The Ultimate Seed Swap

The ultimate seed swap took place in the late bloomer garden last Saturday thanks to the world wide web. A young Philippine gardener, daughter of a farmer, found Late Bloomer online and subscribed. We communicated a couple of times, and a few weeks ago she wrote to say her mother was coming to visit her brother and wife in Orange County and asked if could they come and visit me. She promised she would be sending me something special.

Philippine and Orange County guests visit the Late Bloomer garden

Frances, Rafael and Germaine arrived with Moringa seedlings (germinated in O.C.) and jute seeds.

Jute seeds

I pulled out my seeds and sent quite a few back to Philippines, as well as gave Frances and Raffa one of my four cushaw squash seedlings and a couple of okra seedlings.

Okra seedlings germinated in the Late Bloomer garden

Cushaw squash seedling

Sweet potato rooted in water

This sweet potato slip originally came from a gardener friend in Georgia. I grew it out and saved a few small ones, left them on the counter and they started growing! I rooted them in water and had no clue where I could plant them, same issue for the other seedlings. I’m completely out of space!

Swapping seeds

It was a bit surreal to think An (affectionately known by her family as Angel) was a half a world away while we visited. The Moringa Tree is one of the world’s treasures and contains more vitamins than many foods put together.

Moringa tree seedlings, with at least five cabbage worms

All I have to do is keep the cabbage moths off the seedlings. Five days later, I noticed a cabbage worm on one of them, and looking closer, found six more! In a day, there would have been nothing but stems! Late Bloomer Lesson (LBL): Be Observant!

Cabbage worm (larva) on Moringa Tree leaf

An is developing four acres into a sustainable living farm. She just completed two mud hut “resting stations.” Here is her squash patch, which is about the size of my front yard garden!

Squash patch, Philippines

An sent something else which was an even bigger surprise! RAIN! In July!

Kaye ecstatic about the rain

That afternoon, the skies opened up and over the course of a four-day rain event, I collected over 150 gallons of rainwater. Now, visiting An and her farm in the Philippines is officially on my bucket list! Thanks for reading! Please subscribe and share. Stay tuned for new episodes from Late Bloomer! – Kaye

~

Stock up on fall seeds and save on shipping on orders over $40!

I receive a small commission for promoting products I’ve used and believe in. Your support of these products helps me to continue to produce “Late Bloomer” episodes to inspire people to grow their own food and take control over their food security. Click on button to order products! Thank you!

Help me inspire people to grow their own food and take control over their food security. Your donation of any amount makes “Late Bloomer” possible and available for anyone.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW!

Thank you!

Tags: cabbage worm, cabbageworm, community, do-it-yourself, farming on small scale, garden pests, gardening, gardening web series, green your world, growing your own vegetables, Kaye Kittrell, Kaye Kittrell Late Bloomer, Late Bloomer, Late Bloomer Episodes, organic, pests, Philippines, Photography, Plant photography, plants, seed sharing, seed swap, urban gardening, vegetables, warm season, web series

Category: Community, Seeds, Urban Gardening