London Launches the First Farm:shop

Using an empty retail space, Something & Son, a sustainable-living focused design practice is launching the first FARM:shop. Think chickens on the roof, fish tanks in the shopfront and live animals in the shop. They'll also grow fruits and veggies and serve food in the cafe downstairs. Like the space? It's available to rent for events too. All profit will go to teach people how to grow food. Would love one in Chicago!

Growing Food in Milk Crates

 

These milk crates could easily be lined with an impermeable fabric and then sub irrigated. I like the manageable size and handles, ideal for moving into full sun anywhere. Read more here.

Last Harvest (Redux)

 

One mo' harvest Oct 19. The beans are flourishing in a way they apparently couldn't during the wicked heat of summer. And note the tomatoes. When you learn what grows well for you where you live, pay attention.

In our case, Matina, from Reimer Seeds. 

Planted on June 5, Matina produced through our bizarre summer and I just picked another dozen. And yes, next year we'll plant two of these. The flavor is just as the description says: as full-bodied as a larger tomato.

58 days. Lycopersicon esculentum. Plant produces good yields of 2 to 4 oz red tomatoes. The taste is so good it would normally only be found in huge beefsteak varieties. A very early producing variety that bears continuously throughout the season. Excellent for salads and sandwiches. This is a potato leaf strain. A heirloom variety from Germany.

They're predicting winds of up to 60 mph later today and we're already having gusts of 40 mph. Art went up this morning and removed the fabric cover from the gazebo. Prudent.

On my way to tie down random loose ends I visited this dino kale on the second floor windowsill, loving the chill and rain.

Up on the roof, Rooster Spur from SSE, another favorite and reliable producer. We dry and grind the peppers for use during winter.

Coming back downstairs with a box of fresh roof produce like this makes me feel like the luckiest person in the world.