water water everywhere.

Well, last night we got three inches of fluffy snow and today the sun was shining, so it's all melting. Which means, of course, that our future garden plot is a sopping mess. We bought a 32 gallon trashcan today and I filled it to the top with water I collected the last time it rained (I had a couple gallons left over, but it wasn't quite 40 gallons which is what I'd thought at the time). I collected some more in the same method I posted previously, but then shoveled a bunch of snow into the bins to see how much water it would make once melted. I suppose I'll need another garbage bin. 

Erin claims that this makes me 'cute'. I think it makes me cheap, creative, and is a blatant testament to the fact that I can't exercise enough self-control to relax on my days off.

In other news, Erin and I finally got our sweet, essentially-free seedling table set up. We salvaged the futon frame from a dumpster, and the wood she used for the legs was leftover from a different project (which is why they look a little ghetto - but it works). Now we did give in a buy a brand new lighting fixture but that's mostly because I have a phobia of old and/or used electrical things. The bulbs we bought are "Natural Sunshine" fluorescents and claim to be "full-spectrum." Sunlight comes in cool and warm spectrums and a full-spectrum light mimics sunlight by having both. A grow lamp (which they sold on the same rack at Home Depot for more money) features a slightly different spectrum, but also puts out LESS light (measured in lumens) and uses MORE watts. So we figured a full spectrum with better efficiency was the better way to go (unless we totally do not understand wattage vs. lumens, that is - which is entirely possible). Also purchased was some basic chain so we can make the lights higher and lower as our seedling needs change. Below is a photo of an excited Erin once we turned the lights off and the other lights on.

Lights & fixture: about $25

Table: about $0

We haven't planted anything yet, but corn is first on the list. I'm developing a corn seed experiment which hopefully I will get started on this weekend.

just don't dig up the whole lawn, the landlord said.

On a warm snap in the middle of January, I purchased our first gardening implement - a hoe - and we went to town digging up our future victory gardens. If you can believe it, there are hardy pansies planted in the garden where I am working in the photo and they are *still* in bloom right this very moment. 

The two spots that we are working on in these photos are the future sites of our raised vegetable beds. Both sites will have removable cold frames (thanks to a SWEET dumpster find of two perfect-condition windows with sliding doors for ventilation!! WOO HOOO!) so we can experiment with planting early and harvesting late. You'll also notice that we have a bunch of huge lava rocks - these excite me, but I'm not sure what we'll do with them yet. Maybe a makeshift raised bed for our corn and squash?

Look at her go. Isn't she just so cute ripping up that turf?