Proposition 37 - Right to know - label GMOs - Vote YES

California residents have the ability to help the public know their foods. Proposition 37 would require that GMOs be labeled. It doesn't BAN GMOs, it merely allows for people to know what they're eating.

Please, if you live in California, know someone from California, have heard of California, share this information. There's an icon above - tweet, facebook share, BLOG it...

If you don't care about GMOs, you can still vote yes, because it won't change anything except allow those who are concerned to know.

If, say, Monsanto were so proud of their products, why wouldn't they want to label them? Hmm....

Desert gardening: How's the garden doing?

Well, we've had tons of plants get growth, but we are barely getting ANY thing out of the plants. Why? Bunnies, birds and cats.

Bunnies are likely hopping through and getting some of the leaves.

Birds are flying off with any thing that is actually flowering

and our cat likes to take naps in the garden.

Well, I solved that.



Please note, while I attended an engineering school for my undergrad,

THIS is why I'm not an engineer.



And you can see we've had some clean up done... some gardeners came by and also pulled some things we had growing... life goes on.

Outside my window - Thursday - Desert Window - Baby bunnies

Here's what we had out in our back yard this week.

Look closely...

Do you see the baby bunnies? My kids are so happy to see them. Earlier this week, my 4 year old wanted to "feed" them and she gave them rocks. So we got to discuss how fragile the bunnies were and how we wanted to leave them alone so they won't be afraid and also so their mommy could come back and nurse them. BTW, a request for the bunnies to get my milk... definitely passed on that request. 

And our desert garden 14 weeks in. Looks like tomatoes and potatoes and possibly some eggplant. Hopefully the beans will survive.

I attempted some additional plants out of compost and some Sustainable Seed Company carrot and other seeds... Apparently when you forget to water them, plants don't like it!

We had our yard cleaned up and while they did a great job, they overdid our second garden and dug up some actual plants, including strawberries :( Looks good though and we know where to restart! Lookame, Rohan would say :)

And we got rain Thursday and our make-shift laundry line broke with the weight of the hand-made quilt. 

Attached Parents Care about the Earth

With Earth Day coming up on Sunday, many people are making a conscious effort to cut back on waste or perhaps volunteer to clean up a park. But, living with the Earth is a day-to-day activity - it IS life.

When we think of how we can change the earth, we need to actually change how we think. We need to instead think of how we can keep the earth as-is. That "as-is" condition may not be great when you're buying second hand (which, of course is GREAT for the Earth), but when we continue to modify the Earth, we have to realize there are long-term consequences.

A few thoughts:
- plant a tree that is natural to the area
- stop using Round-Up and pull weeds instead
- Plant organic and heirloom seeds in your back yard or patio
- fight against GMOs
- support local businesses and CSAs.
- take a walk at night when your child is having difficulties sleeping - fresh air is great for the lungs and MUCH better than a drive (and carseat-time for infants should be minimized)
- buy used
- buy organic
- breastfeed
- eat vegetarian more often

And just BE!

Desert Garden week 10

It has been a while but here are some updated photos... First know that I did finally transplant my compost growth... yes, about time!

Hello garden! We finally have growth... we may just get some good ol' backyard goodness after all!

New Hardiness Zone Map for Gardeners

I may be the last to know, but in case I'm not... Enter the latest and greatest hardiness zone Map. I'm in 9B now.

http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/

I hope to have an update with my garden photos later this week... Yes the bunnies are liking my beans :(

Desert Garden Week 7 - Strawberries are growing!

And we have at least one edible strawberry!

And for the rest of the garden. Yes, I admit, I have not yet transplanted the growing items that are loving my compost!

Garden 6 weeks-ish in

We're six weeks in and showing some growth...

I'm a bit worried about my beans... I need to "thin" the crop, but I sorta feel like its selective abortion! Not sure how to go about this!

Aforementioned bean crop.

Strawberry and something else...

Compost growings... Will transplant this coming week

My container grows things quite well!

Happy Desert Gardening!

Desert Garden - Week 4ish

And the garden is some-what coming along. I have to admit.. container gardening is apparently a bit better for me!

Container gardening by the husband for the most part

Berry bushes!

A few survivors... I did plant a few "from seeds" earlier this week.

Beans of sorts I believe...

The compost is still growing!

Berries and beans... meant to mingle!

And for your learning pleasure:

Won't be moving this sieve any time soon!

This little plant has worked hard! 

What's this growing in my compost?

What's this growing in my compost?

Need bunny help for garden

We're 4ish weeks into the garden and I think the bunnies like our plants... they ate most of the transplant leaves on the blueberry "stick" we have (I can't really call it a bush). Many of the small sprouts I had for carrots, etc are gone. Some may have got too much dirt on them, but WOWsers. I feel like I'm starting over! For those not in the desert southwest... bunnies love backyards of homes that have view fences. That's one drawback of not having a neighbor too my back causing us to have a cinder block back wall.
Not naming names but some may have been buried by added compost :)

What we do have includes:

Chili for everyone!

potential strawberries

I have no clue... do you?

What I'm starting now... But I'm afraid this week of cool nights may not have been too helpful! Beans on the way, I hope!

So except for putting blood around my garden... what are your natural ways to keep the bunnies in your grass only? :)