Sunday, June 19, 2011

We have our first eBook published on Amazon!!!

We have our first eBook published on Amazon!!!

An eBook on Composting by Dandee Dirt on Amazon Saturday, June 18, 2011
I have my first eBook published on Amazon!!!
Search under Composting in Books and I think I am the eighth one down, a picture of the cover is a basket of melons and squash/punkins.
Composting for your basic Organic Vegetable Garden, By Dandee Dirt
It was posted on June 17, 2011 and costs 3.99. I am not sure of all the specifics in downloading this, whether it is just a Kindle book or if you can get it in a format that will play on your PC or Mac.
I do believe it is avail in the UK and also in DE.
Hope to hear from some of you on what you think of this little book, which is a great step for me.
thanks in advance and of course
Be well; peace….dan

Fences, greens, vegetables, and rain...

Building the Fence

This Saturday, in addition to the harvesting of greens and vegetables that I do every weekend, Dan decided to finish installing a fence in the utility area of the yard. In this community, fences are restricted to chain link fencing only with heights of either 36" or 42". It was a bit of a challenge to find a supplier of  42" chain link fencing, but one new place in town stocked it. The 36" fence was just too short for my preferences. Most of the other places in town stocked 48" fencing, but this place doesn't allow it. Luckily, one place carried what I needed.

After purchasing the supplies a week ago, waiting for the weather to cooperate, and having the underground utilities marked on the grass, Dan dug the holes for the fence posts yesterday, securing them with cement and waited for them to dry. Originally it was thought that the fence would hook onto the back of the shed; however, once we saw where the utility lines were, we decided to move the fence line back a couple of feet and allow for another free flow entry area into the the workspace. 


Today he proceeded to dig another for the gate, install the gate, and put up the chain link with the braces. Getting those clamps to hold the chain link can be a bit of a challenge as the fencing has to be taught enough to be straight, yet with just enough give to be able to get a clamp around the edge. This was harder than I thought! Of course, upper body strength has always eluded me. Fortunately, some clamps and man muscles got the job done.


In the utility work area there is the shed for tools and supplies infinitum, a tall ladder hung on the side of the shed, the compost area constructed from used pallets and painted to match the shed and the house, a kitchen table sawed in half and secured to the side of the house with a long board and some screws, the trash bin, and the portable green house. The daughter of the neighbor who gave us the table couldn't believe that a table could be sawed in half and used as such! Children of this generation just haven't seen these practices exhibited by the adults in their lives as was done by the adults of my parent's generation. My parents, having grown up during the Depression learned to use everything they had in their lives and wasted nothing. My generation who grew up with abundance bought stuff and threw it out, gave it away, or sold it at garage sales. I haven't seen people be so clever as to take stuff and repurpose it as was done by the generation before me. Perhaps this Recession/Depression (depending on if you are out of work or not) will help us remember some of the practices of the past and discover bounty that once was overlooked.


One of the neighbors said she'd bring over three more pallets for making another compost bin. By so doing, there can be the initial dumping area of the kitchen scraps (Keep in mind only fruits, vegetables, egg shells, egg cartons, and newspaper go into the compost from inside the house. No meat or meat juices of any kind. This keeps the critters out of the compost.), a second pile in the large bin for the compost that is mid-way in the breakdown process, and the last bin for the compost that is fine, decomposed, and ready to use. We have found that the vegetables that have had the compost added to its soil are strong and excellent producers. Straw, egg cartons (the paper kind), and shredded newspaper can also be added to the compost to add bulk and air and fiber.


One neighbor and another friend have already asked if they can bring their vegetable waste to our compost bin as a way of incorporating recycling into their lives and teaching their children good habits about how to be in the world. It just makes me happy that something as simple as a compost bin can help to bring people together. Great job, Dan... another excellent construction job!

As for the week's harvest... my camera is going kerplunky some of the time and the images end up being pink and smeared. Anyone have experience with this symptom and what could be wrong with my camera? I have a Canon PowerShot A95. I've had for the last 10 years or so; maybe it's time to replace it. I really like this camera because it's not too heavy, takes good pictures, is easy to use and upload onto my computer, and is generally just swell. I hate the thought of parting with it, but maybe there's something better out that coming into my life. Suggestions welcome.

During the week, the harvest included three large heads of cauliflower, five zucchinis, three tomatoes, another bunch of beets that I've already boiled and will be preparing to eat for lunch before long, and three bags of lettuce and greens. The jalepenos will be ready for picking this week. The green beans are sending out their tendrils to cling to the supports provided for them. They look pretty terrific. Coming from heirloom seeds, I'm interested in find out what kind of bean they produce and will be interested in capturing some of their seeds.


I harvested the rest of the arugula seed pods and am beginning the drying process of them. 

There is a lot involved in this gardening adventure. Pretty soon we'll be taking a peak at the potatoes at the bottom of the potato tower to see how far along they have come in their development. oooooh! Can't wait!

Bon appetit!
May wellness and peace be upon you.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Chinese horoscope, astrology and RV camping!








I found one of those Chinese type articles today and discovered I am a Snake.  And I go well with the Rooster and the Ox.  I also go very well with the Goat; maybe because she is so close to the Rooster year or Ox year. 

Things are getting busy and I am in the process of learning not only some software but also how to put together different writings and market them.  There is lots of work to do on this front but I am meeting more and more people who want to help and be helped!

Aquarius

Were you born under the sign of Aquarius? What a compassionate and generous person you are. And did you know that there really is an Age of Aquarius. It wasn't just a songwriter's concept in the musical, Hair. Just as there are individual zodiac signs, so are the eras of human history divided into 2000-year segments of what's called the Great Year. We just left the age of Pisces, which began at the beginning of the Christian era until the year 2000. It was a time marked by fluid changes in politics and governments. Pisces, of course, is the sign of the Fish, the symbol of Christianity.

We are now in the Age of Aquarius, but only just in the dawn of it, like the song said. All the wonderful, generous characteristics of the Water Bearer are not yet symbolic of humanity as a whole yet, as evidenced by the current turmoil in the Middle East. But there are signs. Remember the Random Acts of Kindness. Perhaps those were a harbinger of the Age of Aquarius.

If YOU are an Aquarian, then you were born between January 20 and February 18. You are a humanitarian and more intelligent than most and given to thoughts of how to make the world a better place. You can be inventive and original, and you’re freedom-loving. You’re generous with your thoughts, whether people are interested or not! You can be eccentric and idiosyncratic, and need a lot of space, but your heart is nearly always in the right place.

Who's the right partner for the highly intelligent and quirky Aquarian? Someone who can appreciate their generous qualities and share their beliefs. Someone who is willing to explore and grow with them. An Aquarian will be happiest with someone who is open-minded, who is warm and understanding and willing to be a helpmate.  While that may be the ideal for just about anyone, it's especially important for an Aquarian to be able to have a partner who will share their passion for creating a better world and their generous nature.




Snake

Being a Snake ourselves, we should be able to recite our Chinese restaurant placement profile by heart, but here it is anyway: Born in the years 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989 and 2001. Wise and intense with a tendency towards physical beauty. Vain and high tempered.

The Snake is an interesting mix of extroversion paired with introversion, intuitive reasoning paired with business savoir-faire. Snakes are considered to be lucky with money and will generally have more than enough to live life to the fullest, regardless of how important it considers money to be; this may be due to the fact that Snakes tend to be rather tight with cash. They're not stingy; they're simply more mentally than physically active. Snakes tend to hang back a bit in order to analyze a situation before jumping into it. Their charming, seductive quality actually belies a rather retiring nature; this Sign is perfectly happy to spend the whole day curled up with a good book and, thus, can be mislabeled as being lazy.

The Snake is somewhat insecure deep down and tend to be a rather jealous, possessive lover, behavior that can end up alienating loved ones. Despite these less-than-stellar tendencies, however, the Snake often proves irresistible and is a generous, loving partner. Slightly dangerous and disarmingly smart, the Snake's philosophical and intuitive mind generally supersedes logic in favor of feelings and instinct. Snakes will rely on their own gut reactions and intuitions before turning to others for suggestions. This makes this Sign a great hand in any business venture, possessing the caution and smarts needed to get ahead.

In general, of course, Snakes are generous and genteel, charming and appealing. Snakes must try to learn humility and to develop a stronger sense of self. Once Snakes realize that confidence comes from within, they will finally be comfortable in their own skin. The most compatible match for a Snake is the Rooster or the Ox.



Goat

If you were born in the year 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991 or 2003 then you are a Goat. You’re elegant and creative, somewhat timid and prefer anonymity. You are most compatible with Pigs and Rabbits, but don't mix it up with the Ox.

Goats tend to have a hard time with romance; anyone who couples up with a Goat must know, this Sign has a sensitive streak a mile wide and can be subject to bouts of anxiety over seemingly inconsequential things. Goats need plenty of love, support and open reassurance from their lovers. If a relationship is marked by conflict, the Goat will often pull away — either physically or simply by retreating into the safe haven of its imagination.

If the romance is going well, however, Goats won't hesitate to tell their partner what they need — and they can be quite insistent about it. This Sign will definitely return the favor, however; the Goat has a luxurious side that delights in indulging a lover's every wish. Appearances are also important to the Goat, which may explain why these folks can spend hours primping and posing.

Goats are generally most comfortable in their own minds (which other, more linear-thinking Signs may have trouble deciphering). This Sign makes a great craftsperson or artisan, or perhaps a teacher of New Age studies — any occupation that allows its mind the full range of freedom. Goats tend not to be very well-organized, precluding many more dry business endeavors. In fact, Goats tend not to be very materialistic in general, finding plenty of riches in their own imagination. However, especially when in love, the Goat can be quite a lavish gift-giver.

And finally-
Rv Camping

Camping with an RV can be particularly enjoyable for any sightseer.  Camping by RV has become more widely popular with the start of the baby boomers reaching retirement age.  Camping with an RV gives your camping experience a new carefree twist.  Just pull into any campsite nationwide, pay your campsite fee and you are almost certain to have a great time.  While camping in each area, make sure you discover the exclusive benefits unique to your location.

Most of the places to enjoy camping with your RV are pay sites.  Some places are still available with free camping options although these may have little to no amenities.  Some of the most common places for camping with an RV are in places with full hookups for electricity and water.  It is also common to have a dumpsite for wastes at these camping locations.

You can easily make a camping experience take you from coast to coast with a new location for camping every night if you wish.  It is generally much cheaper to get a camping spot than it would be to stay in a hotel and you have all of the necessities inside your movable home.  Most RV's have a nice awning on one or both sides of the vehicle so that you can spend a good amount of time in the shade even while enjoying a sunny day.  When Camping with an RV there is a very good opportunity to take every possible convenience with you as you travel from one camping location to the next campsite.

Some RV camping locations have WiFi internet so that you can wirelessly connect to the internet while camping.  While doing so you can look up RV campsite locations in areas you plan to visit in the near future.  Most of the camping websites give information on availability and amenities for your visit.  While camping at many of the locations across the USA you can find opportunities to go fishing, hike or bike nature trails and even participate in rock climbing.  You will be amazed as you look around at your options, because some camping locations will have stores nearby for shopping and others with have horses for trail-riding excursions.  It is possible to find some with walking access to swimming holes, and hot pots or artesian water holes for soaking in.

It would seem that you will never run out of new RV camping options.  RV camping locations are becoming more popular all the time and with the baby boomer generation continuing to retire it is sure to become a favorite camping option for many more people every day.  In response to this demand, the RV camping suppliers are becoming more visible with their mainstream marketing.  Even now it is becoming extremely popular for home builders to make a parking area with an RV gate for potential buyers.

Although RV camping requires a much larger upfront cost in order to either buy or rent your RV, it places you in a position to have an almost unlimited amount of camping possibilities!

Now if any of you would like to send me a note about one of these topics I promise I’ll try to incorporate it into the next book I do that uses one of the main ideas above. 

Everyone have a great weekend and get outside and BREATHE!!! Be well; peace…dan

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

With the wild winds of Kansas and lots and lots of water!

Who says you can't grow Beets here?!

Ah, Saturday... Since I've undertaken this rather intensive approach to food growing, Saturday mornings are my time to give the garden my full attention. After the workaday week, I relish the thought of connecting with earth, sunlight, warmth, nature, and plants growing in my yard.

After picking most of the green leaf lettuce before it bolted, I looked around at how the other plants were progressing. The lettuce was abundant. In fact all the greens after being picked and washed yielded 6 quart-sized bags of produce. It was a most interesting week of discovery...

To thin out some of the beets allowing the remaining ones more space in which to grow, I discovered that the existing beets were doing just fine—developing beet heads that were maturing robustly. I read an article from our local nursery earlier that said you can't grow beets in Kansas, so I figured I'd just be harvesting the beet greens... it turns out that I can grow beets in Kansas, so I don't know where that untruth came from, but the one's in my yard are growing just fine... thank you very much! Don't they look delicious?


The plants are all growing well. Dan has been watering and fertilizing and applying compost as needed. This past week had been particularly hot registering in the 100s about three days this week. He watered at least four days this week, with soaker hoses, for several hours each time. I've learned that when plant leaves are beginning to yellow it often means that they are not getting enough water. Give them some water and they'll green right up!

This is my first year growing Jalepenos... so it's exciting to me to see them starting to develop fruit...
Check out these babies. There are four jalepeno plants, so I'm looking forward to many flavorful dishes to enjoy them in.


The potato plants in the potato towers were growing and growing and growing away... Dan decided to use straw this week in the layering of the towers, still leaving some of the plant tops exposed to continue the growth process. Additionally, he added another layer of chicken wire around the plants so they can grow to their capacity. The plants seem healthy and strong. I can't wait to see the new potatoes underneath that have developed.


A couple of weeks ago after noticing the caulflower heads that are developing, I was informed that by tieing them up to cover the head helps keep the head white rather than having it turn yellow. This being my first year with cauliflower too, I tied them off by using the existing bountiful leaves of the plant... pretty neat, hun?


I have two or three plants tied off that way and had tied the biggest one off a couple of weeks back. Wanting to check on its growth progress I peaked inside to find the cauliflower was nearly ready to go to flower! Oops! I might have waiting too long. Inside, quickly, for a knife to cut off the head. I'm not exactly sure how this process works with cauliflower. I'll have to do some more research so I can learn when the optimum time is for tieing off and harvesting.

Anyway, here's today's bounty... The head is huge, somewhat yellowed meaning it had too much exposure to sun and see how some of the flowerettes are stretching out as if wanting to go into flower mode? After washing it off, I decided to eat some of it raw dipped in ranch dressing for my lunch. Cruciferous vegetables, such as this one,  are very good for preventing cancer and are good for one's intestinal tract. Please share your insights if you have experiences to offer...

Next up, seed harvesting...
Since I had purchased heirloom seeds, I'm eager to learn about seed harvesting and saving and using them in subsequent years. Plus, with the overflow, I should be able to have heirloom seeds available for sale soon. Here are some pics of the arugula plant gone to seed, the spinach plants going to seed, and the lovely red veined swiss chard going to seed...
Arugula plant going to seed. I kept wondering when will the seeds be ready for harvesting. After doing some research I believe when the pods are puffy with seeds it's ok to pick them—even if the seed pods are green because, often, once they turn from yellow to brown they open and the wind disperses the seeds as nature is prone to do—willy nilly and abundantly.

Again, I'm not sure yet when I should pick the spinach seed... when they are green still is it OK? Or do I have to wait until they turn brown or black? More research is in order....

Look at the lovely Swiss Chard plant with its fabulous red inner stalk. I've really been on a steep learning curve regarding gardening this year because I'm trying to learn how to take the plants full cycle to become self-sufficient and not have to rely on outside sources for purchasing the seeds or plants each year to get started.

Lastly, I clipped a heaping bowl full of the arugula seed twigs that were heavily laden with the seed pods. I was going to get the seeds from each of the pods, but soon figured out that that was a momentous taska and that I needed to break it down even further. First, to remove the pods from the stalks was a big enough job, then later I can separate the seeds from the pods. I'll have to get envelopes in which to store the seeds for later use. Additionally, this is one plant that I'm not sure if it's been tampered with. I purchased the seeds initially from our 'good' nursery in town in bulk—but I don't know if the seeds were hybridized or altered in any way. I'll have to do a test planting to see if they germinate and grow consistent produce before doing anything further with this batch of seeds. One thing is for sure, I started with maybe 50 arugula seeds and I only snipped a small sample from the existing plants. I have a heaping bowl of seed pods and in each pod there may be twenty or more seeds... doing the math... doesn't that come out to a 50 : A billion ratio?! 


Wow! It's amazing what one learns when going down this path of self-sufficiency and frugal, healthy living! One thing I learned for sure... nature is amazingly abundant. All this scarcity talk that one hears about in the media is a myth... Take a lesson from nature. All life should be so abundant. It shows us about the life of the spirit. Our so-called culture... oh... not so much...

Be well and bon appetit!