I'm Back! Get Ready for More Content!!

Hello Fellow Greenthumbs!!

 (Heirloom Nantes Carrots, grown from seed)

     It has been quite a long time since I have posted anything, but that will change! I have more free time and that means more time to write.

     I was busy with setting up several public school vegetable gardens throughout the Las Vegas valley, which to be quite frank was absolutely amazing and rewarding in itself! I taught students from grade kindergarten to seniors in high-school how to cultivate and harvest their own vegetables/fruit. I also helped several culinary students and chefs with vegetable grows for dinners, I'll post photos of that sometime in the near future! These past two years have been quite the journey for me. I learned various ways how to get anyone involved in the future of agriculture and I also turned some individuals into absolute foodies, which is an amazing feat I believe.

(Heirloom Rainbow Radish Mix, grown from seed)

     Please keep in touch with my blog for future updates, also follow me on Instagram @DesertOrganicFarmer for constant and delicious photos, don't worry I'll follow back ;). Again friends, stay tuned for more content!

Happy Gardening!

Farmer Jeff

WAYS TO WATER YOUR GARDEN

    So many Las Vegas residents end up asking me how do I water my garden without wasting so much time actually filling a bucket then watering each plant individually. I actually DO NOT do this. In my opinion, that is a waste of time. Especially during the summer months when an individual can get heat-stroke from just tending their garden.

   So I came up with a plan! I dug up all of my water pipes throughout my backyard, so I can see where each sprinkler head is located at. After doing that, I took off the sprinkler head and attached a top where I can attach about 8 individual hose lines with a drop stake that can be put right next to my plants.

    Doing this method, I have saved myself from heat exhaustion and also granted myself more time to focus on the well being of my plants. Take a look at the picture above, do you see the little knob right next to the stalk of my Pepperoncini Plant? That is the drip stake. I promise you, this is probably one of the best methods to use for watering your garden in this desert climate.

    I hope this helps out you guys and puts into perspective how harsh gardening in the desert can be on the gardener. Make sure to wear sunscreen and don't exert yourself just to water your plants. They won't benefit from anything if you cannot take care of them! Until next time

¤ Keep it GREEN and Keep it GROWING!

HyperSmash

USING WATER SMART IN DESERT CLIMATES

    To me having a yard with grass in a desert climate is a complete and utter waste of time. More importantly it is a complete waste of WATER. I never understood anyone in Las Vegas who decides to keep a yard with grass. You could be saving that water and much more money by just having a garden, in my opinion. Take this for instance, my neighbor puts their water on for about 9 minutes roughly 4 times a day. Where our yards meet, my side is filled with rocks and it usually is drenched with the water from their sprinkler system. I watch everyday as the gutter fills with overly used water from my whole street. It saddens me so that these people are so ignorant to the fact that they could be growing crops and actually using those crops for a purpose.

    Everyone I see with grass in Las Vegas in their yard, usually ends up only being green for about 2 months because of the vicious desert sun. Then you'll see the same people complain about wasting time and their water to feed their dead grass, yet they still continue each year with the same cycle. I believe we should break that cycle in Las Vegas and maybe REQUIRE people to have a garden of their own. Since the majority of all veggie crop and fruit crop are imported into this city.

    I whole heartily believe if the city of Las Vegas does push some requirement like that out, we'll see more healthier people out here. Let me know what you think and if you see the same problem where you live. Keep the gardening passion growing and grow something green! Until next time....

¤ Keep it GREEN and Keep it GROWING!

HyperSmash

Harvesting Organic Carrots for a Healthy Thanksgiving Roast

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!  

 

Delicious Organic Kaleidoscope Carrots

   I don't know about you guys, but when I hear the word "Thanksgiving" my automatic thought is....."What's being cooked for dinner?". So I decided to harvest some delicious, healthy and organic carrots. Then I thought, wouldn't all my readers and garden nuts want to see this glorious moment to every gardener?! So I went and got the trusty Canon camera and went to work! I honestly did not think that this harvest would be this size. Don't get me wrong I'm not complaining, I'm excited! I love it when I do a harvest and pull some decent size crop. These guys have been in the ground for about seventy-five days or so. I spaced these guys out about half of the recommended space for commercial farmers.

   These organic carrots are ridiculously delicious! They smelled so amazing! This was totally worth the time and effort to grow these bad boys! Again, this just goes to show that you can grow amazing produce in the desert region. Until next time fellow gardeners, and green thumbs. Keep it Green and Keep it Growing!
 - Ciao




HyperSmash

A Rain Storm in the Garden!

This morning after I woke up to the wonderful pitter-patter sound of Mother Nature providing the desert I live in with much appreciated rain, (Which it has been raining for the past 3 days straight now!) I decided to check on the garden to see what kind of progress it has been making since the fall/winter weather is finally settling in the Greater Las Vegas Region. I walked outside, opened the gate and found a lovely surprise! My Red Russian Kale, (I grow Nero di Toscana Kale as well, or Black Kale from Tuscany) is still growing and still plans to grow! Next, I took a walk around the garden to see what else looked good and was photo worthy for my precious viewers, you guys!

 I went near my tomatoes and about half of them are starting to produce crop, but this little guy is taking his sweet time! It's still a good looking plant, and by far needs another run of healthy manure or a mix of plant tea (Which could be the only reason why it hasn't much fruit on it as of yet!). This breed of tomato is actually from Rome, Italy. I have family out there whom has been kind and generous enough to send me these lovely and delicious tomato seeds. Thanks Ziju!!

 After seeing how my tomatoes were fairing with this streak of weird weather, I checked on my abundant Santa Fe Peppers. These specific breed people say isn't that spicy, but that's because most people pick them when they are still green. This breed will change colour to yellow and that's when it will pack one hell of a punch! I use this pepper for my ramen constantly, it has such an addictive heat level and taste!

And finally, I came round to one of my favourite herbs, Sweet Basil. I love the fragrance and flavour when this herb is used in any dish that calls for it. I noticed it was still flowering and producing new leafs and nodes as well. Which is always an exciting thing to see. One cool thing I learned about Basil when I was a young boy, the Romans used Basil to cleanse their palettes and for deodorant. Who can't say no to someone smelling like fresh herbs, am I right?! And that's how I ended my morning walk through the garden. Nothing is more beautiful nor beneficial for a family to garden together. By teaching the newer generations to garden, it ensures that they will understand their food and know when it's fresh to eat or not. Until next time fellow green thumbs and gardening enthusiasts! Keep it Green and Keep it Growing! Ciao!!!





HyperSmash