Cilantro with Cockscomb Amaranth

I am growing cilantro and cocks comb amaranth from seed as you can see here. I am so excited because this is the first time I have gotten cilantro to grow from seed. I usually end up buying seedlings. Even better is the fact that these are from seeds I collected, and everything is organic.

Ode to the Compost Worm

You live in darkness moist and dirty,
eating things that are not perty.Compost worm.
Mango peels, and moldy bread, coffee grounds, and a carrot end,
anything rotten is your friend.Compost worm.
You like to sleep upon some poop, and there are maggots in your soup.Compost worm.
Dirt and filth, slime and germ, these are all delicious to the compost worm

Starbucks and the Grounds for Gardens:An ongoing saga

Well, today I went in for my weekly caffeine fix, and asked very nicely for grounds for my garden*smile*

The friendly blond behind the register says,"We don't have any because someone else has dibs"
Me:"Someone has dibs?"
Blond:"Yes."
Me:"So, how can I get dibs?"
Blond:"Well, the guy brings in a bucket, and we have to fill up his bucket before we can give out grinds to anyone else." "He is working on a educational thesis."
Me:"I am working on a educational thesis."
Blond:*smile*

Well, I AM a homeschooling mom, and my kids are working on their garden plots. That's educational. When they finish growing their okra,green beans,peppers,and sunflowers, they will have completed their requirement for basic Gardening 101.
See, educational thesis.
So, should I bring in a bucket, or give up?

Oh, and please remember to comment for the giveaway below:-)

Summer gardening fun, Starbucks, and Caroll Spinney aka Big Bird

The kids were actually excited when I said they could each have their own garden plot, and they picked out their own seeds. So far we have 3 piles of compost(with coffee grounds from Star bucks),and the seeds are not planted yet.
Yes, I know it is the middle of June, but that is OK because this is Hawaii. We will be planting soon.

Can I just say that I am a little paranoid when I go to Starbucks and ask for coffee grounds for my garden? Every time I go, no matter which store I go into, I seem to get the same response to my request for grounds. "Oh, I am sorry, we just gave them all away." When I am feeling extra pushy, I ask them to just check the machines in case there is a little I may please have? Any that is hiding and they may have missed? Even if it is just a little, I would be happy to take it.*smile* Then behold,when they check for me, there are actually grounds! Can you believe it?

Wow, who would have thought there would be coffee grounds at the most famous coffee shop in the world where people are constantly purchasing coffee? So I am guessing the first day on the job at Starbucks, the barista inside scoop includes telling those pesky Grounds for Gardens people, "Oh, sorry, we just gave them all away." I came in one time around 1:30 and was actually told "Oh sorry, we gave them all away this morning." I did not have the energy to beg for scraps that time so I just ordered my tall skinny decaf vanilla latte and left it at that.
The good news is, I made a friend at Starbucks, and now if I come in when she is there, there always seems to be grounds at the cafe.Amazing.

On the front page of Yahoo news today was Big Bird, and the man who does his voice, Caroll Spinney.
When Mr. Spinney aka Big Bird came to Hawaii a number of years ago to buy property, my dad aka Bob Riley was his Realtor. So, BIG Bird owns property on the BIG Island.heh.

Mr. Spinney is also an artist, who draws and paints, and gave my dad a couple of signed prints he brought with him. One of them hangs in the kids bathroom today. He was an all around nice bird, I mean guy. Good to see he is still going strong at 74. Groovy.