"GOLDEN GAITS GARDEN"
WELLINGTON, COLORADO
We began our garden and duck-raising experiences at our first home together in Wellington, CO. We were married in 2008 and the garden began in 2009. Our first ducks arrived in 2011.
At that time our garden and duck experiences were outlined in our blogspot blog, Golden Gaits Garden. That blog has been discontinued and the posts regarding the garden are now archived here. The information regarding ducks can be accessed in our Ducks pages.
Note: Some (or all?) photos may be missing, or photo placement may be strange due to the import process. I’m working on that.
Seedling Progress
I’ve started some broccoli, kale and yellow bell peppers this week. I’m wondering whether I started some of the others too soon, but we’ll make do with what we’ve got. I potted these in newspaper pots, and no longer plan to use the peat pots I used earlier. I prefer
Rabbits
Our plan has been to have a path around the entire perimeter of our garden for Lucky (the dog) to run, so she can continue to bark at the bunnies to keep them away! We were concerned that she would mess up our sheet mulching process, so we had
“Potting On”
Today I did my first “potting on”, or transferring the little seedlings into larger pots. I made some larger pots out of newspaper, and put the little guys into the bigger pots. It was easy enough, but I’m thinking that next year I may consider the potting blocker method all
My First Soil Blocks!
I made my first soil blocks today! Here’s photos of my first row, and then 4 trays almost done. There are a few recipes around for the soil to use to make the blocks; I used one from my Burpee book that seemed easy. I was glad that I’d seen
Soil Blocking
I made a few more blocks today–very fun. We haven’t built more grow lights yet, and the ones we have are pretty full, so I was wondering what to do with these newly planted seeds until we make the new grow lights. They don’t really need light until they germinate,
More “Potting On”
In the past couple of weeks, we made a second shelf of grow lights for more seedlings and to make room for the larger size of pots for the seedlings I’ve transplanted. I think I did about a hundred of these today! Tim also rigged up some shades to cover them
So Many Tomatoes
By now it’s no secret, I planted way too many tomato plants and started them way too early. They are big enough to be planted outside, but I can’t put them out there for another month. I decided to take drastic measures. I decided I need to transplant them again
Clay
I know that the soil here is not good for growing, and that it is a very clay-like medium. It’s been really noticeable this week after it snowed and melted. It is so gross! Mud and muck everywhere. I have shoes saved for the purpose of walking in this stuff,
Seedlings in Blocks – Future Plans
I must say, the seedlings started in the soil blocks (with the soil recipe found in the Burpee book) are doing MUCH better than the ones I started previously in store-bought soil starting mix! I will not go back to the previous method! The soil blocks are so handy (and
Topsy Turveys and More Landscaping
I planted tomatoes in our Topsy Turvey Upside Down Tomato Planters yesterday and today. It’s been nice enough I can have them out for awhile during the day, then bring them in at night. I’m a bit challenged to find a place to hang them on bad weather days in