Sunday, March 21, 2010

Spring!


It's springtime in the Lowcountry! The insects are out in full force, the warm tropical rains are drizzling down, washing the pollen to the Earth....and out of my sinuses!


The Bluffton Farmers Market is back, it just started this past Thursday, and so far, south Georgia and parts of South Carolina are already filled with spring goodies!


Many of these include honey, spring baby Vidalia onions, broccoli, mixed baby greens (spinach arugula, buttercrunch and the like), and even strawberries! In another 3-4 weeks the South Carolina strawberries will be ready.

Doug and I have been working hard to ready our little garden for spring. We've turned the compost and prepared our vegetable beds, and planted Clemson heirloom seeds in baby planters. It is so easy to have even a small vegetable plot, even on a small lot or in a window-box. I have not been composting at my home on Hilton Head, and I do produce a lot of organic waste since I like to cook from scratch. My roommate and I both recycle what we can, but I'd like to take this to the next level.

Our challenge is to figure out how to compost food materials in a small living space. We do not have a place to have or means to use a large compost bin, so I have researched smaller, indoor varieties. One thing that a lot of apartment dwellers use (especially in Japan), is the earthworm compost box. It is super easy, and relatively odor-free. There are many websites out there to help you get started, such as this one from Vancouver: Urban Agriculture and Worm Compost
I will soon be posting more information about composting and pictures of our garden as it grows! More recipes are to come as well, I picked up a very nice farmhouse blue cow's milk cheese from Swainsboro, Georgia at the farmers market and can't wait to talk about it!