SQWIBS Urban Garden Adventure

[foamheart]

Soylent green...........

 

[gary s]

 
Soylent green...........

I remember that Movie  Charlton Heston and EG Robinson

Gary

 

[sqwib]

 
Soylent green...........

 
I remember that Movie  Charlton Heston and EG Robinson

Gary

Ha Ha you guys are showing your age... IT'S PEOPLE!!!

 

[sqwib]

Sorry, I Forgot to bring my camera card into work, Hopefully I'll remember to grab it and post tomorrow, anyhow here's a pic of the new batch of sprouts I took with my phone, this is a bean sprout mix (legume mix).  I'll post a start to finish when they're done, they should be done today or tomorrow.

• January 16th, 2016 (Day 5)

 

[sqwib]

Here is the results of the wicking planter. Continued from post #33

• December 31st (Day 3) (Radish)

• January 1st  (Day 4) (Radish)

• January 3rd  (Day 6) (Radish)

• January 3rd  (Day 6) (Black Seeded Simpson)

• January 3rd (Day 6) (Spinach)

The spinach was not germinating very well so I tossed in a few dozen seeds

• January 9th 2016. 

• January 16th  (Day 17) 

• January 16th  (Day 17) Smoothie Time!

Indoor (Winter Garden) Smoothie

• Unsweetened Almond Milk (Store bought)
• Cold Milled Flax Seed (Store bought)
• Almonds (Store Bought)
• Honey (Store bought)
• Strawberries (Store bought frozen)
• Blueberries (Store bought frozen)
• Raspberries (Store bought frozen)
• Fresh Spinach (Indoor Garden)
• Red Kale (Indoor Garden)
• Whole Radish. Leaves, roots, radish (Indoor Garden)
• Alfalfa Sprouts (Indoor Garden)
• Frozen Banana (Store bought fresh then frozen)
• Carrots (Store bought fresh)
• Broccoli (Store bought fresh)

• January 17th  (Day 18) 

• January 18th (Day 18) Transplanted the spinach and lettuce in other containers and did a bad job. 

• January 18th (Day 1) Replanted more radish seeds in the wicking planter. This batch I'm trying diluted ferts.

OK this has been a total success, I am very happy with this setup, especially for growing Radishes...very little maintenance and no fertilizer, next year Ill make 2 more of these and will probably grow radish in two and spinach in the other for my smoothies and salads in the winter. I'll most likely plant one container of radishes a week later than the other and replant after they are used up, I'm still undecided on this.

 

[sqwib]

Bean Sprouts start to finish.

January 11th, 2016 (Day 1)

• For my 2nd run I am trying a Bean Salad Mix purchased from The Sprout House through Amazon. Contains, French Lentil, Adzuki, Mung and Daikon Radish, this is a legume mix with the exception of the radish.
• Seeds are rinsed and soaked for 24 hours

• Seeds will be rinsed every morning and every evening, placed at an angle in a container and covered with a towel.

• January 16th, 2016 (Day 5)

• January 18th, 2016 (Day 7)

• Alfalfa Sprouts, Bean Sprouts, Spinach, Lettuce, Kale, Radish...all from the indoor garden.

 

[sqwib]

Sorry this took so long...
[h3]Grow Light Build[/h3]

December 26th, 2015 This year I decided to make an Indoor grow light station and try my luck at starting from seed and growing some greens in the winter. I wanted to be able to grow some winter veggies for my salads and smoothies. I don't know if this is cost prohibitive but I look at this like a hobby and eating slightly better is a bonus. There was an area in my garage that is just the right size, (barely), but I was using it for storing scrap metal, paint, deck stain, my generator, a tool box and a bunch of other stuff. I decided I would much rather have the spot for a permanent grow area, so I thinned everything out and made it work. The generator and toolbox will stay, the toolbox was thinned out and a few drawers will be used for the indoor grow area tools and supplies. There is another problem with this corner as it can be quite drafty from the garage door, I am working on that. The area is cleaned out and wiped down then painted with a few coats of Kilz. The next step was to make the table, I had a desk that was disassembled and sitting on the deck waiting for trash day, I decided to use the top from the desk as the table top. The desk was cut down to 52.5" a 22.5" then I glued and nailed some oak trim on the sides. I didn't want legs on the table and wanted a "floating table", to do this, a hole was drilled in one corner and an eye-bolt is installed, I used a bead of silicone when installing the eye-bolt. Another eye-bolt is installed in the shelf above where the table top eye-bolt is located, most on the weight will be on the nailer plate. The bottom of the table top is painted with a heavy coat of Kilz... love those goopy brush strokes! I installed a 2"x 4" nailer with two lags and caught 2 studs. The wall is painted with Kilz again and two coats are applied to the nailer The table top is scratched up for better paint adhesion. I caulked the back of the table top (only had brown caulk) then the table top is slid into position and a temporary wire is added for support. About 8 pilot/countersunk holes are drilled and the tabletop is secured to the nailer using HD Coated deck screws. The tabletop and the floor are painted with an oil base paint. My neighbor came over to say hello and swears I'm growing "Ganja". When I was thinning out my junk, I came across a few glass floating shelves that I had removed from over top my old fish tank about 5 years ago, I decided to install the shelves above the table, the only problem is that they were shiny brass, so I put on 4 coats of flat white spray paint. December 27th, 2015 I ran a level and popped in some drywall anchors for the shelf. I had to modify the screws on a grinder as these shelves take special size screws using very narrow heads. The floating shelf supports are installed with the modded screws and touched up with a few more coats of flat spray paint. The glass shelves are usually secured with rubber inserts but since I have no idea where they are, I just placed a few strips of electrical tape on the glass and the fit is perfect... nice and snug! Then I installed the power station and some timers. One timer will control the light and the other timer will control the oscillating fan. After the shelf install I put on another coat of oil base enamel on the tabletop.   I had a few lettuces growing, a few were growing in the shut down Aquaponics planter by the Koi pond and a couple sprouted from seed I had planted late in the season in the shut down Aquaponics rail NFT/Deep water culture hybrid system. I figured this would sort of be a trial, the plants are placed under one of my 2 bulb LED shop lights. The plants are in terracotta planters lined with a wicking material (pond underlayment) then placed in a steamer pan with some water and a bit of fertilizer. These will be moved to the grow table once the table is completed. December 28th, 2015 Installed the new chain and Safety Chain Clip Quick Links. Rolled in the Tool Box. I still need to thin out the tool box a bit more, but the two top shelves are for the Grow area for stuff like pruning shears, scissors, marker, ph meters, plant markers etc... The Generator needs to stay in this spot. After a bit of research I decided on a 4 bulb 4' Fluorescent fixture using 6500 Kelvin bulbs. I almost purchased this T5 grow light from Amazon (UNLINKED), it seems like a pretty good deal and is worth looking into. I don't think I need to cover the Red spectrum for seedlings and greens. Warm Glow - 2200k,  Soft White - 2700k,  Bright White - 3000k,  Daylight - 5000k,  Cool White - 6500k The shop light is modified with 2 strips of LED's, these LED strips were removed from two 48" LED shop lights, one had a bad internal driver and the other was a wrong bulb sent to me as a replacement for a bad bulb from a 4 pack (the replacement bulb was a "linear led" and since my existing setup was a ballast bypass type LED with shunted tombstones, you can imagine my surprise when I popped this bulb in and sparks shot out and blew the circuit. Anyhow the LED's are stripped out and wired together to share the driver, then the LED strips are glued to the lamp housing, giving me a 6 bulb fixture. Adding strip LED's and driver to the reflector for added light. FOCK!!  I shorted out one LED strip with the chain, I ordered a replacement bulb to bastardize. Wooohoo, we have light. Test plants are in place on 16 hours of light. December 29, 2015 I threw together a wicking planter for some winter crops and doing a trial run, if this works I'll probably make 2 more. (Click the picture to see how it was made.) December 30, 2015 The bad LED strip is removed and the new LED strip is added. The Hydrofarm Germination Station heat mats are in place but are not turned on yet. Organized and labeled my supplies. Mounted the Temperature controller and ran an extension cord to power both heat mats. Installed an oscillating fan to run several hours a day to help the seedlings grow with stronger stems this is called thigmomorphogenesis, I also have read it helps prevent dampening off. Four more lights were added using led's this time, I glued 4 tombstones on each side of aluminum bar stock from an EZ-Up and secured to the shop light using 3/4" self tapping screws. The tombstones are wired to a cord with a plug scavenged from an old lamp, this is then plugged into the other end of the shop light, I can now turn the 11" x 22" trays 90° allowing four side by side trays if need be. I had to tape everything in place until the epoxy cured, lol...  Ten bulb shoplight in place, the outer 4 LED bulbs can be unplugged if needed.

 

[gotarace]

Unreal thread Sqwib..you have taken urban gardening to a completely new level. Thanks for sharing this...great thread!!

 

 

[foamheart]

Have the neighbors called the Cops and told 'em you have grow lights burning all nite in your garage yet? 

Son asked if he can plant some seeds in just one corner?  Oregano? Maybe some Catnip for the cats?

You know you just gave me a thought, those old burnt up & gutted MES smokers could easily be transformed in great grow boxes. Its almost like they were built for it! I'd link a picture from the webb but alas I have used up this years quota.  

I have a seed starter already in the garage, we converted it into an egg incubator....LOL Ya gotta love multi taskers.

SQWIB I am so happy to started into this, its actually what I had in mind when I went to college. As a young kid, saw some movie were an officer on an aircraft carrier was doing veggies hydrophonically ( I have no idea how to spell that these days). 

What I am saying is I am really enjoying your thread. 

 

[sqwib]

The test subjects seem to be thriving so the lights seem adequate for greens. These were the plants from outside that started to grow with the unseasonably hot weather we had.

• Black seeded Simpson

• This is either "Bloomsdale Longstanding Spinach" or the "Spinach Big Ruffles Hybrid" I hope its spinach
  
  , I've been eating this. Hopefully its not a Gerbera Daisy!!

 

[daveomak]

I'm still following and learning....  Thanks...

 

[sqwib]

 
Unreal thread Sqwib..you have taken urban gardening to a completely new level. Thanks for sharing this...great thread!!

 

 
Have the neighbors called the Cops and told 'em you have grow lights burning all nite in your garage yet? 

Son asked if he can plant some seeds in just one corner?  Oregano? Maybe some Catnip for the cats?

You know you just gave me a thought, those old burnt up & gutted MES smokers could easily be transformed in great grow boxes. Its almost like they were built for it! I'd link a picture from the webb but alas I have used up this years quota.  

I have a seed starter already in the garage, we converted it into an egg incubator....LOL Ya gotta love multi taskers.

SQWIB I am so happy to started into this, its actually what I had in mind when I went to college. As a young kid, saw some movie were an officer on an aircraft carrier was doing veggies hydrophonically ( I have no idea how to spell that these days). 

What I am saying is I am really enjoying your thread. 

No cops yet, but to be safe I Better finish up my shine!

Thanks Guys, I'm glad you guys are along for the ride.

lol...​Multi tasking, The daughter wants to turn the playhouse into an animal shelter for baby rescues as part of her "Requirement", whatever that is, shes been saving baby rabbits at her dorm (that doesn't allow animals), so far shes rescued about two dozen, her room looks like a vets office. She's rescued, Turtles, Possums, Raccoon, Deer, Eagle, Beaver, Fox, Black Vultures, Red Tail Hawks, Barn Owl, Horned Owl to name a few...hope she doesn't plan on bringing them all home.

She's shadowing a few vets at a hospital that do a lot of Exotic animals, works part time at PennyPack environmental Center and volunteers at the Aark Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center

She asked if she could bring home a rooster and I said sure, just as long as it pi$$es the neighbors off! Yippy fracking dogs all around us...PAYBACK!

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• sqwib
• Jan 19, 2016

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• sqwib
• Jan 19, 2016

This black vulture could not be released because it imprinted on the caretaker, now they use him for training purposes, this vulture loves to nuzzle and is more affectionate than a dog.

20140518126.JPG

• sqwib
• Jan 19, 2016

This woman owns the Golden Eagle below and helps local folks with goose problems, yes its trained to kill!

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• sqwib
• Jan 19, 2016

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• sqwib
• Jan 19, 2016

Wish I had more pics of the animals.

Pic below can lead to panic attacks and maybe even death

planter.jpg

• sqwib
• Jan 19, 2016

 

[sqwib]

Finishing up the bean sprouts and probably wont do any more until Sunday, I'll be away at our first Mancamp, I'll post that in a week or so.

I'll finish up whats growing and start my seedlings in a few weeks for my outdoor crops.

Pork Fried Rice​

January 19th, 2016  

Laura has been sick with the flu and has only been eating grill cheese sandwiches, and Bagels I tossed this together last night and she was able to eat it, it was pretty good. The only thing I would do differently is coarse chop the bean sprouts, I bit into a huge bunch of sprouts and it was like when you eat too much mozzarella at once and you cant swallow it...lol, I almost Choked...Dam this healthy $hit will  Killya!!

I gotta laugh...I'm trying to eat a bit healthier and I'm eating pepperoni and hard salami while I make my dinner

• Bean Sprouts (Indoor Grow)
• Leftover veggies from a veggie tray (recycle)
• onion
• Roasted Pork Loin from Monday nights dinner (yes Smoked Loin would be nice
  
  )
• Eggs
• Low Sodium Soy Sauce
• Butter/Olive oil
• Long Grain Rice (rinsed)

Sorry for the huge pics this is a copy paste from my website.

 

[sqwib]

 
I'm still following and learning....  Thanks...

Thanks Dave... try the sprouts, you wont be sorry.

 

[sqwib]

Had a major fail...I was so preoccupied with my Nor' Easter Camping trip that I forgot about my Microgreens that were on top of the fridge, they were growing like crazy and so was some fuzzy stuff lol.

Working on the video for the camping trip now.

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• sqwib
• Jan 27, 2016

Used up the last of my Sprouts and getting ready to plant my seedlings for the spring.

Jambalaya

January 25th, 2016  

I had some shrimp and Chorizo leftover from my Jambalaya I made on my camping trip a few days ago and since the shrimp was thawed I wanted to cook it up, I used the last bit of Bean Sprouts I had left.

• Crushed Tomatoes
• Green Peppers
• Shrimp
• Chorizo
• Dash Old Bay
• Long Grained Rice
• Garlic
• Butter
• Onion
• Shaved Carrots
• Bean Sprouts (coarse chopped)

 

[sqwib]

Indoor Garden Update  .

• December 27th, 2015  - Rescued Lettuces from my outdoor gardens that decided not to give up.

• December 29th, 2016 - They done OK and I decided to move them to the Grow Table. I then made a wicking planter to grow some radish and lettuce and tossed in a few marigold seeds.

 

• January 17th, 2016 - I harvested the radishes then removed the lettuce, spinach and the only marigold that sprouted from the wicking planter and placed into other containers. To be quite honest, the radish tops make great greens and harvest much sooner than the lettuces or spinach. I have neglected these plants several times to find them wilting, its amazing they're still alive.

• January 28th, 2016 - Black Seeded Simpson

• The kale was a rescue plant.

• The Bloomsdale Longstanding Spinach seems pretty finicky and I have no idea why it went to seed, I'm not sure if this is normal or what but they had a tough start due to over watering.

• Parris Island Romaine Lettuce...still not 100% sure what the hell it is, was also a rescue from outside, I have eaten some of this plant and its doing rather well.

• Here's a pic of it when I first brought it in from outside.

• This is the only marigold that germinated, and after 4 weeks it has a flower bud. This will definitely save me money this year... well...if I can get the other seeds to germinate. Hopefully I can germinate the Gerbera Daisy Seeds too!

I'll let these grow a few more weeks and do a complete harvest and start on my seedlings for the spring. 

Next year I'll probably do a Kratky Lettuce Bed...less time consuming, the radishes I'll continue to grow in the wicking planter.  

 

[foamheart]

I have to ask, we tried a couple a times to test it but.......... The Marigolds have always had a reputation for bug prevention. I don't know if its the smell, (Pop once said he thought it was because they would stop and eat the flower first, a bug magnet!), but its an old farmers tale.

It never worked for us, even though you didn't plan it seems you've got one, see what ya think and let me know, would ya, huh, huh, maybe, could be? 

<= College for me , besides the bars and women, Botany! 

 

[sqwib]

Your pop is probably closer to the truth than what I have heard, I always heard that they repelled rabbits, but the only way to get rid of a rabbit is with a bullet.

I don't plant marigolds for any of the presumed HYPE that they repel stuff, I like to add a bit of color to my gardens and they're CHEAP. lol. They also help a bit with pollination but a better choice for that would be oregano.

 

[foamheart]

You'd have to understand Pop, I couldn't ever have a horse cause you couldn't eat it and the dog always looked like he was worried.

I have an entire freezer door devoted just to reclaimed seeds. LOL And corn came in I think 35# bags, maybe 50's but I was younger then...>LOL

I still have a Ford 3500 and a IH Cub under the barn with all the attachments, including ditch openers, posthole diggers, and all the plows, discs, drag blades, rakes, etc etc...  

BTW both the tractors have child's car seat attachments to the fender, so his grand babies could ride with him. Me? I had to walk behind and pull the corn, the grand babies rode!

OK, Sorry for the sidetrack......

 

[sqwib]

 
You'd have to understand Pop, I couldn't ever have a horse cause you couldn't eat it and the dog always looked like he was worried.

I have an entire freezer door devoted just to reclaimed seeds. LOL And corn came in I think 35# bags, maybe 50's but I was younger then...>LOL

I still have a Ford 3500 and a IH Cub under the barn with all the attachments, including ditch openers, posthole diggers, and all the plows, discs, drag blades, rakes, etc etc...  

BTW both the tractors have child's car seat attachments to the fender, so his grand babies could ride with him. Me? I had to walk behind and pull the corn, the grand babies rode!

OK, Sorry for the sidetrack......

Poor dog!

Was it a Hot Dog.

Love the child seat attachment

Dont worry about it, Hell this whole thread is a sidetrack and I'm loving the stories.