tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-385226342012-01-10T05:51:30.816+01:00Growing vegetables? Indoors? Is that even possible? Yes it is! Question is, is it possible to grow an amount big enough to feed a family of three? Follow my experiment in this blogRosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.comBlogger4651100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-21030308130182827672011-07-03T17:17:00.001+02:002011-07-03T17:18:54.653+02:00

...until September the first. Unfotunately I had to make a quick decision on this, but it means I can come back in the autumn with more pizazz in my writing. Have a nice summer!

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-16288091774301014022011-06-24T00:29:00.003+02:002011-06-24T01:38:05.251+02:00

It's been tough weeks since my last post about the allotments. I've worked too much, moved too much and cultivated vegetables a lot. Everything in my life has been standing back to everything, and there's always more to do than my time allows. So if you think I sound tired you're right. Today I spent two hours in pourihttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifng rain weeding pale persicaria (Persicaria

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-90294091954840334592011-06-09T22:25:00.003+02:002011-06-09T22:50:43.543+02:00

We've a heatwave in Sweden, and of course I need to do a lot of heavy work now. I just spent three hours at one of our allotments (Angelina), a quick dash home to do some laundry and avoid the hottest hours of the day and will go out this evening to work some two to three hours more. In case I'd feel bored I can always unpack some boxes or plan the next round of transporting stuff between the old

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-4080652492364487812011-06-03T00:19:00.003+02:002011-06-03T01:15:31.210+02:00

I seem to have forgotten to update this blog last week. Dumb mistake on my part! I'm spoiled with my other blogs were I can prewrite my posts and have the host publish them at the right date. When Indoor Gardener moves these hickups won't happen again. Kind of doubble, though - the posts won't always be the latest news, but they will be posted in due time, and most often be better than the

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-89991313700651133382011-05-19T21:24:00.003+02:002011-05-19T21:46:29.835+02:00

So, here's the rest of the beginning of the Indoor Vegetable Gardening handbook I'm writing. For my own part I'm packing boxes and planning the tinygardens in the new flat right now.Something that was both a problem and an advantage was my nack for big and glorious plans. Time and time again I used some of the few pennies left to buy hardware for projects I never finished. Let's just leave these

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-41337987674693153852011-05-14T00:58:00.002+02:002011-05-14T02:13:27.509+02:00

Well, we didn't get one allotment, we got three. We got in line for one close to our home, but there were thirty persons waiting to get one on that field. Since I don't take anything for granted I applied for one on a field somewhat less popular, but with allotments in the same size and where we have friends. In April we were called on for a viewing, and we got an allotment in fairly good shape.

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-3931037183105148132011-05-05T12:40:00.004+02:002011-05-05T13:09:14.045+02:00

So, here's the first part of the beginning of the handbook I'm writing. I'm splitting it into screen reading appropriate parts, since this chapter turned out to be a bit long. This is the crude text I'll revise a few times before I put everything together. The good thing about that is that you can add pointers and ask for things missing if you want it in the book. NOTE: If anyone know anything

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-54196093936395228412011-04-29T06:38:00.001+02:002011-04-29T06:40:50.584+02:00

Oh well. While I was writing the thursday post I mistakenly dropped a bowl of water over my laptop. Next thursday the problem will be solved - see you then.

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-28000310579371970852011-04-22T00:08:00.004+02:002011-04-22T00:26:47.839+02:00

I've started to write a small handbook in indoor vegetable gardening. Today I spent some happy hours planning the content and making the first sketches. I'll publish the first part on the blog next week. And I'm even more happy with the new online possibilities to publish a text; the plain text will be available as a free download and I'll upload luxury versions (both paper and digital) that'll

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-49778266721138262622011-04-14T21:00:00.002+02:002011-04-14T21:06:36.510+02:00

I'm a warm friend of the allotment movement - in its old incarnation where the gardens are meant for people with low income who needs a place to grow food, that is (it's not to be taken for granted nowadays). We need more of them, and thus this gem comes to my mind...

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-59306518669905155272011-04-07T21:53:00.004+02:002011-04-07T22:09:27.533+02:00

Today I was at a job interview and got a job. Nothing posh, but it will get this family some money and that's good. The other day I got an envelope with seed packages from a friend in France. I sent her some flower seeds a while ago and asked her to buy any interesting stuff she could find. I got maché, chicory and beetroot. Now I only need to get myself an allotment where I can sow them, and

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-89258811222682972312011-03-31T11:11:00.004+02:002011-03-31T12:25:01.688+02:00

Long time no see... I'm browsing through the long list of comments made during my absence, trying to figure out which ones are real and which ones are undercover spam. It isn't easy, but my goal is to find out and publish the right ones. I suspect it'll be a while before all are up, though.So, how about my own gardens? The sad truth is that I only have a small tray of seedlings and an aloe vera.

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-71317262853753583152011-03-26T22:17:00.003+01:002011-03-26T22:22:18.714+01:00

I've just returned from the Nordic Gardens fair - my deadline for reviving Indoor Gardener/Parkettodlaren. To be honest I'm tired, and still amazed that I managed to get a fuchsia growing handbook but no fuchsia plants, although I brought back a lot of interesting stuff. For now I'll just say 'Hallo!'. The blog will update on thursdays. See you!

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-7897313348304156272009-08-18T20:21:00.003+02:002009-08-18T20:35:40.843+02:00

If you are considering starting indoor vegetable gardens, the first plant you should sow should be tomatoes, preferably 'Tiny Tim' or a similar variety for containers. Few plants are harder to kill than them. The reason why I say that? I stopped watering mine a month ago, and they are still setting fruits.Of course, the fruits could have been better, but they are fully edible and still beats the

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-45904494743976671942009-08-08T20:53:00.002+02:002009-08-08T20:57:01.209+02:00

Hallo everybody! Coming monday my son's pre-K is opening again, which means I can leave playgrounds and toy trains for reconstructing my gardens. They've never been in such a bad state before so it'll take quite some time and effort. On the other hand it'll get you an interesting read this autmun. Enjoy!

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-84941408619764727112009-07-28T21:22:00.003+02:002009-07-28T21:36:16.524+02:00

Guess what, I lost my job this Thursday. The coach and I agreed that my selling wouldn't take flight so I'm not that sad. But when Saturday arrived I had the most magnificent headache, and instead of renovating my window gardens I... ehm... spend the day at IKEA... eating sauce bearnaise... (Forget the pork and other garnishing like ratatouille - I want the bearnaise.)This means that for a few

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-26523527530651178322009-07-23T09:08:00.003+02:002009-07-23T09:22:35.126+02:00

...are partly responsible for the delay of this post. I've spent a lot of my free time squeesing the green buggers to death. It's the only effective cure I know, although it's a bit tedious. If I'd kept the potatoes outdoors I wouldn't care about it, but since it's indoors it's hard to get a natural balance between pest and predator, and the plant is stressed byt the indoor climate. That's why a

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-55969594761101046692009-07-14T21:04:00.003+02:002009-07-14T21:46:19.170+02:00

Interesting how time flies by when you have 'vacation' (I'm still working four hours a day, although from home). I've done nothing of the stuff I thought I would do. Instead I've prioritized the family when I've been free - which means we've spent a lot of time in the childrens part of our city library (it's been rainy weather here in Sweden).Well, I did bring out the seeds I put in the fridge

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-2191161458012587232009-07-07T11:10:00.008+02:002009-07-07T11:57:01.734+02:00

This is the feet of the cherry tree on the balcony. The tree itself is balding (I think it dried when spring set off), so I spare you that picture. This looks rather nice, eventhough the pansies have seen better days. Yesterday I poked some nasturtium seeds into the soil to have lush green leaves and perhaps a few flowers to succeed them. If you look closely you can see the first leaves of the

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-15554135483614029032009-06-30T22:17:00.004+02:002009-06-30T22:41:01.551+02:00

This is one of the two runnerbeans 'Enorma' I sowed in February. They were standing in "preliminary" pots in the library for a long time, so long the project they were meant for staled. In the beginning of June I rearranged the balcony (another stale project) and put them both outdoors without any previous weening. The retribute was swift - they died within days.The only green things left were a

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-5130656259079958372009-06-23T18:42:00.003+02:002009-06-23T19:25:01.582+02:00

You may have noticed that I've been absent from the blog for a few days - it's been a time of tough decisions and it's been exhausting. This thursday we looked at a house with a 7500 square meter garden (1.9 acres) outside Uppsala - and the entire family fell in love. Not only is the garden big, it's beautiful, with a barn suitible for any kind of companies you might wan't to start, a guest

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-17467688217350794432009-06-19T22:12:00.002+02:002009-06-19T22:36:21.185+02:00

Well... actually we overslept the Midsummer's Eve celebrations. When we finally arrived to the festive ground the Midsummer pole was errected and the dancing had begun. We didn't mope though, we grabbed hot dogs, strawberry cake and lemonade instead. The organizers at our place have class - the cakes they choose to put under the strawberries (the strawberries are the important thing - you can be

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-90279216223333509752009-06-17T21:45:00.003+02:002009-06-17T22:09:44.641+02:00

Ever since I wrote that the plants would do fine since it was overcast outside my windows the sun has shone brightly on a blue sky here in Uppsala. Hrmpf! That's what you get for being a too confident amateur meteorogist. And don't even think about this weather lasting to Midsummer's Eve (a major holiday in Sweden where people - at least in theory - gathers for a big feast outdoors and dance

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-63072274800880880062009-06-15T18:55:00.004+02:002009-06-15T19:32:19.331+02:00

*cough* *hrm* I really need to look over how I live my life. For some weeks now I've walked around with shoes that gave me an inflammation in my leg, though I didn't care much about it - untill last night when I stepped down from a chair and it felt like something broke in a muscel. Ever since my style of walking has looked more like something worthy ministry of silly walks rather than me walking

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-90933974234216776472009-06-10T21:27:00.003+02:002009-06-10T21:36:07.838+02:00

This feels like restarting the life. I rest a lot, particularly by watching dvds to keep me off doing things the "needs to be done", and I feel better and better. The melons and the chilis has spent their first day on the balcony to get used to the outdoors. Today has been an unususally cloudy day, which is good since sunlight are as much of a threat as the different temperatures when indoor

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-43461452815751347492009-06-08T20:30:00.003+02:002009-06-08T20:43:51.604+02:00

After the success with my new years resolutions I've decided to put up some goals for the close future: Clean out old sowing failiures. Order nematodes to fight fungus gnats Adjust one melon and two chiliplants to life on the balcony Plant a melon in the bin that used to contain the oilseed pumpkin (no, I'll never give up)There are a lot more things here that needs to be done, but I settle for

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-16799463636313292712009-06-07T20:28:00.004+02:002009-06-07T20:46:52.993+02:00

January the first this year I posted my new years resolution to this blog, and that wasto stick to the planAfter that I forgot what the actual plans I set up was, but they have hoovered over me like dark clouds anyway. Today I looked up what I said I'd do and found a short list (*relieved sigh*). Let's work it through post by post. To fully furnish two more 'cultivation windows'I've done it! Well

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-39490178879296688952009-06-05T21:29:00.003+02:002009-06-05T21:42:04.892+02:00

The worms have gotten their new homes, the gardens are thriving and I'm eating tomatoes like candy. I don't have much to say today. Soon I'll be working again since I've managed to get my wireless modem running. This may not sound that special, but it means that I can, when needed, work from the sofa - which have proved crucial to keep me healthy. Keep your fingers crossed that it works this time

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-85232563624695689852009-06-03T21:26:00.003+02:002009-06-03T21:49:22.153+02:00

The worms have moved into their new home. I took a picture of the boxes before the transition to give you an idea of how I drilled the air and drainage holes. It may not be easy to see on this picture, but I use double boxes, the inner one has holes in the bottom to allow the worm fluid out (which means the outer one has an unperforated bottom). The long sides and one of the short sides has air

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-51247156486854038772009-06-01T19:39:00.002+02:002009-06-01T19:41:39.667+02:00

I'm currently working hard with the new homes for my wormsies. Unfortunately Aardman Commersials doesn't allow embedding, but follow the link and watch their commersial for a Knorr product. I thought it was appropriate after harvesting insane amounts of tomatoes.Superheros

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-82236687817058472052009-05-31T21:40:00.005+02:002009-06-01T19:30:59.470+02:00

This friday journalist Åsa Kjellman Erici interviewed me for Sveriges Radio (Sweden's Radio ltd. - Sweden's national publicly funded radio broadcaster) and a program about city gardening in all it's various forms. Among other things we smelled the vermicompost. It stunk. Åsa Kjellman Erici was a nice journalist who put up with everything I put her through, and I've learned one thing - if you want

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-12433236411489011192009-05-29T21:22:00.002+02:002009-05-29T21:27:59.640+02:00

Guerilla gardening is not big in Sweden - yet. I hope it'll grow, since we do have abandoned public spaces that needs tending to, and it'd drag people away from the computers for a while ;). I found this vid about it on YouTube, and you can read more about it here, so when you need some change from the indoor vegetables you can go outdoors and paint the city with flowers ;).

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-19909971260350711662009-05-27T22:18:00.002+02:002009-05-27T22:27:37.105+02:00

Well, talk about pressure. We've got a bank giving us a formal promise of lending which means we can bid on the flat I talked about. Now it's time to keep all available fingers crossed / pray that this will work out, and that we'll get as much money as we wan't from this flat. Thanks for your support, this is more exciting than watching scary movies on a roller coaster. Today I found the

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-63711276113637383882009-05-24T20:23:00.003+02:002009-05-24T20:42:01.458+02:00

We've just returned from an open house - we're about to move. Perhaps it'll be this flat, perhaps something else, all depends on what the bank says and what kind of competitors we have. No matter what happens we know one thing; we'll move to something smaller, about one third of the space we are now occupying.So, what will happen to my indoor gardening?It'll be more of a challenge. Right now I

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-91128844477350301162009-05-22T20:42:00.003+02:002009-05-22T20:49:53.918+02:00

We've made our monthly groceryshopping and cleaned the entire first floor. I shouldn't be surprised that I don't have strength enough to water the gardens. After all I've got a flu and have less strength than I usually have. But it irks me, it really do, since I can see that all plants are thirsty. Tomorrow I'll take another day to just clean up and make everything easy and fun to care for.As for

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-46349941323615923602009-05-20T20:08:00.003+02:002009-05-20T20:25:08.268+02:00

A new flu. Lemon balm is said to be good against viruses - and I've tried lemon balm tea during previous flus and think I've noticed a difference (though I wasn't scientific enough to be able to tell if it was because of the herb of because of placebo). I'd like to quaff said tea right now, but I can't;1. I don't have enough lemon balm.2. I'm on levaxin.For those of you who don't recognise the

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-13941705340201155382009-05-18T20:11:00.003+02:002009-05-18T20:23:05.423+02:00

I've been watering my jungle. After my cleanup last week and with some water thriftyness I ended up using only ten litres (~3 USgallons) - plus. Still I'm not content with my 'gardens' - now when I have a day job I'm not always have the energy to dote on plants in the evening. Or the time, there's a continuing fight for minutes between my different projects. So I may be returning to selfwatering

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-913601261379078492009-05-17T20:15:00.003+02:002009-05-17T20:30:41.442+02:00

Today it's Syttende Mai, which is Norway's national day and the day after their team won a record victory in the Eurovision Song Contest. To say "Congratulations!" is like using a pea when a melon is needed. I take the chance to post two of my favourite norwegian vids here. The one above is the chef Andreas Viestad from New Scandinavian Cooking making smoked trout with nettle soup. He boils them

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-51656532188967056742009-05-15T21:55:00.002+02:002009-05-15T22:00:44.376+02:00

My oilseed pumpkin has been eaten. Soon, I say, soooooooooon, I'll have money to buy some biological antidotes*. The they'll get it!*Or should that be "dotes"...?

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-920410027649832122009-05-13T14:15:00.003+02:002009-05-13T14:39:15.189+02:00

I promised a blogpost on how to grow maize cuttings. It'll be a short one, since it isn't that complicated. The first try with maize was to sprout them in the classical way (put them in a jar, rince them with water a few times a day and wait until the sprouts have become large enough to be tasty). Worked well, and the taste was moderately bitter with a curiously sweet aftertaste. The problem was

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-64745655901491741132009-05-11T22:01:00.003+02:002009-05-11T22:23:19.101+02:00

It'll be a short blogpost today since it's getting late. I've got two unexpected free days from my job and am planning to take one of them to tidy up my indoor gardens. My first plan was to pick nettles. With a loaded mp3player, clothes from head to toe (including gloves), a pair of scissors and a plastic bag I pick 10 - 15 liters (3-5 US gallons) in an hour. Cleaning and parboiling the harvest

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-53846196569612211782009-05-10T19:29:00.002+02:002009-05-10T19:37:11.105+02:00

My worms are live and kicking (metaphorically speaking at least - I would be very surprised if I found that they'd grown legs), and they stays in the bin even though they are kept in the dark. This lady wasn't as lucky with her first batch, and she still kept on vermicomposting. Perhaps you need that kind of chock in the beginning of a hobby to make it last, my first indoor vegetable gardening

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-63577959178845616192009-05-08T22:18:00.011+02:002009-05-08T22:59:35.990+02:00

I'm feeling better and my life is a bit slower so I think I'm on the right track again. To start up a new period I'll give a walkthrough of the gardens.The Indoor Gardener herself. This is what I look like when my son takes the picture. (Not bad for a four year old, I'd say.)The herbgarden in the kitchenwindow needs some renovations, hence the plants in the forground. The only herb thriving in

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-89870662470114477642009-04-27T19:51:00.002+02:002009-04-27T19:53:29.859+02:00

I'm ill again. Will be back in a week or so - this time I'll rest and haunt doctors untill I'm completely healthy. Keep on gardening untill we meet again!

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-54469792640531681162009-04-24T21:50:00.002+02:002009-04-24T22:44:06.310+02:00

Yet another of those days. I should have known not to set up four sprouting boxes on a weekday evening! But it didn't take many minutes to drill some ventilation holes, and craft some watering tubes, and mix the soil, and fill the boxes with clay pebbles, soil and seedling soil...When all those tidbits of chores added up they craved the entire evening. So now I'm sitting here, feeling wrung out.

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-39114204521778200862009-04-22T22:00:00.003+02:002009-04-22T22:27:34.122+02:00

It's Earth Day today, a celebration that's pretty new in Sweden. Since I still have Big and Important Business to do several days a week I'm a bit tired and have to celebrate on the small scale with a cup of tea and a cookie in a manual rocking chair. Unfortunately I happened to pick a maamoul, ie. a cookie from the Middle East individually wrapped in plastic coated with aluminium. I think my

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-53723408402852405932009-04-19T22:51:00.001+02:002009-04-19T22:53:49.141+02:00

While I was away on Big And Important Business in Stockholm the entire day the son watered the plants with his bath water.

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-42105288188125389242009-04-17T20:49:00.003+02:002009-04-17T21:23:14.602+02:00

I haven't brought it out for a while now - at least not for the blog. The cold from Hell still lingers and my first enthusiasm have waned a bit so my writings tend to be short.So. I now know better how much water I use every time I water the gardens. This is what I wrote the 14ht of April"Water needed 12.3 liters [3.25 US gallons]Bokashifluid 20 milliliters [0.7 US ounces]""Soften 15 liters of

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-43810900097674137882009-04-15T20:18:00.003+02:002009-04-15T20:28:52.530+02:00

I like pansies (or Johny Jump-ups), they're perfect table decorations - and they're edible. They taste like (picks a pansy flower and puts in mouth) bubble gum. The first time I tried I was surprised, I thought that kind of taste was born in the labs of the candy industry. But it isn't a big surprise, violets was used as medicine for a long time and to make them easier to eat the apothecaries

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-34920560447803785792009-04-13T19:40:00.003+02:002009-04-13T21:05:20.126+02:00

I've been tagged in a meme by Green LA Girl. It's "FilterForGood Blog Meme Contest" started by Blake at FilterForGood. I don't join every meme I've invited to, but I'm doing this since it's a contest (can't resist those) and since I can put a spotlight to those small things you can do to live more sustainable. So, the five "FilterForGood"things I'll do during Earth Month (and continue to do).1.

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-68674330564216899622009-04-12T21:41:00.003+02:002009-04-12T21:51:13.195+02:00

...yes, he is indeed risen!Unfortunately I didn't attend midnight mass this year. All in all Easter has been kind of bland on our part. But we've met friends and family, and I've been able to repot some plants, so I'm not complaining.Spring has come to Uppsala, and the first wild plants are peeking up above soil. Tomorrow I'll take a walk to see if I can find any baby nettles. If so I'll make a

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-85545978204610756532009-04-10T20:49:00.002+02:002009-04-10T21:02:33.179+02:00

...than sit in church thinking about the cropland (old swedish saying). That's why I repotted one of my oilseed pumpkins today. Say hallo to Olga I, she has three sisters waiting for some more space around the roots.But it's still Good Friday, a time for thoughts if you are a christian. And since I am christian I keep this blog post short. There will be resurection soon.

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-22982598966136197652009-04-08T23:03:00.003+02:002009-04-09T00:06:40.019+02:00

It's easy being philosofical when sitting with a pizzaroll, some cookies and a cup of cooca. I'm pondering so many little things. Like, for example, if the members of the biodynamic movement in Sweden are called biodynamics, what are the members of the FOBO association called?Fobics?Well, the acronym stands for the association of organic biological cultivation (in swedish "Förbundet

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-46625686619229836792009-04-06T20:39:00.002+02:002009-04-06T20:41:47.396+02:00

I went up at half past five this morning to water my plants. I used seven liters (two gallons) and emptied all my bufferts. Deary me, it's only April...

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-1596135325407577942009-04-05T20:18:00.002+02:002009-04-05T20:25:11.051+02:00

I searched YouTube for some Sunday fun for you - and then I fell for this clip from an old Muppet Show where John Denver sing "the Garden Song" (he's wearing socks with his sandals - I thought this was a typical swedish style). I can't remember when a song went straight to the heart like this one does. Don't ask me why. This gives you a few singing flowers too, and I swear I hear something like

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-79722416575484670602009-04-03T21:18:00.003+02:002009-04-03T22:05:57.341+02:00

Most of you seem to have seen through my April Fools joke about gene manipulated killer slugs and extra tiny sheep (I've always thought someone should breed minisheep for minicollies). It wasn't a joke taken from nowhere though - there was a company at the Nordic Gardens fair that did bring live animals to their booths.Biobasiq Sverige AB (link in swedish and danish...) is a swedish company

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-4939151921142255822009-04-01T21:12:00.004+02:002009-04-02T20:36:23.265+02:00

Often you find the most interesting things in the small booths of a fair. Last year I found a hand lotion made of slug slime that was extremely effective. I do regret that I didn't buy a tin or two since the seller didn't attend Nordic Gardens this year. However she did have some similarities with the find of this year - they are both into slugs. This year I found a company called MicroLivestock

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-62675470552149794902009-03-31T10:30:00.004+02:002009-03-31T11:32:54.834+02:00

There! My potatoes are presprouting! This year I'll grow both Amandine and Maris Peer - those seed potatoes I can't find a place for here will be sent to my brother in law for a place in his outdoor potato plot. I bought the Maris potatoes at Nordic Gardens, so I though this post would be about the different seed suppliers I took a closer look at (there were more than these of course, but these

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-60201951471186467872009-03-29T20:46:00.003+02:002009-03-29T21:05:01.273+02:00

I know it was stupid to stomp around the Nordic Gardens Fair (english summary is found at the bottom of the left column) being as ill as I am. But I had already cut all my fair visits except for this one, if I had passed I wouldn't have had anything to tell about the news in the business. To rest a bit I've decided to keep the new updating routine (mon, wed, fri, sun) untill June, and to

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-86603100445540398632009-03-25T22:15:00.003+01:002009-03-25T22:52:29.441+01:00

I got this award from Ayla at Aylas tankar (Ayla's thoughts - blog in swedish), which made me very happy. I'm supposed to pass it on to five other bloggers, so I take the chance to push some of my favourite blogs here.The Indoor Garden(er)Yes! A collegue! Kenneth Moore lives in Washington and has built himself an indoor allotment! I pass the reward on for bravery with hammer and trowel.Mr Brown

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-74465564015805613532009-03-23T19:55:00.002+01:002009-03-23T20:14:42.345+01:00

I got the cold from Hell and my lungs are complaining - they think it was enough with the pneumonia last autumn. My brain refuses to work and since I want to give you some interesting facts about gardening I turned to YouTube. I mean; there are vids about everything there and it is possible to find good stuff about indoor vegetable gardening.Of course I ended up falling for something completely

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-72661767435410917272009-03-22T21:22:00.003+01:002009-03-22T21:30:05.783+01:00

Don't we all feel like this sometimes? Tomorrow I'll give my tomatoes the support they need - and move up the growlight even more.This vid is from Central Service Presents... The Board of Education. I'm not sure which part is the band name and which part is the CDname, but you'll find their homepage if you follow the link.

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-48568499880664136142009-03-18T22:07:00.003+01:002009-03-18T22:18:48.538+01:00

My new tomato plants are trying to lift their grow light again! You know, we all know plants are growing slowly, and still I feel I have a hard time keeping up. Running runners are twirling around each other in the kindergarten (ie. where I put the plants that have been repotted once) and I know that I should repot them NOW if I don't want them to become permanently entangled in each other. At

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-46369579619405694032009-03-16T21:35:00.005+01:002009-03-16T22:41:47.142+01:00

Today I've been standing in an open window, more than eleven yards over ground, and felt a bit dizzy. I've finally got around to start cleaning out my study-to-be where I'm going to work together with my plants (they are growing - I am writing). The first thing to do was to fix the venetian blind since its strings are broken. In Sweden the rule is that venetian blinds are put between the glasses

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-56931704056253898082009-03-15T20:13:00.003+01:002009-03-15T20:22:23.427+01:00

This is me right now - instead of growing vegetables I've become a vegetable. Yesterday I spent the entire day reading Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood". It's a good book, but I have to admit that I previously thought that T. Capote was a ganster and that "In Cold Blood" was a hardboiled detective story à la Mike Hammer. I was a bit surprised to discover that the same author had written "Breakfast

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-44508430791929033712009-03-13T23:55:00.003+01:002009-03-14T00:44:06.384+01:00

It's been Friday 13th in Uppsala, which means I'm writing this late at night. Let's take a peek on my records from the last week.Monday March 9thRepotted the first 'Enorma' runnerbean. The cheap potting soil is mostly peat moss, bark and sand (surprise). I need to buy some new.I already knew it! Cheap potting soil is mostly peat, still I was 'thrifty' when I bought my last fourty liters (one

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-62076326071722046622009-03-11T21:45:00.003+01:002009-03-11T21:50:53.118+01:00

Guess who are the bullies at school? Yes, the oilseed pumpkins. I've put them in individual terracotta pots, which seems to keep them happy - for now. Almost everything I've sowed needs replanting immediately and a new problem looms; where will I put everything once I've put it into 'grown up' containers?

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-16540635213308177592009-03-10T14:04:00.004+01:002009-03-10T18:13:22.182+01:00

I promised you some recipes on chard, so I took a few hours on the library looking through cook books. (Oldfashioned, yes, but judging from the amount of visitors books won't go out of fashion for many years.) Perhaps it was stupid to do so when I was hungry, my rumbling stomach ought to have bugged others. By chance I happened to pick recipes from swedish and german cook books, so I'm not able

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-3389928026872668082009-03-08T20:49:00.003+01:002009-03-08T21:00:04.111+01:00

If I'm buying a runnerbean called 'Enorma' I guess I shouldn't be surprised when it grows as fast as lightning. Let's hope I'll not end up like Seymore in Little Shop of Horrors, a conveniently broken cable may not be around this time.The clip is from "Little Shop of Horrors" 1986. I agree with the test audience - a happy ending is much better. In the original version from 1960 (and Frank Oz's

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-65004590422022092532009-03-06T19:56:00.005+01:002009-03-06T20:33:31.607+01:00

As you can see I'm no friend of Photoshop, that purple shine is from the plant light I've hung over the tomatoes. The son was kind enought to give the 'Enorma' bean two sticks, and then he broke the vine trying to help it wrap itself around the support. With such an enthusiasm he'll be a great gardener.Well, weekend is here! Let's see what's in the green book this time.Saturday 28th of February "

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-86213740059204972452009-03-04T19:49:00.005+01:002009-03-04T20:26:31.453+01:00

Chard seedlingsHave you ever done this; you read about an interesting vegetable, let's call it a visulaumblema, and since it seems to be easy to grow, looks nice and can be cooked in a number of ways you buy seeds and grow an entire allotment full. The only thing is that when harvest arrives you realise that you don't really like the only recipe you've got, and the rest is only vague hints. So

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-87560634600557708932009-03-02T20:34:00.003+01:002009-03-02T21:13:54.432+01:00

This is the vid "Visiting English Country Gardens - with the NGS" by the artists Denise Wyllie and Clare O Hagan. A nice movie mentioning "Open Gardens" and presenting the NGS in short.This could be my first tip for the summer holidays (and not proof of me sitting too many hours watching the Swedish Broadcasting free online tv, even if it's true). There is a tv series called "Open Gardens" that

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-3126665342334792892009-03-01T21:10:00.002+01:002009-03-01T21:20:01.679+01:00

Today I found two vids on indoor aquaponics, both inspired by Patti Moreno (aka. GardenGirlTV) - as you can see they are both using the same kind of shelving units as she does. It's a pretty easy construction so anyone can assemble it, and I do think this means we'll have a lot more indoor vegetable gardeners in the future - all over the world :)).Simon Tay Easy DIY Indoor Aquaponic (Video 5)

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-24830598885593672112009-02-27T22:44:00.005+01:002009-02-27T23:14:51.533+01:00

Let's see, what have I done lately. Flicker through leaves... ahA!I've been reconstructing my gardens. When I write this I realise that it's a lot of work, but while I was working I was just annoyed that it went so 'slow'. It took my about a week of solid work, so I'm not sure about that any more.The twentieth of February I writeTook me two days to sterilize all my soil, Now most of it is

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-24300861337498210512009-02-25T20:46:00.004+01:002009-02-25T21:13:37.247+01:00

I've introduced order in my gardens. Order in the form of a book with cloth binders. The classic thing is supposed to be black oil cloth but I couldn't resist colour coding mine to my study (no matter how hard I try I can't get rid of my inner romantic). In this book I keep track on important things like when I sow my seeds, in what and where. It's not for a scientific study of indoor cultivation

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-2832747454061652772009-02-23T20:03:00.004+01:002009-02-23T20:23:54.965+01:00

The Swedish Grande Book Sale is an annual event that, admittingly, have lost some of is gala, but still holds its place in the hearts of many swedish bookworms. Because of it I've given my swedish readers tips on usefull gardening books that'll be sold tomorrow - one is the first and only handbook in vegetable gardening written for decades in Sweden.Gardening books fit for every country in the

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-13557455832061550642009-02-22T22:36:00.003+01:002009-02-22T22:42:20.057+01:00

As you all know by now I'm fascinated with roof gardens. I've showed you the allotment on Harrod's roof as well as private gardens in China. But this is by far the coolest vid I've found, not only because it seems to be normal people who owns it (most roof gardens I've found have been owned buy big companies and have been big and expensive greeneries) but also because the have not only one but

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-70573276171251294642009-02-20T21:43:00.003+01:002009-02-20T22:05:19.391+01:00

Took me two and a half day to get it done, and it was worth it. All my soil is sterilized, I've mixed some new potting soil and the bonsai tomatoes has got new homes. Four cuttings from the old tomato plants keep them company - I hope that at least one of the methods will be successfull. I got the tip about taking cuttings from tomatoes from the Swedish seed preservation society "Föreningen Sesam

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-74974245419688255212009-02-17T13:43:00.003+01:002009-02-17T13:58:58.887+01:00

I thought I would sow today, but I haven't got any sowing soil. The best I can manage is that magnificent homemade potting soil I made. I think I overdid myself a bit... When the son returns home I'll bring out my worn pans and start sterilizing used soil from my cupboards. Will be interesting, especially when the hubby returns home and ask what's for dinner.The true answer to that question is

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-57441291423409132312009-02-16T21:05:00.004+01:002009-02-16T21:20:41.074+01:00

Well, after writing about my joy of not having pneumonia any more I took an unintentional blog vacation. I turned thirtyseven last friday (you may not ask a woman about her age, but I maintain that a lady isn't ashamed of how old she is) and spent that day on cafés reading glossy magazines. True, some of them weren't that glossy; british "the Ecologist" managed to get into the bunch simply

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-21224533474468512052009-02-12T21:02:00.006+01:002009-02-12T21:28:49.185+01:00

If I could say "I will never again catch pneumonia" and know it to be true I would be glad. What you see above is my bonsai tomatoes - I don't remember when I sowed them but I know that they've been sitting in the nursery for about two months. Or is it three. I did a thorough documentation when I started this batch, and when I looked at the papers I had forgotten to put the date on them. The

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-23541584298775343812009-02-11T16:17:00.002+01:002009-02-11T16:22:05.527+01:00

I've cleared the Table! One goal reached! Now I need to work on my company's income tax return that is due tomorrow. Then my plants will recieve some well earned extra treatment. Next stop full day plantspa and health hotel!

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-47518055780811818472009-02-10T21:57:00.004+01:002009-02-10T23:08:49.544+01:00

My small series on natural fertilizers have given me some aha-experiences and have generated good comments. I'd like to add them into a post so I've decided to put them in the 'grand finale'. (If you don't recognise them they turned up on the motherblog Parkettodlaren.)Liquid goldAs soon as I'd written the post on this subject and sent it off through cyberspace I found a recipe for indoor gold

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-41360816371158731162009-02-08T20:17:00.003+01:002009-02-08T20:28:14.135+01:00

You know, I have a nerd related injury - I look for gardens in SF tv series. It's true! I have opinions about the hydroculture 'gardens' Seven of Nine tends to, I keep asking myself why the crew on Serenity doesn't even try sprouting, and I'm almost content with the gardens aboard Babylon5. You can't find plants in Star Trek TOS, unlees a jungle is needed for the crew to tippy toe through, but

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-38511817980953851412009-02-07T15:58:00.002+01:002009-02-07T16:05:26.804+01:00

The soundquality is somewhat bad, but I like that Heather is brutaly honest when she opens her bokashi bucket, so I can't resist showing you these vids. These are my favourite podradio personalities (download the Wiggly podcast here or from iTunes) showing us how to bokashi.How to Bokashi, Part 1How to Bokashi, Part 2

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-63968381096214025102009-02-05T20:21:00.002+01:002009-02-05T20:30:39.177+01:00

Today I definately decided to give up my allotments. This because we've decided to move from the area we live in now. Tough decision, I do love those plots. But I take comfort in the fact that I'll have time and strength to concentrate on the aquaponic systems I'm planning.

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-35798685865452271522009-02-04T20:04:00.003+01:002009-02-04T20:16:56.427+01:00

You may remember that my single new years resolution was to stick to the plan? It's time to take a look at it and see what's left. If I'm correct it's this Repot seedlings Paint sills Put up sills and added light Put the potted plants in their new placesSeems to be an easy bunch of tasks. I have to clean away a lot of junk before I can paint the sills, but I should manage to do most of the chores

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-75239052750338863822009-02-03T22:40:00.003+01:002009-02-03T22:56:45.369+01:00

Bokashi fluid is the last one of the easy natural fertilizers I've found. There are more plants and stuff to use, but they are somewhat harder to handle or are more specialised, so I've decided to leave them out for now.Bokashi is, as you probably know, a way to pickle kitchen left overs. The friendly microbes drissled over the scraps splits the food into its basic compounds and makes it easy to

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-51592376171098547232009-02-01T18:07:00.003+01:002009-02-01T18:18:18.334+01:00

Last Sunday I gave you a tidbit, this Sunday I post an entire episode of "the Good Life". If you can afford it you can the buy the series, either in a box or season for season, from Amazon (and no, I don't get any money for this link).Selling the surplus vegetables isn't as easy as Tom Good had imagined, but there are still bills to pay. (the Goods should have lived in Uppsala where anyone is

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-47325232456363787102009-01-31T20:55:00.003+01:002009-01-31T21:01:39.742+01:00

I'm buying my bokashi flakes from a swedish retailer, and I'll go on doing this for a while. In the same time I'm pondering making some myself; I mean, there can't be a too complicated process behind. A little searching on YouTube and I found Podchef showing us the basics. Bingo!I'm going to make some more research on which microbes needed before I start to making some, but anyone who is

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-49451947403910905852009-01-29T20:54:00.004+01:002009-01-29T21:19:33.429+01:00

Comfrey and nettles are both known as weeds, but they do have one thing of value: it's possible to make liquid fertilizer out of their leaves. I won't keep the fact that it smells bad, but experienced gardeners swears on it, so it's worth a try making it.ComfreyMaking fertilizer out of comfrey has to be one of the most easiest thing in the garden. Make a hole in the bottom of a bucket and put it

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-53869771450694727072009-01-28T21:50:00.003+01:002009-01-28T21:59:42.743+01:00

The CSN (the swedish authority granting student loans in Sweden) is as I remember; kind but overworked staff and a set of regulations disobliging enough to make the Evil One green with envy. The last part has grown worse over the years (I've studied on and off since 1993 and can compare). Right now my studies, our home and my gardens are hanging in limbo. Frustrating. I do have some plans to save

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-1021744984152500952009-01-27T20:05:00.001+01:002009-01-27T20:05:55.449+01:00

...I'm battling authorities.

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-27420130672000779262009-01-25T21:31:00.003+01:002009-01-25T21:36:52.137+01:00

The Good Life was a brittish sitcom recorded and aired during the seventies. A couple in the brittish suburbs decides to live on the produce of their garden. Not only do they plow their turfs into oblivion to grow vegetables, they buy some hens, pigs and a goat. Hmm, I'll buy the dvds if I get rich. If I get REALLY rich I'll buy a city villa and do just like Tom and Barbara Good :)

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-83882240780868310592009-01-24T20:42:00.003+01:002009-01-24T20:46:10.430+01:00

This is a composting toilet in India. The model is not far from the composting toilets I've visited in Sweden, although the construction is a bit simpler. It doesn't smell as much as you can think as long as you keep the room clean. And clean it is; appart from a few drops of spilled ash and that the wall has been chafed at some places I can't find a speck of dirt anywhere.

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-40735351326201812892009-01-23T13:36:00.003+01:002009-01-23T23:11:45.081+01:00

(Part two in my series on natural fertilizers. I hope you can stand some poop.)Let's start with the basics. Manure is always contaminated. The bacteria of the body is disposed of this way, some are alien to it, and some are friendly that works well in one area of the body, but only that area. E. coli is one of those. In Europe the authorities are monitoring communal bathing places and any trace

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-74455334247893833852009-01-20T13:53:00.003+01:002009-01-20T14:29:36.689+01:00

Ceridwen asked me if I could wrote some more about the natural fertilizers I wrote briefly about in the last post. And who am I to turn down a chance to learn as well as write? Here is the first post in a miniseries on free and natural fertilizers.Urin is one of the best fertilizers known to humanity; in liquid form, concentrated, clean and freely available. The fluid is better than many

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-36735442198651358732009-01-19T13:51:00.003+01:002009-01-19T14:10:40.313+01:00

The way from scarcity to abundance is sometimes a fastlane. The first year I grew vegetables indoors I used synthetizised fertiliser since it was easy to buy and handle. Later, when I felt more secure as an indoor gardener, I turned my attention to "natural" fertilizers, ie. poop, piss or rotten plants. You may understand why I hesitated to start this part of the experiment. Using my own urin

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-74500578565301102622009-01-18T20:34:00.003+01:002009-01-18T20:48:08.283+01:00

I understand why you make city kids literally make their bread from ear to loaf, but sometimes I can marvel at this need to teach city dwellers where their food comes from. Imagine it was the other way around; once a year you gathered all country kids and made them build an escalator from scratch, or make an edition of New York Times starting out with cutting the trees that will make the pulp in

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38522634.post-52843700123181261122009-01-17T20:28:00.002+01:002009-01-17T20:31:45.042+01:00

A small vid on how to grow thyme outdoors, so I'll just add that the plant will do fine indoors in a pot. To us occasional waterers it's a dream herb since it can stand to dry out. For my own part I'm convinced that lemon thyme is the only one that tastes well, but don't let my opinions keep you from making culinary experiments :)

Rosengeraniumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14240843576840257964noreply@blogger.com0