Hello! My name is Bethany and I grow things in my rooftop container garden in Chicago, zone 6a. I am by no means an expert, just someone who enjoys sharing my garden journey.
In today’s video, I’m starting to plant the first fall flowers in my garden. There will definitely be more pansies to come in the near future!
For daily updates, follow me on Instagram @chicagogardener
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The most beautiful gardener in the world .)
It looks so cosy 😊 your hair is beautiful today Bethany xx
Good morning Chicago Gardener. Excellent video. Truly superb production values. 🌹🌹😊😊 My favorite method of maintaining a sustainable pantry and garden and stockpiling items long term for the whole family is what I consider to be the most practical, utilizing every type of food storage methods and technology available, both old and new. . Except for the fruits and vegetables that get canned, I keep perishable items like meat, poultry, fish, fruit, vegetables and dairy products in the refrigerator on a short term basis until I'm ready to use them for a big family meal – and for even longer term sustainable storage, a large separate freezer, which can store a half side of beef with plenty of room left over for homemade ice cream etc. . I'm considering upgrading to a walk-in freezer at some point.in the near future, if my plans to open a bed and breakfast come to fruition. Sometimes, however a nice round of cheese can do well for quite awhile on a pantry shelf at room temperature – and doesn't mind even if it has to stand there alone. Store bought canned goods get shelves.in the large pantry closet – several for canned meat like corned beef hash, spam and sandwich spread and another for canned vegetables Bread, rolls, grains, homemade pasta, cereals and the like are stored in special humidity controlled bins I order from Amazon Prime – which usually get delivered to my doorstep about an hour after I order them. . Stuff from the family garden and orchard, like onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, cauliflower, cucumber, pumpkins, carrots, corn celery,, potatoes and yams, cherries, blueberries and strawberries get canned in Mason Jars and stored in the cool, root cellar of this wonderful rambling former farmhouse (circa 1867) I share with my extended blended family and several rambunctious dogs raised on table scraps from the some of the finest food from a plethora of sources both commercial and home based. . There's even a special separate "summer kitchen" which I converted to store butter and ice cream churns, pots, pans, utensils, extra storage containers, foil, bags, cutlery, and other meal related accoutrement. Out back in the woods, just beyond the big pile of wood I maintain all year, (for use in an antique woodstove I keep on hand, in case the power goes out) there's even an old rusting vintage still where my great grandfather made some of the finest corn whiskey for miles. Next to it is the rusting hulk of the Ford Model A he used to transport that powerful hootch by the light of the moon on soft summer nights to his eager customers in a tri-county area. Further into this verdant forest of mostly sycamore, oak, pine and scrub, runs a cool stream into which I occasionally cast a rod or net to catch some Brook Trout, Bluntnose Shiners, or whatever takes the bait (just earthworms for the most part). And yes, hunting season means wild turkey, deer, and even an occasional wild boar. Next week, I'm planning on filing for a permit to 3-D print a smokehouse in order to be able to create gourmet artisan handcrafted, beef, bacon, turkey, and beef stick jerky, which interested local merchants can private label for other people to share with their families and their family dogs. Unfortunately, I had to break the bad news to my free range hens today that due to expected egg shortages regretfully numbered are their days of laying a couple of eggs and then basically taking the rest of the day off with ranging privileges' within the parameters of a few very nice rural acres – parts of which are rich with fat grubworms. There's even a short dirt road between the main barn and the farmhouse which they're free to cross to get to the other side as often as they'd like. My rooster Ben overheard me and he ain't too happy either, knowing full well that due to oncoming egg shortages, he'll be "workin' overtime to make sure there's plenty of eggs for the family and I.
Some mums and pansies would look great in the raised bed 🙂
I’m in south Florida so I can leave my zinnias and cosmos for a while but pests have been such an issue that I think I’m done. I don’t want my new plants to go into a pest infested garden. I’ll give it another week or two ☺️
IMO (humble haha) those ornamental cabbage and kale are the best for Autumn and winter in my zone ( abt zone 9 ) . In winter the white ones look so good, they r my faves for the winter garden. They have the best vibes haha I planted a spider plant in my garden and it just absolutely took over – I didn't realise – it went crazy reproducing.
Super vlog
Thank you for showing us!
I love the color of both of your sweet potato vines especially together. My black one took a while to take off but now it's huge.
I would never think of growing ornamental cabbage! I can't wait to see it grow a bit more!