How to: start plants indoors

{mogli, this post is for you!}

 

our "salad bowl" about three weeks after planting

as spring is upon us next week, our minds drift to visions of gardens, canning salsa, picnics in the yard, barefoot in the grass, naps in the hammock, terere, laundry on the line, and so much more.  but first things first: gardens!  living in Portland, we can't put things in the ground just yet, but we can start things indoors to transplant outside when the danger of frost has passed or after May 15th.

Luke is taking the Master Gardeners course through the OSU Extension this spring, so each week, I get to hear about all the neat things he learns about, like pruning trees and propagating herbs. :) 
before you get too ambitious, make sure you check out a vegetable planting calendar for where you live to see when you should plant certain things and which ones are good for transplanting/which ones should be sowed directly outdoors. If you're in Portland, I recommend this one from the Portland Nursery. 

after you have your planting schedule figured out, gather your supplies.

you'll need:
*potting soil (better for the seeds than dirt from your yard because it is more porous which allows more water and air to get to the seed)
*something to plant in (we've used everything from old sour cream containers to the simple black trays you can get at any nursery)
*seeds (for the pnw, we like territorial seeds because they are adjusted to our climate and are used to our growing season)

now you're ready to rock and roll.  planting is simple.  looking at the back of each seed, you will find the depth at which you should plant.  a rule of thumb is that you want to plant each seed twice its size deep in the soil.  i typically use my finger or a pencil to poke holes.  then, drop the seeds in, cover them with soil, spritz with water and voila!  we've been putting our lettuce outside during the day so that it gets used to the weather.  our tomatoes and kale, on the other hand, have been living next to our window, under a fluorescent light bulb which we're trying out to see if it helps them grow quicker. 

 

and now our fingers are crossed that we'll have a new house soon to plant this wonderful vegetable garden at!

side note/tip from my mom: in a vase of fresh tulips, stick a penny in the water and it will help them last longer.  old wive's tale?  i'm willing to try it out!

sundays are for... homemade breakfast treats!

 homemade toaster pastries aka a mix between pop tarts and toaster strudels,  only WAY better!

continuing to try out recipes from my christmas present from christian (homemade pantry by alana chernila) led me to bake these this morning.  basically pie dough stuffed with whatever filling you choose (i used strawberry jam in some and nutella in others).  warm out of the oven, they received rave reviews all around.  i love recipes that make it socially acceptable to eat dessert for breakfast!

 

Recipe: 

One recipe basic pie crust

flour for the counter

1 large egg, beaten with 1 tbsp water

6 tbsp filling of your choice

powdered sugar to top

1. prepare the pie crust in two discs according to the recipe and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, but up to 2 days.

2. preheat oven to 375.  line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

3. roll the first disc of pie pastry on a lightly floured surface into a 9x12 rectangle, cutting away any errant edges with a sharp knife.

4. cut the rectangle into 6 smaller rectangles.  gently separate the rectangles from the counter and lay them on the prepared baking sheet with at least two inches between them (they will rise!)

5. with a pastry brush, paint each rectangle with the beaten egg.  you will have some egg mixture leftover.

6. scoop 1 tbsp filling onto each rectangle in a thin line down the center.  roll out the second disc of pie pastry, repeating the steps to create six rectangles.

7. lay the new batch of rectangles over the rectangles with filling and seal by pressing a fork around the perimeter of each rectangle.  using a pastry brush, paint the tops of each pastry with egg wash and poke several times with a fork.

8. bake 20-25 minutes or until golden.  cool on a wire rack for at least 20  minutes before dusting with powdered sugar.  eat while warm for best results!

let me see your garden grow!

today, i had the pleasure of teaming up with luke on a work project at one of the apartment complexes where he works. with help of many community volunteers and residents who live there, we got these fifteen garden beds ready to plant. we dug out a lot of sod, added compost and soil to amend the existing ground, laid weed barrier fabric and newspaper under the bark chips to slow the weed growth and a team even put up the chain link fence. we also planted a bunch of native plants!

the site when we started the day...

the nearly finished result!

i had fun working alongside the kids and families, imagining what they will grow in their new garden. but boy was i ready for a nap and a back massage when we got home!

now, i get to fantasize about what our garden will hold this year. the other day, we narrowed it down to our top five things and they are: tomatoes, carrots, salad greens, snap peas, and zucchini. i'm sure we'll have some garlic, herbs, and strawberries because we can't resist. it is really hard being in transition and hoping to have a new home before we are in the thick of planting season. until then, we are planting lots in pots and will later either be able to take them with us or transplant them into our garden.

what is your favorite thing to plant now that spring is upon us?