Vivi's Kitchen Garden: Getting stuck in again.

The fox was so beautiful! I think it’s amazing to have a wild animal like that right in the city. Where I live, the foxes are out in the country.
Yes, I always wear gloves in the garden. I wear them out quickly, too. About the mesh bag...they can be cut into strips and crocheted or sewn into scrubbies for the dishes, just to get another use out of them.

Oh, Vivi you are looking wonderful, your complexion is looking better & your breathing has improved. I also have a fox on my land he finally showed an appearance after two years of moving on the farm. A little sweat is good for you Vivi releasing those toxins. I'm really excited to watch this year's gardening with you.

You are looking so much more vigorous and stronger. Smart not to overdue. Have given my beds a good dig, still harvesting lots of brassicas. Helped a neighbor, 72 build raised beds so she can continue to garden, they are quite tall, 32 inches. made of recycled roofing tin scavenged from the dump. Base is filled with new wood chips while top is a mixture of field dirt and four-year-old worm rotted black wood chips. Here on Florida Gulf Coast my peas are just breaking soil surface as are my potatoes. This week will begin seeding pots with summer veg.

You're suppose to wash gardening gloves???? Who knew?

Normally I don't wear gloves, but there are some jobs that require it. The first thing that comes to mind is when I mulch our potato crop with straw. I wear the same gloves to do that job as I use for handling fire wood in winter. When I began using them this winter, I found straw in the fingers~~a fun surprise. ;)
Glad you're back to some gardening. Take care!

Well done, Vivi. What a lovely day you had to be out in the garden. Hopefully, the Vitamin D you got being outside offsets any over-exertion. I wish I could cross the big pond and help you out.

I hope you went home and rested after that. Listening to you breath so hard worried me. You’ve got some healing to do yet. That’s just the nurse in me worried. And a bit of mom tendencies. Hugs to you Vivi. One job at a time ok? ❤️❤️👍

Vivi you gave me the courage to grow parsnips and to eat them on my own. I had eaten them previously, but never did I grow them. While mine looked much like your thinning's, so I need practice, I was thrilled with what I did receive. I paired it with some collards and fried them up. They do make my blood sugars jump even with insulin in my system, so I must be careful how much I enjoy at once. Thank you for giving me the courage to plant them. I was so looking forward to see what yours looked like. Thank you for sharing. I know it hurts to work in the garden. I can tell by your bod language. My husband moves much the same. Just know we are blessed by your presence dear. Thank you.

What a beautiful fox. When i receive my medication through the post from Boots the box of tablets are in a blue bag made from potato starch which you can put in the compost bin. I think its a great idea and maybe it could be used for other packaging.

Hop you’re feeling a bit better . I agree with your logic or it becomes overwhelming. Can i ask where is the best place to buy bulbs from? I m very much the beginner x

Thankyou Vivi. I am struggling with fatigue at the mo. I had C just before lockdown and at the same time my auntie passed away. In remission now, but feel a bit guilty that the garden is in a mess. Your idea of sitting down whilst doing some of the jobs is a great one. 👍 Hoping to tackle some jobs this weekend.

Great jobs. You can actually compost in place, but you would need to bury your garden/kitchen waste at least below your seedling roots or plant roots, depending on how long it takes for your worms to convert your organic waste a bit. It doesn't have to be fully converted before roots can go through, but I think maybe the burying might be a bit much in garden beds. It is much easier in pots sitting on top of the soil or just in pots, with the worms either coming in themselves or dumped in.

Doing a little bit each time is how I do it. It always looks like a lot at the beginning, but after few sessions and you can see the progress, it suddenly looks more than doable, not to mention not everything needs to be done at once. Plus seedlings can always be popped in, in between plants or when space opens up, or in pots temporarily, even if it has to sit on top of cardboard for awhile. Worms will find their way through.

Lovely to see you out and about ,looking so much better. Glad you not overdoing it though. The fox is so beautiful

Hey Vivi, loved the shots of the fox. I love parsnips - have you ever shared your parsnip soup recipe? If not, can you do so, please, pretty please? Take it easy and don't over do the garden.

Vivi please orient us newbies is your garden and shed behind your apartments?? Are you behind your house there??

Just a perfect amount of work for your first visit back to the garden, Vivi. You will feel a good sense of accomplishment while you rest from it.
I do try to wear gloves when digging in the soil. I read once that fungi and other bacteria can get into your skin if there’s a slight cut etc and I don’t take any chances. Thorns and such do usually go through that type of rubbery fabric in the gloves. They are my glove of choice. Love your new wintery ones. Warmer fingers, hurrah.
You are looking healthier each time I see you here.
Yesterday I planted some romaine. I planted 4 and next week will do four more in my very small gardening area to hopefully keep me in romaine. It’s been very cold here in Florida compared to normal. We have a lot of loss among the more tropical plants,even with covering them on the coldest nights. I must trim back the dead ends to get to
Live plant so it has a chance to make it.
Cheerio!

My goodness that bulb was Huge 😯 I can’t wait to see it flower this year ☺️ Take care 🌸

Good morning and thank you for sharing 😀 😊

Awwww Lovely foxy napping. That was a good job jobbed Vivi. Oh my giddy aunt…the size of that lily bulb! Love those little garden sessions just enough to make you feel that things are moving along. Lovely yo see you.😻🙏❤️

Good to see you back in the garden. It is very therapeutic. Out of curiosity, how do you cook with the Portuguese Cabbage? Thanks.

What a lovely thoughtful gift (the gloves)! I'm not keen on pressies any more unless it's something genuinely useful. We all have far too much "stuff" already. But these are perfect for the life you lead Vivi ❤

👍👍👍

Glad you’re taking things slowly and listening to your body. You were able to get a few things done in the garden and that’s great. Take care

Just found your channel I absolutely adore your thinking. Just the inspiration I need for a simpler and happier life.

Hi Vivi, great to see you out in the garden & pacing yourself. I know what you mean about thinking of one bed at a time. I've got 24 8x4 beds but it's easy if I just concentrate on each bed. I've spent the last 2 days outside in the sunshine, wonderful. I've still got a few parsnips & carrots to lift, been a good year. I'm impressed with that huge bulb!!!

Beautiful!!! Fox catching some sun rays and 💤 . ☺️
Hello Vivi, wow that tree lily took some muscle to unearth. I suppose splitting it last time encouraged all the growth? Great, you’ll have more! ☺️ Good you’ve also have got a harvest for a nice hot soup! 😉💗💗💗

yes the gloves are lovely I got a pair of them - if you get a piece of clothes line and hang it inside dry and get some pegs you like me hang them up open one each and are dry for next day use🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

yes I do wear gloves all the time it saves on washing hands and like I said I hang them up to dry near the door - and I have 3 pair one new for that water proof pair daily use of a looser pair again for that as well and a pair that you got - again use for colder days and wood logs carrying etc

I put them in with general plastic - it is plastic after all

yes I live alone as well and love it - but when I make a meal make for 2 days one can eat it the next day or put in the fridge for next weekend - you don't want too cook

Look at you! And ohhh that soil, I can almost smell it from here. I admit the green eyed monster is nipping at me a bit here... look at that Portuguese cabbage! Hefty bit of work moving that giant bulb, goodness. I am with you in the health stuff, but my energy is coming back. Still waiting on some scans and checks, but good sign re the energy, I can work with that. Altho still can only eat soups & bread well, so off to browse your ideas for inspiration. I am low on veg tonight, but will shop tomorrow. I may have to content myself with a smaller garden this year, but that is ok too. Something is better than nothing!

and I also would recommend getting smaller tubs like the orange one you got at the moment- they are easier to carry and also for moving pellets put in buckets - one can get now small as well and you have it fgorever🥰🥰🥰

I still have squash from last summer’s garden. Everything gets used up.

I live in 5a and can't wait to be in the garden! It's difficult because of my work schedule but I do what I can and hubby helps. This year will be especially important to growing your own food with prices rising the way it is. Take care!!!

So glad you're on the mend Vivi 😊. Those parsnips look amazing! Hopefully, the garden and a bit of sunshine will rejuvenate you - mind, body and soul 🌱🌻

Take care Vivi, storm Eunice is looking like it's going to be very severe, especially in the South. Met Office said it's going to be the worst storm we've had in years. Very high winds.

We have been talking about what you say ' One bed' get it done', too these last days. Instead of looking at the whole (..) workload and you ending up with just feeling overwhelmed and really not getting more productive.. with the you trying to keep all the plates in the air and all jobs on the forefront of your brain.
Grin.. think I would like a t-shirt with 'Okay, one veggie bed.. get it done.' or perhaps a note under me pillow. x thanks Vivi.

I also put sticks and stones for marking in my garden.

I crochet around the top of the mesh bag and fit a drawstring which I use for produce in the supermarket, soap in my bathroom and hanging soap on garden tap etc

Just lost a whole comment... aghhhj... Mr Fox - lovely. 🤗 Lovely gift of gloves - I have a similar pair that are great for hard winter work, and they are nearly tucked at the back of a shed drawer. 👍 Hinky... love that word! 😊 Nice snips!! 👍😊👍 Good to know the results on that thinning test. 👍👍👍 Great tip on making the space to work. 😊 Well, that is quite a few important jobs done today. 👍🤗👍

I’m watching this whilst having lunch- a big bowl of spicy parsnip soup! Thanks for sharing your recipe. I added a leek and carrot from the garden too, yum. I now feel like I have a glow like the children on the old Readybrek ad 😊 such a perfect lunch whilst this wind batters us x

Hello Viv! That was a whopper of a lily bulb! Is it a tower lily? Be careful over extending when you bend down past the ground level that's what can strain your back. I was thinking to myself watching you that I'd be on my knees then for excavation! I'm very flexible but have to watch my back. Hey I use those kind of knit gloves you showed, I buy them as cheap as I can on Amazon, but I used my hands and finger tips too much digging out holes in the ground and it wore the tip thorough. Now I have a second pair and am being more careful to use the trowel! I don't throw them in the wash, I just wash them in the utility room sink, rinse and aqueeze over and over, lay on the radiator and they're ready the next day. I'm going to look up that new pair you showed, I'm sick of freezing hands! I missed you soup recipe, what post did you put it on?

You did fantastic for the first time back in after illness. And soaking up all that wonderful vitamin D too! First row is looking great, the parsnips were impressive and the soil looked fabulous. Pat yourself on the back for a job well done! I enjoyed watching and living vicariously through you as the tempurature here is currently -12 celsius/10 f. Ugh. It will be below freezing for the next three days. But next week, if they arent pulling my leg, is supposed to be like spring with temps soaring into the upper 60s f/ nearly 20 c. Glory be! I can hardly wait. EEEEK! My gloves are ready and waiting by the back door in the seed box.

hi Vivi, do not overdo things, as you know you need to give your body time to recover, however it is so good to see you out in the the garden again. I hope that you have someone to help you with the storm damage to your shed roof. Take it easy Vivsta and remember one bed at a time then you can look back and see the progress you have made. i send my love Sue (Swansea) 🌼

Adorable fox! I have some of those same type of Atlas gloves but my hands are quite small so I got the size small but they are still too big. I wear them sometimes but sometimes them slipping around on my fingers will cause blisters.

Many years ago when I was starting out in horticulture. One of the old gents was correcting my digging posture. 🤪 Recommended that wear a good leather belt of a minimum of two wide . To this day that has been one of the best advice anyone has given me. It to support ones back while digging because knee over time lose strength and your back take the strain. If you think about it it also help with your centre of gravity. He also told me that in the olden days male gardener use wear women's bond corsets/stays to do the same thing 😉

Hugs and you did great, i am finding at the ripe old age of 62, i have to work a bit and rest a bit. It is annoying as all heck but in the end i get stuff done it just takes longer.

I need to find some gloves with the rubberized tips and palms. I work as a massage therapist so I have to keep my hands in good shape. The gloves I have feel cumbersome. I prefer no gloves but…. Got to keep my digits in good shape 🖐🏻🤚🏻

My younger sister gave me a photo of young foxes in mum and dads back garden,people feed them,I saw the older foxes out there last year the back used to be a quarry so that would be the foxes home.