Darla's baby girl born on May 3, 2012.

Darla was carrying twins. She is our largest goat so normally this would not be a problem. Goats typically give birth to two babies and care for them just fine. For some reason, this time, Darla lost one – and the baby that didn’t make it was three times the size of the one that did.

It is sad when you find a newborn goat laying lifeless. You try to guess when they are going to kid. You put up video cameras and baby monitors – if the video camera doesn’t have sound. You put the expecting mama in a stall by herself, but still – sometimes you miss the date and don’t get the mama moved or something simply doesn’t go right.

Tulip, the cashmere goat, and her day old kid - November 10, 2011.

This year we did not get Darla moved. We missed the date. I had looked at her teats but they didn’t seem full enough. We were – in fact – still cleaning out the birthing stall. We had just moved Tulip and her baby Magnolia into the main area with the other goats. I was sure I had another week or two and Darla showed no signs of birthing that morning when I fed her.

Baby goats needs to suckle as soon as possible from their mama so they get the colstrum they need to thrive – and this is why knowing when a goat is going to kid is so important. You can intervene if necessary and put the kid on the mama’s teat.

Kids that do not get this colstrum usually do not thrive. You can buy a powder substitute and keep it on hand but it is not as good as what mama produces – and sometimes the kid will not take a bottle.

Darla the goat

Darla seemed to grieve last night over the loss of her baby. She did take care of the one little girl that lived and they are bonding nicely. That is always a good thing. In time, Darla will get over her grief and hopefully next year all of her babies will live.

Our first chickens running around in the bird garden.

Last August while I was gone to the Garden Writers Symposium in Indianapolis a fox entered the chicken yard. Jerry was at work, thus no one was home to chase the fox off and save the chickens. When I arrived back home, there were chicken bones hanging on the fence. Obviously the fox had attempted to carry the chicken off and was unable to get it over the top of the six foot fence – or else the goats or sheep interrupted him and he ran leaving the chicken carcass behind.

It was a sad ending to summer. I loved watching the chickens eating bugs and running around the bird garden. Without them around I found myself spending less and less time outside. I enjoy watching the goats, sheep and horse, but truly enjoy the chickens more and I think that is because they are comical at times.

Lucy and her new rooster friend.

Lucy in the new chicken house with her two new friends.

When late fall came, a lady brought us a lone hen named Lucy. She was a Golden Seabright. We overwintered her inside the barn. Once spring came and we opened our computer shop we met a man who had a pair of red and blue Old English Game Bantams he wanted to get rid of. We took those as companions for Lucy, but a short time later Lucy passed on.

Yesterday I could no longer resist the urge to get some new chickens for our homestead, so off to Big R we went. I wanted Araucana or Ameraucana because of the pink, blue and green eggs they lay, but they did not have any of those breeds available. In fact, there were only two varieties of chicks to choose from – New Hampshire X Delaware and Buff Orphington. I chose two New Hampshire X Delaware and four Buff Orphington chicks.

The associate at Big R boxed them up and we took them home. I have a clear plastic storage tub that I made into a chick house for babies. I washed it up and lined the bottom with newspaper. I have found newspaper is the best thing to line the chick house with because I can just roll it up once it is dirty (which is at least once a day, sometimes twice a day) and put it in the compost pile. Chicks often pick at wood shavings and thus it is not a good idea to use those. The shavings can get stuck in their little throats and kill them.

Once the bottom of the chick house was lined with newspaper, I put in fresh chicken crumbles and water. It is important to dip the chicks beak in the water – which should be at room temperature – so the chicks know where it is. I also like to show them where the feed dish is. It is important to keep a close eye on baby chicks for the first day to make sure they are eating and drinking.

Once this was done, I laid old window screens on top of the plastic tub, then placed a heat lamp above the screen so the chicks had plenty of heat. Chicks will pile on top of one another if they get cold. This can lead to death through suffocation.

This morning when I got up, the baby chicks were up and running around. It looks like I will have at least eight chickens this year. Big R will get more in before the end of the season and I intend to keep an eye out just in case they happen to get some of the two types of chickens I am looking for.

Our house with the new addition and the wheelchair ramp for my dad.

Somehow nothing is ever as easy as it might seem to be. While the major part of the remodeling was done months ago, the interior work and re-organization are still going on. I have not had a desktop computer set-up at home for months and I really miss that. In fact, since we opened our shop Family Computer Services on March 1, I have used my iPhone for most of my internet work. Hopefully that will change soon.

Jerry, David and my dad hanging drywall.

We are still insulating and putting up drywall. The small greenhouse is usable, but the large one still needs repaired. I did purchase a pop-up walk-in greenhouse to use this season. It is way too small, but it is better than not having one at all. Once the big greenhouse is up, I am going to use the smaller one for heat loving plants thus lowering my heating needs in the larger house.

Aquaponic set-up.

We have moved the aquaponic unit into the smaller greenhouse off my office and done some re-configuring of it. The smaller hoses were clogging which caused all kinds of problems. We swapped the hoses out for PVC and everything is going good now.

Lettuce and spinach bed.

My dad sitting in his new Laz-Z-Boy recliner.

My son, David. Boy does this look like a mug shot! LOL!

My dad – and my son David – have moved back home, so now there are four of us living on the homestead.

Two New Hampshire X Delaware and four Buff Orphington chicks.

I had to start all over with chickens this year since a fox got into my flock last August and killed them all. We are starting over with two older birds and six chicks.

Tulip with her baby Magnolia who was born last November.

The goats have not kidded yet this season, but that is not unusual. I am sure they are bred. I’m looking forward to having milk again and already have a large supply of heavy whipping cream in the freezer to combine with their cream to make lots of butter – which by the way, I found out is freezable and just as good as fresh butter when it is thawed.

With fall and winter on our door steps you’re probably thinking you’re out of the woods when it comes to deer damage in your backyard landscapes. Wrong. Actually, fall and winter mark the beginning of the worst seasons for deer damage. Deer will eat just about anything in the winter — their food supply is very low and they can’t be choosy. They’re hungry enough to eat vegetation that they ordinarily would not choose to eat.

As with other wildlife, land development has reduced deer’s natural habitat. Combine that with a lack of natural predators and easy access to your landscapes and modern-day deer not only survive, they thrive!

The most important thing to understand about fighting deer is that it’s easier to prevent damage than to react to it. So it behooves you to know your enemy and stay at least one step ahead of them. Deer are creatures of habit — they establish feeding patterns and return to the same spot over and over again, even when that same spot stops offering enough food for them.

Even just a few deer can cause significant damage to your landscaping. A single whitetail deer can consume, on average, 8 -12 pounds of foliage a day and in many areas of the country, deer overpopulation is a serious problem. With nowhere to go and not much left to eat in the dead of winter, deer can wreak havoc on shrubs, trees and gardens, and destroy new buds and leaves before they have a chance to grow, ruining your prospects for any spring growth.

Here’s a quick list of the tell-tale signs of deer in your backyard:

1. Rub marks on trees where bucks have rubbed their antlers to mark their territory; the tree bark is actually rubbed off.
2. Any kind of torn vegetation is also another telltale sign, deer do not have incisor teeth, and therefore, they “rip” the vegetation when they bite into it.
3. If your damage is found off the ground, up to 6 feet, small animal damage can be ruled out.
4. Deer tracks are also easy to identify. The prints are about 2 to 3 inches long and are shaped like broken hearts.

So what do you do to keep the deer out of your backyard? There are loads of “home remedies” that have been tried with varying results … human hair, soap, pepper spray, even a battery operated radio, creating constant noise and fooling deer to think humans are in the yard! These remedies might work sporadically, but they are not reliable deterrents for deer.

Then there’s fencing. Properly built and maintained fencing can be an effective method for preventing deer damage. But, deer can jump up to and clear an 8-foot fence on level ground, and they can easily push and remove plastic netting. Installing a 6- to 8-foot fence can be an effective solution to some extent, but fencing is costly and can be quite unsightly.

Perhaps one of the most effective and easiest methods to deter deer are repellents. Deer repellents are designed to impart objectionable odors or tastes.

Bobbex Deer Repellent is a topical, natural, proven effective foliar spray used to deter and prevent deer, moose, and elk from browsing and causing other damage to ornamental plantings, shrubs, and forest trees. Bobbex is a blend of ingredients that are beneficial and totally innocuous to plant development. The active ingredients are a series of proteins making the product extremely safe for use on the most sensitive plantings.

Tested by the Connecticut Department of Forestry against 10 known competitors, Bobbex was found to be 93% effective, second only to a physical barrier. This product works by smell and taste aversion, can be applied in almost any climate or temperature and will not wash off after heavy rain. It dries clear and although there is a slight odor, it will dissipate within 24 hours of application (to humans but not to deer). And, it will not burn plant material.

Repellents should be used in fall months even though plants are no longer at their peak. If applications of repellents are interrupted, deer may lose their conditioning to avoid previously treated plants. Regular spraying trains deer to seek nourishment elsewhere.

Particularly at risk in the fall and winter months are shrubs that keep their leaves throughout the year. These shrubs include rhododendrons, arborvitae, holly, and yews. In winter, repellents should be sprayed at temps above 35 degrees F. This will prevent the mechanical action of water freezing on leaves and drawing out the moisture from the leaf.

This fall and winter protect your plants and shrubs and create your own boundaries for foraging deer. Now you’re in control, just spray Bobbex and watch those doggone deer disappear from your backyard landscapes.

For more information on Bobbex, retail store locations and repellents for other garden pests like rabbits, groundhogs and squirrels, visit www.bobbex.com

For your chance to win a set of Bobbex Deer, Bobbex Rose and Bobbex R, simply share this post on your Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter or My Space page and post below where you shared the post. A winner will be chosen on May 1.

Bonnie Plants Veggie basket near raised bed

Who would have thought getting dirt under your fingernails would ever be considered one of the hottest trends going? According to Doug Jimerson, Garden Core Director for Better Homes and Gardens, “growing your own fruits, veggies and herbs is something Americans are doing in record numbers this season”.
“It’s cheaper to grow your own produce than buy it – one $3 tomato plant will yield pounds of produce all season long, says Jimerson. Plus, the produce you grow just tastes better than even your grocer’s best. And while it’s healthy to eat and grow your own, gardening is rapidly gaining popularity as a great way to get some exercise, relieve stress and spend healthful family bonding time.”
Eating foods grown in your own backyard means you won’t be contributing to the carbon footprint left behind by the “food miles” it takes to bring imported produce to your local grocers – so you’re helping the environment, too.
Growing vegetables is easier than you think. Plan it properly, and you can enjoy a healthy, homegrown harvest from the fruits of your labor — without having to spend hours tending it.

Gardening 101

Sunshine is sustenance – Vegetables need at least six hours of full sun per day. The easiest thing to do is to place your garden in full sunlight. Make sure it’s easily accessible for watering….if the garden is too far from your house it could get neglected. Check the last frost date in your region and wait until threat of frost is past before you begin planting.
No yard necessary – Gardening doesn’t require a lot of room – although if you have the space and time to go large, go for it!. Many popular vegetables and herbs grow just fine in containers, making them a great option for those with limited space. For smaller yards, raised beds are an easy, low-maintenance option. If your garden is going right into the ground, just turn the earth with a shovel, toss out roots and rocks, mix in a soil amendment for healthy soil, and plant.
Water relief –Water regularly, but avoid doing so during the heat of the day when evaporation will diminish the effectiveness of irrigation. Water to wet the soil about 8 inches deep, but don’t over-water.
Feed your food– All edible plants draw nutrients from the ground, and can quickly exhaust the soil without the help of a fertilizer. Always follow label directions.

Growing for it

Now that you’ve got an idea of the basics, it’s time to pick your plants.
Start with transplants – seedlings are way easier to get growing than seeds, so you’ll save loads of time and enjoy improved success. Fortunately, national purveyors like Bonnie Plants make it easy to find hardy, high-quality, regionally appropriate plants at your local garden retailers. Bonnie offers time-tested vegetable and herb favorites, as well as new varieties, in eco-friendly, biodegradable pots that not only reduce plastic waste in landfills, they reduce transplant shock. Simply tear off the bottom of the pot and set the whole thing – plant in pot – directly into the ground. Be sure to pay close attention to plant tags, they’re packed with facts and details to help you successfully grow your plants.
Here are some favorites to consider for your garden:
* Tomatoes – The most popular, most-grown vegetable, tomatoes are always a best bet. Disease-resistant “Bonnie Original” is a hardy, flavorful addition to any backyard garden. For containers or small spots, try “Sweet n’ Neat,” a prolific plant that sets fruit in grape-like clusters.
* Basil – The perfect complement to tomatoes, basil works well in gardens and containers. New Greek Columnar Basil is particularly bountiful, as it grows high, leafs out densely and rarely flowers. The flavor blends traditional basil with spicy overtones of cinnamon, allspice and cloves.
* Bell peppers – Versatile, flavorful and nutritious, bell peppers are great raw snacks and make an awesome ingredient for a variety of cuisines. Harvest peppers when they’re green or red when the vitamin levels are higher.
* Eggplant – “Black Beauty” is the quintessential eggplant with a deep purple, glossy skin and meaty texture, and thrives in hot weather. White-skinned varieties like “Cloud Nine” offer a sweeter, bitter-free flesh.
* Mints – Easy-to-grow mints are available in traditional spearmint and peppermint and in more exotic flavors like Bonnie Plant’s new apple mint, orange mint and even chocolate mint, which has a flavor that echoes the classic Girl Scout cookie.
Hefty Harvest- The general rule: If it looks good enough to eat, it probably is. With many vegetables, the more you pick, the more the plant will produce.

For more gardening tips, ideas and advice, visit www.bonnieplants.com.

Gram’s Irish Stew

Takes 20 minutes to prepare and cooks in four to five hours.

Ingredients

• Vegetable oil – 1 teaspoon
• Cubed beef stew meat – 4 pounds
• Dried sage – 2 teaspoons
• Potatoes (peeled and cubed) – 10
• Carrots (diced) – 4
• Mushrooms (sliced and drained) – a 4-ounce can
• Onion (small, chopped) – 1
• Celery seed – 1 teaspoon
• Worcestershire sauce – 1 teaspoon
• Black pepper (ground) – 1 teaspoon
• Beef bouillon – 1 cube
• Corn starch – 1 tablespoon
• Salt to taste
• Water to cover
• Warm Water – 1 cup

Directions

1. Place the oil in a skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Add beef and sage. Allow to cook until both sides are browned. Drain off the grease.
2. Place beef, beef bouillon, carrots, celery seed, mushrooms, onion, black pepper, potatoes, and Worcestershire sauce in a slow cooker. Add salt and enough water to just cover the ingredients. Adjust cooker to high setting and cover. Allow to cook for about five hours, stirring occasionally to facilitate proper cooking.
3. Place corn starch and warm water in a small bowl. Mix together using a whisk until smooth. Add mixture to the stew and stir for even distribution. Allow to cook for about 15 minutes or until thickened. The stew is more enjoyable when thick. However, if you prefer a light stew, you’ll need to use slightly more water.

Gram’s Irish Stew is one of those recipes that can stir up an interest in developing culinary skills. It is an absolutely delicious recipe, that makes a filling and hearty meal. You can experiment by using a different variety of vegetables, such as green peas or diced turnip. You may even wish to spice up the flavor by adding in spices of your choice. The stew can be eaten as it is or may be accompanied by rice or bread rolls.

Source

Allrecipes.com (2012)

The lettuce bed - inside the small tunnel house is a staple of fall garden, the winter garden and the spring garden. I allow it to set seed over the summer. The seed drops onto the ground and sprouts which means I never have to buy new lettuce seed.

The witch hazel "autumn embers" began showing signs of blooming on December 28, 2011. Here it is, the end of February 2012 and this small tree is still in full bloom.

Witch hazel "autumn embers" in full bloom in February. The yellow flower buds on the ground below the tree is winter aconite.

Winter aconite in bloom. The flowers have an intense lemon fragrance that I simply love.

Hellebores are a reliable winter bloomer. This particular one began blooming in November 2011 and is still producing new flowers in February 2012.

Another variety of Helleborus getting ready to bloom along with the white crocus.

Even the daffodils are showing their buds earlier than usual this year.

What’s happening in your garden this February? Are there flowers blooming? Are you starting your vegetable garden earlier than usual? Do feel free to share your thoughts below in the comments section! I would love to hear from you!

Sheri Ann Richerson with a few of her many books.

It looks like it is going to be a busy year! I already have several book signings and speaking engagements scheduled. Be sure to check this post from time to time to see where you can find me at this year. I hope to see some of you there and please feel free to stop in and introduce yourself!

January Events

February Events

Thursday, February 23 – Tweetchat – The Complete Idiot’s Guide To Seed Saving & Starting – 12 Noon EST – http://tweetchat.com

March Events

Saturday, March 10 – Master Gardener Conference – Alexandra, Indiana

Saturday, March 24 – Countywide Garden Meeting – Anderson, Indiana

Saturday, March 31 – Master Gardener Conference – Marion, Indiana

April Events

Tuesday, April 3 – Putman County Master Gardener Meeting – Presentation “Year-Round Gardening”

May Events

Saturday, May 5 – Hoosier Homestead Gathering – Salamonie Reservoir

Sunday, May 6 – Hoosier Homestead Gathering – Salamonie Reservoir

June Events

Saturday, June 30 – Water Works – Marion, Indiana

July Events

August Events

September Events

October Events

Thursday, October 4 – Purdue Master Gardener State Conference – Noblesville, Indiana

Friday, October 5 – Purdue Master Gardener State Conference – Noblesville, Indiana

Saturday, October 6 – Purdue Master Gardener State Conference – Noblesville, Indiana

November Events

December Events

The Cricut Cake Machine along with several cartridges.

Just a note to let all of you know that in the coming months you will be seeing more on the Cricut Cake Machine. I recently purchased one in hopes of making elegant edible decor a little faster than what I can do it by hand. I have tried to use this machine once and found out that it takes a little playing with to get cookie dough stiff enough for the machine to cut – even frozen.

Be sure to keep an eye out here for tips and tricks. I will make posts as I learn the best way to get the most out of this machine.

The house certainly looks different now!

It’s been almost a month now since the first new nail went into the roof. The roof is complete and the area below is now dry. That is the good news. The siding is on and looking good – but the work indoors continues and may take another month or so to complete. Then there is the large greenhouse to begin to rebuild.

Our neighbor, Danny helping Jerry put up the drywall.

We started working on the craft room first. Insulation had to be put in and drywall put up, plus the floor boards laid. I haven’t decided if I am going to carpet this area or tile it. The process is slow. I wanted a window on the small wall so I could look down into the greenhouse and also see the side yard – that is until the greenhouse plants grow large enough to block the view. I also wanted some built-in bookshelves which is taking some time to do. There are two attic spaces up here as well – one for Jerry and one for me. More storage room is awesome!

Jerry securing the plexiglass on the outside of the wall. I can look into the greenhouse from the craft room now.

One corner of the new craft room.

Jerry has also been insulating the small greenhouse off the office area which will work as a “show house” for shooting video and growing plants that need temperatures over 70 degrees F year-round. We chose to insulate with foam – since that is waterproof and there was less to worry about should a water leak occur. I intend to use an automatic watering system in this particular greenhouse.

This is the green foam insulation we put between rafters in the greenhouse.

This silver reflective insulation is being put on the ceiling and the solid walls. It will help reflect both the natural and artificial light.

We haven’t started on either office yet. My office is going to have a mini-studio in it for making You Tube videos. In addition to having a specific place to work, the cabinets will offer storage for those kitchen appliances I don’t use much such as my Cricut Cake Machine.

We have a long way to go still – as I’m sure many of you know – but the process has begun and progress has been made. By fall – at the very latest – I hope to be moved into the new area and using it on a regular basis.

Pre-Order your copy now on Amazon.com - available in paperback and also for the Kindle.

Good morning peeps! Things have been a little bit quite around here for a couple months due to some unexpected life changes – but all that is about to change because my new book “The Complete Idiot’s Guide To Seed Saving & Starting” is going to be released to the public on March 6, 2012!

The good folks at Wilks Communications have invited me to be their guest on today’s TweetChat. The time is 12PM EST. I know some of you that are working are taking your lunch hour during that time, but I sure hope you can tune in – possibly on your mobile device. If not, don’t worry, the chat will be archived later today.

As always, questions are welcome – and if you miss the chat, feel free to email them to me or post them below in the comment section. Here in Indiana, we are officially 12 weeks away from the last spring frost, so seed sowing time is certainly upon us!

A view from the front.

Shingles being delivered.

I am exhausted – and really have not done that much. I know Jerry is sore. Neither of us are used to lifting materials and doing this much moving of stuff. I will be glad when the project is complete – and feel I will like the area much better than I did. I know I will like having an area to store things and an area where I can weave, sew or spin to my hearts desire. It will be great to get organized.

The new roof covered in roofing paper.

Remodeling a house is never an easy project but it sure helps when you have people who know what they are doing. We are working with a contractor by the name of Doug, who is just wonderful. He brought two other people along with him who were – obviously – experienced roofers. Our neighbor, Danny, also came over to help move materials and do some light clean-up work. With both Jerry and I outside working, things moved along a lot faster than anyone thought they might. In fact, at the end of the day yesterday – after just working the one day – the roof structure was up and the roofing paper was on.

The new roof area divided into three distinct sections.

When we started the project I told them I wanted a vaulted ceiling in my office. As the day went along and they continued to frame the room up, it became clear that the area was large enough to make a small room. I was still pretty set on having a vaulted ceiling, but Jerry convinced me another room would be nice. He wanted a storage area over his office area, which he will get – and there was a small area over the laundry room that will work perfectly for storing smaller items. The room will be home to my floor loom, spinning wheels, sewing machine, fiber and material. I think it will be perfect.

The roofers are back – bright and early this morning – ready to complete the project they started yesterday. Jerry must dig out two windows so there is natural light up there. One of the windows will eventually look directly into the large greenhouse. The other one will look out over the driveway. A small staircase must be installed at the back of my office to allow easy access to the upper area as well. The area under the staircase will allow for more storage. I can’t wait for this project to be complete so I can use these rooms!

Yucca in the snow.

It’s been a long winter here in Indiana. Thank goodness it hasn’t been too cold this year. As some of you know we underwent some major life changes at the end of last year. Tweetchat and the Blog Talk Radio Show has been put “on hold” for now – but never fear – we intend to reinstate these two items soon.

Jerry laying tile on top of the cabinets.

While we have been waiting for the money to start construction on the roof, we worked on other areas of the house using materials we already had on hand or using materials given to us. For example, we had to remove the tops of the old countertops. They were old and cracking. We thought we were going to sand them down and stain the countertop but the glue that held the backing was not coming off. A friend suggested we try using floor tile. She had a box, so we did. Eventually we will replace this, but for now it is clean and we can use our countertop once again.

Jerry texturing the ceiling with drywall mud.

Another area we worked on was the downstairs bedroom where my dad was staying. The walls are old in this house and like most old walls, are full of hairline cracks. I really hate looking at cracks in walls, so we are trying to fill those cracks in with drywall mud. Sometimes just rubbing a light coat into the cracks works well and sometimes texturing is necessary – or just a fun way to give a room a unique look.

This is how the room was when we started.

This is the room now.

One wall of the room needed to be left open for easy access to the staircase. It seemed like something was always being shoved against that wall, or the pictures were always being knocked off when people walked past, so I can up with an idea of my own. I decided to create a mural on that wall using a wood doll I bought at a garage sale, some mirrored butterflies I bought on clearance and a flowering tree. Here is what I came up with.

This wall mural - including a gallon of paint - cost less than $50 to create.

The next big project we are tackling is the roof and the three rooms that will be protected by that roof. The materials to put the roof back on the office and greenhouse area are ordered. We have a wonderful contractor working on this. We chose Estate Grey for the roof and Victorian Grey for the siding. The materials are expected to arrive on Monday and once they are here, work will begin.

The office area will have a vaulted ceiling as well as a “kitchen area” where I can do videos. It will be larger than my actual kitchen. The cabinets for this area are being donated by a dear friend who is getting new ones in her kitchen. They will be put to good use, that’s for sure!

I hope the room is large enough to handle my desk, floor loom and both spinning wheels plus give adequate space for the woodburner.

The large greenhouse must wait a few more months before repairs will begin, but the small one, right off my office will be ready for plants once the roof is on.

Jerry’s office will also be ready for him to move into once the roof is on. YAY! I will be glad for him to have his own space – and I am sure he will too. Every life change has required him to pack up his things and move them from room to room to make space for whatever we need to do. That won’t happen again!

Things are looking up. We have made it through thanks to the love and support of many dear friends and family. Thank you all for your prayers and concern during this time. I’m looking forward to spring. I’m looking forward to a large garden and having plenty of produce to share – again this year – with the less fortunate in our community who need it! This is our way of giving back.

Pre-order your copy today on Amazon.com! The official release date is March 6, 2012.

I finally got to see the cover of my new book The Complete Idiot’s Guide To Seed Saving & Starting. I couldn’t be more thrilled. The front cover and the smaller photo on the back cover are ones I took. I wasn’t sure how to photograph a book cover. This is where the senior acquisitions editor, Brook Farling came into play in a big way. He explained to me what the kind folks at Penguin/Alpha was looking for. He gave me lots of great advice on how to get the best photo.

When it came to laying the actual photo out, a good friend Minnie Thurman loaned me the cute little dishes and helped make sure every seed was in just the right location. This photo would not have happened without these two great people.

Still, I wasn’t sure the photos I took would be good enough to grace the cover. What a wonderful surprise it was today when I opened the email that contained the attachment with the photo of the front and back cover of the book. I am thrilled beyond belief. This was the icing on the cake.

The back cover of the book.

The book is available for pre-order now and although the official release date isn’t until March 6, 2012 there is no reason to wait until then to place your order. The price you pay now is guaranteed not to go up once it is released. “With these tough economic times, it just makes sense to get your order in now- and maybe even pre-order one for that special gardener on your list.”: Anyone with a librarian degree may want to add this book to their gardening reference collection. Best of all, this book will arrive just in time for seed starting season to begin. Plus if you order it now, once seed saving season begins you will have a handy reference that tells you exactly how to save flower, fruit and vegetable seeds. Saving your own seeds saves money and you will end up with seeds that are adapted to your local growing conditions which leads to even more success in the garden in the future!

Anyone who loves animals, including pet owners, veterinarians, and students in vet tech schools, will love to see the cute photos.

Please post photos that you have taken – not ones you have come across on the internet.

The program that we will use for this is Mister Linky.

So – let’s see all those cute photos! Go ahead and show off your best friends. I’m looking forward to it. Let me get the ball rolling with a photo of one of my cute animals.

This is Bubba taking a bath.

This is more of a personal list than anything else. This list contains all of the germinated seeds that I have potted up intending to put into the garden this year. Gardeners and biologists know how important it is to keep track of what is being planted each year.

Vegetables

18 Container Lettuce Ruby & Emerald Duet Plants

41 Cauliflower Purple Cape Plants

40 Baby Cabbage Pixie Plants

18 Broccoli Purple Peacock Plants

28 Tricolor Cherry Tomato Garden Candy Plants

41 Signature Salads Wild Country Mesclun Plants

6 Ace 55 Tomato Plants

11 Cabbage Copenhagen Market Early Plants

1 pot Scallions Delicious Duo – need divided once they are old enough

29 Wild Kale Garden Mix Plants

65 Container Lettuce Sweet Baby Romaine Plants

19 Flat Late Dutch Cabbage Plants

22 Cauliflower Rainbow Mix Plants

19 Broccoli Long Harvest All Season Blend Plants

37 Broccoli Heading Romanesco Plants

9 Brussels Sprouts Seven Hills Plants

21 Beefsteak Tomato Plants

29 Spinach Bloomsdale Plants

7 Summer Lettuce Bouquet European Reds & Greens Plants

19 Heirloom Tomato Summer Feast Plants

9 Container Chard Pot Of Gold Plant

7 Mexican Tomatillo Two Color Fiesta Plants

1 Container Lettuce Garden Babies Butterhead Plant

1 Onion Spanish Utah Plants

10 Heirloom Tomato Rainbow’s End Plants

18 Kale Glamour Red F1 – 2011 All-American Selections

4 Tomato Sub-Arctic Plenty VF Plants

11 Tomato Terenzo F1 – 2011 All-American Selections

Flowers

11 Stock Giant Imperial Plants

9 Echinacea Powwow Wild Berry Plants – 2010 All-American Selections Winner

4 Bells of Ireland Antique Apple Green Plants

3 Hollyhock Pom-Pom Apricot-Peach Parfait Plants

17 Statice Plants

32 Geranium maderense Plants

6 Dianthus Allwoodi x Village Pink Plants

2 pots Snapdragon Tall Deluxe Mix – need divided once they are old enough

1 pot Amole – need divided once they are old enough

5 individual Amole Plants

3 Gaillardia aristata Arizonia Apricot – 2011 All-American Selections Winner

2 Stock 10 Week Bouquet