Hi Ruth. My mouse clicking skills must be off today... I can't find a link that goes to the actual movie. I did find this one online:

http://www.cityfarmer.info/2009/01/27/jane-gorsuch-now-83-was-16-in-this-1942-victory-garden-movie/

I assume it's the same one.

Absolutely Chris. Definitely the most beautiful seed catalog I own. Deserves to be on each green thumb's coffee table (to admire while you're doing your armchair gardening). I just ordered some seeds from them for next year.

As Homer Simpson would say... "Mmmmmmm... worm poop."

Seriously, I crashed and burned on my first attempt at vermicomposting, but have an interest in trying it again.

Growing "Little Caesar" romaine and "Black Seeded Simpson" leaf varieties down here in the Dallas, Texas area. Like you, our winters haven't been that harsh the last few years and I expect to be able to grow through the winter. I have a cold frame but won't need it until early Spring.

To BCDE Jones:

Send me an email to yourownvictorygarden at gmail.com and I can send you the higher resolution files and explain how I did it.

Regards,
Greg

Here in North Texas, we don't really need to fear a frost until early November (at the earliest). My garden is fairly empty right now from the Spring/early Summer stuff having been finished and yanked out weeks ago. Folks down here are starting to plant Fall stuff with a vengeance.

I'm not much help here Chris, except to tell you what I've done in the VERY trying and unpredictable North Texas climate.

The bush variety Blue Lake 274 has always done well for me every year except one. I grow it in Spring and Fall.

I've been wanting to do more pole varieties since I already have a couple of trellises to use. This year I tried Kentucky Wonder and it flopped. I may have planted it too late or the soil in the new raised beds I've build hasn't 'matured' yet.

I grabbed a packet of the bush variety Tendercrop and will try it in a few weeks, as soon as we're safely out of our yearly 'heat spell season'.

I suppose beans are just like tomatoes in that there are so many varieties you can try, and hopefully succeed with.

Sounds Rob, like you have the same dilemma we have up here in North Texas (zone 8) - two 'real' growing seasons separated in the middle by a very oppressive and unforgiving heat and drought period. Here's the good news: for the most part, we don't have a killing winter anymore. That means that you can start a second crop of many of the things you planted in the early spring. As I write this, I am starting pepper and tomatoes seeds - INDOORS. The ones I tried to start outdoors last week died instantly, in spite of my efforts to keep them hydrated. Then in September I will start the usual Fall crops (lettuce, Spinach, Onions, et al.). Hope this helps and good luck.

Great article Chris. Plano, Texas has a vibrant community garden and has been very aggressive in the green movement. I manage a couple of plots there, as well as my home garden.

One a month, a group of volunteers get together to clean up and work on various projects in the garden. This group consists of the coordinators (most of whom are Master Composters), garden plot owners, and a bunch of students who need to earn college or scholarship community service hours.

As you said, it is great solution for people who are either unable to have the garden they want in their own home (size, sunlight, city rules, etc.) and/or who want to benefit from others in the community with the same passion for growing and sharing their knowledge.

Our community garden and it's volunteers donate a huge amount of produce to the local food banks and pantries. Everybody wins.

If your city or area doesn't have one, you're missing out. Starting one can be a big undertaking, but with the help of others, it can someday be a reality.

Here are some photos of a 'workday' we had in the beginning of the year. Talk about some frozen green thumbs!:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/planocommunitygarden/

So true Chris. Also referred to the action or scuffle hoe, this tool can kick some major weed butt! A must for any gardener's tool arsenal.