Urban Gnomestead

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Bremerton, WA
Urban Gnomestead

I am a local garden consultant with a WSU Horticulture Basic Certificate.

01/10/2025

Awakening the ginger roots!!

Jen and I had good success with our baby ginger last growing season. I saved all the healthy looking mother roots and have been storing them in moist soil just waiting for the right time!

I am not sure if these will resprout and grow again but I figured it was worth a try.

There is a small layer of dirt in the bottom of the tray, ginger roots, and then topped with more nutrient rich soil.

I watered them well and placed them on a heat mat with lights and humidity dome!

Fingers crossed I start to see it come to life in a couple of weeks.

If not then I will still have time to get my hands on fresh ginger roots but I'm like 90% confident I can get this to work.

01/06/2025

Garden Talks for 2025 drop!!

A big thank you to for hosting the garden talks again for the 2025 season.

I hope you will come and join me this year as we go through 12 different heat loving crops. If you are new to gardening, experienced, or an expert come on out! Growing your own food is getting more and more important!! Let's share our knowledge.

First class is January 26th and we are talking about Hot & Sweet Peppers.

01/02/2025

Sorry for the delay...was with family yesterday.

Here is your first What To Seed for vegetables for the 2025 year! This is mostly for those that just cannot wait. Most of the time you will wait till February to start your seeds because January you spend planning and buying.

For those that cannot wait...
It's cold and dark still. If you plan to start any of these seeds they need to be done with a few extra care items.

Possible items needed:
1) Inside or slightly to moderately heated greenhouse
2) Grow lights
3) Heat mats
4) Cell trays/soil blocks/snail rolls (if you don't know look up seed starting snail rolls)
5) Solid bottom grow tray with humidity dome
6) Good seed starting soil (pre-made or homemade)

Lettuce - I will do outside in my greenhouse with just a heat mat and dome because it can handle the cold temps. If you want it to grow faster for fresh quick eating inside salad growing would be better. This first round of head lettuce and leaf is going to grow its hole life under cover in the greenhouse. If you don't have that wait another month before you start your lettuce or grow it inside for some good fresh salad mix.

Onions/Leeks/shallot - will need the heat mats, domes, and 12 hours of light a day. I like to do mine in solid compost to give them good nutrition because they are heavy feeders. I don't tend to seed mine yet and wait till middle of February but yes you can start now if you like.

Ginger/Turmeric is a must to start now. It will be done inside where it is warm. It will start in solid bottom trays filled with dirt and a humidity dome. Once it sprouts the dome and can come off and then 12 hours of light a day. Will eventually need to be potted up into large pots to encourage more growth. Many up sizing plantings will happen because we don't put our ginger outside till June.

12/31/2024

It's time to start planning your garden for next year and shopping through all those seeds catalogs.

Here are the seed companies that I recommend. I have created a list for local companies and then a list of the big box companies. *Every company was tagged for you to be able to find easily*

In my list for local companies I included Deep Harvest Farm for the first time because it is a small local farm and very similar to my growing environment. This is my first year trying seeds from them but they have been doing this for years so I am confident in their seed production. All other companies I have been purchasing from regularly for years now.

When it comes to the large box store companies I think High Mowing is my ultimate favorite but that comes from working with them out at the farm for years and getting to know our local seed representative.

When going with large box companies know that they grow all over the US and just bring their seeds to their central location. They are still great companies but you just need to pay closer attention to their growing days needed for their crops to make sure it is a variety that will mature well still in our growing climate.

12/28/2024

Sparkling taste off bottle number 4 brought you by the one and only

12/27/2024

Garden Talks for 2025 are being announced soon.

What would be the best day in your opinion?

12/23/2024

Today I took on the dangerous job of cleaning the echinacea seed pods to extract all the seeds.

I cut the flower heads off back in September once the petals all feel.

Put them in a bowl inside and let the just hang out for a few months.

This is a dangerous job because the echinacea seed heads have the beautiful protective sharp spikes all around them to protect the seeds. Grab the seed head the wrong way and you get a nasty poke from these things.

In picture 2 you can see how the spikes protect around the seeds at the base.

Picture 3 shows the chaf and seeds all together and I will need to slowly clean it out more to be left with just the seeds.

Once I get everything cleaned I will put 20 seeds into the freezer for a month and then do a germination test on them to see what the viability is.

My goal is to start 20 echinacea plants a year and put them in a 3 year growing cycle. After year 3 you can dig up the plant and be able to use the roots for medicine.

I was able to save the seeds this year because I don't have any other echinacea varieties yet for them to cross with so these will be true echinacea purpurpea seeds.

12/21/2024

Happy Yule!

Today is the winter solstice for the northern hemisphere. The shortest day and longest night.

In the darkness we can still see the beauty. This time of year is when my Tea Camilla blooms as a happy reminder that even in the darkness there is life and beauty. I know it's supposed to be the time of rest for the earth and our souls so I take the time to rest, be with family and friends, release the negative from this year and put it all behind.

Today marks the rebirth of the sun and she starts to make her way back around. It's time to set your positive intentions for the year to come. You have a strong impact on how you handle the daily by focusing on positive rather than filling your thoughts with negativity.

Let's start thinking about what our intentions will be for the year to come! Light a fire tonight and make your list of things you are letting go of by burning them in the fire.

Light a candle at the table and write your intentions for the year to come!

12/18/2024

I have a few more handmade gifts available for sale for any last minute shopping you might need to do. The sale of these items is what helps me to do my FREE garden talks each month.

2- engraved wood cutting boards $50 each
6 - miscellaneous size white potted spiders plants $5-10 dollars
8 - record planters with spider plants $15 each
4 - Lavender wreaths $50 each
5 - Betty Blue Lavender bunches $5 each
8 - Mini lavender bunches $2 each

12/12/2024

Spider Plants for sale this Sunday at the garden talk $10-20 price range.

Why spider plants?

1) Easy house plant to care for!
2) Can be outside in summer and inside during winter
3) Not toxic to animals
4) Proven to be #1 plant at purifying air of nasty toxins

The National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA), which tested the abilities of three common houseplants to remove formaldehyde from the air, found in preliminary tests that spider plants were the champs, removing 95 percent of the toxic substance from a sealed Plexiglas chamber in 24 hours.
https://www.nwf.org › Magazines
Spider Plants and Clean Air - National Wildlife Federation

One plant per 100 square feet is needed to effectively clean your household air. With a spider plant you will eventually get babies and can keep spreading the plants around your house.

The selling of these plants helps me put together the funds for next year's classes. In 2025 we will be taking deep dives into annual vegetables. One vegetable a month from start to finish.

12/10/2024

Come learn about citrus plants this Sunday at Ridgeline brewing from 1-3.

We will go over varieties, how to maintain, how to winterize, and where you can buy your citrus plants.

I will also have a handful of melted record planters and decorative planters with spider plants for sale. Along with a small selection of t-shirt. All of which make great Christmas gifts.

The sell of these items helps me put together these classes for the season. I am happy to say that we are working on the 2025 season and we will be switching to discussing annual vegetables. Each month we will take a deep dive into one vegetable from start to finish. Stay tuned for all the details.

12/07/2024

Found my monthly poster, a wood carved gnome for the gnomestead, and a delicious cider at Ashley's Pub

12/06/2024

These morning sunrises this fall have been amazing!

Helps me forget how cold to the bone it is outside on these late fall farm days.

I am so happy to be seeing as much of this sunshine that we have been. Makes the short days of the north not as bad.

12/02/2024

I got myself this handy dandy leaf mulcher and it's fantastic!

I took the rest of the leaves I collected from people and shredded them down. Which take the matter down to a 1:5.

It was enough to fill my 2 empty metal puppy pens to the top.

By shredding the leaves it will allow them to break down quickly and hopefully be usable by next year.

The leaf mold will get used in seed starting, up potting, transplanting, etc. It's not high in nutrients but it is great organic matter and should hopefully be teaming with microbiological activity.

Thank you to everyone who collected their leaves for me! This is truly a gardeners gold mine.

12/01/2024

Happy December 1st everyone!

If you are in the Peninsula area of Washington, can you believe the weather we are having? Here in Kitsap County (Bremerton) we woke up to our first frost of the season, which is 3 weeks later than what it usually is said to be.

I also cannot believe that I have items on my December seeding for you.

With it just now hitting a frost it's your last chance to get some garlic, shallots, or favas into the ground to overwinter. You will want to get them in ASAP if you have not!

I put in there poppies and snapdragons as well. You have two seeding options with these.
1) Sprinkle in the garden where you might want them and let them fall under the cover you hopefully have on your garden. This one does risk seeds being eaten by birds if they are seen.
2) Sow in cell trays, water them really good, and keep them in a cold greenhouse. Will need to remember to check on them through the winter and make sure they stay moist.

I put these two in here because they both germinate better with cold stratification. The freezing to thawing helps to break down the outer coating of the seed shell. Once the weather warms up it will be able to germinate easier.

Friendly reminder...if you haven't put your garden to bed and covered with a nice mulch layer please do! Take advantage of the sunshine and nice weather we are having.

11/29/2024

Please consider your small businesses over big corporations!!

Small business Saturday at the Poulsbo Farmers Market will have fresh vegetables, drinks, crafts, and more.

This will be our last market of the season and we are coming prepared for you all to be able to stick up on your delicious fresh vegetables.

What we will have:
Salad Mix (1 pound bags will be back for the end of season in limited quantities)
Spinach (limited)
Mustard Greens
Leeks
Beets
Carrots
Parsley
Kale
Collards
Swiss Chard
Brussel Sprouts Greens - bunches
Fennel bunches
Radishes
Delicata Squash
Baby Butternut Squash
Black Futsu Squash

11/28/2024

Today is a day to look at all your wonderful fall harvests coming in and to be thankful for the bounty that your garden provided or your local farmer provided.

Next is the time that we sit around the table with people in our lives. Each person around you has a purpose in your life and we should be reflecting on the reason and be thankful for them.

11/24/2024

UPDATE: Moved to the 3rd Sunday this month so December 15! Click the reminder to be notified.

We will be discussing citrus trees!!

I will also have all my shirts, totes, and lavender wreaths/bunches for sale.

Address

Bremerton, WA

Telephone

(360) 550-5103

Website

https://growoya.com/URBANGNOMESTEAD, https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=580941&u=2052323&m=52284&urllink&afftrack, https://d

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Videos

Garlic is starting to pop for the winter. Some varieties, like the elephant garlic, are more acclimated to my garden zone and will pop sooner than others. I love seeing the garlic start to pop this time of year. It's been oddly warm so I am glad they didn't pop sooner and get too big. If garlic grows too early it can sustain frost damage, if we ever get into the cold months.

Starting 2025 WCA (water soluble calcium) #wca #knf #watersolublecalcium #koreannaturalfarming

Added a splash of fall color and some forever dwarf Christmas trees.

Open season on cucumbers!! #cucumber #cucumbers #cucumberseason #farmlife #pnwgardening #openseason #huntingseason #kitsapcounty #kitsap #bremerton #silverdale #poulsbo #portorchard

It's Farmer Jen's birthday today!!!! Send her all the good wishes today because she deserves them. 🥳Happy Birthday Boss Lady 🥳 @rootsfarmwa

Preparing Hakuri Salad Turnips for the market! #hakuri #hakuriturnips #turnips #market #farmersmarket #thisishowwedoit #kitsapcounty #womenwhofarm #produce #whatittakes #smallscalefarming #regenerativeagriculture #regenerativefarming

Wacky Wednesday...carrot style! Life is too short..enjoy the time you have doing what you love with the people that matter the most in your life. Carrot season always provides the most entertainment, especially when it's super hot or super cold. Laughter is the best medicine. #carrots #carrotseason #carrot #funnycarrot #wackywednesday #humpday

Farmers Appreciation Week! Sweet thank you cards from kids in the community showing their appreciation for local farmers. #thankyou #farmerappreciation #farmersmarket #poulsbo #kitsapcounty #poulsbofarmersmarket #loveyourfarmer #supportlocalfarmers

Time to go #slugs #slugsoftiktok #pests #farmcritters #farmlife #farm #farming #kitsapcounty

July was a total hit around the GNOMESTEAD. #julysofar #julyharvest #julygarden #gardeninjuly #growingfoodinthecity #pnwgardening #zone8b #kitsapcounty #canteatgrass #growfoodnotlawns #dontforgetthepollinators #pollinatorgarden #pollinators #vegetables

Oya watering system update! I am loving the Oya watering pots. I am currently having to fill them once a week. This is really great with how busy I am out at the farm this time of the year because after a long day I don't always water to go out and water. Plus, the pesky raccoons cannot chew through these like they did my drip system. The reclaimed hot tub water hasn't had a negative impact on the plants either, which means I was able to neutralize it well enough. Between these raised metal Bridie Garden Beds and Oya watering systems, I feel like I have the best garden set up yet! Affiliate links for both these products are in a link on my BIO. #oyapots #growoya #wateringsystem #reclaimedwater #waterconservation #birdiegardenproducts #raisedbeds #epicgardening #growingfoodinthecity #pnwgardening #zone8b #kitsapcounty #poulsbo #portorchard #silverdale #bremerton #canteatgrass