Posts Tagged ‘flowers’

23 Sep 2011

Adventure to Ali’s Organics

Posted by Jake. 4 Comments

Ali is one of my heroes!!!  She’s been growing her own food for quite a few decades now…and she’s doing it all organically….and beyond!!  No chemicals…..!!!!

Here’s some…of what Ali is growing on a tiny 1/4 acre:  48 fruit trees, 3 of them are nuts. Aside from the fruit trees, there are: 17 grape vines, a boysenberry patch, raspberry patch and triple crown
blackberry patch, ohhh…and 5 Strawberry patches all different varieties.
There’s also a large asparagus patch and a currant patch…and so many veggies you can’t count..! SOOOO INSPIRING!!!!  She also keeps bees…so they can tend to the flowers.

The coolest part in my opinion??  She’s sharing HOW…to do this for ourselves!!  Ali offers FREE CLASSES!!  Check out her website for more info.  My gardening hat is off….in deep gratitude for all she shares!  Thank you Ali!!!!

Come take a peek at her little patch of paradise.  These photos were taken a few days ago…as fall began creeping into our southern Utah valleys.  The videos at the bottom of this post, were taken in spring.  Thanks for the tour Ali…and thanks for sharing SO much info…and passion…with the world!!

 For those interested, Ali offers some of the best gardening goodies in southern Utah.  Heirloom seeds, rocks dusts, kelp, mychorrhizal fungi, plant starts, and tools of all types….THE GOODS!!

Here’s Ali’s Info:

Ali’s Organics - http://alisorganics.com/

Ali’s Organics (Facebook) - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alis-Organics-Garden-Supply

Ali’s Blog (Outstanding in the Garden) - http://outstandinginthegarden.net/

Looking from the street at Ali’s garden, orchard and greenhouse.
Visiting this place every week…is pure JOY!!!
Ali’s retail store. She sells heirloom seeds, tools, fertilizers like rock dusts, kelp, compost…. and so much more!!
So much life!!! Looking north into the veggie area.
The veggie patch
The most amazing grape arbor I’ve ever seen!!!
Apples galore!!!! I think these may be Liberty cultivar. She has many cultivars growing!!
The greenhouse. Used for year round growing and sprouting. She intelligently built cold frames on the south side of the greenhouse, with automatic window vents! Brilliant!!!
Caught Ali working in the greehouse!!!
Ali surprised me by showing me a few of the residents of the greenhouse. She had to look for them under the growing table.
Salamanders!! They make a great team with Ali!! Keeping slugs and other unwanted guests to a minimum in the greenhouse.
Cool lookin’ dudes!!! There’s two of them…and they seem to love Ali.
Ivy and Fern…Ali’s goat and cow. They also love Ali..immensely!! Every little creature that lives at Ali’s just LOVES her…it’s evident she loves them too!!!
Ivy jumped up on her perch to show me her beauty.
Casper the cat….he’s old…and extremely loving. Yup…going to ali’s place is like going to visit Dr. Doolittle!!!
The chicken house. Squirrel bait….one of her old roosters is out front saying hello to the ladies.
This is brilliant!! It’s a portable quail tractor!!
Poppy and Lily…Ali’s goose and duck duo(security guards). Behind them…the quail tractor. Ali just pulls it around the fruit orchard..letting them scratch and deposit poop!!
Beautiful little quail egg!!!!
They are a tiny little breed of quail.
Poppy…the security guard. She likes to rest her neck on Ali’s shoulders…it’s adorable!!

27 Jan 2009

COLOR AND GROWTH in the GROWING DOME. TOMATOES TOO!

Posted by rawutah. 4 Comments

asparagus_sm1The “purple asparagus” we planted last week has started to sprout! This is all so new to us! All these new signs of life are very exciting! This variety of asparagus is just eaten raw, off the stalk! We’re growing it this first year until it goes to seed, then letting it grow again next year and will harvest at the end of the next growing season. Guess that’s the way of the Asparagus. Ahhhh the genesis of life……!

(click on pictures for larger view)

One of the goals we’ve envisioned…..is to be able to walk around the dome eating as you walk…eating a plant leaf here….or a flower there…or maybe just eat a whole tomato and add some fresh herbs like basil or cilantro for flavor combo fun! By the time you get around the dome….you might be too full to keep eating….sounds nice to me!

There couldn’t be a more peaceful place to enjoy a fine meal off the vine!

Here’s a quick tour as of this morning, outside temp is around 32F. Inside temp at 78F and 60 percent humidity.
East side of the Dome, capturing early morning sunlight
East side of the Dome, capturing early morning sunlight
Little tomato plants – “Early Girl” hybrids. We’re seeing if we can produce a bunch of fruit early…then transplant with heirloom varieties in a couple months…..we’ll see!
Close up of tomato plant

Close up of tomato plant

I think I’ve found a new love in tomatoes….they’re awesome plants….a lot to learn about!  I’ll be doing a post very soon on local tomato growers. Including soil and hydroponics! Not wanting to re-invent the wheel, we’re asking around about local methods and varieties used in growing these amazing plants….more to come!

Splash of color for the beneficial insects and ME!

Splash of color for the beneficial insects and ME!

"Parrot Feather" floating pond plant

"Parrot Feather" floating pond plant

Little Lemmons

Little LemmonsViolas! Love the color. Hopefully the good bugs will also! Spinach is growing behind them.

Chard keeping warm next to the lava rock
Chard keeping warm next to the lava rock

GROW YOUR OWN!