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Ivy B
- Female
- Mahopac, NY
- United States
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Ivy B's Groups
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Orchards
45 members
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Square Foot _ Raised Bed
125 members
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Hudson Valley
19 members
Ivy B's Page
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Good morning! Don't know why I didn't realize there would be a thread for fruit trees here as well! :)
For those who are growing small orchards, fruit and nut trees, and grapes. Let's discuss growing, pruning, harvesting, care and maintenance.
Whooo-hooo! What great folk here! Peter, as Joy pointed out, you don't have to "do" anything..however, the little more you do now will be easier for you in the future. I splurged on weedblock, stapled to the bottom of my box and just set down, fil...
I have 3 and in process of building a 4th. One has strawberries and asparagus, one is the salad garden; lettuces, celery, onions,carrots, parsnips leeks, cukes peppers still to plant: tomatoes, basil and other warmer weather veggies. One is garlic...
Okay, thanks Peter! I guess I have a bit of a headstart on the garden :-). My celery is a few inches high, as are the onions, lettuces & carrots.
Pema, you dont have any manure in your boxes? I think that would help your garden grow. :-) What is o...
Hi Peter,
Don't forget either perlite or vermiculite. Also, either cow, chicken or horse manure (bag or dried, NOT fresh!) Time is moving on? Where do you live? We had a frost warning last night.....
peace,
ivy, ny
A place for Square Foot and Raised bed gardeners can share information. Newcomers to these methods of gardering can learn from others that have the knowledge to help anyone be a successful Square Footer
Profile Information
- Where do you live and garden?
- home
- How long have you been growing food?
- forever!
- Dream garden travel destination:
- Provence
- Favorite foods:
- soups, breads, all homemade, of course.
Comment Wall (11 comments)
- At 7:53am on May 31, 2009,
Anh Collins said…
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- At 5:58am on April 6, 2009,
Beva said… - My friends are depending on having me grow extra seed for them.. so I guess I'd better get started! We are a couple of weeks behind you temperature wise.. so I'm not too far off. Many people I know here do not start tomatoes until Mothers day. I have never waited that long, and now I have the small greenhouse to speed the process a bit. I just need to get done with all these classes I am teaching. I have to dedicate one more day to cleaning the Gardens of Atlantis Medicine Wheel and gather with the people from the flag class to hang the flags in the Wheel. At the end of the month, I have to teach another Medicine Wheel class. On those days, I always hope for rain... so I don't feel so bad about being trapped inside a classroom! :)
Your house sounds really cute! There were some beautiful stone homes built in New York. Do you know when it was built? Is it quarry stone or cobble stone? The orphan girls Home that I was telling you about was built all out of quarry stone.. and it was beautiful, but chilly in winter. It was built to look like a castle, and the high ceilings made it very hard to heat.
When we built this house, I had all the trees cut around to make sure none could hit the house in a wind storm. I am glad I did... but we do get pretty baked in summer. I am working on cultivating hardwood on the south side and evergreens on the north and west. We are in the middle of 5 acres of woods, so I still have lots of trees left!
I had a thought... do you have an exterior door that you could sacrifice to a sun room? If you look on line for a company called Farm Tek... they have greenhouses that attach right to the side of your house. That way you could have your loom out there all the time. Just a thought... and they were not expensive.
My home-ec teacher in high school was a life saver for me. My Mother died when I was 16 and I had a household to assume. This teacher came to the funeral home and offered her help. Just recently, I have been in contact with a woman from my hometown, and she mentioned chatting with me- to Mrs. Johnson. Being the humble woman that she is, she made it sound like I did a lot for her... when it certainly was the other way around.
One day many years ago, someone made a comment and wondered how I gained the knowledge that I had... so I credited Mrs. Johnson. After I thought about it, I looked her phone number up and called her to thank her! She laughed when I called to thank her, and told me that just the day before someone from the Oprah show had called and asked if she had made an impact in any one student's life and would she like to talk about it. She told them, "Well, no one I know of." Then I called to tell her how much she did for me, and how I appreciated her!!!
Life is a circle!!!
:)
Beva
- At 6:22pm on April 5, 2009,
Beva said…
- We put a patio on the back of our house, and then bought one of the Sunsetter awning set-ups... I love it! We put it out in the spring and hang the screen room on it.. and it is my out door kitchen! I do a lot of my canning and drying out there. We have a huge table with leaves and 6 comfy chairs and a glider bench in it. The nice thing about this is that when winter comes, we take the screen down, store the furniture in the shed and roll the awning up against the house out of the way!
A yurt would be fun!! What a neat place to spin!
Summer is way too short! It was sunny and nice today and I was stuck inside teaching a class on painting prayer flags... but we did have fun! And the flags came out beautiful!! People are so inventive!!
I am self employed. I operated a business for nearly 20 years, and I sold it almost 6 years ago. Now I work part time. I love to clean and make things nice... so that is my prestigious job!!! :) I enjoy it, and have some great people and pets that I get to see on a regular basis. This week I have 10 collie dogs that are added to my work load. I have to go and let them out mid-day all week. Their pet sitter is at work and not able to. I'll be covered in muddy paw prints all week! yuck!
I wish I could work on my book at work... gee, that would be sweet!
I would love to build a cobb oven. I have a book on how to... but that is just another one of those things I want to do and don't have time for! I also want chickens... but hubby is still balking on that one. I think a goat would be pretty neat too. In the book I am writing my father told a story about training a goat for some children to pull a cart. He trained the goat so that it would only go so far down the road with the children in the cart.. and no further! This is what their mother wanted.. so she knew they could not stray too far from home.
I think I will start some of my seed after I get past Easter. I got stuck having my son and his girlfriend, and her parents here for Easter... because I have the room. I usually love to cook big meals, but I have so much that I need to do... that I could have lived without it this year! Now, I need to do my spring clean too. Gee... is there anything else I need to do? :)
Yeah, get off this computer and accomplish something productive!
It's great chatting with you... and I'm looking forwards to hearing how the gardens are coming! What is it you do for work?
:)
Beva
- At 5:07am on April 5, 2009,
Beva said…
- Hi Ivy,
Glad to hear from you.
We have had no snow for about 4 weeks... yeah!!! It is mostly gone, but there are the drift areas of my yard that was still covered. I will be delighted when I can have the time and open space to get out and do the spring clean up!! I have cleaned the beds around the house, but the leaves are still blowing back in, and will until I can get out and clean the edge of the woods too! I am itching to get in the greenhouse and get the seedlings started. I am delaying a bit because I got roped into going out of town for a weekend in May... I don't know who I will have to watch over my plants.
My book is coming along well. Last night I spoke with an elderly woman who was very familiar with my family. In the town I grew up in, there was an orphan girls home that was very prestigious in that it was built to look like a Norman castle. It was a 4 story building on an estate of people named the Davenports. They were very wealthy, and owned a mansion near the river on the same plot of land. My grandparents and parents all worked in many different positions over the years at the Davenport Home for girls. My Mother was a "house mother" there at the age of 16... and she also was an orphan! This lady I spoke with had been one of the children that lived in the orphanage. She told me of all the grand things that they used to do, and how lucky she was to have been placed in such a home.
This was such a treat, because I am now working on a section of my family book that pertains to the time she lived in the Home.
So, I can say, I have been eye balls deep in my family research all winter long!!! People keep asking me if I will publish this... and wow, that seems pretty daunting! I am making copies for my family, and emailing pages to cousins. Now, this is just my family book...
My cousins book is also in the works, and I have around 100 pages of that complete with more to go!
I think I need a body to chain to the computer, and one to send off to work each day in order to get all I need done!!!
So, how does your garden grow?
:)
Beva
- At 3:25pm on April 4, 2009,
David Hipskind said…
- I think that may be the best way for me to go as well. I like the idea of box gardening from a harvest standpoint as well as from an efficiency standpoint as well. Good luck and good gardening.
- At 6:00am on January 11, 2009,
Beva said…
- HI Ivy,
Glad to hear from you!
Well, it seems that most of my life right now involves moving snow!! It seems most of my days off end up being ones that it snows. :) But, then you know what I mean as you are getting the same storm right now. It started overnight here and I think we are predicted to get 4-8 inches by the time it ceases.
I have been working a lot on a project that was handed to me by my cousin. She died of cancer last winter and had contacted me to ask if when she died, would I take over her family research and finish the book she had started. I agreed, and 17 boxes of assorted papers were shipped to me from Arizona. In them, was a jumble of assorted papers with not much in order. I am gradually filtering out the chaff and getting some sense of order now. It has been a task that has taken me months, as I also had piles of photo's that were unmarked to identify!!
My goal is to complete as best I can her stories, and then print them up to be donated to the historical society library in the town that she was born in.
She knew I was a sucker for a project such as this! I have already written a 144 page book on my computer that included photos, genealogy, history, poetry and stories for my family in honor of Dad's 90th birthday. When she approached me I was working on volume 2 of that same book. Needless to say, that book had not seen any progress!
I think family history is very important, as today people do not know much about their forbearer's. My Dad had great grand children who will remember him, and I know this will mean something to them as they get older
So, does your friend spin her own wool?
I'd like to mention to you an event that happens each autumn in Maine. It is called The Common Ground Fair.. If you enjoy things such as spinning wool, you would love this fair! the website for it is www.mofga.org It is the Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association. It is a couple of hours north of us, and in a rather remote setting... but it draws thousands of people every year and is Maine's largest fair. Anything you need for sustainable living.. they offer there. I have friends who go and camp over the weekend every year.
Tomorrow I am teaching a private class on the sacred Medicine Wheel. It is an Earth based Native American method for spiritual expression and communication. I really enjoy teaching this modality. It is always enlightening to see people really connecting to the 6 directions, the Earth her elements and creatures. I am learning more every day as I walk this path!
:)
Do you know what the indigenous meaning of the name Mahopac meant? Just curious... I am sure it is descriptive in some way of the land and how it was.
Well, I must go get busy... tea is all gone, now it is time to do some productive things!
)
Beva
- At 5:21am on December 22, 2008,
Beva said…
- When you have time... we will chat more. :)
- At 9:12pm on December 21, 2008,
Beva said…
- Thank you... we enjoy them.
Our local high school band is going to be marching in the Obama inauguration. The band teacher was the son of one of our former neighbors. We listened to him practicing trumpet as he grew up. He went to college and returned to become the high school band teacher and also the teacher of our son when he was in marching and concert band! He is really excited to have this honor. Funny how the circle completes its self. We are happy for them to have this opportunity.
- At 6:20am on December 21, 2008,
Beva said…
- Hi! I feel your pain!! We went thru the ice storm and you can read what you want about it if you follow my correspondence with Maya and Michelle. Now it was the snow storm yesterday... and later today I guess we get pounded again! I don't mind so much when it is the light fluffy stuff... but that sleet and ice then rain on top I can do without!
One of my local friends here in Maine is originally from Long Island and her daughter still lives there. I grew up in the Finger Lakes Region of New York.. I transplanted to Maine 30 years ago. I have driven around and flown over the city of New York, but to date have never ventured in! We live close enough to Boston and take the Amtrak when ever we feel the need. I love going to plays and great food.. but I don't have to leave Maine for that.
I am very much an outdoors girl... love summer and my kayak. I do most of my photography from my kayak. My husband fishes from his.
What type of instrument does your husband play?
My husband and I both play the Native American style flute. Steve also handcrafts them and has a real growing demand for his work. We teach at a holistic center how to play the flute. It is so fun and relaxing. The students do not need to know how to read music, and they love being able to express themselves.
All of his flutes are tuned to a pentatonic scale. Many are crafted from cedar and others from hardwoods such as walnut, rosewood, purple heart, ebony and so on. I will try to remember to upload a photo of his most recent custom flute. He made it as a birthday gift for one friend to another. She loves the flute and plays it at her church. This particular flute is called a drone or A-frame in that it has two chambers that can be played. It has a haunting and deep sound to it and is in the key of F#.
If you enjoy spinning, you would probably benefit from chatting with Penelope.. you can find her by checking my friends list. She weaves beautiful shawls and jackets. She is very down to earth and has a wry way about her that is enjoyable. She is also an awesome cook and a teacher too.
Hope you have a good day... and don't get too buried in snow! We bought a new blower for our tractor and the very first time we tried to use it the driveshaft blew! I was not happy! I had to hand shovel more than my body was agreeable to. Thankfully the part was a defect and was replaced. Today I am hoping for a better day! :)
Do you have much land to garden on? It is amazing what people can get out of small plots!!
We have 5 acres, but mostly woods. I love it!!
:)
Beva
- At 7:06pm on December 20, 2008,
Beva said…
- Wooooh!!
Hi Ivy!!
I love to kayak too!!
Welcome to KGI!!! We have a lot of fun here.
I have posted photos of our ice storm from last week. I supposed you are getting the snow right now that they are predicting for us in Maine for tomorrow. We got a foot over last night...
I saw your name on Michelle's page... she and I chat a lot. And I have to chuckle, as she has already mentioned me to you... I see!! :) She is such a neat person! Because of her, I discovered I like Kale!!! It is something I have never cooked with before.
Enjoy!!
:)
Beva
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Hi Sumitra,
It is great to see your photos and bee hives.
Like you I long for equality for all people on this planet.
If all people could grow their own vegetables it would be a great thing.
It is very hard to know that lots of people do not have ...
GREAT SUMITRA! THERE WAS ALSO THIS LADY FROM NEPAL, CALLED TIGER PRINCESS.so Nepal has great women.
Thanks Raul, gardening gives me pleasure as well as fresh vegetables as well, and off course an family tie!
Thats great Everret! So lovingly composed that I felt the warmth of that old rickety stove around me after so many years and away so many miles.
lovely memories Everett, thanks for sharing.
My father-in-law Fred Pond died ten years ago. He loved his garden and I still miss him a lot
especially at this time of year when the seed catalogues start arriving. The Pond family lived
on a seven acre homestead of sorts in Westford Massachuset...
I think this might need it's own category, don't you? Tomatoes are one of the most popular things to grow and we've been placing them in all kinds of groups, but the fact is we almost all grow them, and they have specific needs.
The cooking shows are entertaining, but that's all. Some of my favorite recipes started with notes handed down from family. They're still as good as ever. James Beard, Joy of cooking, and Professional Chefs Manural are good references. I have over...
Greetings everyone :D
Sice we've been having such odd weather this year, I decided to try getting my garlic in the ground this past weekend. Now I hope that it'll all grow nicely.
Donald you lucky to live in an area where you can start a new hive at any time during the year! In New York one could never start a new package in December! =8-o
We'd love to see pix of your current hive. :)
Red osier dogwood is just the best plant for this time of year – cut down some branches – you can find them in fields and ditches and then place them in garden pots or containers. Fill the over-season containers with soil to hold the stems. Attach...
Hi Everyone: I am new to kitchen gardeners and I currently have one bee hive and I am planning on buying one four pound package of bees and a queen in December. If my luck is strong I will also capture a swarm and end up with three total hives goi...
Bees! How they benefit us, how to keep them, how to maintain them! Experts invited, and welcome.
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HOW TO - ADD A LINK
Several people have experienced difficulty putting working links into comments and blogs etc and I know it is clumsy.... so here is how you do it.....
First type the text you want to appear.... ie IAN'S PAGE
Then go back and highlight the link text.
Then hit the hyperlink button...a pictogram of a chain link.
Your browser may intervene and request permission to allow temporary scripting or some similar message. Allow it and go back and highlight the text again
… ContinueCreated by Ian Jun 7, 2009 at 7:28pm. Last updated by Ian Jun 8.
Forum Policy
Hi, I'm starting to put together a few guidlines on using the discussion forum on here.
I would be happy to hear any comments you may have. This is very much a work in progress so plese feel free to ask me to add anything you think is needed.
I don't want to make our community hide bound by rules and regulations but I think that, as the community has grown, some explanation of what is expected is needed.
Administration
You can refer any que
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Climate maps
Hi following recent discussion I have put climate maps of the USA, Australia and Europe on here for reference..
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Created by Ian Sep 12, 2008 at 6:20pm. Last updated by Ian Apr 14.
Recipes, Recipes, Recipes
Hi Everyone, I've started to collect together recipes from various posts on the site and put them all together here.
If you have a recipe you want to add on here, just post it on the site and leave a comment on my page telling me where it is and I'll go and fetch it back here.
They are organised in Contributor Order but I'm open to better suggestions!
BEVA'S RECIPES
… ContinueCreated by Ian Jun 2, 2008 at 9:54am. Last updated by Ian Apr 13.
US STATES ABBREVIATIONS
US STATE ABBREVIATIONS
AK - Alaska AL - Alabama AR - Arkansas
AZ - Arizona CA - California CO - Colorado
CT - Connecticut DC - Dist of Columbia * DE - Delaware
FL - Florida GA - Georgia GU
Created by Ian Jan 27, 2009 at 4:27pm. Last updated by Ian Jan 27.
HOW TO - MAKE COMPOST
Recently there was an excellent discussion about composting. I’ve pulled together all the various comments here. You can also watch KGI's video on composting here.
KATE’S ADVICE
I used to have a tumbler that we made from a wine-barrel but
1 you have to fill it up all at once
2. it seemed mostly
… ContinueCreated by Ian May 30, 2008 at 5:29am. Last updated by Roger Jan 15.
Notes Home
Welcome to Notes.
To view notes that are in the system hit the "all notes" button above.
ContinueCreated by Ian May 28, 2008 at 12:10pm. Last updated by Ian May. 30, 2008.
A Note about Notes
I have just written this note so that I can see what we can achieve by using this new feature.
If you read this and have any suggestions then please leave a comment on my page or email me.
Ian
ContinueCreated by Ian May 28, 2008 at 6:19pm. Last updated by Ian May. 28, 2008.
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