blueberries,strawberries

Dave braved the cold and planted more blueberries. We have 8 or 9 plants. I have no idea how much blueberries produce...any experience out there?

The strawberries are ensconced in the mini-tower. Dave put a water spray on top...it'll be refreshing when we get the warm weather! Happy strawberries!

RnR

Good Morning, and many thanks to Kat Kerlin at the Reno News and Review. It'll be great to have others post their gardening progress on the blog!

After the last few days of COLD weather, Dave and I have renewed enthusiasm to get out there!
For the store, we've got yellow hollyhocks, corn and pumpkins (thanks Bridgette Dolgoff) Oh, and I don't want to forget Bridgette's contribution of the aromatic Bat Guano....should be great fertilizer for our seedlings. It was soaking overnight, so it must be ready to go.
The bat guano should be less attractive to our neighborhood cats than fish emulsion. I just couldn't stand the thought of Midnight (our ancient, adopted cat) bringing the lovely odor into the house! he would've liked it though.

More pictures in the next few days. Keep digging!

Urban Garden at the store

We finally found some wine barrels and a fairly large platform for a raised bed. I should have soil by the end of the week and will start shoveling!
Our first plant will be the third generation onions we got at our Plant Exchange (many thanks, Bean!) It was wonderful to get something that's already acclimated to our crazy high desert!
It's the time of year when everything is possible! Vitamin D from the sun (finally!) and soon, lots of great nutrients from our lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, chard etc.
We're still looking for more wine barrels and galvanized livestock troughs (rust is ok)
Don't forget the seedling event coming up at the Great Basin Coop. Local farmers galore!
May 15th at the Coop, 542 1/2 Plumas St, Reno 9-5. Seedling Sale

still weeding!

Week 3 of urban gardening. Dave removed most of the sod and tilled as much of the space as possible. Our yard is small, so there are lots of obstacles the rototiller had to go around! Hard work, for sure.

Dave started a small raised bed for strawberries. We've planted chard, carrots and have starts on tomatoes, herbs, corn etc. Our existing sprinkler system is kaput, so as we plant we'll repair and add drip.

I've started weeding the parking strips...rocks and yarrow around the OLD nectarine tree, the rest I'll cover with weed barrier and fill in with crushed granite. That should neaten up the parking strips until we can plant.

We had a nice strip of volunteer yarrow in the front lawn. We've kept it intact in hopes that it will spread.

Our volunteer hollyhocks are well on their way again this year. Old fashioned flowers for our old fashioned house!

Be sure to come to the Sleep Shop, 140 Vesta St, Reno on Saturday June 5. From 12-3pm. Our free Plant Exchange should be busy by then!

Pollinators

Check out this site....http://www.instructables.com/id/Happy-Home-for-our-friends-the-Mason-Bees/

mason bees will be great for our yards!

DIY Dehydrater

http://www.instructables.com/id/Solar-Food-Dehydrator-Dryer/

Drying some of our crops will be a great alternative to canning everything!

Scarecrows

Thanks for checking in.. FYI In September, the Plant Exchange will host a "Scarecrow Contest" We'll do the initial judging by photo, then visit the finalists in person. Put your artistic abilities to work! Prizes will be awarded! More later..