Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Tread on Trafficking - Week 4

Hello lovely peeps! It is that time again to report on my tread on trafficking. You can help me reach my goal of $500.00 by going here.

Sunday -               30 min walk
Monday -              3 mile run outdoors
                             45 minutes weight lifting (upper)
Tuesday -              3 mile run on treadmill
                             45 minutes weight lifting (lower)
Wednesday -         3 mile run on treadmill
Thursday -             3 mile run on treadmill
                             Zumba
Friday -                30 min walk
Saturday -            1 hour yard work

That's 12 miles, 2 weight sessions, and 1 hour of Zumba! This upcoming week I am adding an extra weight lifting session to make up for the one I missed. Oye!

Thanks for checking in with me. Together we can help put an end human trafficking!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

The Great Worm Caper

As some of you know, I'm into the vermiculture movement. I have my green plastic bin in the basement where red wigglers eat my kitchen scraps and newspaper. The microbial processes involved fascinate me, and worms are cute. I don't care how grossed out other people get by annelids; I love them.

However, I am still learning. I am guilty of overfeeding them pulpy, veggie leftovers that alter the pH of the bin and encourage mite colonies to bloom. The mites don't hurt the worms, but they do indicate that the environment is in need of some tweaking. As a result, my worm colony deflated. I was sad and admonished myself for being a terrible vermi-parent. I will not succumb to failure however, and will no longer add too much food to the bin. I also ordered another package of worms. They came from California. :)

I know, I know. I strive to buy local when I do make purchases in order to decrease my ecological footprint, but the worm place I ordered from the first time around is no longer in business. I searched about online, but all the worm farms were far off. So, I checked reviews and prices, and went with Rainbowworms.com. I like rainbows, and I like worms. It works for me.

Why don't I just go outside and pick "wild" earthworms? Glad you asked! Earthworms from your yard or garden are not Eisenia fetida. They are often Lumbricus terrestris, though there are many types of worms. Eisenia fetida,  or the red wiggler, is the worm most commonly used in composting. In the wild, they live in transitional spaces like leaf litter and debris, rather than in the ground. Lumbricus terrestris would soon die out in the compost bin, as they will not survive the enclosed space filled with your garbage. So, while I am grabbing common earthworms from here and there to toss into my raised garden bed, I am ordering my composting worms from online. They arrive two days from shipping, and then get moved to the compost bin.

In this particular case, the pound of  worms (roughly 1,000 little guys) arrived Wednesday. I opened the box, untied their bag, and peeked in to see a mass of tiny, wriggling, vermicular bodies. I tied the bag shut, and went to get ready for a dinner with Soroptimist. My plan was to move the worms to the bin that evening when I came home.

After applying make-up and doing my hair, I happened to walk into the kitchen when I saw Malai and Quadrapus staring at the floor around the shoe mat. I peeked over their shoulders, and that's when I saw them. The worms were escaping! Tiny wormy bodies inched along the wooden floor like they were in some kind of race. (May have had something to do with the cat's black velvety nose right behind them...)

I giggled as I snatched up the twenty or so bodies on the floor and placed them in the bag. I scooted a few of them off the counter back into their box, and overturned all the shoes to make sure I had rescued them all. (It is certain death for a worm lost in the kitchen. Worms need moisture to breathe through their skin, and we don't have puddles or anything wet lying around.)

I took the box downstairs and decided to just dump them into the bin since apparently they were eager to get going somewhere. My bin can stack up to five levels of prime vermi-real estate, and I put these guys on the second level to start their work. I left the basement light on to discourage runaways (they hate light), and went back upstairs to finish primping for dinner.

Dinner, btw, was held by an international non-profit organization known as Soroptimist (meaning "best for women"). The Bridgeport chapter was celebrating their year of fundraising success and awarding women in the community who are making a difference in their lives. My boss is a member of the organization, and invited me to attend.

When I returned, Lover was home and just making himself some pizza. I noticed that the basement light was off. I flipped it on and quickly ran downstairs in my six-inch heels. I rounded the corner to the bin, and sure enough... I began shrieking as I saw at least 500 worms making a break for it.

Here's the thing. Worms that have recently traveled are very edgy and restless once they've reached the destination. It takes a few days to get them settled into one place. General suggestions are to leave the lights on because this will deter them from leaving, and to also put a layer of dry newspaper on the top of the bin because they'll want to dig deeper where it's moist.

No light, and no dry layer, and it's a sudden free-for-all.

I spent the next half-hour picking worms off the floor and from around and underneath boxes, boots, canvases, tools, and towels from the laundry. Still dressed to the nines. After laughing, Lover went back upstairs and ate his pizza. He's not a worm guy, and won't touch them.

This morning I found five worms outside the bin. Three had dried up. Two were saved.

At least I know these guys are healthy.

Cracks in the Plan

So, now that our days of torrential weather have ended, my garden is drying out and cracks are forming in the raised bed. Woe is me! I have watered it with the hose, but the cracks are telling. Forming a hard crust can make it difficult for seedlings to sprout, and it may indicate that there is not enough organic material in the soil. Curses!

This is not really my garden. But you get the idea.
So, I am buying a bag of sand to fill in the cracks (though I am seriously considering going to the beach and bringing a bucket), and then getting a few bags of an organic compost to lay on top. Or maybe I'll take a trip to the nearby woods and get bags of leaf litter. I may have to replant some seeds, or do my best to try and unearth them without damaging them. Some things have sprouted, like the crops of radishes, kohlrabi, cucumbers, corn, beans, and peas. But the zucchini, carrots, and lettuces... Argh!

Live and learn. Always with the learning!!!

Monday, May 23, 2011

Garden Update

I haven't been raptured. I'm okay with that. I just planted a garden. I'd like to see it through.

The tomatoes, peppers, tomatillos, and eggplant are all doing fine in their pots. I transplanted thyme, oregano, parsley, and lovage into some of the tomato pots, and they seem to be liking their new homes. Kale, broccoli, cabbage, garlic chives, and red onions are all looking great in the raised bed. The L-shaped vegetable bed is quiet except for the pumpkin and loofah transplants.

Then there are the direct sown seeds. The snow peas were the first to poke through the surface. Yesterday, I noticed there were also radishes of the French Breakfast variety, kohlrabi, and chioggia beets sprouting. With this week of thunderstorms, I had some fears that some of the seeds would get washed away. I was dumping excess water out of pots, and checking the beds daily. Today, there are Scarlet Globe radish, Black Spanish radish, Sylvetta arugula, golden chicory, and Amish snap pea raising up little leaves.

A neighbor noticed me and called out a good morning. He asked me how we built the bed. He wants to build his own.

The bed is about 36' long. It's 5' wide for half of it, and 3' wide for the other half. This is because of the fence the bed is against - the raised bed fits the shape of the fence.

Beds are generally 4' wide to make it easy for you to reach in for sowing, weeding, harvesting, staking, etc. We used untreated wood for the bed (chemically treated wood is a bad idea for a vegetable garden). It's pretty easy to take a drill and secure wood together at the ends. You can get four 8' long pieces of 2" x 10", cut two of the pieces in half, and have a 4' x 8' vegetable bed. Instead of going through the back-breaking work of turning over sod, lay down layers of newspaper. Once the soil is put in, everything growing underneath it will die.

For soil, I used GreenCycle. They delivered a mix of organic topsoil and compost to my driveway. We then hauled it all over, using tarps, to the beds. It was hard work, but I had some good people helping me out.

Pictures coming soon. Watching these little guys grow is so exciting!

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Count Your Blessings, foo'.



Inspired by my good friend over at Daily Dose of Diva, I am reminded to count my blessings. This dreary weather can get me in a down mood. A week of rain and gray skies! There are some additional pressures, but I'm going to stick with blaming the weather for right now.

The blessings:
  • I have a brain. It allows me to absorb and synthesize new information, recall good times, and regulate all motor functions. Gotta love that.
  • I'm with this guy. He's funny, extremely smart, very supportive, and he challenges me. We have a wonderful partnership and share a home with our strange, furry kids. 
  • The kids. Malai, the chihuahua, and Quadrapus, the Munchkin cat.
  • The pets. The snake, the fish, the cherry shrimp, and the composting red wigglers.
  • I have a beautiful start to a garden, with the help of some good people. I am making a healthy choice to grow my own food and to grow it organically with heirloom varieties.
  • I have artistic skill and plenty of supplies.
  • My car had to stay overnight at the shop recently. The bill ended up being $750.37. I am grateful that I had the wherewithal to save money and be able to pay the bill. I am grateful to have a running car.
  • I am grateful for my job, and for the two future positions I have been offered. 
  • I am grateful for access to a gorgeous 400 acre farm, and friends who live or party there.
That's enough blessings from me for now. What are you grateful for?

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Tread on Trafficking - Week 3

Yes! Week 3! For more info, read this post.

I was almost able to return to my regularly scheduled programming. Here we go:

Sunday -                                2 hours yard work
Monday -                             3 miles walking
Tuesday -                              Nothing
Wednesday -                         3 miles running
                                             45 minutes weight lifting (upper)
Thursday -                            3 miles running
                                             45 minutes weight lifting (lower)
                                            Zumba
Friday -                                3 miles walking
                                            45 minutes weight lifting (upper)
Saturday -                            Nothing

That's 12 miles and 3 lifting sessions. I originally pledged an hour of cycling. If my gracious sponsors may allow it, I am replacing cycling with an hour of Zumba, since my bike has issues. Adjusting my schedule for these things has been difficult some days, but I am getting it in. Remembering that I am doing it for a cause definitely helps.

You can do your part in ending human trafficking by sponsoring me here. Your donation is tax-deductible and you will receive a tax receipt automatically if you donate through my page. Help me reach my goal of $500.00!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Tread on Trafficking - Week 2

Wow, another week! Please check out my original post on Tread on Trafficking so you know what it's all about!

Check-in for this week:

Goal: $500.00
Raised so far: $218.00

Sunday                   Nothing
Monday                  3 mile run outdoors
                              45 minutes weight lifting
Tuesday                 Nothing
Wednesday            3 mile walk outdoors
                              45 minutes weight lifting
Thursday                3 mile walk outdoors
                              1 hour yardwork
Friday                    3 mile walk outdoors
                              2 hours yardwork
Saturday                4 hours yardwork

So, this week got a little messed up. On Wednesday, I woke up with a pain in my neck. It got worst throughout the day. I did weights for lower body to avoid the neck issue. On Thursday, I awoke with an even greater pain. But I had to get the raised bed painted and the dirt arrived, so I filled my pots with mixes of topsoil, peat moss, and perlite. On Friday, the pain was still there. I walked 3 miles on each of those days, and did yardwork anyway, because I felt I had to be as proactive as possible. On Saturday, my neck felt much better, but it was a day committed to yardwork and entertaining guests. I did my 12 miles, but nine of them were walking. I only did two weight lifting sessions because of the neck issue. I didn't cycle because my bike still needs work. I also missed Zumba because of the neck issue. :(

In its place, I got a lot of much needed yardwork done. I stayed active, and will resume the usual routine this week. Thanks for tuning in, and please sponsor me so that together, we can help end human trafficking.

Monday, May 16, 2011

A Dirty Fiesta

It finally happened - my dirt arrived.


Four yards of organic mixed topsoil and compost! Don't you just want to lay in it like a pile of leaves? ;)

First, I painted the bed.


Malai "helped." The pots are for tomatoes, peppers, tomatillos, herbs, and dwarf sugar peas.


Then, with actual help of course, the bed was filled! Here there will grow cucumbers, okra, kohlrabi, lettuces, zucchini, onions, leeks, thai basil, spinach, radishes, and broccoli.


We had dirt leftover, so a whole new garden bed was created!


All those daylilies and other things near the foreground of the photo were up against the house. I moved them to the end of the fence and created an L-shaped vegetable bed. This is where the corn, pumpkin, loofah, beans, and peas are going. All that's needed now are some trellises!

It was a lot of work. Digging, painting, carrying, and planning. Couldn't have done it without the help of family and friends, so thank you to them. At the end of the day and after a shower, Lover and I settled into our couch not wanting to move again. Our chihuahua and Munchkin cat curled around us, and we held cups of hot gomaichu (a great tea with a woody, savory flavor). Worn, accomplished, clean, and sore, I felt completely content.

It's been a slow start, but next year will be better. Now that the beds are in, I can plant cool weather crops like brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) and peas early on. The onions, tomatoes, and peppers will get started with the grow-light and heat mats, and everything else will get put in as soon as the last frost pasts. Gardening makes me super happy. What makes you happy?

Monday, May 9, 2011

Treading on Trafficking - Week 1

It was my first week to complete Tread on Trafficking. I pledged 12 miles of running, three 45-minute sessions of weight lifting, and 1 hour of biking per week for eight weeks to raise awareness and money for Love146's fight against child sex slavery and exploitation.

This week I was sponsored for $218.00. Thank you so much to Rachel and Dave for their contributions! I have a goal of $500.00. If you'd like to help prevent human trafficking, please visit my page and donate!

So, let's see how I did for Week 1 of 8.
  • Sunday - Nothing
  • Monday - 3 mile run on treadmill
  •                 45-minute session weight lifting
  •                 (added bonus - 30 minute walk after dinner)
  • Tuesday - Nothing, due to a long meeting.
  • Wednesday - 3 mile run on treadmill
  •                      45-minute session weight lifting
  • Thursday - Zumba! 45 minutes
  •                   3 mile run on treadmill
  • Friday - 3 mile run on treadmill
  •              45-minute session weight lifting
  • Saturday - My plan was to bike. But my bike was not up to par. :(   So instead I did 2 hours of yardwork in my yard and in a friend's. 

So, that was it! 12 miles and three 45-minute workout sessions. I also went for walks, and joined Zumba just for fun!

You can join and be Treader, too! Just check out the link above!

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Bridgeport Beautifies


Our team service project (TSP) was in full gear in April! There were mural workshops and workshops for seed starting and stone sculptures. To find out more, check out this blog.

TSP is certainly a challenge. You're thrown into a room with nine strangers and expected to invent a service project that has everyone's buy-in. Just add cameras and you've got the Real World of service-learning.

Yet, we successfully completed the big day for our TSP: the Park City Sweep. The Saturday involved city clean-up in 20 neighborhoods, with over 200 volunteers also engaging in new plantings, and repainting benches and picnic tables. Come June 4th, we'll have our Ribbon-Cutting ceremony at the downtown Bridgeport Public Library, to celebrate our installation of a community garden and new public mural.




My current responsibility is in the compilation and writing of a book documenting our project, "Bridgeport Beautifies." I am so excited to be doing this. I am writing about the importance of urban beautification as remediation for urban decay and unimaginative or problematic city planning. I get to talk about murals, gardens, guerilla seed bombing, and the vital importance of city cleanliness. We''re ordering a few copies, so if you're interested in seeing it, you'll have to check it out at the Bridgeport Library!

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Tread on Trafficking

Today, I want to tell you about an organization called Love146. Love146 is intent on ending child sex slavery and exploitation. Heavy topic, right? Right. But there's something you can do to help.

First, let me tell you more about Love146. Their services not only include methods in preventing human trafficking, but also providing aftercare for child sex slave survivors. One of my fellow Public Allies is placed there and cares deeply about his work. I have taken one of their trainings in identifying victims of human trafficking, and though the content can be upsetting, the upside is that I learned ways of how I can do my part here in Connecticut. Yes, sex slavery with children does happen here.

And this is where you come in.

Love146 is currently holding "Tread on Trafficking." From their website:

Tread on Trafficking is a virtual event that happens across the globe beginning May 1st, 2011. Those who tread on trafficking put their foot down to raise awareness about child sex slavery and funds to care for survivors and those vulnerable to exploitation. Treaders ask sponsors to support them for the number of miles or hours they spend running, swimming, biking, or working out in some form over the eight week period of May & June. Becoming a treader is really simple, anyone, anywhere can sign up. All proceeds raised by those treading benefit the work of Love146.

I have signed up to be a Treader. I will run 12 miles per week, lift weights 3 times per week, and cycle for 1 hour per week for the eight weeks. I am asking, to anyone who is able, that you sponsor me in Tread on Trafficking (or become a Treader yourself!). My target goal is $500.00, but it would be awesome to go even further. You can check out my fundraising page here. (Your donation is tax-deductible and you will receive a tax receipt automatically if you use my page.)

I greatly and deeply appreciate anything you can do. Together, we can put an end to child slavery and exploitation.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Park City Sweep

Public Allies Bridgeport had an awesome weekend! We had our big Park City Sweep*, where we had over 200 volunteers out at 21 sites on Saturday for street clean up, plantings, and painting. Participating groups included United Way of Coastal Fairfield County's Wi-Mentor Program, high school teams from buildOn, and groups from Alpha Community Services, Sacred Heart University, and Fairfield Prep's Fathers & Sons Program.

 
 Even Mayor Finch decided to get in on the action and plant a tree at Washington Park!


There was a lot of fun to be had as we did our part in caring for Bridgeport.




We planted seedlings in the Library's new "Michelle Obama Garden."




The results of our Stone Sculpture workshop were laid out in the Library Garden.



These pickle barrels were repurposed into planters.



We send out a heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers and organizations that made this day possible!

For the big celebration, we will be having a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the downtown Bridgeport Public Library on June 4th, from 12pm-3pm. Come out and have a good time!

*Even though the Sweep is over, you can still do your part! If you would like to continue participating in Groundwork Bridgeport's biannual Park City Sweep, please contact Jack Dillon at director@groundworkbridgeport.org or 203-335-6126. I've already signed up!

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Earthplace in Westport

Lover and I visited the Westport Nature Center and cruised its trails. I've decided to start learning the manual settings on my camera, and Lover is helping me out. First practice shots:



Don't these fiddleheads look gigantic? They're actually the size of a half-dollar. Does anyone under twenty know what a half-dollar looks like?

Also, we came across this guy:






And, then, this guy:




He was alone, but he was a sight to behold. I walked one way, and Lover went looking around in another. I don't think he realized he became part of the photo shoot.





Oh! Now he's looking! Unfortunately, the only pic I got of this male in full-feathered array was blurry:




But he was quite the model, anyway.

So then we continued, and came upon a bog. 




I love turtles! Lover then pointed out this:


Can you guess what all those little black dots are?


If you said tadpoles, you are correct!


These guys were newly emerged. There were hundreds!

Next up, we saw another turkey:





This one didn't stick around for pictures, though. So, onward we walked, until we came upon Lover's favorite tree.





Big tree. While we stood, we were interrupted by noises in the brush.





There are two in the photo above, but in all there were five deer watching us.



Can you see three deer in the pic below?



 Ah, I love spring days in the forest. The green is well on its way.