Back from Flipside... so much to update!

So much can happen in a week... (well, almost 2 since I last blogged).

Here's a rundown on the garden:

First the beans:
Yummy purple 'green' beans are sprouting to add to our collection of green beans (the green kind) that we've had popping up. We've had lots of these little guys, the first fruits of our labor (well, other than lettuce and microgreens).
The plan for all these beans (to be fair to the communites) is to pick them all as they are ready, store them appropriately (cleaned, wrapped in paper towels, stored in a zipped plastic bag in the fridge). Then, once we have enough little beanies for a pot that will feed us all, we'll cook them up and split them between us. This solves the problem of having to mete them out little by little and still make sure everyone gets a fair amount.


Tomato saga:
Before we left, I pulled the tomato plant out of the front garden and transplanted it into a bucket. Our only tomato in a bucket so far, though we had plans for 12 or so. (This tomato needed to be transplanted before we left because it was accidentally planted in the front garden with plants that do not like tomatoes. The other tomatoes needed to be replanted too because they are dying from being so root-bound, but... :sigh: they may be lost.

Unfortunately, a few days later, as we were about to leave, the tomato plant showed signs that it wasn't going to make it. Droop, droop, die.

HOWEVER, upon our triumphant return, the little guy had pulled through and started to grow new leaves!


Geraniums:


Jn bought this geranium (and another just like it) that have been grown with citronella. Here at the commune we have something of a mosquito problem and we're hoping these little guys will help. They looked soooo good before we left but we came back and they were all brown leaves and sadness.
Let's hope some extra water, some trimming (which a lot of our garden needs), and a bit of shade will fix them up.
We're also trying to grow more geraniums from cuttings (see below). As well as trying to get some peach trees growing by 'stealing' some fruit from a tree down the street and planting the seeds (also see below).


Brussel sprouts have erupted from the ground and are looking strong. This is my first try with Brussels, so I'm :crossingmyfingers:!

Also, the mint seems to be springing back, much to my surprise!


On a very happy note, we have lots of little tomatoes (so far only cherry) and peppers (both bell and hot). Even cucumber flowers have graced our presence.