We Have Worms!!

My boyfriend is an environmentalist; he understands why composting is good. Still, the idea of sharing his living space with 2,000 creepy crawlers took a little warming up to. Actually, a lot of warming up to... 3 1/2 years to be exact. But this weekend, he finally broke down. It took a lot of pleading on my part and a written contract stating that he would never, ever, under any circumstances have to touch the worms, but he finally gave in.

So without further adou, I'd like to introduce the newest members of the Solstice farm family, Sam...


I named them all Sam because I am of the opinion that every living thing (and some inanimate objects) deserve a name. We chose "Sam" for practical reasons (it's gender neutral, and thus applies to all the worms).

(The rest of them are somewhere in here)

Since I'm a novice composter, any tips on how to properly care for Sam would be greatly appreciated.

It's that time...

My seeds have arrived!! This year I'm planting almost exclusively from Seed Savers Exchange. It's this amazing organization that allows you to trade heirloom seeds as a way to promote biodiversity. My seeds include such unique plants as purple beans, black tomatoes, red carrots, heart shaped squash, star shaped ochra, and watermellons with stars (not to mention the curiously named "strawberry spinach"). I can't wait to see what grows.

For those of you interested, Seed Savers Exchange can be found on the web, and they do offer more normal fruit and vegetable varieties (but where's the fun in that?)

Looking Ahead

My growing season is coming to an end. I moved the herbs inside last week, and early this morning, freezing rain claimed the last of my peppers. Aside from some frost-hardy swiss chard, my garden is closed for the year. I'll miss it.

Before

After

But saying goodbye to this year's crops has me looking ahead to next year's garden more than ever. Right now, I'm planning for tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, brussel sprouts, eggplants, herbs, blueberries, strawberries, hot peppers, bell peppers, summer squash, winter squash, and an asian pear tree.

Feel free to laugh at my naivety. I know this list is ridiculously ambitious given my space and skill limitations, but I don't care. This year, I'm thinking big.

Chickens

In most respects, apartment living has exceeded my food producing expectations. Vegetables and herbs have been surprisingly easy to grow in a limited space (with limited skills), and I'm hoping to attempt my first fruit tree this spring.

Still, there is one little thing I haven't been able to produce here; Livestock. Specifically, I want chickens. really. really. badly. I don't know why it's chickens that I've fixated on, but my little farm just doesn't seem complete without them. There's just something really cool about a pet that can produce my breakfast.

I know trying to raise chickens in a studio apartment would be a little cruel/insane, so I've shelved the idea for the time being. Still, the search continues for a farm animal I can raise in my apartment. Maybe quail? Or rabbits? Do compost worms count?

The Squirrel

For those of you who have never been to New York, you should know that we have squirrels. These are not the cute, fuzzy, little creatures from my childhood backyard. No, these squirrels are different. I've seen a squirrel run up a tree with, not acorns, but an entire slice of stolen pizza in its mouth. These squirrels are bigger, bolder, and hungrier.

Last year, my garden was regularly invaded by a squirrel that had taken up residence on my fire escape, and it had no mercy. I tried everything. I was told that sprinkling cayenne pepper would deter him, but he just thought it made my tomatoes taste like salsa. I planted peppers so the smell would drive him away; he ate those too. I hung CDs to reflect light - nothing. I used dog hair to create a "predator smell" - nada. I sprayed him with water, and he just stared me down. That squirrel was determined.

This year, maybe I'll take a different approach. Instead of wasting my time fighting a losing battle, I think I'll just plant a little extra, and plan on sharing. After all, I'm trying to invite more nature into my life, not scare it away.

If you can't beat 'um, feed 'um.

Last Year's Garden

This photo is of the sad little "garden" at my last apartment. 

Despite being tiny, windy, dark, and squirrel infested, this little fire escape was able to provide a surprising amount of food. Throughout last year's growing season, I was able to produce lettuce, peppers, cherry tomatoes, swiss chard, mint, basil, cilantro, chives, and a small sunflower. Granted, some of my attempts were more successful than others, and most of the produce was eaten by squirrels, but it did grow. I have pictures to prove it. 

Beginning

Welcome to City Solstice.

A week ago I moved from my cramped one bedroom apartment to a studio. I know most sane New Yorkers wouldn't voluntarily move from a tiny apartment to an even tinier one, but for me, the decision was easy. I moved for this...

It doesn't look like much now, but this cluttered, weed filled, terrace is my garden. To this girl, who has been trying for years to garden on windowsills, fire escapes, and so many other places not designed for growing anything, this little terrace is a dream come true. With a little luck and a lot of advice from people more knowledgeable than myself, I hope to turn this little "farm" into a thriving source of beauty, joy, and most importantly, food.

This blog will chronicle my attempts to live sustainably, eat locally, and adopt a DIY lifestyle in one of the most urban environments in this world. On this little journey, there will be gardening, knitting, cooking, thrifting, and whatever else I find along the way.

Wish me luck.

-Solstice