It has been at least 2 months since my last real post here and boy have things been crazy. So before I set up next years To-Do list I thought I’d take a look back and see how this year went. BTW, if you didn’t get to read it the first time, here is my 2012 To-Do List.
1. The first thing on my list was Cold Frames. I am happy to report that not only did I get one built but I now have two. Just before I got started a co-worker who is also into winter garden took an interest in helping and before I knew it, we had one built. Then behind my back he turned around and used the remaining supplies, along with other things he found, built me a second cold frame. For all the video proof, I give you my vimeo page: Mark The Organic Gardener.
2. Release a Song. So here is the deal, I had started working on it, created a theme, drum lines, chord structure and some background noises and such. I even convinced my wife to play on it. Then my Professional Development class started and the whole thing was shelved. I just didn’t have the time. So given what I have completed I will probably move this to next years todo list.
3. Get my HAM radio lic. See the above for the reason why this didn’t happen. Sorry but I wasn’t going to study for two different things at the same time. Would not have been fair to my family. I’m still interested but I have to start over with the study guide.
4. Run a 20 something 5K again. Didn’t happen. I’m running again but the body is still resisting any form of up tempo running. So I have to continue in a very slow manner and hopefully someday get back there. I also have to be aware that, as the expression goes, I’m not getting any younger so I need to set more short term goals instead of shooting for the moon.
5. Build a Sifter. Done and working great. Only need to reinforce it so it can handle more volume. May even build a second to fit perfectly onto my garden boxes.
6. Set up SSH tunnel for secure web surfing. Given how much monitoring is now prevalent on the net, I shall refrain from any further discussion to avoid overly zealous monitors.
7. Grow my own tea. Grew it, picked it, brewed it, drank it, done.
8. Make my own relish. This years cucumber crop was not good. Many people in my area complained of the same yellowish skins so I decided against trying this. Maybe next season.
9. Make my own Mustard. For whatever reason I never planted anything so I didn’t even try.
10. Try Canning. Not enough of anything to even try it. People were eating the veggies as fast as I could pick them. Will keep in mind but for now, this is on hold.
A few other topics.
The fruit trees did not produce anywhere near what I was expecting. But after talking with some local professional growers, our lack of a proper (read cold) winter left the trees in a bad state. I’m hoping we get some serious cold spells to help kill off many of the insects who hope to make it through the winter on my trees and allow the trees to be pruned the right way.
During this past/current year I was going back and forth on the whole Ubuntu Unity thing. I initially hated it, but decided to give it another try to be fair. After using it a bit more I found myself not hating it so much. Then I saw what XFCE was doing and how I could tailor it to my needs and I uninstalled Ubuntu with Unity immediately. I then installed Xubuntu 12.04 LTS and have been quite happy ever since.
There ya have it, my not so complete wrap up for the year of 2012. If I don’t talk to you before then, please have a safe and happy New Year. See ya next year.
We had trouble with cucumbers this year, too: stunted, deformed, yellow, nasty tasting, etc. While I have no trouble picking enough wild berries for canning, veggies never make it past our growing season, either. All we have left is frozen chopped red onions. Having experimented a bit, we’ll probably cut back to what we know we are willing to work on and what we’ll actually eat.