Originally posted on Blogger 4/3/09

With spring break beginning, I mentioned to several people that I was going to get henna done at the very beginning. A teen from church, Morgan said she would love to get henna before her cruise. So… I called my dearest henna goddess, Mychele Boardman, and asked if we could meet in Orlando for some henna fun.

Of course….she was more than willing. Mychele suggested we meet at The Drunken Monkey. As Morgan is the preacher’s (and close friend’s daughter) I had to check it out online first. Turns out it is a great little coffee shop with a very eclectic menu of inspiring treats.

We met Mychele about 4:45 and started right in on the henna. We took shifts eating as henna was the first priority! Morgan had a wonderful Panini loaded with turkey, cheese, and pesto. I had the paella which was a delicious combination of fried rice and vegetables. The paella included artichokes, mushrooms, and garbanzo beans among other things. I don’t even like garbanzo beans but every flavor in the paella was awesome. While we were ordering our food and I was explaining to Morgan what pesto was, the chef came out with a crostini for each of us loaded with pesto. DELICIOUS.

While Morgan had her henna done, I enjoyed checking out the artwork and reading material in the place. They have board games and many people were arriving and setting up. They had a variety of items for sale including blooming tea, t-shirts, and snacks to go.

My paella was so generous, I could not finish. 10:00 that night tho-I heated it and finished it off! I look forward to getting back to the Drunken Monkey again.

The whole night was a blast, seeing Mychele-seeing Morgan excited about her henna. Hopefully we can do another trip like this soon!

I cannot find the original pictures for this post but did find one of Morgan and two of her friends getting henna in 2007 and another of Mychele doing henna for me two different times.  I have many pictures but they are all over!

 Jessica and MycheleMychele & MorganAllie and Mychele

It was really cool to find the pictures of theses three girls-I do not even remember the event!  Jessica, Morgan & Allie are still close to this day!

I LOVE how dark henna is as it goes on but after a few hours (I leave it on as long as I can) I flake the henna off and that is when you see the stain.  Above is henna done by Mychele when I barely knew here and she taught a class on it.

Originally posted on Blogger Mar 22, 2009

Sounds like a dance but it was so much more exciting. Today I went the Funky Chicken Farm in Melbourne  and learned how to make a Growbox. We started with an 18 gallon Sterlite container. The process was very systematic. First we put the container on the lid and cut out the center of the lid. Then we marked off four circles on the top and cut them out with a drill and circle cutter (gotta get me one of those). We cut four pieces of sewer drain pipe and used ties to place them under each circle. We had already drilled three holes around each circle to use for the ties. Multiple holes are put in the lid section that was cut as well as a small circle to hold the PVC watering pipe. A drain hole is also put in the side of the bin. A 30” piece of 1” PVC cut for the water pipe.

What you end up with is a box with built in drainage for growing your plants. You water through the pipe and excess water drains away. Suzanne (Growbox Teacher) has a complete garden in her yard using this method. She had carrots, celery, lettuces, Swiss chard, corn, sunflowers, Brussels sprouts, tomatoes, sugar snap peas…I am sure I am forgetting something. It was amazing. I am glad Marty was with me because after he saw all that she could grow-he agreed it was a great concept.

These growboxes can be moved around your yard as needed, taken in when too cold, moved to the sunny spot, etc. Also, it is more elevated that putting the plants in the ground and a lot easier to tend too.

Along with the class (25$), I purchased the manual for (10$)-on a cd. This will allow me not to forget anything important. It has information on planting in the growboxes, directions for cuttings, how many plants per box, etc. This class was worth every penny and very exciting. A bonus was the tour of the chicken farm afterwards. Look at the pictures in my albums. Suzanne will be doing classes on Thursdays and Sundays at 3:00.  As I completed my first box in class today, I plan to use the manual to make the shopping list for other things I want to get (soil, etc.) I plan to have my first Growbox planted by next weekend! WHOO HOO!

See pictures here I cannot find original pictures from class but this is my growbox album on facebook).

Update April 16, 2015: I still have a few growboxes but now grow vegetables in y Tower Garden. Please note that class prices and dates have probably changed. Contact Suzanne or Andrew through the website for more information.

Your Turn: Do you grow any edibles?  Tell me more…