Incredible Crop Yields From Small Urban Spaces

Incredible Crop Yields From Small Urban Spaces

Summary

SUMMARY
I was able to accomplish a lot on my project “Incredible Crop Yields from Small Urban Spaces” over the last year. I should be able to implement my project fully, in about a month, after I get the greenhouse up and going. I am looking forward to showing and sharing my project on the Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture (KCCUA) Farm Tour June 28th. In the meantime I have purchased all my seeds and have been starting all of my crops indoors under additional grow light systems I’ve built. I have collected close to 100 gallons of rainwater from the barrels I purchased last year and have transferred the rainwater to jugs stored indoors during the winter months for watering all of my crops. The plants will be transferred outdoors to the greenhouse as soon as it’s finished. I have also put together a temporary cold frame to accommodate another 60 flats, for starting cool crops. I purchased and hauled back 82 bales of straw this season, and need to haul back 160 more bales (to mulch all my fields), I’ve worked out several of the problems in my fields (building up low lying beds, keeping out deer, woodchucks and rabbits) (found a spring last summer a few feet away that was the culprit of a few soggy beds, I plan on tapping into it). I cut back more overgrowth for more light, bought the earthworms, planted the cover crop last year, bought adequate deer fencing plus a little more in case wildlife is still a problem and have enough tomato cages bent for the first 50 tomatoes. I will continue bending cages for a total of 150 cages plus bean cages, giving the tomato plants room to grow 15’ tall. We have had over 700 bags of leaves hauled in and brought some in myself to enrich the beds and make compost. I purchased the fertilizers and have been collecting ingredients to make my special compost. I have additional barrels lined up to store my compost in once it’s made, have purchased the peat pots, had the field day hand-outs designed and have already been distributing them for two weeks, getting the activities lined up for the Farm Tour June 28th, and will be purchasing the Wall of Water’s next month to begin planting my tomatoes outdoors by April 15. I will also be purchasing the materials for the irrigation system and begin assembling it in May with my garden apprentices. I have over a dozen apprentices lined up for this season who want to volunteer and learn.

WORK ACTIVITIES – Daily Journal
NOTE: *I‘m including January through April in my work activities, because my work activities, my expenses and what I did even the first part of the year were in preparation to my project, “Incredible crop Yields from Small Urban Spaces.”

January 2008
*collected over 10,000+ tropical edible perennials and ornamental seeds, bulbs and plants (while in Sarasota, Florida visiting relatives), to germinate this year, to package for sale at 2008, 2009 markets and for sale at the K. C Urban Farm Tour the month of June 2009. I hope to be able to grow papayas and Japanese loquats and other tropical edibles in a corner of my greenhouse, January 1-30th.

February 2008
*picked up over 40+ large leaf bags of organic leaves, hauled to garden beds using my son Noah’s truck, to till under, first week of Feb.
*started sorting tropical seeds that were collected in Fl. and began labeling, packaging, in hopes to sell some at the farm tour 2009 that I planted, etc. Beverly Pender is also bagging up seeds for me, we will share in the profit, Feb 1-7th
*purchased $37.35 in garden seeds, $12.95 in perlite to make soil at home and $8.95 in pre-made organic garden soil to take to rented greenhouse in KS to start more plants, Feb. 05
*sold some seed packets, micro-greens, plants and soaps at Metro Lawn and Garden Show, Feb. 8, 9, and 10th
*went to Soil Service Garden Center on 2/16 and purchased $10.28 in peat moss and $15.98 in perlite to make my own soil mix, $6.10 in cattle manure, $13.20 for micro-green/tomato trays and $85.51 in micro-green seeds and several packets of garden seeds
*planted 21 flats of fruits/veggies with my 11 yr. old son, and 7 yr. old daughter, on our dining room table, Feb 17th
*took the 21 flats we planted yesterday to KCCUA greenhouse in K.C., KS. (I rented with a growing partner, Beverly Pender) and watered, went by Planter’s Seed Co. and purchased $74.12 in misc. garden seeds and micro green seeds, Feb.18th
*planted over a dozen more flats with kids to take to KCCUA greenhouse in KS and planted peat potted tomatoes/peppers/eggplants for starting in my basement under grow light system I set up with my kids; will be watering with rainwater I've collected throughout the winter months, Feb.19th
*went by KCCUA greenhouse in KS to water/fertilize and by Planters Seed Co. to buy $5.85 in peat pots, $71.66 in misc. garden seeds and micro-green seeds and supplies, still have numerous peat pots from last years purchase, Feb. 21st
*purchased $129.16 for Whatcom Seed Co., (bought veggie/fruit seeds for garden and tropical edible perennial seeds to grow in pots, to sell during the Urban Farm Tour June 2009 (they need a year and a half to grow), on Feb. 22
*went by KCCUA greenhouse in KS to water and meet a possible garden apprentice Mathew Rader 21 yrs. old, who wants to work with me throughout the growing season Feb. 25th
*planted one flat of peat potted peppers to place under grow lights in my basement, Feb. 28th
*talked on phone, e-mailed and interviewed with four more possible garden apprentices off and on the month of February
*collected rainwater off and on throughout the whole month of February in five/six gallon buckets from downspouts, transferring them to 1 gallon and five-gallon water jugs that are stored in our basement for watering my plants and for our rainwater soaps (approximately 100 gallons were collected)
*I assembled a makeshift greenhouse off and on throughout the winter months, made from PVC pipe and covered in plastic that I received from Ted Carey, Kansas State. I will transfer seed flats from KCCUA greenhouse to this, once it’s ready.

March 2008
*went to Planters Seed Company and purchased $118.00 in seed inserts, and $7.00 in cattle manure, on March 1
*pruned our 85-foot row of concord grapes, elderberry bushes, other fruiting bushes and planted 6 trays of peppers to take to KCCUA greenhouse in Kansas, March 1
*went to KCCUA greenhouse in KS to water/fertilize, March 6th
*went to KCCUA greenhouse in KS to water and teach Mathew Rader and his friend transplanting, March 7th
*went to KCCUA greenhouse in KS to water, March 8th
*went to KCCUA greenhouse in KS to water, also Beverly Pender and I hauled back to my place 12+ bags of organic leaves, I spread them over bed #2, #3, #4, and #5 to till under, I dug out over a dozen concord grape vines and several elderberry plants for her to take to her place, March 10th
*cleaned and worked on garden growing areas again, Mar 12th, 13th
*planted several flats of edible luffa gourds with 11 yr. old son Noel and 7 yr. old daughter to take to KCCUA greenhouse and designed fronts of seed packets in the evening (from the seeds that were collected in Fl. and bagged up), wrote instructions and made color fronts on five different varieties of seeds (giant spider lily, colored rare cotton, jacaranda tree, Christmas palm and fishtail palm). We'll sell throughout the year. March 14th
*went to Planters Seed Company and purchased $11.95 in organic fertilizer, and $16.60 in seeds, on 3/19
*went to soil Service Center Garden Center and purchased $1.79 in cattle manure, $7.99 in peat moss to make soil mix, $24.52 in garden seed, on 3/20
*went to KCCUA greenhouse in KS to water and worked with Mathew Rader and two of his friends, also with my 11 and 7 yr. old kids at my partner Beverly Pender’s house transplanting, was really inspired by Beverly’s greenhouse, it has two levels, (very small floor space) but she can get so much into this small greenhouse. I’ve been thinking about possibly building a 200 sq. ft. greenhouse with two levels, (if I don’t go over two hundred square feet I don’t have to mess with permits), still thinking about it, March 19th
*planted 4 flats of tomatoes with my 11 yr. old son and 7 yr. old daughter at our house, March 22
*went by KCCUA greenhouse in KS to water/fertilize Mar 23
*went to K.C. Community Gardens and purchased $26.50 in onion sets, and $12.00 in organic garden fertilizer (foliar feeding), on 3/24
*Dick Sims came to till bed #1, #2, #3, #5, #6, and #7 Mar 24th, paid him $40.00, planted kale spinach, mesclun mixes on bed #3, #5, #6, #7 (some will be used as manure crops) March 24th
*went to K. C. Community Gardens and purchased $5.00 in onion sets, then planted 4/ 85 foot rows of onions, two/ 85 foot rows of snap peas in bed #1, also packaged more colored cotton seeds for market, collected from last years harvest, March 25,
*planted an 85 foot row of potatoes, and an 85 foot row of Swiss chard, March 26th
*watered in KCCUA greenhouse in KS and met Mathew Rader there to transplant, designed more seed packets later that day, March 27th
*started about a dozen flats of micro-greens for next week’s market, March 28th
*worked on makeshift cold frame in back yard (15 by 6 feet wide). I will be able to start and transfer my cold crops in flats to this frame instead of taking to greenhouse in KS. It will accommodate about 60 flats, worked on and off of it most of the month of March, lined it in glass jars filled with colored water.
*collected rainwater off and on throughout the month of March in five/six gallon buckets from downspouts, transferring them to 1 gallon distilled water jugs and five-gallon water jugs that are stored in our basement for watering my plants in basement and for our rainwater soaps (approximately 50 gallons collected).

April 2008
*went to KCCUA greenhouse in KS to water and transplant, April 4th
*started several flats of micro-greens for next weeks market, (e.g. broccoli, radish, sunflower, purple kohlrabi, cabbage, tender green mustard spinach, and more) April 3rd
*went to market, K. C. Food Circle, to sell micro-greens, plants, seeds and soap April 5th
*went by KCCUA greenhouse in KS to water, April 6th
* went to Wild Oats and purchased $5.98 in garden seeds (herbs), 4/06

*went by dairy farm in Harrisonville, Mo. 45 minutes away to discuss possibly picking up manure and buying organic straw, he doesn’t have organic readily available, he will seek out, April 9th
*went to Planters Seed Co. and purchased $10.50 in composted manure, and $14.95 in perlite and peat moss for making my own soil mix, also $8.95 for 3 packet of wall of water’s for tomato plants
*went to market to sell micro-greens, packaged seeds, veggie plants and organic soaps, April 12th
*planted several experimental tomato plants inside wall of waters, April 13th
*planted 1 sweet cherry tree, 2 dozen rose bushes (for soap business, rose tea and market edible rose tea), 1 yellow magnolia tree and over a dozen flats of papayas, etc, April 16th
*went by KCCUA greenhouse to water and drop off seeds flats, and transplant, cleaned out my 15 by 12 foot makeshift hoop house here on my property while it rained, get ready to start moving things into it!!!
Also collected rainwater for gardening project, April 17th
*purchased $69.90 on May/22/08 in supplemental organic fertilizer to use on tomatoes, peppers and eggplants
*start micro-greens for sale at market next week, April 25th
* dropped off several pre-ordered flats to Shiloh Co-op, April 29
*went to KCCUA greenhouse to water and meet Mathew Rader transplanting April 30th
*collected rainwater off and on throughout the month of April in five/six gallon buckets from downspouts, transferring them to 1 gallon distilled water jugs and five-gallon water jugs that are stored in our basement for watering my plants in basement and for our rainwater soaps (approximately 80 gallons collected).

May 2008
*started several trays of micro-greens for next week’s sale May 2nd
*sold at K. C. Organic's at Minor Park the micro-greens, seed packets, veggie plants and organic soaps/bath body care, I spoke about the SARE grant, the project that I’m doing at length, and that I’ll be on a farm tour with KCCUA next year in June to all my customers who inquire about my gardens, May 3rd
*went to KCCUA greenhouse in KS and picked up 25-30 flats to take them back to my makeshift greenhouse I’ve been constructing over the spring, May 4th
*called Morgan County Seeds, K State (Ted Carey), and Stuppies Greenhouse comparing prices and structures, also called Charley's Greenhouses again, (trying to get the most for my money), also worked outside transplanting peppers, luffas, and tomatoes for market, May 5th
*started micro-green flats for next week’s market to sell, May 7th
*went to market to sell micro-greens, veggie plants, seed packets, and organic soaps, I spoke about the SARE grant, the project that I’m doing at length, and that I’ll be on a farm tour with KCCUA next year in June to all my customers who inquire about my gardens, May 10th
*went to HyVee to pick up 50+ pineapple tops for propagating and reselling, May 11th
*moved planted flats of cabbages, broccoli, tomatoes, etc to north side of property that I hauled back from the greenhouse in KS. And also the 60 flats from my cold frame in the back yard, May 12th
*went to HyVee grocery store to pickup 50+ more pineapple tops to propagate and sell, Andrea Jones my garden apprentice from the 2005 season who signed up through Growing Growers program came out to work in the garden a few hours, May 13th
*moved more veggie flats to north side of property, called city for permit for greenhouse and discussed with them details, May 14th
*placed an ad on Craig’s list looking for organic straw. Made a connection, Eugene Jergensmeiyer, May 15th
*started several flats of micro-greens for next week’s market, dropped off several sold flats of micro-greens to Erika Wright’s house for her CSA’s, and sold flats of micro-greens, plants, and organic soaps at a Bad Seed Farmers Market, (Fri evening market), May 16th
*sold at K. C. Organics, (micro greens, homemade seed packets, plants, organic soaps), I spoke about the SARE grant, the project that I’m doing at length, and that I’ll be on a farm tour with KCCUA next year in June to all my customers who inquire about my gardens, May 17th
*Dick Sims, (tiller man) came out to plow out bed #2, #3, #5, #6. Paid him $40.00. I planted 51 tomato plants in bed #2 after ground was freshly plowed. Worked in compost and composted manure and organic fertilizers into each hole before planting, also, took the wall of waters off all six of my tomato plants inspecting for any freeze damage. No freeze damage to any plant!!! May 19th
* garden apprentice Andrea Jones came out and worked a few hours in my garden, Mathew Rader and a friend came out later and cleared a HUGE brush pile, moving it to a freshly plowed area to burn in a few weeks, also made a 55 gallon barrel of compost tea (it will be ready to apply in a few days), May 20th
*Mara Grigsby a volunteer garden apprentice, came out with her friends and 3 kids to help clear 85 feet of weeds in roses, talked with organic restaurant chef Willie Hicks from Harper’s On the Vine, K. C. about possibly selling my micro-greens to him when his restaurant opens in late summer, talked with two organic farmers in MO looking for straw, secured 34 bales for pickup in a week -- all he had left. (Straw crop was damaged previous year.), May 21st
*sold several flats of starter veggie plants to a fire fighter, applied compost tea to all of my tomato plants, May 22nd
*went to Planters Seed Company and purchased $10.50 in cattle manure, $26.95 in pre made organic soil, and $4.00 in misc. garden seeds and $39.30 in variety micro-green seeds (rutabaga, red cabbage, collards, broccoli, china rose radish, daikon radish and yellow Spanish onion seeds), start several flats of micro-greens for next week’s market, on 5/23
* sold at K. C. Organic's at Minor Park the micro-greens, veggies, seed packets, veggie plants and organic soaps/bath body care, May 24th
*went by Wild Oats and bought $12.89 in wheat berries, sunflower and buckwheat seeds for micro-greens, started several trays of micro-greens for next weeks market, May 25th
*delivered several flats of veggies that customers pre-ordered in the United Foods (Shiloh on Bulk Co-op) in Grandview, MO, May 27th
*called several super markets for used five gallon buckets to make anaerobic compost in also, Constantino’s Price Chopper in Brookside will have them soon., May 28th
* four garden volunteers came out to weed out bed #3 and while I cleared roses out, putting into bed, I spoke about the SARE grant, the project that I’m doing at length, and that I’ll be on a farm tour with KCCUA next year in June to all my workers #1, I also began digging and moving an 85 foot row of hybridized daylilies to widen a row and simplify it, I picked up over a dozen buckets at Brookside Price Chopper today, I'll cut out the bottoms and experiment making compost a different way so I don't have rat problems. Applied compost tea to all of my tomato plants, start several flats of micro-greens for next week’s market, May 29th
*Erica and friends came out to volunteer and weed bed #3, I dug out more daylilies!! Mathew Rader came out to help transplant sage. May 30
*sold at K. C. Organic's at Minor Park the micro-greens, seed packets, veggie plants and organic soaps/bath body care, I spoke about the SARE grant, the project that I’m doing at length, and that I’ll be on a farm tour with KCCUA next year in June to all my customers who inquire about my gardens , May 31
*collected rainwater off and on throughout the month of May in five/six gallon buckets from downspouts, transferring them to 1 gallon distilled water jugs and five-gallon water jugs that are stored in our basement for watering my plants in basement and for our rainwater soaps (approximately 80 gallons collected )

June 2008
*spoke to a scientist, who has also been experimenting around with making anaerobic compost. He has suggested in his findings a large commercial compost tumbler, (blocking off the air intake into the drum). Backordered 6 rain barrels from Gardener’s Supply, they say they won’t be available until mid July. Called a compost tumbler manufacturer to discuss possibly making anaerobic compost with their tumbler, the first week of June.
*started several flats of micro-greens for next week’s market June 4th
*Purchased $115.00 in straw from Eugene Jergensmeiyer, (22 bales of oat straw in Montrose, MO (over 70 miles away) and 7 small bales of alfalfa, this is all he has!), $20.00 in wheat seed for micro greens and $5.00 in fresh manure for compost. Also, spent $65.00 on gas to get straw.
Bought out all the oat straw he had -- have to look to another source, June 5th
*I spread 22 bales of hay in fields, June 6th
*Nate sold at K. C. Organic's at Minor Park the micro-greens, seed packets, veggie plants, greens and organic soaps/bath and body care, applied compost tea to all of my tomato plants again, *I planted 150 peat potted pepper plants in bed #3, June 7th
*transplanted and fertilized peat potted peppers that I’ll give to Joe Jennings soon, June 9th
*transplanted and fertilized more peat potted peppers that I’ll give to Joe Jennings, June 10th
*started several flats of micro-greens for next week’s market, June 11th
*fertilized peat potted peppers again for Joe Jennings, June 12th
*sold 3 flats of micro-greens to a restaurant, and flats of veggies at Friday night Bad Seed Market, applied compost tea to all of my tomato plants again, June 13th
*didn't sell at K. C. organics had to pick up 50 bales of straw in Linwood KS. On June 14th with my son Nelson, paid $251.44 total ( $200.00 in straw and $51.44 in gas and delivery charges, Mathew Rader and two friends of his came out and spread hay and burned brush, I cleared fences of brush overgrowth/ shrub trees to open up more sunlight into garden on the South side, June 14
*went to Planters Seed Company and spent $126.75 in deer fencing, $177.00 in micro-green inserts, $39.80 in more wildlife/dog/rabbit fencing, $29.50 in cattle manure, $86.02 in peat pots, $94.86 in vegetable seeds and micro green seeds, $74.53 in flats for the micro greens and veggies, also bought potting soil, compost thermometer, seeds, on 6/17
*purchased 6/75 gallon rain barrels at a discount, from Gardener’s Supply Company wholesale, they cost $730.17, this includes a $57.91 delivery fee, started several flats of micro-greens for next week’s market, 6/18
*applied compost tea to all of my tomato plants again, 6/20
*sold at K. C. Organic's at Minor Park the micro-greens, produce, veggie plants and organic soaps/bath body care, I spoke about the SARE grant, the project that I’m doing at length, and that I’ll be on a farm tour with KCCUA next year in June to all my customers who inquire about my gardens, June 21
*ordered $99.50 in red tomato mulch, $15.95 in red wall of waters $24.95 in red tomato collars, and $42.50 in potato bags (the potato bags are for further experimentation on my project getting “Incredible Crop Yields From Small Urban Spaces, I will experiment with these on the south side of my lot where ivy is a problem)
*started several flats of micro-greens for next week’s market, June 25
*applied compost tea to all of my tomato plants, June 27
*sold at K. C. Organic's at Minor Park the micro-greens, produce and organic soaps/bath body care, I spoke about the SARE grant, the project that I’m doing at length, and that I’ll be on a farm tour with KCCUA next year in June to all my customers who inquire about my gardens, June 28th
*collected rainwater off and on throughout the month of June (incredibly wet) in our new 55 gallon barrels from downspouts, I watered garden plants transferred some of the water to 1 gallon and five-gallon water jugs that are stored in our basement for watering micro-greens and for our rainwater soaps. Aapproximately 80 gallons were collected.
*it is extremely wet in bed #2, #3, #4, and #6, and in front of the beds, I suspect a spring but not for sure) the tomatoes are in bed #2, this year the field has been flooding and soggy since early June and I don’t really need to water them, some are dying from wet feet. I had to replant several in late June, Bed #1 and #7 are draining very well. I’ll move my tomatoes to bed number #1 next year in case it is a rainy year! Bed #7 needs an overhead limb cut so more sunlight can come through in the center of bed. It’s great for lettuces and squashes survive, but not tomatoes.

July 2008
*started several flats of micro-greens for next week’s market, July 1
*sold at K. C. Organic's at Minor Park the micro-greens, produce and organic soaps/bath body care, I spoke about the SARE grant, the project that I’m doing at length, and that I’ll be on a farm tour with KCCUA next year in June to all my customers who inquire about my gardens July 5
*started several flats of micro-greens for next week’s market, July 7
*sold at K. C. Organic's at Minor Park the micro-greens, produces and organic soaps/bath body care, I spoke about the SARE grant, the project that I’m doing at length, and that I’ll be on a farm tour with KCCUA next year in June to all my customers who inquire about my gardens, July 12
*cut and bent tomatoes cages out of large spool of concrete reinforcing wire that I bought in 2007, off and on, already have about 37 cages that I constructed last year too, throughout the month of July, I
*started several flats of micro-greens for next week’s market, July14
*sold at K. C. Organic's at Minor Park the micro-greens, produce and organic soaps/bath body care, I spoke about the SARE grant, the project that I’m doing at length, and that I’ll be on a farm tour with KCCUA next year in June to all my customers who inquire about my gardens July 19
*started several flats of micro-greens for next week’s market, July 21
*sold at K. C. Organic's at Minor Park the micro-greens, produce, potted herbs, and organic soaps/bath body care, I spoke about the SARE grant, the project that I’m doing at length, and that I’ll be on a farm tour with KCCUA next year in June to all my customers who inquire about my gardens, July 26
*started several flats of micro-greens for next week’s market, July 27
*collected rainwater off and on throughout the month of July in our new 55 gallon barrels from downspouts, I watered garden plants, transferred some of the water to 1 gallon and five-gallon water jugs that are stored in our basement and for watering micro-greens and for use in our rainwater soaps (approximately 70 gallons were collected).

Aug 2008
*sold at K. C. Organic's at Minor Park the micro-greens, produce, potted herbs and organic soaps/bath body care, I spoke about the SARE grant, the project that I’m doing at length, and that I’ll be on a farm tour with KCCUA next year in June to all my customers who inquire about my gardens, Aug 2
*started several flats of micro-greens for next week’s market, Aug 2nd
*sold at K. C. Organic's at Minor Park the micro-greens, produce, potted herbs and organic soaps/bath body care, I spoke about the SARE grant, the project that I’m doing at length, and that I’ll be on a farm tour with KCCUA next year in June to all my customers who inquire about my gardens, Aug 9
*started several flats of micro-greens for next week’s market, July 9
*sold at K. C. Organic's at Minor Park the micro-greens, produce, potted herbs and organic soaps/bath body care, I spoke about the SARE grant, the project that I’m doing at length, and that I’ll be on a farm tour with KCCUA next year in June to all my customers who inquire about my gardens, Aug 16
*started several flats of micro-greens for next week’s market, July 17
*sold at K. C. Organic's at Minor Park the micro-greens, produce, potted herbs and organic soaps/bath body care, I spoke about the SARE grant, the project that I’m doing at length, and that I’ll be on a farm tour with KCCUA next year in June to all my customers who inquire about my gardens, Aug 23
*started several flats of micro-greens for next week’s market, July 24
*sold at K. C. Organic's at Minor Park the micro-greens, produce and potted herbs and organic soaps/bath body care, I spoke about the SARE grant, the project that I’m doing at length, and that I’ll be on a farm tour with KCCUA next year in June to all my customers who inquire about my gardens, Aug 30
*I continued to water some of the garden plants, transferred from some of the rain barrels the water that was collected from the previous month of Aug

Sept 2008
*started several flats of micro-greens for next week’s market, Sept. 1
*sold at K. C. Organic's at Minor Park the micro-greens, produce and potted herbs and organic soaps/bath body care, I spoke about the SARE grant, the project that I’m doing at length, and that I’ll be on a farm tour with KCCUA next year in June to all my customers who inquire about my gardens, Sept 6
*started several flats of micro-greens for next week’s market, Sept 7
*sold at K. C. Organic's at Minor Park the micro-greens, produce and potted herbs and organic soaps/bath body care, I spoke about the SARE grant, the project that I’m doing at length, and that I’ll be on a farm tour with KCCUA next year in June to all my customers who inquire about my gardens, Sept 13
*started several flats of micro-greens for next week’s market, Sept 13h
*sold at K. C. Organic's at Minor Park the micro-greens, produce, potted herbs and organic soaps/bath body care, I spoke about the SARE grant, the project that I’m doing at length, and that I’ll be on a farm tour with KCCUA next year in June to all my customers who inquire about my gardens, Sept. 20
*started several flats of micro-greens for next week’s market, Sept 21
*sold at K. C. Organic's at Minor Park the micro-greens, produce, potted herbs and organic soaps/bath body care, I spoke about the SARE grant, the project that I’m doing at length, and that I’ll be on a farm tour with KCCUA next year in June to all my customers who inquire about my gardens, Sept 27
*Dug 6-by-6 foot fire pit in center of yard to burn brush -- too wet!!! When fall rains came on it fills up with water. I will possibly turn it into a pond next year (good spot, full sun), put dirt from hole into bed # 3 to raise the front of it where it’s soggy in spring during rain storms
*transplanted an 85-foot row of red daylilies that deer keep eating
*went to Borders book store and ordered and looked at several greenhouse books, still trying to finalize my plans
*started several flats of micro-greens for next week’s market, Sept 26

Oct 2008
*sold at K. C. Organic's at Minor Park the micro-greens, seed packets, veggie plants and organic soaps/bath body care, I spoke about the SARE grant, the project that I’m doing at length, and that I’ll be on a farm tour with KCCUA next year in June to all my customers who inquire about my gardens, Oct 4th
*start several flats of micro-greens for next week’s market, Oct 4
*sold at K. C. Organic's at Minor Park the micro-greens, seed packets, veggie plants and organic soaps/bath body care, I spoke about the SARE grant, the project that I’m doing at length, and that I’ll be on a farm tour with KCCUA next year in June to all my customers who inquire about my gardens, last outdoor market for the season, Oct 11
*went to Borders book store and purchased a greenhouse plan book for $24.95 and another World Record Tomato book for $15.00 to share with friends, I ended up sharing about the grant, project and farm tour at length with the worker looking up the books for me on the computer, she was very interested in the farm tour, on 10/10
*went to Prairie Life Fitness Center in Olathe. Kansas, to take a tour, when I mentioned I farm, the tour instructor was interested, I was able to share my project, about the grant at length with the tour guide 30 min Oct. 25th
*went to Prairie Life Fitness Center in O.P. Kansas, to take another tour, when I mentioned I farmed and made organic soaps, I was asked many questions. I was able to share my project, the grant at length with him for an hour, this time asked many questions and was interested in organic grown produce, etc, Oct. 26th
*Cut and bent more tomato cages
*took down deer fencing and stored
*cleared drip hoses
*took down the netting for climbing veggies and stored indoors
*started collecting wood ashes for my anaerobic compost

Nov. 2008
*review notes on growing world record tomatoes a couple of hours, Nov 3rd
*went to Joe Jennings to pick up veggie signs to paint, I’ll make signs for my garden as well from the patterns, Nov. 16th
*went to Grand Court Market to sell soaps, talk about grant, and Farm Tour, Nov 22
*collected about 100 bags of leaves to till into garden Nov. 23, 25, 26th and 30th
*moved tomato cages out of beds to the 85’ rose rows, (throughout the month of Nov.) to anticipate bags and bags of leaves coming in next month
*went down to city hall for a few hours and discussed building a greenhouse on our property again. I can build a 200 square foot greenhouse without a permit, without going through a committee, or showing them plans, but anything over that square footage has to be approved by a large committee that will take from possibly one month to three, (no guarantees) I have to have the plans on what it will look like, what it is built out of, exact location, etc. The man discussed with me that the city may look strongly against me building it over 200 square feet. We already have two-hundred-year-old out structures on the property, and a detached garage. He said I may have to tear down our older existing chicken coop that we now store our all our tillers, tools, etc. in. I need to think about this, because we need our out structures. May go for 200 square foot greenhouse with two levels, like Beverly Pender’s.
*collected wood ashes and other materials for my anaerobic compost

Dec 2008
*Nate picked up about 20 bags of leaves for me in Noah’s pickup truck, Dec 1st
*started several flats of micro-greens for next week’s market, went to collect leaves in Noah’s pickup truck, brought back 40 bags and made connections with a lawn service who brought back and additional 75/80 bags of leaves, Dec 7th
*sold at K. C. Organic's at Notre Dame De Sion school indoors, the micro-greens, amaryllises, and organic soaps/bath body care, I spoke about the SARE grant, the project that I’m doing at length, and that I’ll be on a farm tour with KCCUA next year in June, 09 to all my customers who inquire about my gardens, Dec 13th
*collected about 250 bags of leaves with my son’s pickup to till into garden
*purchased50# bag for $18.00 in rye seed from Planters Seed Co. Planted rye cover crop on bed Co bed #1, #2 , #3, (4 is a blueberry bed ), #5, #6 & #7 to come up in warm weather throughout the winter months, Dec. 30
*a local lawn service dropped off 60 bags of leaves for my garden and for use in composting, Dec 30th
*purchased $13.50 in discounted seed packets from Planters Seed Co, of cabbage, herbs, tomatoes, etc (for CSA in 2009)
*collecting wood ashes for my anaerobic compost.

Jan 2009
*went to Bad Seed Farmers market to sell soaps, talk about project and about Farm tour in June 09, Jan 2nd
*went to Grand Court Farmers Market to sell soaps, plants, talk about project and Farm Tour, Jan 4
*went to Bad Seed Farmers Market to sell soaps. Plants, talk about project and Farm Tour, Jan 9th
*went to Grand Court Farmers Market to sell soaps, talk about project and Farm tour, Jan. 10th
*went to Westlake Hardware and purchased $5.15 in seeds (better boy hybrid and sweet peppers) on 1/11/09
* went to Soil Service Center and purchased $16.99 in seeds, (tomatoes -- hybrid better boy and heirloom), Chinese cabbage, variety sweet peppers and sage, Jan 13th
*went to Soil service center and purchased $19.92 in variety garden seeds and $28.95 in pre-made soil mix to start plants inside under grow-lights. 1/16/09
*a local lawn service dropped off 80 bags of leaves for my garden and for use in composting, 1/17
*Our son, Noah went and got 65 of the 200 bales of organic straw that I secured last fall at $3.00 a bale, outside Garden City, MO, from Eugene Jergensmeiyer, (73 miles away). Will be storing the bales on side of our lot until they are ready to lay in late spring. He spent $35.18 in gas and paid Eugene $195.00. Will be picking up the remaining 135 bales in spring, 1/19
*e-mailed Laura Christiansen updated Growing Growers host farm, wanted to advertise the farm tour and project, Jan. 21
*interviewed three possible garden apprentices Janelle Barnhart, Candy Roberts, and Jane Landwehr, Jan 22
*interviewed one possible garden apprentice for Growing Grower, Bradley Cox, planted 4 flats of papayas, Jan 23
*interviewed one possible garden apprentice Teresa Kerbawy, planted two flats of sweet peppers, Jan 24
*interviewed one possible garden apprentice Rachel Metzldorf, lawn service dropped more leaves off, 80? Bags, Jan 25
*planted 2 flats of several different varieties, added more grow lights, Jan 26
*Noel, Natasha and I emptied over 75 bags off leaves over beds after lawn service came in and dropped them off, Jan 31
*interviewed one possible garden apprentice Carol Hall, Jan 30
*interviewed one possible garden apprentice Rachel Metzdorf again, Jan 31
*Purchased better boy tomato seeds, plus peppers, soil etc in Jan.
*planted tomatoes and peppers in peat pots indoors under grow lights, watered with rain water
*Assembled more grow lights in the middle room to start tomatoes and peppers, too cold in basement, reserve those spaces for lettuces and other cool crops
* started several flats of micro-greens for sale, and for picture with me on our farm, to put in KCCUA Farms Tour brochure. And our brochure that Nate will be designing. Started over 5000 onion seeds in flats to thin also, dumped out about 50 bags of leaves over several beds, lawn service dropped off about 80 bags of leaves, planted 4 flats of tomatoes, Jan 31
*mail order seeds, etc
*collecting wood ashes and other materials for my anaerobic compost month of Jan 2009

Feb. 2009
*went to Linwood, Kansas, Gasper’s Farm and purchased $195.00 in alfalfa hay (nitrogen fixing crop) to make my special compost that will serve as fertilizer, and $5.00 in fresh cattle manure, Feb.1
*Nate and my son Noah brought in 10 double pane glass windows that they found on Craig’s List, to build a 20 by 10 foot partly recycled greenhouse, the windows are 4 feet by 8 feet. Ripped apart this will provide us with 20 windows. Feb.
*interviewed possible garden apprentice, Jeremy Meeker 2/ 9
*paid Nate $200.00 to design a color farm tour flyer for the KCCUA Farm Tour on June 28th, (no times are known yet, only the date of the tour, also workshops will be held a week prior to the tour, dates, times and locations are not set yet), he will readjust the flier when dates are known. The 200.00 includes all the adjustments that will be made, Feb 3rd and 4th
*sold soaps, plants and CSSA’s at the Metro Lawn & Garden Show/Remodeling Show, in the Green Zone upstairs at The American Royal Building in downtown K. C, for three days. I spoke about the SARE grant I received, my project that I’m doing at length, “Incredible Crop Yields From Small Urban Spaces” and that I’ll be on a farm tour with KCCUA this year on June 28th to all my customers. I explained I would be selling soaps made from garden produce on that day, garden produce, micro-greens, and would be selling 40 CSSA’s (Community Supported Soap and Agriculture, we call them, includes a soap product, three cubes of micro-greens and garden produce $35.00 weekly for 22 weeks) I bought $100.00 (4#’s) in garden worms from Windswept Worm Farm for tomato and pepper plants, and will purchase more in April. Available to pick up first part of April, bought organic solution for 28.00 to use against squash bugs this summer, I handed out about two hundred colored flyers that Nate designed as temporaries for the KCCUA Farm Tour on June 28, 09 and over two-hundred flyers that I designed for my garden business about the June 28th farm tour with KCCUA/ about my CSSA’s I’m selling/ and general info about my farm and soap company. Feb. 6, 7, 8th
*interviewed possible garden apprentice Jeremy Meeker again for over an hour, planted 2 flats of delphiniums and 2 flats of lettuce, lawn care service dropped off about 40 bags of leaves, 2/11
*interviewed possible garden apprentice, Susan Edgar and possible garden apprentice Lacey Barnett, 2/12
*continued to clear the area for our partly recycled glass greenhouse. I constructed a temporary cold frame out of cedar beams that are 15 feet long and six feet wide to start over 60 flats of cold crops for our gardens and for sale, e.g. cabbages, onions, lettuces, kohlrabi, etc, Feb 13th
*a local lawn service dropped off 40 bags of leaves for my garden and for use in composting, Feb 14th
*went by Beverly Pender’s house and taught her how to grow micro-greens in soil, went by Wal-Mart and bought 4 mil plastic for cold frame for $20.00, started chayote’s in pots in evening, Feb 15th
*lined the back wall of my temporary cold frame with aluminum foil to reflect more light, placed one gallon glass water jugs filled with colored water along back wall of cold frame (to absorb heat during the day and emit heat off to the flats at night), then covered cold frame with plastic, on Feb 16th
*I will be buying $250.00 from Lowe’s in concrete reinforcing wire to make more cages this week, and have paid myself $150.00 for past cages built and to make more cages. I’ve also been collecting wood ashes, and other organic matter for making my anaerobic compost throughout the month of Feb.
***I will be using the remainder of the $3,000.00, ($502.00 left, over the next two weeks), to purchasing cedar lumber, materials, etc. for the greenhouse. I am awaiting the use of my son Noah’s pickup truck over the next week. He uses it for work, so I have to wait on his timing, to haul all the boards back to our property, and begin construction on the greenhouse, within a few weeks.
***I will be purchasing the remainder (47 red Wall O Waters) in March (I can’t put them out until April 15th) that are on the grant, the irrigation system along with the snacks and refreshments and film for the KCCUA Farm Tour, the remainder rye cover crop is to be planted this fall, from the next $3,000.00 grant money’s, I will also be putting in additional numerous dollars myself for the irrigation, straw, seeds, fertilizers, peat pots, more wall of waters, red tomato collars and greenhouse and more.

*turn in first progress report before March 1, 2009

RESULTS
Last year I had a difficult time trying to get organic straw because of crop failures the year before. There was a limited amount out there and a lot of farmers were trying to buy it as well. I learned to secure it several months in advance for the following year. I secured it in fall of 2008, (200 bales of wheat straw for mulching and 30 bales of alfalfa) for mulching and in making my special compost. I also did not anticipate the deer problems that I had last year -- it was unbelievable. Yes, we’ve had some deer problems before that but after our family dog of 14 years passed away in April 08 the wildlife moved in for the free taking. Nikita, our family dog was an outdoor dog and ran the grounds in front of my garden beds. She was not allowed into the beds, but being that close kept a lot of the deer back. Also a groundhog moved into the chicken coop by her old doghouse, and has been doing a lot of damage. We are planning on getting a new family dog this year -- hopefully it will help the wildlife problem.

I purchased a little more deer fence than what I thought I needed (because I don’t know when my husband is going to get a new dog exactly) and I purchased rabbit fencing as well. We had unbelievable amounts of rain in May and June of 08, and it seemed to take forever for beds #2, #3, #5, #6 to dry out. This year I cannot take the chance of planting my tomatoes/peppers in these lower beds, of possibly more flooding if we get heavy spring rains. I will be planting my tomatoes, peppers and my more important crops on bed #1 and #7 to ensure high dry ground. I also discovered a spring last Summer, I hope to be able to tap into it.

Also I am planning on buying a very large compost tumbler and blocking off the airflow intake (I thought of this idea earlier and a scientist confirmed it to me last spring of 08 when I brought it up.) We are getting rats when I make my compost on the ground. I can’t afford rats and being turned into the city. Overall I learned a lot and I felt I accomplished a lot.

WORK PLAN FOR 2009
*I will be making out a work schedule for starting all my micro-greens every eight days before all of the markets we sell at so they will be the proper length
*I will be making out a schedule for all the pickup times for my CSSA customers
*I will be building Charles Wilber’s irrigation system for my crops
*I will be making a savings plan to save up money from the income of my 40 CSSA’s and market sales. I hope to be able to approach my neighbor on the south side, and ask if they’ll sell a 300 foot strip by possibly40 foot wide in the next couple of years. (This will allow me more growing space for a few more beds that are higher up and more orchard trees.)
*I will be purchasing a greenhouse heater, and making a two level system for my greenhouse, also will be building a 12-level growing system for all of my micro greens. They only need 6-8 inches of head space between them. I plan to continue selling micro-greens year round.
*.We will be buying polycarbonate for the roof of the greenhouse, along with cedar boards this spring, plus a few more used glass windows
*We are planning to have the shell of the greenhouse up spring 2009. Joe Jennings, a master carpenter, has volunteered his help, along with an Overland Park, KS couple who also are master carpenters. They have put up a partly recycled glass greenhouse in their backyard, and did an excellent job at it.
*I plan on having numerous volunteers this year, 2009, to work with me on all of my projects.
*I may have a formal apprentice with the Growing Growers program this year, still pending.
*I’ll be increasing my growing space indoors over the next two weeks, to accommodate the heavy load of flats (peat potted plants take more space), since I declined growing space at KCCUA’s greenhouse this year, until our greenhouse is up. I will then transfer the warm crops to the greenhouse once it’s built, and the cooler crops to the temporary cold frame I constructed a few weeks ago
*I have plans for building a permanent cold frame this year.
*I have plans for building a permanent strawberry bed this year.
*I have plans on planting several more fruit trees this year
*I plan on cutting back more shrubs on the north side of the property to start a sugar maple field
*we plan on putting up a fence across the front yard so our new dog can run more property and chase away wildlife
*I plan on landscaping around the fence once it is put up with edible berry shrubs
*I will be hauling in the remainder 140 bales of straw in Montrose MO and the 15 bales in Kansas in the next month. I plan on securing more straw this fall from these two farmers for next years work.
* I have plans on starting to build a pond
*I plan a purchase of a cheap pickup truck. I’ve been relying on our 21 yr. old son’s, when he’s not taking it to work (his truck is now having problems, and I can’t take the chance). I’ll need a reliable truck for hauling manure, straw and for getting building materials for our greenhouse and misc.
*I plan the purchase of a new wheelbarrow. (We have a one-wheel now I use for all the hauling. The one wheel flips over constantly on me.) I’ll be purchasing a large wooden two wheel and transporting soil from higher ground to the low lying areas still.
*I plan the purchase of a new motor for our 30 yr. old troy built tiller. After the motor blew two years ago we have constantly had to rely on a local tiller man (his schedule). This will allow me to till out spots like I once did, when I need to.
*I plan to keep cutting back overgrowth around our fences, opening up the south beds to more light.
*I plan to plant more grapes on our grape row, (several old bushes have died) and plan on putting up a new grape fence
*I plan on purchasing more red tomato collars in a month
*I plan on building more arbors for our climbing crops
*I plan on making a kitchen colonial type garden on the side of our house in bed #7. This will contain a small amount of most of the crops for quick picking.

* we will be on tour with the KCCUA Farm Tour June 28th

OUTREACH
I’ve been talking about my project at every market I’ve done over the last year 08 and the markets in 09. I’ve personally talked one-on -ne to over 500 people about my project. I plan on continuing telling all my customers at every market I do this year 09 as well, I will also be open to the public on June 28 on the KCCUA Farm Tour, and plan a KCCUA healthy eating seminar at my farm the week before the official tour. I plan on continuing also to hand out fliers on what I’m doing and a local organic store that sells my soap will distribute them also to soap/ produce customers.

To bring in more people for the KCCUA farm tour, I am making plans to advertise that a raw food chef, possibly a storyteller for the children, a micro-green workshop, and also a World Renown accordion player who will play ethnic music for the crowd an hour of so will be at my farm. I will continue to advertise that I won the SARE grant in 2008 on the Growing Growers website and I plant to continue my project “Incredible Crop Yields from Small Urban Spaces.”

In 2010 I plan on continuing to tell people at the markets I sell at about my project that I did for SARE.