�Brooke’s Spring 2020 Sustainability Studies capstone project. This page serves as a “living?
05/02/2020
🌱A week into keeping these guys out full-time and they are thriving! I think they enjoy the lower temps during the night. Otherwise, with the soon-to-be summer heat, I move most of them out of the sun and into some shade after a few hours and they are staying strong! @ Albuquerque, New Mexico
04/24/2020
🌱 (Edit 4.0- I edited the “Early Season Veggie Varieties” section on the second page of the guide regarding the process of hardening the transplants off and transitioning them outside full-time. I originally planned to have them live outside by the second week of April, but temps have been too low to do so! They should be ok starting this weekend.)
🌱My capstone project for UNM's Sustainability Studies minor program will consist of constructing a living “how-to” guide for an apartment balcony and/or patio vegetable garden, which will be implemented and revised during the spring of 2020 and into the summer and fall months. The guide (included in this post), my progress including any setbacks and solutions, as well as all materials gathered where and for how much will be posted here and on an Instagram account of the same name (linked in my description).
🌱This project will be executed by seeding my own crop varieties, transplanting those seedlings, and gradually transitioning them fully outside by the second or third week of April 2020. The "living" guide presented here is being used for this project, and I will adjust it throughout this project as I come across issues and/or solutions through the implementation process.
🌱Hopefully by the end of this growing season, I will have a more comprehensive and accurate guide for anyone to use while growing a small-scale vegetable garden in our New Mexican climate!
04/24/2020
🌱Hey y’all! Hope everyone is safe and well!
🌱In my original guide, I state that the last projected frost for Albuquerque was the second week of April, which was when I was hoping to keep my plants outside full-time, but last week came and went and the temps have still been dropping into the 40s during the night. However, for the past two weeks I have let my container plants stay outside longer and longer each evening. That way, when I do leave them all outside full-time, they will be officially hardened off and survive potential shock. The weather report is claiming that by Saturday or Sunday of this week it won’t drop past 50 overnight, and I hope that is an accurate prediction. If it does hold true, I’ll feel a lot safer to leave them out on my balcony for good! I’ll post here if I am able to or not by this weekend.
🌱The biggest reason I can’t wait to keep the plants outside is because my cats are feeling a tad bit territorial of their nocturnal hunting ground, and have knocked the same plant over twice now! Luckily, as you can see towards the end of the photo slide, the little guy seems to be doing ok 👍🏼
🌱Check back soon for more updates!
Happy 50th Earth Day from my little garden to yours! 🌎
For the past few years, Earth Day feels more than just a celebration, but a call to action! If you aren’t alarmed by our current climate crisis, you’re not paying attention. Climate change doesn’t just affect the plants, animals, and ecosystems they live in, but every single one of us. There are so many groups- on local, national, and global levels- who have been actively organizing to create the change we need to see. Find one that is addressing the vast number of climate-related issues that interests you and get fired up! 🔥
🌱While my plants are staying inside today, Andi Bird is enjoying the temporary blind in her hunting ground.
🌱All my plants are missing outside (and I’m missing having more room in my living room) but they are still growing strong!
🌱EDIT: I am making sure NOT to water my plants till they feel dry to the touch while inside since they aren’t able to get as much direct sunlight! Don’t want any rot in the soil or to over-water these guys!
🌱Sure is a good thing I’ve been bringing my plants in every night!
🌱Hopefully by the end of this week the weather will stay warm enough to transition everything outside permanently! 🤞🏼
04/06/2020
🌱 (Edit 3.0- I pushed back my transplant deadline from March 21st to March 26th, and this edited version reflects this change. I also edited some of the recommended distances between seedlings. This new Guide is up-to-date with my progress and readjusting thus far!)
🌱My capstone project for UNM's Sustainability Studies minor program will consist of constructing a living “how-to” guide for an apartment balcony and/or patio vegetable garden, which will be implemented and revised during the spring of 2020 and into the summer and fall months. The guide (included in this post), my progress including any setbacks and solutions, as well as all materials gathered where and for how much will be posted here and on an Instagram account of the same name (linked in my description).
🌱This project will be executed by seeding my own crop varieties, transplanting those seedlings, and gradually transitioning them fully outside by the second or third week of April 2020. The "living" guide presented here is being used for this project, and I will adjust it throughout this project as I come across issues and/or solutions through the implementation process.
🌱Hopefully by the end of this growing season, I will have a more comprehensive and accurate guide for anyone to use while growing a small-scale vegetable garden in our New Mexican climate!
03/29/2020
UPDATE #6
🌱 As I caption in the snap-pea transplant video, I believe I went wrong in terms of how I handled the root systems of the seedlings. I conducted some (not very extensive) research and watched a video where the gardener loosened all the original seedling soil before transplanting them into new soil, which is what I was trying to emulate. However, I think I ripped too much of the root systems of the snap-peas when I tore the egg-carton and small cardboard seedling boxes away from the roots, and as you can see, the roots were deeply “sewn” into that material.
🌱 Unfortunately, all of the snap-peas have since died after transplantation due to either being half-eaten by my pet cat, or else from shock of being transplanted and the reasoning discussed above. While I observed regrowth for almost a full week from the two transplants that were bitten, their health declined rapidly at that point, along with the shocked plants. I was not able to determine how to save any of these transplants and have not been able to find new snap-pea seeds or starters, especially with the instructed self-isolation measures directed to curb the spread of COVID-19. I plan to replant them, or else replace them once it is safe to leave self-isolation!
🌱 I will be posting more updates soon, so stay tuned!
🌱 Hello all, I hope this post finds everyone scrolling in good health and high spirits! I’m trying to stay positive during these rough times, and the warmer weather is helping that significantly!
🌱 My last post mentioned my snap-pea plants, and I had promised to post my transplant process. So here it is, just three weeks late! With everything going on, I’ve been very distracted, but I’m back on track (I hope)!
🌱 I had planned to transplant the seedlings into my containers by March 21st, 2020, but since they had matured enough to do so, I transplanted all six of my snap-pea seedlings on March 13. Following my how-to guide, I used medium-sized containers about 7-8 inches deep for these guys. I originally had 8 snap-pea seedlings planted, but only 3 from the egg-carton and plastic containers each sprouted and thrived. I used two of the same sized containers and planted three seedlings in each one. I planted them a few inches apart in the containers, and used the same make-shift trellis in the container pots as I used in the egg-carton and plastic containers (seen in previous picture updates). I watered them heavily directly after, and continued to place them in the same windowsill as my other seedlings, allowing for optimal amounts of sunlight per day (about 7-8 hours), while placing them away from the cold window during the night.
🌱 I also transplanted two of my radish seedlings that were mature enough to do so at the same time as the snap-peas. I planted them a few inches apart, but decided not to disturb the root systems as drastically as I did the snap-peas. I watered them heavily directly after transplant and gave them the same amount of sunlight as my other plants. At the time of posting this update, both of them are thriving!
🌱Update on Snap-Peas to follow!
03/08/2020
🌱HUGE shout-out to Ben over at for donating all these containers! In the next two weeks or so I will be starting my transplanting process, and I had mentioned in a previous post that I was having trouble finding recycled or thrifted container pots for this project. He was incredibly awesome by reaching out and offering these guys! They will be perfect for all my varieties and will fit beautifully on my balcony.
🌱Thanks again to Ben, and please go follow his insta, it’s full of urban gardening knowledge and implementation practices!
03/08/2020
🌱Just a small update!
🌱My snap peas are growing so fast! I found some pencils around the house to help prob up, and act as a make-shift lattice of sorts in case they need more support. All my other seedlings that have actually sprouted are continuing to grow, as well, and I can’t wait to keep seeing their progress!
🌱Check back soon to see more updates!