I don't remember the last time I've gone a week without posting anything. I guess I've been distracted lately. You could say that I've rediscovered my passion for baking and have been consumed with several of my long neglected pastry/bread making books. I spent a good part of my early 20's working at a cafe in Boston's South End neighborhood. I have to admit that it was one of the best jobs that I've ever had. I miss arriving at the cafe before the sun rose, turning on the ovens to bake the morning's pasties and sitting down with a fresh cup of dark roasted Costa Rican coffee to take in the sunrise before the doors opened. Maybe one day I'll come full circle and open up a small neighborhood cafe of my own.
On the gardening front, earlier this month I was able to track down the ingredients for my soil block mix. For anyone interested, I use this recipe developed by Eliot Coleman. To my delight, I found at our local plant nursery an amazing shellfish compost produced by Winterwood Farm out of Maine. Uniform in texture, the compost is crumbly and incredibly fresh smelling. I would have never guessed that it was made of shellfish. I doubt you would be able to find something this good at a chain store.
This year, I've also decided to be a bit more selective about using soil blocks. They require a bit of work and for some veggies, especially those that don't mind having their roots disturbed a bit, it's just not worth it in my opinion. And that is why I also picked up a few cell flats at the plant nursery. At 99 cents a piece, I couldn't think of a reason not to. I'm sure they'll come in handy when I sow the bulk of my spring greens.
I have never used soil blocks. I was thinking about it for next year though.
ReplyDeleteI could really use some of those nice cell flats that you purchased! Good deal!
It's funny. I find soil blocks less work over all. They are harder to make true. But are so much easier to plant out. I have trouble getting plants out of the packs. And washing packs is a real PITA in the fall. I suppose if I threw them out every year it would be faster, but I'm unwilling to do that. Though I use plastics a lot I try to keep plastic waste down.
ReplyDeleteMay I ask which local plant nursery you use? I'm in the Boston area too and am having trouble finding a nursery I like.
ReplyDeletePotted Farm - I live near the NH border and go to Lake Street Nursery in Salem, NH. They have a HUGE selection during the summer and lovely greenhouses.
ReplyDeleteI loved using the soil blocks last year for most of my seedlings with one exception, onions. I ended up breaking up the soil blocks to plant out the onions in the garden. I am growing onions and leeks in flats this year. They take up less space under the lights this way. I did end up potting up my tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant, but the rest of the soil blocks were planted directly in the garden. I will be using soil blocks again this year.
ReplyDeleteBoy, that shellfish compost does look good. I usually use a “fish and farm” compost at our local farm/hardware store that includes shellfish. I like it very much.
Oh, what a nice story, Thomas. The ovens and the cafe and the sunrise.
ReplyDeleteYes, I can see your future cafe now. Can't wait to read about it, though.
I have no idea how I've been missing your posts, I think its because I changed blog addresses a few months ago. I had a ton of fun catching up. We started out using peat pots which I've sworn off and also went the way the nursery does it. I am so much happier with a good seedling mixture and the plastic cells that I simply hose out when done and then mild bleach at the beginning of the starting season. No mold, watering is so much easier...
ReplyDeleteHi Thomas.. we use cell packs too - it's so easy and I reuse them from year to year with a quick rinse. Once they're damaged or ripped, we recycle them! I also use plug flats for certain veggies too..
ReplyDeleteAs for dough.. I just put a batch of manouchi dough on to rise.. mmm.. fresh Lebanese manouchi is one of our favourite baked treats (spread with olive oil and zaatar spices).. i make it several times a week and the kids eat it for breakfast and/or school lunches.. :)
Glad to come back from vacation and see a few posts. I have a few garden blogs I check daily and love and yours is one of them!
ReplyDeleteAndrea
I love your idea of soil blocks. It would certainly free up some space in the shed that is taken up by plastic pots. I will have to have a look around for the soil blocker, I don't know if I can source one in Scotland. thanks for the informative post.
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