Cherry tree

A couple of days ago we got our cherry tree in the mail. Today we planted it. Horray, our first plant!

Another exciting development. See that blue thing in the neighbor's yard. It's a recycling bin! Chicago finally got their city recycling program going. It's about time... I'm going to refrain from any further comments about the City since I have papers to grade now... G'night. -J

Vermiculite mixed

Thanks to Cole for helping Caitlin mix the vermiculite. We finished the job today and my arms are soooo cold. Today wasn't eaxctly the warmest vermiculite-mixing weather. -J

Vermiculite!

For April Fool's Day, we got our vermiculite. I'm packing to fly off to California now. So there it will sit in our garage for a while... -J

Compost-peat mix has arrived

It felt totally crazy to get a truckload of compost-peat mixture delivered to our house. Nonetheless, it really happened. Our garden beds are now 2/3rd full of the stuff. now we just need the final glorious ingredient: the vermiculite. This stuff is in transit. Apparently, I'm going to have to arrange to be at home when the 18-wheeler delivers it. Bah! I guess I'll find a way. -J

Caitlin had assembled the "boats" earlier.  Here they are, full of leaves for composting under the soil.  She also transplanted a lily and some tulips from another part of the yard.

We continued to work on more garden beds in the basement and in the garage.  By March 24th, all of the garden beds were complete, save for the final assembly and placement.   I took the day off to put them together. -J

Finally, they are all assembled! I need to take a break.

We are starting our garden

Our big garden project this year started with a bunch of wood, cut to specs for our garden boxes, piled-up in our basement. Here is a sampling from April 23rd, 2009.

Over the next several days, Caitlin and I took turns putting it all together.