July 10 , 2014
Pedal for Compost, Exotic Edibles, Summer Projects
Since July is not bad for tackling the non - sweaty project on our list , this week seehow to make magicout of plain concrete sculptures , pavers , and benches .
I intercept Merrideth Jiles for this one since years ago he gave my concrete cocker spaniel a new “ coating . ” Chester the existent bounder passed aside at Christmas , so I really value my sculpture .
He explains the steps to colorize : spray with Fe chelate compound , brush and rub dirt , protect with beeswax to preserve color . Go brainsick ! And get a short sweaty since you ’ve capture to do this one out of doors , right ?
Merrideth ’s on his own now , drive home on - quarry - drouth design and consultation service of process , yippee !
Another cool project : plan smear for wild flower cum this fall . I ’m so impressed about how many gardener are restoring prairies . One isDarlene Spencernear Fredericksburg , who gets ourViewer Picture .
Marie & David Fullerfrom San Antonio broadcast in their lovely native jumbo coneflowers ( Rudbeckia maxima ) .
Daphne explains how to grow jumbo coneflower asPlant of the Week . I have my first one last twelvemonth after admire it in so many native flora garden .
I love the leafy silvery foliation that hunker down down quite depressed & kempt , until late saltation / former summer when it claims its name with over - the - top salad days spikes . Sort of like succulents in leaping .
Mine gets some dawn Dominicus and then afternoon sunshine tardily . 12 ° last winter did n’t unnerve it . Daphne apprise cutting back this evergreen perennial after it blooms .
Although it likes dampish spots , mine has made it through hebdomadal lachrymation , though I gave it a little extra last year as a tardily - implant neophyte . Deer - substantiation , so they say .
Now , you ’ve find out of lemongrass oil , but what about yacon , gynura , oca and moringa?Jay Beard from Lone Star Nurseryjoins Tom tointroduce us to some exotic edibles that take the heat energy .
Lone Star Nursery is a kinfolk operation , celebrating their 10th day of remembrance ! Jay and wife Flint evoke plants organically , starting from seminal fluid . They ’re also get up four great kids , who ( except for the baby ) can tell you all about yacon . This summertime bloom perennial rewards you with pounds of sweet white potato - like genus Tuber fare January .
Oca : await like oxalis , do n’t you retrieve ? Its farewell are edible and its prolific tubers have a crispy apple / Pyrus communis flavor , cognate to jicama .
Moringa turns into a 15 -20 ’ tree diagram . Leaves , seed pods , and tubers are not only edible but high in vitamin . Since it ’s got a 50/50 chance to return after freeze , acquire in a bay window and protect in wintertime .
You ’ll find Lone Star Nursery ( and some of the kids , too ) at Saturday’sSustainable Food Center Farmers ’ Market downtown .
And at theMueller and Cedar Park Farmers ’ Marketsto find fault up these plant and read more about them .
Online atLone Star Botanicals , and at the market , cull up Flint ’s organic pelt creams , medicative tinctures , teatime , indispensable fossil oil and even rude mosquito spray concocted from their plant life trimmings .
Another local recycling initiative , Compost Coalition , further picking up java shop grounds to spare the landfill and lend atomic number 7 to our compost piles .
Daphne explainshowGround to Groundcan perk up your compost pile even when we ’re feeling too sweaty to turn it .
On tour , freeze , snow , rainfall or heat does n’t deter theEast Side Compost Pedallersfrom their mission : to bend residential and commercial “ scrapple ” into compost , one consignment bike at a time .
Since 2012 , when Dustin Fedako and business better half Eric Goff put the pedal to the metal in five east Austin neighborhood , the Pedallers have keep 123,643 pound out of the landfill and reaped 30,910 pounds of compost from “ scrapple . ”
Commercial client likeEast Side Piesturn their vegetable scraps into rich compost at local farms , microgrowers , community gardens , and for their member . Cost savings to local farmers : $ 3284 .
Monica and Dannea Nelson give us a quick circuit of a few thing they reprocess at home , from vacuum cleaner clean solicitation to junk mail service ( admit what chain armor to compost and what to recycle ) . Great way to debar identity theft and feed your tomatoes at the same time !
See the whole story now !
Thanks for stopping by ! Next week , Steve Kainer from Hill Country Water Gardens & Nursery dives in with summertime crown for pool and fountains . Linda
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