Marilyn and Cliff have gardens at home (H) and in New Russia, NY (NR) and also a triple plot in the Lafayette College Community Organic Garden (OG). They enjoyed sizable organic gardens in the 80s and have kept small gardens annually but appreciate the fun and good food the Lafayette OG and NR plots provide. [Lafayette Organic Gardening] [Cliff's 2015 Garden Blog] [Cliff's 2014 Garden Blog] [Cliff's 2013 Garden Blog] [Cliff's 2012 Garden Blog] [Cliff's 2011 Garden Blog]
December 29
Froze potatoes.December 28
Froze garlic.December 24
Started purple Echinacea from saved seed (12).December 22
Rebuilt compost bin at H. Thinned strawberries and put in posts at OG.December 21
Emptied compost bimn into garden at H.December 10
Froze potatoes.December 7
Spread compost in OG.December 4
Froze garlic. Put down pathways in NR.December 3
Planted asparagus in NR. Harvested brussel sprouts and cabbage.December 2
Froze garlic.November 28
Spread compost at OG.November 26
Harvested lettuce, swiss chard, brussel sprouts, kale at OG. Thinned strawberries and spread compost. Sprayed raspberries with neem.November 24
Harvested cherry tomatoes at H. Indoor tomatoes set fruit.November 19
Froze potatoes. Harvested brussel sprouts in NR and cherry tomatoes at H.November 18
Froze potatoes.November 16
Picked brussel sprouts at OG. Spread compost.November 13
Froze brussel sprouts and potatoes. Dug beets and carrots in OG.November 12
Froze kale and brussel sprouts. NR cleanup and harvested brussel sprouts and broccoli. Sorted potatoes. Gathered the "seed" pumpkins.November 11
OG cleanup and compost spreading. Harvested kale and brussel sprouts.November 7
OG cleanup and compost spreading.November 6
Froze brussel sprouts and kale. Covered spinach, garlic and cranberries for the winter in NR. Picked brussel sprouts, carrots, kale in OG.November 5
Picked mushrooms, brussel sprouts and kale in NR. Froze potatoes.November 4
Picked brussel sprouts in OG and laid garden fabric and did cleanup.November 2
Picked kale in OG and laid garden fabric.October 30
Froze kale and brussel sprouts. Some garden cleanup and fabric laid in NR. Brussel sprouts, carrots, beets harvested in OG.October 29
Picked raspberries, kale and brussel sprouts in NR. Sorted and froze potatoes.October 28
Picked kale, brussel sprouts and swiss chard in OG. Froze kale brussel sprouts and swiss chard.October 26
Picked raspberries in OG.October 25
Covered lettuce in OG and tomato at H.October 24
Froze kale. Sprayed grapevines.October 23
Garden cleanup in OG. Harvested raspberries, kale, beets, and brussel sprouts. Topped some beds with compost. Sprayed neem.October 21
Garden cleanup in OG. Harvested raspberries, tomatoes, kale, and broccoli at OG. Harvested oyster mushrooms and watermelons at home.October 19
Garden cleanup in OG. Planted bed of spinach and replanted rye.October 18
Picked raspberries, peppers brussel sprouts in OG. Garden cleanup. Started indoor tomatoes at H. Harvested oyster mushrooms at H.October 16
Froze brussel sprouts and kale in NR. Garden cleanup. Harvested cranberries and broccoli and sorted potatoes.October 15
Harvested raspberries and cleanup in OG. Harvested brussel sprouts and kale in NR.October 11
Harvested raspberries, lettuce, tomatoes, watermelon, brussel sprouts in OG. Weeded and cleaned up. Canned sauerkraut. Froze kale and brussel sprouts. Started more sauerkraut.October 10
Picked raspberries in NR. Harvested spinach, brussel sprouts, broccoli, kale and cabbage in NR.October 9
Picked raspberries in NR. Froze onions and garlic.October 8
Picked tomatoes, raspberries, broccoli and dug the last potatoes in NR. Clean up, weeded.October 7
Picked raspberries, dried beans, lettuce and brussel sprouts in OG.October 5
Picked raspberries and kale in OG.October 3
Picked raspberries, tomatoes in oG. Clean up.October 1
Picked raspberries, tomatoes, watermelon, acorn squash, cucumber, cantaloupe, sage, green beans, grapes, peas in NR. Cleanup. Froze onions.September 30
Picked raspberries in OG.September 28
Picked dried beans, broccoli, watermelon, raspberries, brussel sprouts in OG. Did cleanup.September 26
Picked raspberries in OG. Weeded and cleaned up.September 25
Picked beans, snow peas, broccoli, watermelon, tomatoes, grapes in NR. Dug potatoes. Canned tomatoes at H.September 24
Picked raspberries, beans, dried beans, lettuce and carrots in OG. Picked summer squash and a cantaloupe in NR.September 23
Froze onions in NR.September 21
Picked raspberries, grapes, tomatoes and eggplant in OG.September 19
Froze onions.September 17
Harvested tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, beans, raspberries, and parsley in OG. Planted garlic in NR. Harvested tomatoes, potatoes, beans, snow peas, kale, cabbage, brussel sprouts, watermelon, cantaloupe, broccoli in NR. Froze cantaloupe.September 15
Started a batch of sauerkrautSeptember 14
Canned picklesSeptember 13
Picked raspberries, grapes at OG. Froze melons. Canned tomatoes.September 11
Picked raspberries, grapes, strawberries and watermelon in OG. Mint at H Picked cantaloupe, watermelon, cabbage, broccoli, green beans, brussel sprouts, in NR. Froze melons.September 10
Picked tomatoes, brussel sprouts, green beans and popcorn at OG. Picked Cantaloupe in NR.September 9
Juiced grapes and canned grape juice.September 7
Picked berries and 50+ lbs of grapes at OG. Mashed grapes.September 5
Planted spinach in NR. Picked tomatoes at H.September 4
Picked broccoli, cauliflower and dug potatoes in NR. Put down fabric for outside barn garden bed and rhubarb.September 3
Picked tomatoes, corn, watermelon, cantaloupe, summer squash, basil, green beans, cucumbers and dug potatoes. Dried basil.September 2
Picked watermelons, eggplant, basil, dried beans, green beans and berries in OG. Picked cucumbers at H. Garden cleanup. Dried basil.August 31
Picked grapes, crenshaw melons, eggplant, berries in OG. Garden cleanup. Sprayed oil and soap. Planted rye, swiss chard, spinach.August 29
Picked crenshaw melons in OG. Minor garden cleanup.August 28
Canned tomatoes.August 27
Harvested corn, tomatoes, broccoli, kale, green beans in NR. Froze corn in NR and H. Canned beets.August 26
Harvested onions in NR. Weeded in OG. Harvested tomatoes and beets.August 25
Harvested kale, beans, tomatoes, watermelon, cantaloupe in OG.August 24
Weeded in OG. Froze cataloupe and watermelon.August 23
Harvested tomatoes, watermelon, grapes and corn in NR. Froze corn.August 22
Harvested tomatoes, potatoes, broccoli, green beans in NR. Weeded. Put white ground cover around 3 trees.August 21
Harvested corn, snow peas, broccoli, tomatoes, potatoes in NR. Weeded in NR.August 20
Harvested corn in NR.August 19
Harvested beans, tomato and potatoes in NR. Froze green beans.August 18
Weeded at OG. Put up trellis wire. Froze onions, and cateloupe. Harvest squash, cucumbers, beets, canteloupe, green beans and watermelen. Made pesto.August 17
Picked tomatoes, eggplant, canteloupe, basil, and watermelon in OG. Picked cucumbers at H. froze onions and canteloupe. Topped swiss chard in OG. Canned tomatoes.August 16
Picked beans in OG. Cut back swiss chard. Weeded. Froze beans and squash. Canned tomatoes.August 15
Picked peas, beans, squash in NR. Tomatoes, squash and canteloupe in OG.August 14
Picked peaches in NR.August 12
Froze beans. Picked cucumber in OG, H and NR. Harvested beets in OG. Squash and an onion in NR. Planted/replanted kale, spinach, beets and carrots in OG. Started squash-cucumber-eggplant pickles in crock.August 11
Picked beans, dried beans, eggplant, squash and cucumber in OG. Weeded. Topped broccoli.August 10
Harvested 1 peach at H (deer got 6). Picked tomatoes, cantelope and a watermelon at OG. Weeded.August 9
Planted spinach in NR. Weeded.August 8
Harvested peach, summer squash and beans in NR. Weeded.August 7
Harvested peaches and onion in NR.August 6
Harvested potatoes, snow peas, beans, onion and broccoli in NR. Canned tomatoes.August 5
Picked an onion in NR, blueberries at H. Harvested tomatoes, eggplant, squash, cucumbers, watermelon and catelope in OG.August 4
Weeded in NR. Harvested blueberries.August 3
Weeded in NR.August 2
Weeded in NR. Harvested broccoli, snow peas. Sprayed Neem (potato beetles, cole & trees).August 1
Weeded at OG. Harvested tomatoes, squash, kale cantelope and beets. Harvested squash in NR.July 31
Covered peach tree at H.July 30
Planted lettuce in OG. Harvested tomatoes, beans, squash, eggplant and basil.July 29
Harvested blueberries at H.July 28
Watered and weeded in OG. Planted spinach. Thinned beets.July 27
Watered in OG. Harvested beans and tomatoes in OG.July 26
Watered in NR. Watered and harvested squash and tomatoes in OG.July 25
Planted fall peas in NR. Weeded and watered. Harvested and froze broccoli and summer squash.July 24
Harvested and froze broccoli in NR.July 23
Harvested eggplant, squash and broccoli at OG. Weeded and watered. Picked blueberries at H.July 22
Harvested squash and snow peas in NR.July 21
Weeded and watered. Finished frames for new grape trellises in OG.July 20
Harvested cucumber and carrots at OG. Weeded and watered. Started work on new grape trellises. Picked blueberries at H.July 19
Harvested squash, eggplant, broccoli, kale, beans, onions, beets and tomatoes in OG. Weeded. Froze beans and kale.July 18
Harvested peas and squash in NR.July 17
Harvested squash and broccoli in NR.July 16
Weeded in NR. Harvested squash and kale. Froze Squash, eggplant and kale.July 15
Weeded in NR. Harvested squash, peas, basil. Picked bugs. Harvested and froze kale. Put up new fence around newest gala apple tree.July 14
Harvested egg plant, squash at OG. Picked bugs. Watered and weeded. Pruned grapes.July 13
Harvested green beans, eggplant and squash at OG. Picked bugs. Watered and weeded. Planted beets and carrots. Put up posts for popcorn fence.July 12
Harvested blue berries, peas, currents and broccoli in NR. Harvested blue berries at H. Pressed currant puree for jam.July 11
Handpicked beetles in OG and NR. Watered in og. Harvested berries.July 10
Put down landscape fabric in OG. Weeded and watered. Picked peas in NR. Picked blueberries at H.July 9
Weeded and watered at OG. Planted Kidney Beans. Handpicked Japanese Beetles and potato beetles. Sprayed Neem.July 8
Weeded and watered at OG. Harvested kale and basil at OG. Basil at H. Handpicked Japanese Beetles at OG and home. Froze kale and green beans.July 7
Harvested summer squash green beans and cabbage at OG. Planted dried beans. Weeded and watered.July 5
Harvested currants in NR. Mulched potatoes. Weeded and watered. covered blueberries. Handpicked Japanese Beetles. Harvested blueberries at home.July 4
Watered and weeded in NR. Mulched potatoes. Harvested kale and scapes.July 3
Froze kale. Harvested blueberries at H. Weeded & watered at OG and harvested goji berries and small summer squash and cucumber. Sprayed Neem.July 2
Harvested blueberries at H. Weeded at OG and harvested peas, kale, broccoli, beans, beets and a few blackberries.June 23
Weeded and watered at OG. Sprayed copper soap at OG. Harvested blueberries at H. Reinforced fence.June 22
Weeded and watered at OG. Harvested strawberries, goji, kale, and swiss chard. In NR, watered and sprayed CB on fruit trees. Chased a rabbit away.June 21
Weeded and watered at OG. Potato beetles on the eggplant (hand picked). Chased a rabbit away.June 20
Harvested strawberries, goji berries, catnip, peas and snow peas in OG. Sprayed Neem. Weeded and watered.June 19
Harvested strawberries and honey berries in NR. Mulched. Harvested blueberries at H.June 18
Weeded, watered in NR.June 17
Harvested strawberries and honey berries in NR. Interplanted Rose finn apple potatoes. Planted mint. Weeded, watered.June 16
Harvested another lonely broccoli at OG. Watered. Harvested strawberries, lettuce, swiss chard and goji berries. Weeded.June 15
Harvested lonely broccoli at OG. Prepared and planted bed of carrots and bed of beets. Put up raspberry enclosure. Reinforced fence as rabbit was spied inside. Lots of weeding.June 14
Harvested strawberries, snow peas, spinach, goji berries, oregano and kale in OG. Weeded and pruned. Froze strawberries, spinach and kale.June 13
Harvested strawberries and asparagus in NR.June 12
Weeded in NR. Put compost around the cole crops in barn garden in NR. Put down fabric. Sprayed Neem.June 11
Harvested strawberries in NR. Weeded. Planted potatoes.June 10
Harvested strawberries, spinach and kale at OG. Mulched. Rebuilt blackberry enclosure. Harvested asparagus in NR.June 9
Weeded in OG. Spread mulch. Harvested and froze strawberries.June 8
Weeded in OG. Moved blackberry plant. Set up blueberry cover at H. Planted cucumber and watermelon at H.June 7
Weeded in OG. Harvested spinach and strawberries. Second grape vine perked up. Froze strawberries.June 6
Got seed potatoes from the Farm bureau and LaFarm. Harvested swiss chard in OG. Weeded. Froze strawberries and swiss chard.June 5
Innoculated straw with winecap spawn in NR. Froze strawberries.June 4
Surveyed NR potatoes. Rough guess, 60% rotted. Planted acorn and buttternut squash. Put in a few replacement potatoes. Strawberries and spinach harvested in OG.June 3
Watered in NR. Picked kale. Some potatoes are up. Tasted first honey berries.June 2
Picked kale, strawberries and swiss chard in OG. Froze most of them.June 1
Watered in OG. Thinned and harvested beets. Filled in bush beans. Planted acorn squash in dead summer squash spots. Froze strawberries and spinach.May 31
Harvested asparagus and watered in NR. Planted a bed of carrots. In OG, watered and harvested spinach and strawberries.May 30
Weeded in NR, put down pathways. Transplanted flowers. Harvested asparagus and shiitake.May 29
Weeded in NR, put down pathways. Planted corn and pole beans.May 28
Weeded in NR, harvested spinach and asparagus.May 27
Weeded in OG, Harvested spinach and strawberries.May 26
Sprayed neem on bug infected cherry tree at OG. Weeded. Watered. Tested plastic and aluminum fabric stakes.May 25
Prepared beds in NR. Transplanted melons and squash. Planted potatoes.May 24
Prepared beds in NR. Transplanted tomatoes, peppers and basil there. Harvested spinach in OG.May 23
Prepared beds in NR. Planted relience peach tree. Planted potatoes.May 22
Prepared beds in OG and planted popcorn in 3 beds. Transplanted squash and melons. Harvested asparagus in NR.May 19
Prepared bed in OG. Transplanted eggplants and marigolds.May 18
Prepared beds in NR. Planted potatoes. Picked spinach, asparagus and shiitake mushrooms.May 17
Prepared beds in NR. Weeded and put down pathways and planted potatoes.May 16
Prepared beds in NR. Weeded and put down pathways. Planted 4 big cole beds.May 15
Prepared and planted blueberry bed potaoes in NR. Weeded 4 more beds.May 14
Transplanted tomatoes at OG. Weeded. Innoculated wood chips with winecap mushrooms at OG and H. Transplanting flowers at home.May 13
Planted kidney and black beans at OG.May 12
Prepared 2 beds and transplanted parsley and dill in OG. Planted almond and cherry trees at home.May 11
Prepared a bed and transplanted basil in OG. Transplanted watermelon and honey rock melon. Planted 3 table grape vines.May 10
Transplanted onions and cole crops in NR.May 9
Transplanted tomatoes in OG. Planted 14 lbs of potatoes and prepared 5 barn garden beds in NR. Added weedbarrier pathways. Weeded. Harvested spinach and asparagus in NR.May 8
Planted bush beans in OG. Filled in snap peas.May 7
Weeded in OG. Transplanted tomatoes and cabbage. Harvested spinach.May 6
Weeded in OG. Transplanted tomatoes. Repotted kale and cauliflower for NR. Broadforked a couple beds.May 5
Weeded in OG. Transplanted brussel sprouts and kale.May 4
Weeded in OG. Transplanted cauliflower. Broadforked 3 beds. Harvested rhubarb.May 2
Weeded in NR. Transplanted onions in OG. Repotted kale and cauliflower for NR. Broadforked a couple beds.May 1
Weeded in NR. Transplanted broccoli in OG. Hardening off early Tomatoes. Replaced wheelbarrow tire in OG.April 30
Weeded in NR and put down plastic pathways.April 29
Hardening off 2 more trays of cole crops for OG. Weeded in NR.April 28
Repotted red cabbage and brussel sprouts. Transplanted onions in OG.April 27
Repotted red cabbage and eggplant. Transplanted onions in OG.April 26
Repotted poppies, echinacea spirit, clementis, melons and summer squash.April 25
Took down raspberry enclosure and cut back the canes. Weeded and added plastic pathways.April 24
Flame weeded in OG. Dug up goji volunteer. Put down some plastic. Weeded and prepared beds. Used last fresh potatoes.April 23
Repotted cole crops. Two more trays of onions and echinacea hardening off. Weeded in OG. Prepared 2 more beds, Repotted tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. Used last fresh carrot.April 22
Repotted onions.April 21
Watered at OG. Planted spinach and swiss chard in ends of transplant beds.April 20
Repotted white and purple Echinacea. Repotted F kiwi. Transplanted pitiful spinach and swiss chard in OG. Transplanted lettuce and basil at H.April 19
Repotted onions. Watered in OG. Broad-forked a couple beds. Planted Red Haven peach tree at H.April 18
Repotted onions. Planted beets in OG. Watered. First pea is peeking through. Pulled Relience peach tree out of the ground at H for NR.April 17
Weeded in NR & OG. Finished preparing 2 beds.April 16
Weeded in NRApril 15
Repotted broccoli.April 14
Covered the beds broad forked yesterday. Repotted tomatoes.April 13
Covered the beds made yesterday. Broad forked 4 more (for melon patch). Began hardening off more spinach and swiss chard.April 12
Started melons and summer squash for OG. Made up the other 4 beds in OG that had been covered. Fertilized seedlings.April 11
Final raking of the 4 beds and tentative cover with landscape fabric. Pitiful spinach seedlings harding off.April 10
Planted carrots in OG. Heavy weeding in 2 reset beds. Broad forked 4 beds.April 9
Planted lettuce in OG. Sprayed indoor rosemary with Neem. Thinned and fertilized seedlings.April 7
Repotted spinach. Started sugar baby and honey rock melons.April 6
Repotted onions.April 5
Covering peach trees at home at night. Repotted onions.April 3
Weeded in OG. PLanted snow peas and peas.April 2
Moved Apple tree, cherry trees and honey berry in NR.April 1
Broad forked and weeded in OG.March 31
Broad forked 1 OG bed. Thinned seedlings at home.March 30
Broad forked 2 OG beds and put in pea trellis posts. Weeded.March 29
Put hardening frame in garden at H.March 26
Broad forked and prepared 6 OG beds. Weeded in OG.March 25
Started basil and dill. Broad forked two OG beds. Weeded in OG.March 23
Moved wood chips to backyard and OG.March 22
Put down pathways in NR.March 21
Weeded in NR.March 19
Planted peach trees for H (2). Started caw.f (12) and blue kale (12)for NR,March 18
Weeded at OG. Started sw peppers for OG (6). For NR started Al Cr (96) and Redwing onions (48); broc walt (12), crown (12). Bought peach trees for H (2).March 17
Inoculated Sycamore logs with lion's Mane at home.March 16
Inoculated Sycamore logs with lion's Mane at home. Started Tomato: SH (30) Abe (6) Red Oct (12) and Eggplant: Turk O (6) Long Purple (6) Black (6).March 15
Inoculated Sycamore logs with Lion's Mane at home.March 13
Put down pathways in OG. Weeded. Thinned seedlings.March 11
Pruned a bit in NR.March 10
Fertilized perennials in NR.March 9
Put down plastic pathways in OG and weeded. Fertilized perennials.March 8
Thinned and transplanted seedlings. Put down plastic pathways in OG and turned grass patches in beds. Fertilized perennials.March 7
Thinned and transplanted seedlings.February 29
Thinned Marigolds, transplanted some blackeyed susan and a couple echinacea.February 28
Started red Brussel Sprouts (6), L.I.B.S (6), Cat B.S. (6), green cabbage (6), cauliflower (12) and swiss chard (72).February 22
Put down more plastic pathway in OG and did garden cleanup. Started onions (Redwing 72) and spinach (GN 72).February 21
Started onions (AC 72) and spinach (157 72)Febrauary 14
Froze garlic.January 14
Froze garlic.January 13
Started poppies.January 3
Prepared new bed of strawberries in OG. Started bougainvillea cuttings.January 2
Weeded at OG. Thinned strawberries.