Fertile Beds

Urea now shovelled into the beds. It came in water-soluble pellet form and looks like little hailstones. Hopefully the spring 2013 testing will show awesome nitrogen levels and we won't have to do any more store bought additions. I have a friend who's willing to give us straw for mulch, and Fall 2013 will be the first time we can add some of our own compost to the beds so that will be cool. :)

West side

East side

closer view

Front Window Update

Not much to say. So here's a bunch of pics to say it for me.

Little white Calendula sprout by the stick.

Three itty bitty green Chamomile sprouts.

Red-neck flower pots.

New addition is a Paperwhite bulb.

Should look like this when grown.

A Pillar and Boxes of Pee

I decided we needed some greenery indoors other than the aloe this winter, so I took the two containers the hot pepper plants were in and stacked them so the smaller top one drains into the bigger one. I figured that some fresh herbs would be welcome in the kitchen and the flowers will make awesome tea and salves.

Top: Basil surrounded by Chamomile;  Lower ring: Calendula, Sage, and Chives

I also got to the garden center today to pick up the nitrogen for the garden. Because we had plenty of everything else I wanted to find a high-nitrogen, low to zero phosphorus, low to zero potassium solution that was naturally sourced and slow release. I was considering poultry manure but the size and weight of the required amount(not to mention cost) was a bit uncomfortable... especially since I don't drive and I'd have to take it all home on the bus. What I found instead was this:

Urea is the chief solid component of mammalian urine; synthesized from ammonia and carbon dioxide. It is filtered out of the body through the kidneys, and is one of the components of urine.

Five boxes should do the whole garden plus some left for if the front yard needs a boost. Amazingly potent. :) We'll get it mixed in ASAP and it will age over the winter into very nutritious soil.

Plants and Plans

No I don't have 2013 all planned out all ready. I'm good but I'm not that good. 

This little off-shoot from the lavender we pulled up yesterday begged me to come inside the house instead of the compost. An empty peanut butter jar made a decent flowerpot.

Seems to be doing well.

 Because we don't have a working mower and no one wants to cut the "lawn" anyway, we're going to turn the front yard into an herb and flower garden. 8'X17' is a ton of space so there will be lots to use in bath products, herbal teas, and such.

Testing, Testing...

Results of The (suposed to be biannual) Soil Test

Last tested in March
Results were:
PH - 7 (neutral)
P   - 1 (Deficient)
K  - 4 (Surplus)
N  - 0 (Depleted)

Just tested results:
PH - 7 (neutral)
P   - 4 (Surplus)
K  - 3 (Sufficient)
N  - 1 (Deficient)

The kit I use to test.

Seems the compost did help but not enough. We've mixed in the fall leaves and will be getting some boxes of Urea to up the nitrogen. Hopefully ageing those two over the winter will balance out the numbers.
(Considering the nitrogen content I'm surprised we got the amount of produce we did this year.)