Chili Peppers!

E planted these chili peppers and now I have my raw material to make homemade organic pesticide! Thanks E!

She also waters my herbs with rice wash when I'm away. Yay for garden helpers!

Chili Peppers!

Contest time!

Do you keep a plant on your office desk? What kind is it and how do you keep it alive? Is it low or high maintenance? 

The best response wins 3 kinds of herbs to start a mini-garden! 

Contest is open to Metro Manila residents only.

Mechanics:

Email gulaygirl10 AT gmail DOT com a photo of your plant on your office desk, a description of its maintenance, and your preferred time for delivery at your delivery address. Include your name and cell number.

One entry per contestant. Forward this post to your friends!

Note: the plant prizes are outdoor plants, not desk plants.

Contest time!

Full-time Gardener Needed!

I am searching for an honest, hardworking farmhand to work on our suburban garden in Alabang full-time.
Applicant must have farm experience (organic or non-organic), must be from Northern Luzon (preferably), must be willing to undergo additional training for organic farming, and should be willing to relocate to Muntinlupa.

Please email resume to:
gulaygirl AT gmail DOT com

Full-time Gardener Needed!

Raw food

Hey all!

Are you interested in attending a raw food prep class? I have been raw on and off since last year - mostly to get the health benefits! I've met a few people who've become healthier just going on high raw, and they inspire me to keep going!

                 Portabello burgers. Yummy. These taste really good, even for non-raw foodies!

Raw food

Basyang

How'd your garden fare during Basyang?

Basyang

Grass trimmer

I am officially scouring the market for a grass trimmer and/or gardening shears!!!

Grass trimmer

Direct Soil Incorporation

I am unable to tend to my compost daily, so like I said in a previous post, I keep my organic compostables (all plant material except for human hair and fingernails) in covered catchall jars, then empty them once a week. For my purposes, the easiest and most hassle-free composting method is direct soil incorporation. I am also not in a hurry to plant in this part of the garden, so a slow rehab is really what I'm planning.

Here's what I do:

I dig a hole about 8 inches deep, empty all the compostables into it, then, completely cover the hole with the soil I dug out. I do not water any of the covered compost holes (I started in sunny April) but the official rainy season has started (It's June now) and they've been getting a steady supply of rainwater since then.  The grass nearby is growing rapidly and I am pleasantly surprised. (Note to self: must mow the grass soon.) I was expecting results to come in next year (our soil is really in dire need of rehabilitation), but this early, I'm seeing signs of improvement. We even have a new visitor to our garden. Is s/he here to stay?

If it's a sunny day, as soon as I open the catchalls, flies are ready to get at the waste. I empty the containers as fast as I can, then immediately cover up the waste with the soil. Then the flies have a party by the containers unless they are rinsed immediately. On a rainy day, it's much easier to dig the pit and not have any of the flies bother me. Ooh, I so love the rain! And gardening in the rain!

And that's it! I let the items just decompose on their own.

Since there isn't much oxygen involved, it may seem like the nutrients will be considerably less, than if I do basket-open-air composting or turn composting. However, this is the most convenient method for me given my schedule, and the fact that I don't want to unnaturally control the flies.

Anyone else out there doing direct soil incorporation? Anyone noticing dramatic changes in your soil/garden?

How about the basket-open air composters/turn composters/vermicomposters? Any violent reactions? :)

Direct Soil Incorporation