For a change, I got up early - about ten past five. It's still dark nowadays, but I let the mippies out anyway. I'm still afraid that something could happen to Mewthos, but I need to get over that and let them have as much play time as possible. I'm considering letting them out during the day, while I'm at work - but I still fear accidentally running over one of them when I leave in the dark or, in a few weeks time, get home in the dark.
Today I'm seconded as kitty cuddler - everything else takes a backseat! Mewthos has been mewling like a maniac, Lady Jane was mipping then retreated and Ziva is under my feet where ever I go. So, I took the time to cuddle and tummy tickle and brush and scratch one after the other after the other until everyone was happy! I must do that more often, spend more time with mippies and less time working in the garden!
I've managed to do three loads of laundry, all hanging to dry, and after tonight's shower, I'll wash towels as well. I've washed the dishes and prepared food - basically, I've just cut up the vegetables to be mixed with ... I think I'll cook some spaghetti for a change? Then I just mix them with the vegetables, add some Avocado Oil and that's a cold dinner! I've also baked up a bread and defrosted something to put on it.
I did some research on root depth of the various plants which have sprouted, so that I can work out the pot sizes I need. Beans and Tomatoes need the deepest pots: 90-120 cm! Cor crikey! I should try to dig a hole to sink them into! Oh, and the Zucchini and Watermelon also need about 90 cm depth!
I've decided that, if I can't get pots of the required dept, I'll get one's half the required dept and place them on top of each other. Cut the bottom out of one, drill some holes and tie them together with cable ties. I should also try to get some mesh to build either a cage or trellis for those plants which need it. Which should be simple, just using cable ties.
It doesn't have to be perfect - it's my first attempt! I'll learn which plants do well and which may need a better home.
Okay, I've just done the maths ... I looked online what's in stock at the store near work, then allocated optimal pots per plant ... but when I did the cost calc, I went "Whoa!" I'd need to grow about 90 healthy vegetables to break even! And that's without the cost of soil or mesh! So ... I had better play with those numbers again and reduce the number of pots!
Right ... I've cut it down by 30%, but when I add the Potting Soil, it goes right back up there! Sigh. The problem - well, in this case it is a problem for me - is basically that every single seed seems to have sprouted! It's easy to tell with the large seeds, like watermelon, beans, peas and cucumber and such, because I put two seeds into each hole ... and they all produced seedlings! I didn't expect that!
But I'm forgetting the reason I started this project! It wasn't about the cost of vegetables in stores so much as a) the quality of the vegetables in the stores plus, most importantly b) the time it takes me away from my mippies to get fresh vegetables at least once a week! I thought I could easily get fresh vegetables near home; after all, this is farmland, but, alas, it isn't so.
Anyway, the pots are a one-time investment, I will re-use them over and over. The potting soil is not so expensive, so I can replenish that every time and put the 'used' soil into the garden, start feeding the ground some nutrients. I've decided against getting mesh, at least for now; I still have quite a lot of stakes plus plenty of wire to tie up peas, tomatoes and such. Lets wait to see just what I really need.
At least, with all the ground-clearing I've done here, I won't have trouble finding places for all these pots! I think I will start off by moving them into single-level pots, then see what grows and add another level as needed. They'll still be somewhat crowded ... well, next time, I'll use fewer seeds! I can plan better, once I have more experience!
Unfortunately, this will put a bit of a dent into my budget ... I may have to postpone the Tablet purchase ... sorry, Rose!
I can't fit all the Potting Soil I need into my boot, anyway, so I'll have to take as much as will fit and get the rest either another time, or from Ludwig's down the road. Some of the plants might also object to being expected to grow outside their season ...
I went to sit outside and Mewly decided that, since he's had such a lot of lovies today, he'd like to go for a stroll. He kept looking back to make sure I'm not disappearing while he crossed the open space! For a change, he was the last one to come home!
They're all purring with their tummies full of yummies, and - for a change - I've also filled mine with yummies! I chopped the veggies, cut the rump into cubes, cooked some spaghetti and enjoyed my dinner! I've packed some to eat at work tomorrow, and will enjoy another lot for dinner tomorrow night, I'm sure!
I've showered and the towels are washing as I write this - I set towels to wash AND dry, because they come out so lovely and fluffy from the dryer! When I hang them up, they get a bit hard and I have to stretch-beat them soft.
Uh oh! There is a gecko with a baby driving Miss Mip absolutely wild! It's sitting right under the curtain rail ... I can see her Ladyship will try to climb up the curtains! That's not going to end well ... she's not a half kilo kittie anymore! Mewthos is stretched on the floor in the passage and Ziva is curled up on the clean towels ... well, I say clean, but they are now dustier than the one I use every day!
Ai, ai, ai, Miss Mip is now appealing to me for help to reach her prey! This is not the first such appeal today, either, ha ha ha! Now Mewthos has seen the geckos as well, and is also appealing to me for help to reach! Ziva just came out of her closet and is now sitting in the shelf on my right, getting her ears scratched - so I've been typing with only my left hand.
It's half past eight, time for me to turn in ...
I've decided that, if I can't get pots of the required dept, I'll get one's half the required dept and place them on top of each other. Cut the bottom out of one, drill some holes and tie them together with cable ties. I should also try to get some mesh to build either a cage or trellis for those plants which need it. Which should be simple, just using cable ties.
It doesn't have to be perfect - it's my first attempt! I'll learn which plants do well and which may need a better home.
Okay, I've just done the maths ... I looked online what's in stock at the store near work, then allocated optimal pots per plant ... but when I did the cost calc, I went "Whoa!" I'd need to grow about 90 healthy vegetables to break even! And that's without the cost of soil or mesh! So ... I had better play with those numbers again and reduce the number of pots!
Right ... I've cut it down by 30%, but when I add the Potting Soil, it goes right back up there! Sigh. The problem - well, in this case it is a problem for me - is basically that every single seed seems to have sprouted! It's easy to tell with the large seeds, like watermelon, beans, peas and cucumber and such, because I put two seeds into each hole ... and they all produced seedlings! I didn't expect that!
But I'm forgetting the reason I started this project! It wasn't about the cost of vegetables in stores so much as a) the quality of the vegetables in the stores plus, most importantly b) the time it takes me away from my mippies to get fresh vegetables at least once a week! I thought I could easily get fresh vegetables near home; after all, this is farmland, but, alas, it isn't so.
Anyway, the pots are a one-time investment, I will re-use them over and over. The potting soil is not so expensive, so I can replenish that every time and put the 'used' soil into the garden, start feeding the ground some nutrients. I've decided against getting mesh, at least for now; I still have quite a lot of stakes plus plenty of wire to tie up peas, tomatoes and such. Lets wait to see just what I really need.
At least, with all the ground-clearing I've done here, I won't have trouble finding places for all these pots! I think I will start off by moving them into single-level pots, then see what grows and add another level as needed. They'll still be somewhat crowded ... well, next time, I'll use fewer seeds! I can plan better, once I have more experience!
Unfortunately, this will put a bit of a dent into my budget ... I may have to postpone the Tablet purchase ... sorry, Rose!
I can't fit all the Potting Soil I need into my boot, anyway, so I'll have to take as much as will fit and get the rest either another time, or from Ludwig's down the road. Some of the plants might also object to being expected to grow outside their season ...
I went to sit outside and Mewly decided that, since he's had such a lot of lovies today, he'd like to go for a stroll. He kept looking back to make sure I'm not disappearing while he crossed the open space! For a change, he was the last one to come home!
They're all purring with their tummies full of yummies, and - for a change - I've also filled mine with yummies! I chopped the veggies, cut the rump into cubes, cooked some spaghetti and enjoyed my dinner! I've packed some to eat at work tomorrow, and will enjoy another lot for dinner tomorrow night, I'm sure!
I've showered and the towels are washing as I write this - I set towels to wash AND dry, because they come out so lovely and fluffy from the dryer! When I hang them up, they get a bit hard and I have to stretch-beat them soft.
Uh oh! There is a gecko with a baby driving Miss Mip absolutely wild! It's sitting right under the curtain rail ... I can see her Ladyship will try to climb up the curtains! That's not going to end well ... she's not a half kilo kittie anymore! Mewthos is stretched on the floor in the passage and Ziva is curled up on the clean towels ... well, I say clean, but they are now dustier than the one I use every day!
Ai, ai, ai, Miss Mip is now appealing to me for help to reach her prey! This is not the first such appeal today, either, ha ha ha! Now Mewthos has seen the geckos as well, and is also appealing to me for help to reach! Ziva just came out of her closet and is now sitting in the shelf on my right, getting her ears scratched - so I've been typing with only my left hand.
It's half past eight, time for me to turn in ...
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