The parsley sprouted today! It has been 14 days since the seeds were sowed, right on schedule! The tomatoes are looking more healthy now that they are basking in fluorescent light 24/7. Some are sprouting their second set of leaves and the stems are getting fuzzy. It will be time to transplant them soon.

With that in mind, I picked up fertilizer ingredients from PNW yesterday. There are so many recipes for soil mix and fertilizer. I went with what David recommended at PNW, which is:

1 cup lime-oyster shell flour
10-15 L worm castings
1 K (max.) Gaia 444
compost medium

These ratios are per bale, and a bale is 3.8 c.ft

I'll have to start making the soil mix ASAP. I'm going to look into sterilizing garden soil to kill any weed seeds. I believe cooking it in the oven will do the trick. Time to put the turkey roaster to good use...

I bought another tray and moisture dome for peat pucks. Now I have four trays going. I am getting worried that there will not be enough plants ready to sell at the market in May. So I've ramped up the production and sowed more tomato seeds, eggplant and mini red bell peppers.

The other night I watched the documentary "Collapse." The film was a profile on Michael Ruppert, who is an intense conspiracy theorist. I can't say I disagree with his world view but I think there is a more optimistic and positive angle to peak oil and the poised to collapse economy. Anyway, he advocated that everyone learn basic gardening skills. If the economy does collapse, then you can rely on our own self-sufficiency. And if it doesn't happen, learning to garden will give you quality time outside, you'll learn more about the natural world and you'll eat the most delicious and nutritious food you've ever tasted!