Good news! I found a local source for red wigglers as a result of my post on neighborsgo! I just love it when things work out. The worms are at Grand Prairie’s Worm Farm, and I plan to go there and see them being divided on August 9th. They aren’t ready yet, but as soon as they are I’ll get some and start my own worm bin. I can use the time to get my container ready. The owner of Grand Prairie’s Worm Farm, Vickie Sullivan, said I’ll need a 14 to 18 gallon plastic container with a lid, a pound and a half of shredded newspaper, and a pound of coconut fiber. I’ve got lots of newspaper, but I’ll have to find out where to buy coconut fiber.
While I’m waiting for my worms, I decided to plant a fall garden. Of course, it is the hottest time of the year, and we all know nothing is going to grow in this heat without lots of water, mulch, and shade, but any plant that can make it through July and August will probably be a great producer when the weather cools.
I’m a little out of practice with vegetable gardening, though. I’ve spent the last few years seeking out and planting drought tolerant plants and buying all my produce at the grocery store, but a close look at my recent grocery bills has made me start thinking about growing some of my own food. I’m starting with tomatoes, peppers, squash, eggplant and basil. I found those available as plants, and there are several other vegetables I’d like to grow from seed, including lettuce, spinach, radishes, more varieties of squash, and beans. So far I haven’t found the seeds I want locally, so I will probably have to order them from someplace like Burpee.
This morning, early, I planted my new little baby plants. By midday they were looking droopy, so I gave them some shade. I stuck the little crookneck summer squash pictured above in the bed with my roses because I don't have much room right now. Actually, I have half an acre, but like I said, it is full of all this stuff I’ve been accumulating in the last few years. I’ll have to clear some space for vegetables if this trial run works out. It may be that I’ve lost my green thumb entirely, but I sure hope not.
