. Four homes have solar electric systems, one has solar thermal. Three of the homes are for sale. At all homes you will be able to talk with the owner, architect or builder, a Green Building staff member, or a TXSES volunteer. Ticket/Guidebooks are $15 and may be purchased at both Austin Central Markets and online at www.txses.org, where you may also view the tour.

Host(s): 

Austin Energy Green Building and Texas Solar Energy Society

Website: 

http://www.txses.org/solar

More Chicken Photos

Yes, I have more chicken photos. How fun is that?! You would only understand if you owned a few for yourself. I highly recommend it!

Here are some photos and descriptions of the Bantams we have:

Black Silkies

Mottled Cochin Bantam 

White Cochin Bantam

Red Frizzle Cochin Bantam 

Ameraucanas

Learn how to Harvest Rainwater in May

This program is being organized by Design-Build-Live, the Austin-based nonprofit that promotes natural living and sustainable building. See below for event basics, and visit www.designbuildlive.com for details. Advance registration HIGHLY recommended (and absolutely REQUIRED for some events); register at the Design-Build-Live website, designbuildlive.com

-- Friday, May 29, 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm ~~~ Council Chambers, Austin City Hall
Harvesting Rainwater & Stormwater to Create Amenities and Solve Problems:
Brad will present simple, inexpensive rainwater and stormwater harvesting strategies and earthworks that hold great potential for replacing volume and runoff problems with amenities such as raingardens, shade trees, verdant landscapes and food. Free; seating capacity 250.

-- Friday, May 29, 7:00 pm ? 9:30 pm, at Boggy Creek Farm ? by invitation
Water and Food Abundance Dinner with Brad Lancaster
By invitation only to sponsors and donor partners; see designbuildlive.com for details.

-- Saturday, May 30, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm ~~~ AMD Lone Star Campus
Integrated Water Strategies for the Home, Landscape, Garden, Farm & Community: A dynamic slide presentation on how to integrate rainwater, greywater and stormwater harvesting to create water abundance in place of water scarcity. Book signing. Free; capacity 300.

-- Saturday, May 30, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm ~~~ The Great Outdoors Nursery
Greywater Happy Hour: An outdoor slide presentation under a canopy of beautiful ancient oak trees. Learn how you can maximize the use of recycled water in your landscape. Book signing; beverages served (not greywater!). $5; capacity 100.

Sunday, May 31, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm ~~~ West Central Austin Residence
Nuts & Bolts of Water Harvesting for the Urban Homestead: Experience Brad in action! Analyze, discuss, and get your hands wet (and dirty) exploring several water capture systems for an urban homestead. $40; Limited to 15 participants!

May Monthly Maintenance Tips

Here are few tips for the month of May as things heat up:

Plant the following veggies: Cantaloupe, cucumber, New Zealand spinach, Malabar spinach, peppers, summer squash, tomatillo EARLY MAY: Chard, eggplant, okra, sweet potato slips LATE MAY: Watermelon

Make an Herb Spiral and plants some herbs: basil, bay, catnip, chives, comfrey, epazote, lamb's ear, lavender, lemon balm, lemon verbena, Mexican mint marigold, mints, oregano, pennyroyal, rosemary, sage, winter savory, tansy, thyme, yarrow

Plants some annuals, especially Nasturtrium and Marigolds to deter pest from you veg gardens: celosia, cleome, coreopsis, cosmos, four o'clock, gomphrena (globe amaranth), gourd, marigold, moonflower, morning glory, scaevola (fan flower), sunflower, zinnia


Watering Guide:
It is better to water established plants deeper and less often, rather than shallowly and frequently. The exception is newly seeded areas and your veggies, which may need daily watering. Water only as needed; turn off automatic sprinkler systems when we get good rainfall.

MULCH! Make sure to mulch all your exposed beds so there is no exposed dirt!

MOW! Continue to mow your lawn to keep the roots strong and healthy. On average you can mow every 10 days.