Author Archives: theupstartgardener

About theupstartgardener

Midlife crisis. Seeking a full spectrum revival through good dirt, good work, good food and sleep.

Post Hiatus

Posted on June 9, 2012 by theupstartgardener

The perfectionist that presides nearly full-time in my brain demanded that I scrap this blog and move on. After all it has been a ridiculous amount of time since I posted last. I guess I felt bad that my blog … Continue reading →

Posted in Musings | Leave a comment

A Chicken Under My Skirt

Posted on July 8, 2011 by theupstartgardener

Generally speaking, I don’t wear skirts. In the summer, I am most often in shorts. Last night however, I just wanted to be comfortable as I went about the yard watering my garden and my flowers so I slipped into … Continue reading →

Posted in Chickens, raising chickens | Leave a comment

Time to Roost

Posted on July 8, 2011 by theupstartgardener

The girls have been coming and going outside just over a week. At twilight on the first day of their world explorations, Erik and I caught them one by one and deposited them into the coop through the nest box … Continue reading →

Posted in chicken coop, chicken yard, Chickens | Tagged | Leave a comment

Cooped Up No More

Posted on July 5, 2011 by theupstartgardener

Try to imagine what it would be like if all you knew of the world is contained within a large cardboard box. Day in and day out you and your box mates live under a light bulb sun on a pine … Continue reading →

Posted in chicken coop, chicken yard, Chickens | Leave a comment

Coop Sweet Coop

Posted on July 5, 2011 by theupstartgardener

The girls moved into their coop on the last day of June. Though I have read repeatedly about how fast they grow, you just have to see it for yourself. In just 23 days they had transformed from downy fluff … Continue reading →

Posted in chicken coop, Chickens, Seasons, summer | Leave a comment

The Sunnyvale Chicken Park

Posted on July 5, 2011 by theupstartgardener

With the help of husband’s father, we began building the chicken coop around the first part of June. My father-in-law and I have very different ideas on how a chicken coop should be designed and built. He is more from … Continue reading →

Posted in chicken coop, chicken coop, Seasons, summer | Leave a comment

A Writer Writes

Posted on July 5, 2011 by theupstartgardener

If I were to reflect the sentiment of my post title, I would have had regular fresh content for my readers during the last two weeks. Since my last post, many of my projects here at the Upstart Garden neared completion and … Continue reading →

Posted in Musings | Leave a comment

The Skyscraper Herb

Posted on June 22, 2011 by theupstartgardener

In contrast to my last post, I want to expound upon the pluck and fortitude of wild plants. They know something that for all of our gardening expertise can never fully replicate. Maybe it has to do with being part … Continue reading →

Posted in chervil, Herbs, weeds | Leave a comment

Mel’s Mix and Getting It Just Right

Posted on June 22, 2011 by theupstartgardener

Gardening for a beginner, at least this beginner, is like following a recipe in a book. You decide where you want your garden, you plot the size, and then you till the soil or in my case you build frames … Continue reading →

Posted in Compost, killer compost, Mel's Mix, peat moss, Plant Problems, soil, Square Foot Gardening | Tagged | Leave a comment

Carrots and Radishes

Posted on June 13, 2011 by theupstartgardener

I should have had my carrot seeds in the ground before now. Also, I should have made notes of the dates I planted my other vegetables. I have been so busy with juggling multiple projects that tracking planting dates is … Continue reading →

Posted in Garden Design, kitchen garden, potager garden | 2 Comments