Seven random garden facts

Written by: adekun on 24 July, 2007 10:11 pm - Filed under: blog ?

Sara over at Farming Friends has tagged me with a Seven Random Things Meme, so here goes:

Until recently I detested garden centres. The idea of jammed up, miserable looking plants sold exorbitant prices hasn’t really changed. They’re not all like that. Now if passing, I’m eager to want to see what’s available and imagine.
The plan is to try to grow more from seed, to distance reliance from the above. We don’t have a lot of space, but it has produced a good return without chemical intervention.
I’ve always be interested in plants and biology. The teacher who gave up his lunch hour to run Greenhouse Club left an impression with his interest. Sadly the Coleuses left their mark on the floor of the bus home.
Some years I get incurable hay fever.
Flowers are nice, but in the main I’m in this for the food. That still leaves scope for inter sowing etc. As hinted previously, organic cultivation is the purpose.
Aside from being a bountiful hobby, for me the project is edification. It is a place where new methods can be applied, where menial jobs seem less of a chore. It is interesting. I’ve not thought about ‘work’ like that for a long time.
I haven’t been able to find a garden fork anywhere in Japan.

Successive Seven

Skippy’s vegetable garden

Spade Work

This Garden Is Illegal

The Rules

Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to then report this on their own blog with their 7 random facts as well as these rules. They then need to tag 7 other garden blogs and list their names on their blog. They are also asked to leave a comment for each of the tagged, letting them know they have been tagged and to read the blog.

Tags: garden

8 responses to Seven random garden facts »

Celia

26 July, 2007 #

Hi, I found your blog via Daughter of the Soil

I’m looking for recipes using chrysanthemum greens - Shungiko. Do you grown them or use them? I have a large packet of seeds I bought in Japan but somehow I never get round to cooking with them - anyhow, the flowers are pretty!

Celia
purplepoddedpeas.blogspot.com
adekun

26 July, 2007 #

Thanks for dropping by Celia. Incidentally I’m from Suffolk.
Shungiku tends to be favoured by the older folk since it is quite bitter. Usually destined for nabe towards the end. I’ll ask the mother-in-law if there are some different ways of preparing it. It could be that the younger stems and leaves aren’t that bad.
In any case, it is good for compost - I spent the best part of a week chopping stacks of it up and it was done in a matter of weeks.
Watch this space…
Celia

27 July, 2007 #

thanks - perhaps you can post your Shungiko tips on my blog - today’s posting has a photo of the chrysantemum flowers (they’d look better if the sun was shining!)

Celia
farmingfriends

28 July, 2007 #

Hi Adekun,
I really enjoyed reading your seven facts. I like the idea of a Greenhouse Club!
Sara from farmingfriends
TopVeg

29 July, 2007 #

Good to read your facts - fancy not using a garden fork! Do they dig in Japan?
TopVeg
adekun

31 July, 2007 #

Yes, the Greenhouse club brings back some fond memories. I guess a kuwa, a type of hoe is used to do the digging. If it warrants a fork, it wouldn’t surprise me if some sort of mechanic device is rolled out. I could really do with a fork for shifting compost if not digging.
Colleen

1 August, 2007 #

I enjoyed reading your seven random facts. I couldn’t agree more about starting plants from seed. I’d much rather grow my own plants, and know exactly how they were grown, than purchase plants in a garden center. It’s so much more rewarding, plus the garden centers always carry the same boring varieties. With seed, I can try new things.
adekun

1 August, 2007 #

No doubt the seedlings get a fair dose of all the stuff I’m trying to avoid. I’m still trying to understand the labels, which relieves the boredom - but doesn’t really help. My Grandmother always seemed to be growing something from pips or seeds. So far I’ve amassed some basil seeds and retaining a good lot of garlic.