4 youngest!

Here's a picture I have that I've been meaning to send everyone! And yes, Tyler was carrying everyone...except my toe was still on the counter top. I couldn't bear to put all my weight on him.
This must be in 2000?-ish.
xo

Kalli and Angie singing...

Kalli singing my new song...or at least the first line:)

favorite nieces/nephew pics...

here are a few of my favorite picks from tyler/justin/kyle's families...
















http://justinjen.blogspot.com/2009/06/catch-up.html
one of my favorite videos is justin's family re-enacting the bethlehem story..with a broom! (scroll down)
here's another favorite: kalli with teddy bear in pajamas!
http://tyandjme.blogspot.com/2010/04/kalli-with-tumor-i-mean-teddy-bear.html

beginning of the harvest!

green beans, cucumbers, an eggplant:), zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes, onions, figs

My BLOOMING Lasagna Garden!!

As of July 15, 2010


Here is the garden...
on the left: 3 tomato plants, 1 eggplant, 4 strawberry plants, 2 pepper (but you can't see them because they're engulfed by the tomato plants!
on the right: 1 zucchini and 1 yellow squash plant (waste high), trellising cucumbers and there's lettuce behind the cucumbers.

Eggplant, Tomatoes and Cucumbers

I had to support the tomato plants with extra poles and this shelf!




Eggplants on 2nd picture!



#3 Image: Here's the backside of the cucumber trellis! They're out of control!!

Extra Tomatoe plants in containers, Pea's to Heaven and Bush Beans in a tire wheel..and don't forget the onions (pictures turned to the side)..i just planted sunflowers so stay tune!!

Progress of the Lasagna Garden!

Here it is as of June 1st!







Notice the Zucchini in the Tomato Cages (picture 3)...and I built trellis's for the Cucumbers with Paint Stirring Sticks! This way, if they grow taller than the trellis, I can always add more height. :) I know, I'm so smart!




And the beans are growing both in the tire (bush beans) and along the trellis/vines (aka, my roommates extra decorative sticks she uses in a vase sitting in our front room:) picture 5

My Lasagna Garden!

Okay, so I have a garden! Our backyard is supposed to have grass, but since it's a rental they've let it grow to tall weeds. So I decided to grow a garden...and since the Bay Area dirt is more like clay, I decided to attempt a Lasagna Garden based on my friends(Kathryn Lamby Spagnolo) garden last year.

So here are pics! (Before Picture with dead weeds)

(Laying down wet newspaper/cardboard)


A Lasagna Garden is where you lay wet newspaper or cardboard down over the dirt so NO WEEDS COME UP! Then, you later it with grass, leaves, compost, peat moss, etc. I prepped the ground in March where I proceeded to use all my vegi/fruit scraps for the compost. I then would layer it and cover it with black plastic where the sun cooked the garden down to a dark moist dirt pile. Then at the end of April I planted my garden.

There are:
2 Lasagna Piles,
1 Lasagna Style Container (which is a left over tire I found in our yard) where I planted Bush Beans! My hope is that the Bush Beans will grown and cover the tire.
1 Lasagna Style Ring where I contained it with red brick rings

A hand full of pots (half lasagna style and half potting soil) where I planted a jug with a pin-prick in the bottom where water can self water the plant. In theory I should be able to fill it up once a week and the plant sucks the water out when it needs water.

Then, I also planted peas, tomatoes, and beans straight in the ground soil to experiment on which way works the best. I added Amending Soil to the Clay Soil.

That's it!!!

Guess how many tomatoe plants I have? I bought 8...my visiting teacher brought me 1 more, my roommates Mom gave me 2 more, my friend is moving and offered me 3 of hers along with her little citrus tree. So...14 Tomatoe plants will soon be in my garden. Too much? maybe:)

New Adventures!

I've been in California for almost 9 months...and LOVE IT! I am also starting a Non-profit! Stay Tuned...www.giventree.org

Here are my websites and blogs!
Speak With Me Books
Good Sound Publishing

My Books were recently picked up by Follett Library Resources! They are the world's largest distributor of books to school's and libraries. So PLEASE contact your local library and let them know you want my books in their library! ("Speak With Me Books" are children's books & songs for Speech Development!)

ang