Today is a day for gardening. I have 15-ish plants started now. 5 roma from last years crop, 3 jalapeno from about 5 years ago, 3 bell peppers that I labeled as red bells from a few years ago [I'm not one to add dates to my seeds. Probably should start.] A pot of lavender seeds sprinkled in, a pot of chia sprinkled in, a magnolia from Dan's mom and a purple snow pea from last years trade!

Once these start & I have figured out where the plants I plan will go, I'll start some wolfberries! Plus in the next month or 2 I'll start my cucumbers and beets. A bit early I know but they grow so much better when given a head start. Dan is gonna raise & level out my veggie bed so I can't plant anything in it just yet thus beets being started indoors.

Garden plants raised bed:

• Roma
• Jalapeno
• Bell peppers
• Cucumbers
• Spinach
• Carrots
• Bok choy
• Purple snow peas

Veggies elsewhere:

• Zuccini 
• Butternut squash
• Sweet potato

We plan to level out some of the dirt of our jacked up yard, throw some seed down and mulch around the patio with lain pavers. Allowing for easy cleaning of these windows without trekking through plants. His coworker will be flying a drone over and getting some images of our yard for us in March. That'll help plan.

Magnolia and Japanese maples will be planted in a bed on the NE side of the patio. My Sycamore will be moved further north if its current location. The stones from the NE corner will be moved to the rock garden. The burberry bush will get relocated & finally my Peach will get some helpful guild plants. That's this years yard plans! More or less might occure!

I feel a tad frustrated. Things aren't going as I would hope with Iron Shot Cafe. I gotta stay positive though!!

I'm going to get back into the DCCM now that I've got the baby thing all figured out. I won't be able to work the farmer's market either day since I have to work at the library.

I've got a few new items that I think might sell better then shortbread. Shortbread being an acquired taste an all. Firstly, Cornbread Pound cake! Then if I keep getting rave reviews I'll add some protein bites to the mix. Not sure on pricing. I looked up starbucks since my pound cake in on par in size, a wee bit shorter which I make up for in thickness. Then subtracted some from that. So their lemon pound cake is $2.99 a slice, my cornbread pound cake I have at $2.50. Thoughts?

Planning the layout of the garden, tree guilds and reconstructing our torn up back yard is a lot of work. *heavy sigh* Some things that people claim are great in the tree guild won't work in mine because they attract harmful bugs to my delicate peach tree!

I really wonder though if my peach sapling will survive in it's current location. What with wet feet and not being grafted ... I'm attempting to help it out with some companion plants that will help it grow strong and perhaps deter the wee [giant] bunnies that are nibbling on it's stems. The wee buggers!

So far:
Peach tree guild:

• [insectary] garlic around the base to deter borer bugs and build up sulfur for anti-fungal.
• [insectary & pollinator] basil to repel aphids and attracts butterflies
• [insectary & pollinator] parsley to attract parasitic wasps & hoverflies 
• [nitrogen fixer] ?
• [ground cover] ?
• [mulch] ?

Apple tree guild:

• [insectary] ?
• [pollinator] ?
• [ground cover] clover
• [mulch] ?
• [nitrogen fixer]?

Paw Paw

• [insectary] ?
• [pollinator] ?
• [ground cover] ?
• [mulch] ?
• [nitrogen fixer]?

Clearly still needs a lot of work. Years worth actually. Especially since the trees are all wee saplings, the oldest comping up on 1 year old! The peach is super happy outside though even being so young!

Still haven't started my vegetable garden. Heidi might come out Sunday to help me start some seeds. At least tomato and jalapeno. I'll need a lot of dirt to bring that bed back up!

Patio update:

Cold, not calked and the manager of JSB home solutions is coming out Sunday afternoon to talk with us about the ever lengthening project. Should be fun.....>.>