05/8/13

Raised-Bed Garden Update

Raised-Bed Garden in Argenta is Real!

Raised-Bed Garden in Argenta

Raised-Bed Garden in Argenta

The raised-bed garden is finished and the seedlings have been planted. But, no sooner than we did, the weather turned cold once again, dropping to freezing at night. We scambled to add cover to our raised beds. Fearing that was not enough, we reached out to our friends at Maison Terre, who make natural products including candles. Fortunately, they had plenty all-natural soy candles. For many nights and several days we burned candles that kept our little plants warm. Most survived! We are all pleased with our effort and look forward to watching the garden grow in the weeks and months to come.

Raised-Bed Garden Cauliflower

Raised-Bed Garden Cauliflower

Check out our earlier post for plans and materials.

[Show as slideshow]

garden-update-mar-14-1

garden-update-mar-19-1

beds-with-candles-1

04/4/13

Naturally-Dyed Eggs

Dying Eggs Naturally

Forget those chemical dyes. Celebrate Easter and Spring with the FRUITS (and vegetables) of the earth. Here is a how-to.

Click the title to the right for a PDF. Natural Egg Dying

03/3/13

These little sprouts will become delicious vegetables in my raised bed garden.

Argenta Raised-Bed Garden: Urban Farming Beginnings

This year, we started an Urban Farming Project.

We are helping committed individuals install gardens in urban or downtown areas. Our first garden is in downtown North Little Rock.

garden plan
box plan
materials list
cedar lumber and timbers
greenhouses
sprouts-3
sprouts-2

A couple of years ago, an Argenta resident renovated a 1925 bungalow in the Argenta Historic District of North Little Rock. She recently demolished a couple of dilapidated outbuildings to make way for a vegetable garden. We are sharing the information, including plans and materials lists here, so that you can follow along with ideas and/or DIY with your own urban farming project.

We chose to make two 4′ x 8′ beds, raised to 16″. This size fits the space that is exposed to the sun in her back yard, while the design reflects a desire to limit the amount of reaching and kneeling that I would have to do. We using untreated cedar lumber to extend durability without releasing toxins into the garden. We also creating a pea-gravel walkway/workway in between and around the beds. This will be outlined with landscape timbers. We are using a mix of top soil and super soil in a 2:1 ratio. Seeds were started a few days ago in little green houses, which you can purchase at just about any garden center. The seeds were gathered from several organic sources, including Colonial Williamsburg, and at the local sustainability network seed swap.

Check back with us for updates on our urban farming project

02/23/13

Praise for Lavender

I make candles, scrubs, aromatherapy oils and massage oils from pure essential oils. They brighten my day, clear my head, and soothe my skin. I freely admit that Lavender is not my most favorite scent. It is, however, loved by many. Perhaps lavender is best when combined with other essential oils to create a more complex aroma. I have added it to earthy oils such as cedarwood and fir balsam, to other herb and spice oils such as peppermint and clove and to citrus oils such as bergamot, all with great success.

Lavender is truly one of nature’s greatest bounties. It has many properties that heal and uplift. It soothes the skin (of humans and animals), relieves aches, clears sinuses, reduces nausea and calms the nerves. It also increases blood circulation and aids in digestion. It is recommended for insomnia, for balancing hormones and increasing immunity to diseases. Of all the essential oils it is truly the most universal. The recorded uses of lavender date back over 2,500 years. Known as nard in the ancient Middle East, it is mentioned in Song of Solomon (4, 14). The Romans added it to their bath water, thus the name lavender from the Latin lavanda (things to be washed). Lavender was used throughout the Middle East and the Mediterranean when the Romans introduced it to northern Europe and Great Britain. It was used in Medieval and Renaissance Europe as a disinfectant and deodorant. Lavender is believed to have been introduced to North America by the Shakers, a strict religious sect, credited with the commercialization of lavender-based products in Great Britain. Today, lavender is grown commercially in France, Spain, Italy, England, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and the United States. The hardiest lavenders are the English Lavenders (L. angustifolia) and Lavandins (L.x intermedia). Lavender oil is made by steam distillation using the flowers of the plant. I use lavender oil in soaps. Lavender Mint makes for a crisp refreshing bath. I also use it as a candle scent and as an all-natural deodorant. Combined with other essential oils, it makes a great Chest Rub which gives relief from cold and sinus symptoms Lavender is great for stress relief and I put a few drops on a cloth, which I them put over my face and breath deeply. Soon, I feel relaxed and begin to drift away. The uses for lavender are, in fact, endless.