Recyclable Pea Trellis

Last year was the year of the small plants in four packs. Last year I purchased things that people didn't even know you could get in four packs at the nursery. (Beans, peas, brussels sprouts) This year, I was determined to save some money and plant from seed. While I didn't get going quite as early as I wanted to, I didn't do too bad.

I planted peas, beans, radishes, beats, broccoli, sun flowers, and cilantro. So far, everything has come up. The broccoli isn't doing so hot, and I'm not sure if one row entirely didn't just poop out on me. However, I am hopeful that some of it actually produces something, otherwise it is a lot of wasted space. The radishes are now thinned to the point where I am just waiting for them to mature. I didn't get any radish sprout salad this year, some three year old ate all of them while I was thinning... The sunflowers and beans are good, each about four inches tall. The beets are coming slowly, but that is expected.

Since I am trying to do more this year, but spend less money, I thought I would show off my new pea trellis. Last year I bought two three foot tall trellises at Target in their garden section. They were not wide enough for my row of peas, so I strung twine between them. It worked OK, but the twine stretched out when it was wet. I could have just gone out and tried to find more to fill in this year, but if I remember correctly, they weren't cheap.


So, I took the same two small trellises, used some really straight sticks from trimming our tree earlier this year, and created a more stable structure between them. Most of the branches are either a single straight branch, or a stable Y shape. They were slightly green when I put them in, so I was able to weave them in and out. Since peas aren't all that heavy of plants, this should hold up. I didn't use this method for my cucumbers since they can get heavy. Bonus, it is completely recyclable. If I hadn't had the metal ones from last year, I think I could have totally done with just the sticks.


The last picture is from today. They are just about ready to grab on. I'll take pictures as their season continues, since I think on top of everything, it will be a cool look.

Haiku Friday - Bjorka, Sporka

one two three four tines
jab stick impale poke spear fork
insert nummy food

One of the great mysteries of parenting, along with potty training, has always been transitioning from hi, I'm a baby and you must do all the work, to functional adult who can use a knife, fork and spoon properly. We did breastfeeding, bottle feeding (EBM), cereal (oatmeal), purees, and then graduated to feeding herself mushy veggies and meat. What I hadn't figured out was how you get from that, to anything else. She started to clue me in a few weeks ago, when instead of trying shove everything in her mouth at once, she actually started taking bites. As well, while working on trying to figure out what she could do in prep for new daycare, we figured out she could use a spoon. (the girl will not be forced into anything and most things are discovered only when she is ready) Ok, that is all well and good, nothing dangerous in silicon spoons. (yeah, in case you were wondering, head to toe in yogurt, every day since)

Forks have still alluded me. Until this week. (its a big week for development around here) A couple of days ago, I was fighting her about eating her veggies, as I have since her week on the BRAT diet to get rid of a stomach bug. I finally gave up, and just fed her some of my veggies off of my fork. She loved it. Same food from her tray, off my fork. So, I pulled out one of the cute IKEA forks, and started spearing her food and feeding it to her. It worked. I thought it would go on like this, the novelty of it all, until she started refusing veggies again. I was wrong. While getting her some fruit (she can't see it until she is has finished everything or there is trouble), and she started spearing things on her own. Turns out she digs the fork. She's even pretty good with it. Huh, maybe potty training won't be so bad.

Find more Haiku at Christina's A Mommy Story.