Well I went to walmart this morning before heading to the gym and I ended up buying more seeds and another kit. I told myself I was only going in for body wash and face cleanser but of course I had to check out the garden centre!

So I came home today with the second kit, cherry tomatoe seeds, beef tomatoe seeds, habanaro peppers, chilli peppers and asparagus.

I spent the morning learnt how to work with the peet holders, by applying warm water and letting them expand and grow then breaking them up to plant the seeds. Covering them over, misting down the seeds and applying the dome.

Than Cole and I decided the seed trays where to low on the mantel so we got my plastic table from my office and put them in front of our living room window. Figaro was not impressed to have his cat condo moved down from the centre of the window but hey! its only temporary until it is warm enough to put them in the sun room then outside.

According to the instructions once they begin to sprout I can put them out in the sun room for a few hours a day. When the seedlings get strong enough I break out the weaker stems and keep the strongest. I can then begin taking them outside for a few hours in the day starting in the shade and working to direct sunlight. So they should harden in time to go in the ground after may long weekend!

So now in all I have seed trays with tomatoes, peppers, beets, onions and asparagus.  So for the garden I am going to still do cucumber, lettuce, beans and peas. I have not decided if I will do potatoes this year because Tracy (cole’s mom) will.

It is suppose to rain today but if it does not I might start digging out my old flower beds from last year , pulling weeds and turning the soil. I need to get rid of the debris around the tulips, lilly’s and daffodils that are coming up so the weeds don’t strangle them out. Also I will prune the rose bushes. Cole can do the fruit trees with his ladder :)

My plan is to work a little bit each day starting in one area and working completely around the yard in a clock wise section. I think that will be easier than doing a little bit with everything every day. Not as over whelming.

Well that is all for now. I should make some lunch . Take care all! 

Today marks day one in to our gardening projects and adventures for this year. I am excited , nervous and overwhelmed. For not knowing what I was doing at all last year we had a pretty good harvest and I learnt a lot I am hoping to apply to our 2014 season. I really enjoy gardening, either flowers, plants or vegetables. I find it fascinating to grow something from a seed, watch it take form and develop, to grow into food , or flowers. Over the years I have been focusing more on nutrition, health and organic and have been adding to my list of foods to try and grow on my own.  Since moving to kamloops my gardening skills have been ever evolving and I am enjoying my new hobby. I thoroughly enjoy growing our own food that we actually eat. There is something to be said about being able to go outside to our yard and pick the food we want to eat that day. I feel so much better knowing where it comes from, how it was grown, what the process was and I am comforted to know that I have not used chemicals and have grown my own food organically. Which is becoming more and more important to myself and my family each day . Specially in today’s world of GMO’s, and chemicals. As an adult with PKU , my body is already pumped daily with chemicals from the low protein food that I consume , as well as my daily medications. So if I can do this one thing to cut back , and to give back to my body and invest in my health than I want to do that. I am becoming more interested each month into healthy nutrition, holistic nutrition and treatment with natural remedies. I am learning about herbs, spices, remedies, and organic growing.

I am actually interested in taking Natural nutrition courses and maybe one day working as a n holistic and natural nutritionist. I think I could really incorporate it into PKU diet management for others and myself too. I am interested in treating diseases and other aliments naturally, as well as making my own natural products, including spices, herbs and nutrition treatments. It is something that has always been hanging around in the side lines but has become more than an interest in the last year watching my sister in law, learning form her, as well as with my own garden , my mother in laws garden and our families strong ties to organic growing, and healthy eating. It is a new found passion that I am exploring. It is also a new adventure I will be documenting in my PKU blog for you all , step by step as I grow and learn through out this years gardening season. I will be taking photos and blogging hear under a new category dedicated to my garden.

I started today slowly and small , as it is only April. Today I got my first seed starter kit. Last year I did not start any of my seeds indoors and waited till late May to plant my garden outside. There where a few vegtables that I wanted to grow last year that I did not , as I waited to long.

So this year I started already in doors. I started today with Tomatoes, Onions and beets. I may get another tray started in the next couple days for more tomatoes, and peppers.  I have placed my tray on our fire place so it can get some light and I bought a water mister to gently water the plants while they are under the dome. I am excited to watch them progress and grow.

For my garden this year , I have decided to take more advantage of my space and to focus solely on vegetables and fruit. Last year I attempted to have a flower garden and a vegetable garden. Not to mention the established herbal garden from the previous home owners.

My plan this year is to plant, Lettuce , carrots, beets, onions, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, peppers, and radishes and cucumber as well as  potatoes.

I will not be doing kohlrabi, artichokes or squash this year. My mother in law has half an acre garden and she plants the really big stuff! Including all sorts of squash, Swiss chard, lettuce, corn, and everything you can think of . My garden is more for daily use.

Than we have our plants that where established by the previous home owner. Our Rhubarb, and grapes. As well as 2 incredible fruit trees that produce in abundance. The pear tree and the peach tree. Both will need pruning soon.

Inside we have a lemon and a lime tree that lost all there leaves over the summer, but has just recently started to sprout new ones.

One day I hope to get an apple tree too!

So it is clear to see I am excited to get started. Though admittedly I am apprehensive for the task before hand. Our yard needs a lot of work from over the winter it took a beating.  As the weather gets nicer you will find me out there slowly working my way along the yard, pulling weeds, turning the soil, pruning bushes, clearing winter debris and getting ready to plant. I hope you will enjoy following my progress! I look forward to sharing it with you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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