Flowers and New Shoots!

Plants are just like people. They need to be cared for. With attention given, they blossom and grow.

So last weekend (23 & 24th June), we fed our plants with organic fertilizer, made from recycled matter, weeded the plots and watered them. We even sprayed organic pest control made of onions & chillies on them. We have been rewarded with flowers and new shoots. There is indeed growth.

Of course, some of our plants fell victims to crickets and grasshoppers but we will persevere... we will continue to plant more.

Groundnut plant flowers

Thai Basil

Sarawak pineapple plant

Growing Okra plant

Pretty? These are flowers of some weed

Turmeric Plant

New banana shoot growing
from a stem that is dying

Keep healthy, Stay Fit

It has been 6 weeks already, since we first started work on the land. Preparing the land and building the framework is not an easy task. Why, wheeling the wheelbarrow requires strength as well.

So what are the benefits from this work we are doing?
1. Our bodies are being disciplined. We have to forgo our sleep-ins on Saturday mornings and/or our afternoon nap on Sundays.
2. Our bodies are being strengthened. We start to work those muscles that have been laying dormant for so many years.
3. We save on gym membership. Digging the land expends a lot of calories! Lose weight 101.
4. We make new friends. Every week we have different people joining us and we enjoy the chit-chatting as we work.
6. Teamwork is being built. Various people working together for the same cause.
7. The joy of seeing something you plant grow is priceless. (Imagine when harvest time comes!)
8. We are building our character. Gardening involves commitment - imagine if those on watering duties neglect their duties... (Horrors!). We are also more resilient, not giving up even though the soil is hard and rocky.

These are just some of the benefits. So if you have not already joined us, what are you waiting for? :)

Old hands, new ground

Chives

Banana 1

Banana 2

Citronella

Okra seedling

Lemongrass

Groundnut plant

The husband digs..

& the wife plants

Prospecting for gold & diamonds

Planting Okra and more..

Yesterday evening (3rd June 2012) we had much to do. We managed to place the water tank on a level platform, so it looks pristine and in shape when filled with water.

We built another framework and this time we have a bigger shaded area for the growing plants. All the okra seeds sprouted... there must be more than fifty seedlings in total in the pot. In the end we transplanted 9 of them to the ground. Besides the okra, we planted 4 roselle seedlings and a curry leaf plant.

In total, we now have :
a. Banana trees - 2nos
b. Hawaiian coconut - 1no
c. Serai masak (several)
d. Serai Wangi (several)
e. Pandan - 3nos (still alive!)
f. Okra - 9nos
g. Roselle - 4nos
h. Sweet potato leaves - (several)
i. Groundnuts - 3nos

Coming soon - Chillies, eggplants, loofah, cucumber, spring onions and even tomatoes, since we now have a sizeable shaded area.

As we have been watering the land, the weeds are also happily growing, so we must continuously get rid of the weeds. Thankfully, we can tell the weeds apart from what we are planting!

Can't wait for the coming Saturday, to continue with our work...

Preparing a level platform for the water tank

Adding rocks beneath the platform

Sticks and stones will not break my bones,
but will help support a load

Almost ready!

Joel happily tying strings while
the other guys are doing the heavy work...

Breaking the clumpy soil

Watering the okra seedlings

While one digs, the other fills,
so it's an unending job

Secretly, he's building the formwork
for another Eiffel Tower in Subang