Indoor Gardening Journey

I've had some wonderful feedback about my Indoor Gardening hopes and dreams for this winter.  I've had a lot of interest in the topic with a lot of questions along the way.  So I figured I would start blogging about it now and keep you posted on the progress.  

Starting things off...with these 4 photos above.  The 2 plants on top in the green buckets are Sweet Banana Peppers.  We started them indoors and have kept them indoors this whole time.  They are doing quite well and we are seeing flowers and buds on two of the three plants.

The long thin leafy green lettuce is something that we've also done exclusively indoors.  It was one of the many Rosalita Lettuces we attempted throughout the season but this one looked way different than the other ones.  After a fashion the other ones had a stalk that budded seeds and flowers where this one has not and it's lasted much longer and the leaves are longer and thinner, too!

Next to that photo - in the blue bucket - was the best of the 3 Basil Plants that we brought inside.  It's still growing STRONG and making the production room smell wonderful.  I'm optimistic that we will be able to continue to grow the basil inside throughout the winter months.  One of the other Basil plants I gave to my husband's grandmother and the 3rd one we lost to frost about 2 weeks ago.

Then...in the red bucket is one of two Brussels Sprouts plants we brought in from outside.  They are still very small but I am not ready to give up on them yet.  Eventho we started from seed in April.

We are starting from seed a few other things we are going to try and do indoors during the winter months.  I will keep you posted on the progress there, too!

Sprouts & Rice With Spice, Progress In Google Docs, Pig Tails

Sprouts & Rice with Spice!  

YUP!  

That's what I am naming this dish!  I made a LARGE batch last night and will eat it for a few days in some way, shape, or form.  What I had for dinner last night turned out super tasty!  This is a dish I would do again and again!  

And that may just be the case since our Containers are sprouting with Brussel Sprouts - oh my goodness!

Here's what's in this dish in case you were curious or wanted to try!

2 C Rice

2 T Coconut Oil

1/4 C Pine Nuts

1 Pound of Brussel Sprouts

1 T Bragg's Liquid Aminos

1/2 T Agave Nectar

1 tea EACH of Parsley, Basil, Oregano, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder

1/2 tea EACH of Lemon Juice, Red Pepper Flakes

Sriracha to taste - added at the end - like a garnish

Here's a Google Doc of our progress on the Contain Garden/Rooftop Garden.  Sam - a co-worker of mine - is pretty much taking care of the updates on this file.  I believe you can click on it and enlarge the photo to see a bit more of what's going on.  I'm also trying to post some updates on Folia - which you will find on my sidebar.  We will be thinning and transplanting the Rosalita and Grand Rapids soon.  We are also hoping to start our 2nd flight of a few 'from seed' attempts.

A few weeks ago Opal posted on of Dan McDonald's Archived Videos on Facebook and tagged me in comments.  We got to talking about the female guest he had in that video.  She was a 'peppy little thing' - a blonde - with pigtails.  Come to find out she was in her mid 50s at the time of the video but with her lifestyle, outlook on life, and pigtails she appeared MUCH younger...I'd say maybe late 20's or so.  I used to wear pigtails every once and a while...when I was younger...and even when I was in college.  It's been a while.  Last night I was feeling a little crazy and thought I would try them.  yes!  I'm goofy!  But at least I'm having FUN again!  It's so nice when you surround yourself with more carefree people and everyone gets along, ya know!?

Participating:
What I Ate Wednesday

Gardening Journey ~ Container/Rooftop Progress

I've had a couple of comments and emails asking to post some progress photos of the containers we are starting INSIDE to then take outside for our Rooftop Garden.  Well, ask...and yee shall receive...

First up...

GREENS!  Here's a look at our lettuces, leafy greens, even some Kale (the one smack-dab in the middle).  ALL of the greenery has sprouted.  Some more advanced than others but that is expected because of the maturity lengths being different.  We are FOR SURE going to have to thin out and space the one on the left...that's the Rosalita Lettuce.  Those grow into 'heads'.  The others are more loose and leafy.  The Kale is already getting their 'second leaves/sprouts' so that's pretty neat.

Some of the other seeds are sprouting, too!  Here's a look at the Broccoli!  There are 2 sprouts here - one is stronger than the other, tho!

We have the Broccoli in a 1 and a half gallon bucket.  Some of you already read on previous posts that we are reusing CD Jewel Case Holders for the lettuces that are pictured above.

We have another bucket like this one - but it's red - that contains the carrots we are trying to grow from seed, too!

I was beginning to wonder if we got 'duds' on the carrots until we came in yesterday and saw these wonderful sprouts!  Aren't they awesome!

I can't wait to see what they all do next!  I think that is part of my problem...PATIENCE.  I need more Patience!

Now here are our Brussel Sprouts!  We started them from seed but in 'starter sections' and they are doing REALLY well!  We will have to transplant them very soon!  So far 17 out of 18 have sprouted nicely.  I was hoping for at least half of them to survive but look at these babies GROW!  And most of them have 2 to 3 sprouts per section!  Sam and I figured we have 34 of them right  now.  Karen and I were the only ones who knew that Brussel Sprout PLANTS have a large self-supportive stalk and each plant produces MANY Brussel Sprouts!  So even if HALF of these continue to grow we are going to have a TON of Brussel Sprouts!  YAY!  Could you imagine...34 Brussel Sprout "Trees" on a roof?  that makes me giggle!  I hope it works, tho!  Did you know that each plant/tree can grow up to 2 and a half feet tall!?  that's FANTASTIC!