Sooo, how’s that vermicomposting working out for you?
In a word…unfreakingbelievable. And all we’ve utilized thusfar is worm juice (the water that filters down through the castings into the bottom of the Can O’Worms) in a 50% solution with water:
But as you can see, the results are impressive:
That is the biggest tomato bloom I have ever seen. And this Carbon tomato is now taller than my yardstick:
The trident maple bonsai next to it spent some hours root-soaking in the solution, as did the crape myrtle bonsai:
Everything else in the garden also had a little taste, as well as some kelp concentrate, and (including the increase in sunlight over the past few weeks) you can now pretty much watch everything grow before your very eyes. The galisse and green lance:
Soybeans and savoy:
Carrots, carrots and Fresca strawberries:
More and MORE carrots, and Ishikura onions:
Strawberries and melons:
Figs and pumpkins:
Cucumbers, strawberries and oregano:
Shoepeg corn:
Peppers and strawberries:
And celery, which may or may not actually get full growth now that the temperatures are in the 80s:
I love being a backyard “farmer.”
on 
on Mar 24th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
That is so cool!!
on Mar 24th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
How tall are your raised beds? What kind of wood did you use? How do the plants up against the fence get enough light?
You’ve probably discussed at least some of this before, so, now that I’ve piped up, I’m going to look in the archives.
on Mar 24th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
@David: Beds are built from 8′ long 2x8s (yellow pine, I think, have to ask Husband), cut once (by the folks at Lowe’s – one cut per board is gratis) into sections 2′ and 6′ long, then screwed together with stainless steel screws (don’t forget the pilot holes). Filling, btw, is a combination of peat (for lightness), composted cow manure (for nutrients), and topsoil (just dirt).
The plants against the fence get 6+ hours of sunshine (the minimum for “full sun”) now, and will get more as the days lengthen/the planet tilts back towards the sun.
Unless you know for a fact how much light an area gets, don’t just plop your beds anywhere. Like I said in email, if your backyard is as shrouded as you say, you’ll probably need to do some trimming/tree removal.
on Mar 25th, 2009 at 9:33 am
I like how it looks like you’re pouring a tasty cup of coffee or tea, there!