2011 Gardening Plan

I've posted the 2011 garden plan to the blog.  Full details can be found by clicking the Landscape link under Features in the left-side navigation or by clicking here.

This year I've been using an online program called GrowVeg.com to build garden plans.  This software allows you to easily draw on various plant varieties, and it will automatically calculate the number of plants in a specific area.  I have found that it does not follow bio-intensive plant densities, which I generally use.  I have found using bio-intensive planting useful to reduce weeds.  In addition, the program allows for successive garden planing and much more.  A friend of mine and co-blogger at GrowingAppetite.com has been collaborating with me on a seed and plant order list using Google Docs, which is another great garden planning tool.  Using Google Docs, we can complete our plant list, and then decide who should start what what since greenhouse/coldframe/windowsill space is limited.

2011 Landscape Plans

All new 2011 landscape plans.

Potager kitchen garden plan.  Click here to see a larger version.

From 2011 Landscape

Click here to see a list of plant varieties we're planning to use.  All seeds and vegetable plant starts are ordered from Territorial Seed Company.  Edible fruits are through Raintree Nursery.  PNW natives are through Woodbrook Nursery.  This list will continue to be edited throughout the next couple of months.  Check back for more details.

Orchard garden plan.  Click here to see a larger version.

From 2011 Landscape

Kitchen Progress

It's been awhile since we've posted.  We're busy at work finishing up the kitchen remodel.  We're 2 years into this project, and will be very happy when it's done.  This has been a part-time endeavor, as many other projects have taken precedence and prevented us from completing this project.

We finished the drywall sanding and the next step is to prime and paint, which with any luck that will be happening this week.  Take a look:

From The Making of a Craftsman Home

From The Making of a Craftsman Home

After months of deliberating on colors, etc. we finally decided on the final pallet.  The solid color to the left (Hubbard Squash @ SW) is the base wall color, and the paper is a border from Bradbury & Bradbury Art Wallpapers that we plan to use around the dining area of the kitchen.

Other kitchen news:

• No more knob and tube wiring.
• We've decided to paint the cabinets as opposed to trying to refinish them (they're pickled oak).  More on that soon.
• We're making room for a wall of ovens (double oven + a separate microwave).
• We're looking into having gas installed for the cooktop.
• We've acquired hard maple countertops that we'll be installing.

There is a lot happening in this room.  It's definitely at a turning point where things should start coming together much faster.  I already like using it more and it's not even finished!  That might have something to do with the professional series copper color KitchenAid mixer I bought us for Christmas :-)