Tuesday (23-August-2022) — New Jersey

Fairgrown Farm CSA Weekly Delivery Box #17.

This week the box contained the following:

Cherry Tomatoes (Fairgrown Farm, Hopewell Township)
Red Tomatoes (Fairgrown Farm, Hopewell Township)
Lunchbox Sweet Peppers (Fairgrown Farm, Hopewell Township)
Green/Golden Summer Squash (Cassaday Farms, Monroeville)
Cucumbers (Cassaday Farms, Monroeville)
White and Yellow Peaches (Larchmont Farms, Elmer)
Sweet Corn (Kerr’s Kornstand, Pennington)

Add on of fruit and mushrooms:

Eggs (Polnasek Farm, Hillsborough)
White and Yellow Peaches (Larchmont Farms, Elmer)
Yellow Seedless Watermelon (Fairgrown Farm, Hopewell Township)
Pink Oyster, Blue Oyster, and Pioppino Mushrooms (Zell’s Farm)


CSA Delivery Box (Week 17). Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

powered by Ambient Weather

Tuesday (09-August-2022) — New Jersey

Fairgrown Farm CSA Weekly Delivery Box #15.

This week the box contained the following:

Cherry Tomatoes (Fairgrown Farm, Hopewell Township)
Yellow Cherry Tomatoes (Fairgrown Farm, Hopewell Township)
Serrano Peppers (Fairgrown Farm, Hopewell Township)
Cucumbers (Cassaday Farms, Monroeville)
Red Beefsteak Tomatoes (Cassaday Farms, Monroeville)
Bicolor Sweet Corn (Cassaday Farms, Monroeville)
Zucchini and Yellow Summer Squash (Marchese Family Farm, Hopewell)
Pink Fingerling Potatoes (Blue Moon Acres, Pennington)

Add on of eggs, fruit and mushrooms:

Eggs (Polnasek Farm, Hillsborough)
Cantaloupe
Golden Oyster, Blue Oyster, and Lion’s Mane Mushrooms (Zell’s Farm)


CSA Delivery Box (Week 15). Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

powered by Ambient Weather

Tuesday (02-August-2022) — New Jersey

Fairgrown Farm CSA Weekly Delivery Box #14.

This week the box contained the following:

Cherry Tomatoes (Fairgrown Farm, Hopewell Township)
Basil (Fairgrown Farm, Hopewell Township)
White Eggplant (Fairgrown Farm, Hopewell Township)
Lunchbox Sweet Peppers (Fairgrown Farm, Hopewell Township)
Red Beefsteak Tomatoes (Cassaday Farms, Monroeville)
Sweet Corn (Cassaday Farms, Monroeville)
Banana Fingerling Potatoes (Blue Moon Acres, Pennington)

Add on of eggs, fruit and mushrooms:

Eggs (Polnasek Farm, Hillsborough)
White and Yellow Peaches (Larchmont Farms, Elmer)
Blueberries (Rosedale Farms)
Golden Oyster, Blue Oyster, and Shiitake Mushrooms (Zell’s Farm)


CSA Delivery Box (Week 14). Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

powered by Ambient Weather

Wednesday (23-March-2022) — New Jersey

Springtime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in the backyard: Downy Woodpecker, European Starling, Dark-eyed Junco.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

The indoor hydroponic garden California Poppies continue to bloom. Calendula flower starting to open. One of the Basil plants is starting to bolt with a white flower. One of the Heirloom Red Tomato plants is starting to produce small yellow flowers that need to be pollinated by hand since there are no bees inside the house. Several poppy buds (Mixed Red, Turkish Tulip, and Icelandic) have appeared. Can’t wait to see what the flowers look like.


Indoor Hydroponic Flowers (and flower buds). Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (81.4 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (34.5 kWh) from Sense. Cloudy much of the day. Deficit of 46.9 kWh.


powered by Ambient Weather

Monday (10-February-2020) — New Jersey

Wintertime Indoor Hydroponic Gardening

Weekly AeroGarden hydroponic farm update. Harvested a few more small Yellow Tomatoes, Bok Choi, Dill, and several Strawberries. All of the auxiliary water bottles needed to be refilled.

AeroGarden Farm 01-Left. Tomato plants at 144 days. Manually pollinating the tiny yellow flowers, several tiny green tomatoes forming. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 4.50 and the TDS was 673 ppm. Added 16 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL of buffer up.

AeroGarden Farm 01-Left. Tomato Plants (144 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 400, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 01-Left. Tomato Plants (144 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 400, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

AeroGarden Farm 01-Right. Various “edible” flowers (Dianthus, Snapdragon, Marigold, Calendula) at 144 days. Trimmed and pruned the dead flowers and leaves. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 4.68 and TDS was 435 ppm. Added 16 mL Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL buffer up pH adjustment.

AeroGarden Farm 01-Right. Flowers: Dianthus, Snapdragon, Marigold, Calendula (144 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 640, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 01-Right. Flowers: Dianthus, Snapdragon, Marigold, Calendula (144 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 640, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

AeroGarden Farm 02-Left. Pepper plants at 143 days. The pepper plants are getting bigger, and a few flowers. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.23 and the TDS was 222 ppm. Added 40 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL buffer up solution.

AeroGarden Farm 02, Left. Pepper Plants (143 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 02, Left. Pepper Plants (143 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

AeroGarden Farm 02-Right. Herb plants (Dill, Basil, Chives) at 143 days. The dill and parsley doing OK, others not as good. Harvested some dill. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 6.08 and the TDS was 739 ppm. No Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and no buffer up solution added.

AeroGarden Farm 02-Right. Herb Plants - Basil, Dill, Parsley (143 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 640, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 02-Right. Herb Plants – Basil, Dill, Parsley (143 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 640, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

AeroGarden Farm 03-Left. Pepper and Basil plants at 143 days. The plants are getting bigger with more flowers but no peppers yet. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.16 and the TDS was 984 ppm. No Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL buffer up solution added.

AeroGarden Farm 03, Left. Pepper Plants (143 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 250, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 03, Left. Pepper Plants (143 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 250, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

AeroGarden Farm 03-Right. Various flowers (Dianthus, Zinnia, unknown, Red Poppy) at 86 days. Dianthus, Zinnia, and Red Poppy blooming. More Poppy plants have buds. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.08 and TDS was 1016 ppm. No Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL of buffer up solution added.

AeroGarden Farm 03-Right. Flowers: Dianthus, Zinnia, Red Poppy (86 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 320, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 03-Right. Flowers: Dianthus, Zinnia, Red Poppy (86 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 320, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

AeroGarden Farm 04-Left. Chives plus Cherry Tomato, Hot Pepper, Cilantro, Lavender transplanted from other Hydroponic Gardens. No additional water needed. The pH was 5.72 and TDS was 408 ppm. Added 16 mL Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and no buffer up pH adjustment.

AeroGarden Farm 04-Left. Chives plus Cherry Tomato, Hot Pepper, Cilantro, Lavender transplanted from other Hydroponic Gardens. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 04-Left. Chives plus Cherry Tomato, Hot Pepper, Cilantro, Lavender transplanted from other Hydroponic Gardens. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

AeroGarden Farm 04-Right. Bunching Onions/Scallions (all 12 positions) at 28 days. 12/12 sprouts. No additional water needed. The pH was 6.38 and TDS was 408 ppm. Added 16 mL Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and no buffer up pH adjustment.

AeroGarden Farm 04-Right. Bunching Onions (all 12 positions) at 28 days. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 320, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 04-Right. Bunching Onions (all 12 positions) at 28 days. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 320, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

AeroGarden Farm 05-Left. Flowers – Snapdragon, Celosia, Coreopsis, Dianthus, Gazania, and Poppy at 95 days. Dianthus and Coreopsis flowers opened. Pruned some of the large zucchini leaves from the next tray blocking the plants. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 4.87 and TDS was 714 ppm. Added no Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 2 mL of buffer up solution.

AeroGarden Farm 05-Left. Flowers - Snapdragon, Celosia, Coreopsis, Dianthus, Gazania, Poppy (95 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 500, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 05-Left. Flowers – Snapdragon, Celosia, Coreopsis, Dianthus, Gazania, Poppy (95 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 500, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

AeroGarden Farm 05-Right. Zucchini and other vegetables at 95 days. The zucchini plants continue to flower (although only male flowers) so no new Zucchini have set. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 5.10 and the TDS was 305 ppm. Added 24 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL of buffer up solution.

AeroGarden Farm 05-Right. Zucchini Plants (95 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 400, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 05-Right. Zucchini Plants (95 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 400, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

AeroGarden Farm 06-Left: Ground Cherries (all 12 positions). At 28 days 9/12 sprouted some growing faster than others. Moved some of the plants to other Hydroponic Gardens so the four remaining ones have room to expand. No additional water needed. The pH was 5.53 and TDS was 337 ppm. Added 16 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and no buffer up solution.

AeroGarden Farm 06-Left. Ground Cherries (all 12 positions) at 28 days. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 320, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 06-Left. Ground Cherries (all 12 positions) at 28 days. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 320, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

AeroGarden Farm 06-Right: Burpee Sugar Snap Peas (positions 01-03); Snow Peas (positions 04-12). At 28 days, 11/12 sprouted. Some of the plants are growing very fast (up to 24″ high). The pH was 5.25 and TDS was 613 ppm. Added 16 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL of buffer up solution.

AeroGarden Farm 06-Right (28 days). Positions 1-3 Sweet Snap Peas, Positions 04-12 Snow Peas. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 1000, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 06-Right (28 days). Positions 1-3 Sweet Snap Peas, Positions 04-12 Snow Peas. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 1000, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

AeroGarden Farm 07-Left. Strawberry plants at 122 days. Some leaves turning brown/black, harvested several strawberries. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 4.82 and TDS was 636 ppm. Added 16 mL of Root Farm Base solution, 16 mL of Root Farm Flower and Fruit solution, and 4 mL of buffer up.

AeroGarden Farm 07-Left. Strawberry Plants (122 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 250, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 07-Left. Strawberry Plants (122 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 250, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

AeroGarden Farm 07-Right. Strawberry plants at 122 days. Some leaves turning brown/black, harvested several strawberries. After topping off with DI water, the pH was 4.59 and TDS was 439 ppm. Added 32 mL of Root Farm Base solution, 32 mL of Root Farm Flower and Fruit solution, and 4 mL of buffer up.

AeroGarden Farm 07-Right. Strawberry Plants (122 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 400, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 07-Right. Strawberry Plants (122 days). Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 400, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

AeroGarden Farm 08-Left: Mustard (positions 01-06). At day 28 five of six plants growing robustly . The pH was 6.04 and the TDS 376 ppm. Added 24 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and no buffer up solution.

AeroGarden Farm 08-Left. Positions 01-06 Mustard at 28 days. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 640, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 08-Left. Positions 01-06 Mustard at 28 days. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 640, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

AeroGarden Farm 08-Right: Broccoli Raab (positions 01-06). At 28 days all positions growing robustly, some leaves harvested for lunch. The pH was 6.50 and the TDS was 250 ppm. Added 32 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and no buffer up solution.

AeroGarden Farm 08-Right. Positions 01-12 Broccoli Raab at 28 days. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 08-Right. Positions 01-12 Broccoli Raab at 28 days. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

AeroGarden Farm 09-Left: Swiss Chard (positions 02-07). At 28 days all growing robustly. The larger plant at position 01 was transplanted from a different farm. The pH was 6.50 and the TDS was 541 ppm. Added 16 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and no buffer up solution.

AeroGarden Farm 09-Left. Position 01 Swiss Chard moved from other farm. Positions 02-07 Swiss Chard at 28 days. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 09-Left. Position 01 Swiss Chard moved from other farm. Positions 02-07 Swiss Chard at 28 days. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

AeroGarden Farm 09-Right: Bok Choi. At Day 28 plants growing very robustly, harvested largest plant for gift to neighbor. The pH was 7.25 and the TDS was 348 ppm. Added 24 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL buffer down solution.

AeroGarden Farm 09-Right. Positions 01-02, 04-07 Bok Choi at day 28. Position 03 Bok Choi transferred from other Farm. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 640, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 09-Right. Positions 01-02, 04-07 Bok Choi at day 28. Position 03 Bok Choi transferred from other Farm. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 640, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

AeroGarden Farm 10-Left: Romaine Lettuce (positions 01-06). At day 28 plants growing robustly. The pH was 5.10 and the TDS was 671 ppm. Added no Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL buffer up solution.

AeroGarden Farm 10-Left. Positions 01-06 Romaine Lettuce at 28 days. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 400, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 10-Left. Positions 01-06 Romaine Lettuce at 28 days. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 400, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Farm 10-Right: Arugula (positions 01-06) and Mulukhiyah (positions 07-12). At day 16 all plants growing. The pH was 6.32 and the TDS was 470 ppm. Added 8 mL of Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and no buffer down solution.

AeroGarden Farm 10-Right. Arugula (positions 01-06) and Mulukhiyah (positions 07-12) at day 16. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 320, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
AeroGarden Farm 10-Right. Arugula (positions 01-06) and Mulukhiyah (positions 07-12) at day 16. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 320, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Great Room AeroGarden Classic-6 01-South: Cilantro (positions 01-06) at day 28. Two sprouts looking good, three other sprouted, one looking poor. The pH was 5.55 and the TDS was 736. No additional plant food or buffer added. Topped off with DI water.

Great Room Classic-6 01-South: Cilantro (positions 01-06) at day 28. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Great Room Classic-6 01-South: Cilantro (positions 01-06) at day 28. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Great Room AeroGarden Classic-6 02-East: Various Parsley (positions 01-06) at day 28. All sprouted. The pH was 5.81 and the TDS was 892. No additional plant food or buffer added. Topped off with DI water.

Great Room Classic-6 02-East: Parsley (positions 01-06) at day 28. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Great Room Classic-6 02-East: Parsley (positions 01-06) at day 28. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Foyer AeroGarden Bounty Harvest 01-Left: Only remaining plant Lemon Mint at 139 days. The pH was 7.20 and the TDS was 400 ppm. Added no Miracle Grow/AeroGarden plant food and 1 mL buffer down solution.

Foyer AeroGarden Bounty 01-Left: Lemon Mint at 139 days. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 400, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Foyer AeroGarden Bounty 01-Left: Lemon Mint at 139 days. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 400, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Foyer AeroGarden Bounty 02-Right: Oregano (positions 01-03), Rosemary (positions 04-06), and Thyme (positions 07-09) at day 28. Three of three Oregano sprouted, none of the Rosemary sprouted, and one Thyme sprouted. The pH was 5.95, and the TDS was 465 ppm. No additional plant food or buffer added. Topped off with DI water.

Foyer AeroGarden Bounty 02-Right: Oregano (positions 01-03), Rosemary (positions 04-06), and Thyme (positions 07-09) at day 28. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)
Foyer AeroGarden Bounty 02-Right: Oregano (positions 01-03), Rosemary (positions 04-06), and Thyme (positions 07-09) at day 28. Image taken with a Leica TL-2 camera and 35 mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 100, 35 mm, f/8, 1/30 sec). (DAVID J MATHRE)

Daily Electric Energy Used (76.2 kWh) from Sense and Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (7.7 kWh) from SolSystems and Locus Energy. The clouds returned. A deficit of 68.5 kWh.

Current Weather Conditions

powered by Ambient Weather