Originally uploaded by mulysa_may

The bench bin is complete, except for the decoration part. The worms have taken up residence, in a bedding of shredded newspaper and timothy from the rabbits’ box, plus some soil and kitchen scraps including coffee grounds and crushed egg shell.

Prunus dulcis
ROSACEAE, The Rose family
Slivered almonds are such a nice thing to have on hand this time of year. Lovely toasted in salads, makes cake more nutritious, mixed into crumbling topping on pies and crisps, so many uses. Tonight I made biscotti for the first time - it’s easy and has only 2 tablespoons of […]

Originally uploaded by mulysa_may

Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus
BRASSICACEAE, The Mustard family
The wind! It’s crazy out there today. It’s exhausting to be out in, but I want to take advantage of the few daylight hours I have in the garden this week. The winter vegetable seedlings are all coming up and need protection, so I made a […]

The worm bin is in progress! Like many components in the garden, it is multi-functional: it’s also a bench that will go on the back porch. Michael helped me make it out of plywood, and next I will sand and paint it and decorate it will images and diagrams of soil biota. A far-removed homage […]

I’m excited for my Permaculture design course this weekend. Jude Hobbs will be the guest instructor. Here is an excerpt from her website, a nice synopsis of Permaculture:
“Permaculture is based on empowering individuals to create positive change through their decisions. As a guide, one can tap into a set of evolving principles to find beneficial […]

I won!
The prize I most wanted in the raffle at the Holiday Bazaar was the worms. After initial feelings of joy and disbelief, I became anxious at the thought of being responsible for a new pet, one I knew little about. So I’ve been researching worm bin construction and have plans to make a wooden […]

Art, Music and Food
at Dennis’ Seven Dees Garden Center
This weekend the first ever Holiday Bazaar is going on at the garden center. My coworker John and I are co-coordinating, with the whole garden center team pitching in in multiple ways. We’re really excited to have over 20 local artists and crafters each day, selling irresistable […]

Originally uploaded by mulysa_may

Asplenium ebenoides
ASPLENIACEAE, The Spleenwort family
I think I have a fern fetish.
Many of my plant acquisitions this season have been ferns, despite the fact I have very limited shade in the garden. I keep thinking of my sister’s former garden in St. Paul, where her entire garden was composed of ferns. It […]

Asplenium scolopendrium
ASPLENIACEAE, The Spleenwort family
Bright evergreen spears, a clean transition between the Kohuhu and the Fringe flower.