South slope.  I've envisioned doing a series of "mini terraces" on both sides of the slope with a free form path down the center.  Will use non-perforated drain tubing from the downspout at the top of the slope with a splitter so that there is drain tubing coming down each side.  Whereever the tubing is horizontal in one of my little terraces, I'll drill holes in the bottom of it so that water drains slowly through a series of such places as the tubing travels down the slope.  Need to pass it by Dave but I think it will work and I can create some planting spaces on that slope.  I'll put small boulders in front of each terrace and back them with landscaple cloth to keep the soil from washing through the rocks.  Am eager to work on my first one.

Raised Beds

Dave and I went to HD last night and got the materials for making six raised beds 6'x6'.  I wanted them to be 6' by 4' but Dave has convinced me that he can reach into the middle of 6-ft beds to weed and plant.  Today he started fabricating them and will finish them tomorrow.

Fruit Orchard

I planted two grape vines about three weeks ago - concord and thompson.  Today I planted a sweet black cherry, a pear and a tart cherry tree and a canada red rhubarb.  Tomorrow, Dave is planning to plant raspberries.  Supposed to be 70 degrees.  Yaaay!  Spring is finally here.

Planting Under Lights

4/26/14

Planted in one flat:
Various varieties of zinnias
Italian Parsley
Catnip

Healthy Snacks

Just saw a great snack idea on Deanne's blog:

http://realocalcooking.wordpress.com/2014/02/26/what-if-bloggers-decided-to-join-together-and-promote-healthy-snacks/

I also slice apples on my mandoline and dry them in my dehydrator until they're crisp and crunchy.  We all love them and I especially like them with homemade hummus.

Beehives

I'm looking for a place for my two topbar hives.  The Food Coop of Iowa is holding an open house at the Mickle Center starting at 4pm.  I'm going and will ask them about putting the hives there.  They are putting in a commercial cooperative kitchen there and are interested in community gardening as well.  It would be a very good place as it's so close that I can see it from my house.  Two bee packages arriving the end of April and I would love to have the hives located and ready to receive them by then.

Garden Centers

I have been looking for garden centers here.  Still miss Bordine's in SE Michigan, probably one of the premier garden centers anywhere.  Last night I heard about Ted Lare Garden Center southwest of Des Moines.  Will go there tomorrow to check it out.

Still Beginning Spring 2014

Dave has received his berry bushes from Willis and we plan on driving posts and installing wire for them for planting this weekend.

I have a rhubarb plant coming - Canadian Red.  Need to decide where it will go.

Dave is also in the process of ordering mulch and topsoil and boards for the raised beds.

The Beginning in Spring 2014

So far I have planted peas (about three weeks ago) and lettuce.  Also, two grape vines - Concord and Thompson - and a Prairie Fire crabapple.

Three fruit trees arrived on Tuesday - a Bartlett Pear, to cherries - one tart and one sweet.  They're stored in the basement until this weekend.  The apple tree that I grafted from my tree in Michigan and transported out here in September, 2012 has been in its pot in the ground next to Dave's garage.  I've been chipping the frozen soil away from the pot but haven't gotten it out yet.

Have also started planting seeds in flats to go under lights in the basement.  Progress so far:

3/25/14
Planted in four flats:
8 different tomatoes
1 tomatillo
Thai Basil
Eggplants - Rosa Bianca, Purple Pickling, Kamo, Florida Highbush
Borage
2 different Dills
Summer Savory
Sweet Alyssum
Purple Coneflower
Bachelor's Buttons
Petunia Celebrity Mix
Petunia Purple Wave
Zinnias State Fair Mix
Sweet Marjoram
Sweet Mace
Greek Oregano
3/26/14
Planted in three flats:
Zinnias
Calendula
Cosmos
Yellow Summer Squash
Yellow Crookneck Squash
Zucchini
Acorn Squash
Buttercup Squash
Three varieties of Okra
Two varieties of small Watermelons
Amish Cantaloupes
Five varieties of Cucumbers
Three varieties of onions
Cilantro
Lettuce Leaved Basil
Cauliflower