And from the refuse grew...

I was shocked to find these tomatoes growing in our compost heap. They have since been transplanted to a temporary pot. Soon we will be experimenting with vertical growing options.

Quick Chicken Update

The chickens are about four months old now. On the advice of a friend, we made a small pen out of snow fence behind the chicken house. We are allowing the chickens to acclimate to the whole "free range" idea, while establishing a home base. I sat with a video camera awaiting their first steps of freedom. However, all that we captured was twenty minutes of chickens ignoring us and then ten minutes of my hysterical laughter as Bryan attempted to "toss" chickens out of the chicken house. A week later the chickens are finally excited enough to come out. Although I must report that several have still never ventured into the light of day.

If you live in Iowa City be sure to support the IC Friends of Urban Chickens.

Operation Search and Rescue

There is a new sheriff back in town. While I was in Florida, teaching at UF, Bryan may have lost track of his inner farmer. My homecoming was dwarfed by button weeds that were taller then myself. Over the last week I've taken stock of what can be "rescued" from and weeds and what is a total loss. I was actually surprised at the seer tenacity of the vegetable crop and it's ability to grow right through the weeds.

I debated not photographing the garden from this point, however perhaps there is hope found in even the most overgrown projects.










We spent the last week unloading the u-haul and freezing 16 pints of sweet corn. The button weeds may have grown taller then the corn, however the ears are still delightful.