Our little bit of EARTH...

It's being a while I have written something in here. I have not visited this space mainly I have been in school, travelling, injured, and everything in between. However, the creativity has been in always progressing. Well enough of that, I want to share some pictures from 2017 urban gardening. Straight from our backyard.

These are garden runner beans, when I was in the UK last summer, I saw these in a friend's garden. They were not that big I immediately walked towards it because of the lovely flowers. This past spring one of my friends did an art show, and she had these beautiful plants incorporated into her art exhibition. So far they are not producing many beans but a ton of flowers and few beans here and there. 

I have stopped buying dill from my local nursery mainly because every spring I get few plants from the previous year's seeds. So it so cool to see them going into seeds. I also like them in my salads, and of course, I am looking forward to pickling some runner beans with dill if I am lucky with my beans. 

I changed the spot for eggplants from last year, and unfortunately, they are not doing well this year. I see one flower and the bees are buzzing around it. Hoping to see at least one eggplant this summer. Few more happenings at home; besides summer courses this summer we are making popsicles at home and celebrating the month of August with canning.  

A pot of strawberry jam simmering while I time myself outside pulling weeds and attending to our garden. 

We loved the honey peach popsicles with a hint of lemon!

Warming up the Backyard...

Three in school including Nicolette, Niegel, and myself we usually gather so much paperwork. We are excited to ind kindling to start the fire. I know it sounds a bit crazy but working outside in this cold weather we desperately need a bit of warm air to clean the coop. On the other hand we get to clean our recycle bins fro schools. 

Although, few years ago at the beach I ran into a family who does a bonfire told me she get so excited to burn her children’s homework with a very light heart. I was skeptical about it until I joined the ritual. 

We do recycle a lot from kitchen and from our garden. But we do enjoy finding kindling as well from around the house!

Forcing Paperwhites

Forcing Paper Whites is a fun way to begin Holidays. I have been taking part in this tradition for about a decade. I remember I did this with my son when he was very young. Nicolette enjoys this and love watching how these guys grow inside during holiday. 

Although I am not a big fan of it fragrance because it could get very strong we continue to force them. 

I perform this ritual in my classroom as well. Children love watching them grow and producing beautiful flowers. This is my drive for gardening during harsh winter months…

Becoming a Lady...

 

 

Yesterday, evening, I went out to take a little breather after a busy day. Pasta party, meets weekends, art sessions, and a playdate a lll crunched up into few hors we were all engaged in something. During my quick outside trip to make sure chickens have clean water and wanting to give them kale ribs. I peaked inside to find out one of my chickens have becomed a lady! 

Yes, just that, I think peanut has begun to lay eggs. They were all in a some kind of a conversation and I felt like I was in the middle of it. But only downside of it was I couldn't understand what they were ranting about. 

Being super excited I rushed inside to grab the camera and asking Nigel to find the answer to my riddle. I head outside to snap few pictures. It was a super exciting I even had to share it with my neighbor who was heading inside after a long day of work. I quickly took the egg out and and pluck few other garden crops and headed inside to finish the rest of the evening which was pack with activities to the brim!

The Fire Pit & the Garden

We are so happy to have our fire pit out, helps us to clear the yard and work outside when it is a bit cold. Plants are into their growing season. 

Although their are mounds work to be done around the house, but it is kind of peaceful to work in the yard planting. We have used our fire pit couple of times already. 

Our wood pile is slowly disappearing.

I see little green shoots around the yard but I have no idea of their origin. Last year I had a random lettuce in my yard; I am looking forward to see what this year brings to us. One evergreen needs to be replaced, there is something going on in this particular spot because I lost two evergreens. Perhaps it is time to plant something else.