Sowing4hope

06/03/2026

Weeded the roses and garlic fields... they're both looking healthy :)

05/29/2026

Full day preparing some of the front yard raised beds... three of them seeded for carrots... three of them planted Hunger Task Force Farm seedlings of Collard Greens...

05/22/2026

Earlier in the week we finished planting seedlings grown here on site... Have a few open garden spots to fill, which led to... A fruitful Friday morning... up early to visit Hunger Task Force Farm and pick up seedlings for some tomatoes, lettuces, and collard greens. Then headed to local nursery (Milaeger's in Racine, whose selection is top notch) to pick up a variety of herbs, more tomatoes and peppers, onion sets and more marigolds. Unplanned bonus, they just happen to be across the street from O&H bakery :) Along with the seeds shown in the pic here, this will be our planting tasks for the upcoming weekend! Weather is cooperative and everything should be in the ground by the Monday holiday. A really good start to the Sowing4hope growing season!

05/20/2026

Less rain than expected last night, so I watered the newly planted seedlings... and did a lot of misc cleanup around the grounds. Loved every time I walked by one of the lilac bushes - smelled great! Looked at the strawberries, mint, apple and pear trees - also looking food!

05/19/2026

Whew! Finished up today, putting in the last of the over 200-plus seedlings that were started indoors, and are now in their new home in the ground. Lots of seeds to direct plant in the days to come (plus purchase a few more plants) but feeling a sense of accomplishment getting those seedlings in (especially after last year's disaster with fungus gnats that eliminated all my seedlings).
Let the growing begin :)

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05/16/2026

Too late in the evening to take a picture, but with rain expected tonight, at the last minute I put my cantaloupe and eggplant seedlings in the ground to take advantage of the upcoming rain. They were partially hardened off... taking a little risk :)

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05/09/2026

Was able to mow down the cover crop a couple weeks ago, but with record April rains, the soil was still very saturated. Today we were finally able to till in the cover crop as the ground finally was dry enough. Should start hardening off seedlings next week, with hopes of planting 3rd week of May :)

03/24/2026

Big projects last year included a new pollinator garden in the front yard, a large area of new roses next to the front yard fence, and six new raised beds in the back yard... all needed soil prep and amendments, placing physical w**d barriers around each perimeter, and planting and mulching as needed. (First 3 pics here representing those) Fourth pic illustrates a HUGE project for this year... I plan to dig out about a ten-foot sod-removal circle around each fruit tree - 31 fruit trees total! Going to try and spread out that arduous workload over a few months. If you want to help, there'll be plenty of work available for the near future :)

03/24/2026

All planned seedlings started... leeks 3 weeks ago, a variety of hot peppers 2 weeks ago, and today was basil, tomatoes, eggplant, cantaloupe, and marigolds...

02/28/2026

I had been seed germinating with potting soil/seed starter soil for over 20 years and never had an issue with fungus gnats until last year - it devastated 300-plus seedlings... completely changing my Sowing4hope planting strategy for last year. This year, I compiled various bits of advice and just premoistened some of my starter soil with boiling water - covered the partial bucket's worth with foil and will try starting my first seeds tomorrow... hopefully this will negate a repeat of fungus gnats this year :)

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