In addition to lesson planning and getting back into the groove of teaching, I have been learning about hydroponics via you-tube and other internet resources . I discovered the Kratky Method which does not require dirt, pumps, or indoor lighting and is intended as an inexpensive but effective method to grow vegetables. Visit YouTube channel “Keep on Growin’ with Mike Van Duzee” for fun, easy instructions. This is garden version 3 for me.
As a refresher, garden version 1 was trying out bottle tower gardens. This is a type of vertical gardening, using recycled soda (“cool drink” in Namlish) bottles stacked on top of each other in order to conserve water. (Google Willem Van Cotthem and Bottle Tower Garden). I had limited success with lettuce, basil, cilantro and not much of anything else. I think the sun was too hot for this method even after I moved it to a spot with a bit of shade. I took down the bottle tower garden. I will not try it again in Namibia, but probably will when I return to the USA.
Garden version 2 was adding some old-fashioned containers and actual digging in the dirt. I had no success with tomatoes, cucumbers, or peppers. I had very limited success with some planting such as harvesting a handful of green beans and 2 scrawny beets. Zucchini was somewhat more successful, but they had to be harvested around 6” because of the squash borers. My best crop was spinach, I had enough to freeze several bags. I also have a steady source of mixed green leaves and nice basil. I’ve made several batches of pesto. I will continue digging in the dirt, but my current focus is the hydroponics.
Now I am ready for garden version 3, hydroponics. I prepared 3 small containers (0.5 lt) with mixed greens rootings, 3 milk jug containers (2 lt) with spinach rootings, one 3lt container with a tomato rooting and one with a bell pepper rooting. I am excited to see the progress and hope this proves to be more successful than garden versions 1 and 2.
Sorry, I can’t access photos today.
All for now with all my love,
Ellen
Where's GranEllen? 
Wow, you must really want some vegetables. I like gardening a bit too, but haven’t had to accommodate for such hot sun as you described in Namibia. Keep us posted on the growth.
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I am very lucky to have Theo’s Super Spar, a deluxe grocery store with lots of fruits and veggies, just a couple blocks away. Most volunteers don’t have this easy access and variety of produce. My motivation is saving cost, but also to set an example for others to grow their own food. I don’t think I have succeeded with that goal, but I continue my efforts.
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What fun
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You never fail to amaze me- now onto gardening! You will be able to teach a class when you return! Here’s to gardening 103! Tish
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