David Parkin Male Phoenix, AZ United States: Share; Share on Twitter; Share on Facebook

David Parkin's Apps (1)

David Parkin's Friends

View All

David Parkin's Groups

Action: Nuestro Barrio

24 members
Interest: Community and…

65 members

Downtown Phoenix Public…

14 members
Action: Tempe

36 members

Interest: Backyard Nurs…

30 members

View All

David Parkin's Discussions

Great article on Nuestro Barrio, Planting for Peace and AZHS

Replied Jul 29

David Parkin's Events

Backyard Farm Tour

May 21, 2011 from 8am to 2pm – Various

David Parkin's Page

Gifts Received

David Parkin has not received any gifts yet

Give David Parkin a Gift

Latest Activity

David Parkin replied to Admin's discussion 'Great article on Nuestro Barrio, Planting for Peace and AZHS'

Good article.

on Thursday

David Parkin replied to Lisette Volkmar's discussion 'Farm Acreage available'

This looks like a great oportunity but I can't until I retire from the day job.

on Thursday

David Parkin replied to Lori B Girshick's discussion 'gardening...no success yet'

Lori, Don’t be discouraged! I look at gardening as one endless biology experiment where some things work and some don’t. Can you post a couple of photos? I’d like to get a look at what you are working with.

on Thursday

David Parkin might attend Admin's event

Backyard Farm Tour at Various

May 21, 2011 from 8am to 2pm

Backyard Farm Tour May 21st from 8 AM to 2 PM Various Valley Locations. Join us on a tour of Phoenix's hidden jewels - backyard (and front yard!) farms! Ever wonder what your neighbor is doing behind that fence? Or how she grows those wonderful tom…

July 11

David Parkin commented on David Parkin's blog post 'Pumpkin throw-down 2010 is ON!'

I don't see why not. We should be able to enter it as the BVR Neighborhood Garden entry.

June 21

Alex Prescott commented on David Parkin's blog post 'Pumpkin throw-down 2010 is ON!'

Oh yea, I'm in. I have one issue - the pumpkin I would enter grows in the BVR Neighborhood Garden. Rule 1 reads: "The pumpkin must be grown in you home garden." Can we amend this to allow for pumpkins from a community garden?

June 21

David Parkin commented on David Parkin's blog post 'Pumpkin throw-down 2010 is ON!'

Open it up to anyone! Let's have some fun! I suspect we out to have a weigh-off at the Down-town Phoenix Market. It's central.

June 14

Nick commented on David Parkin's blog post 'Pumpkin throw-down 2010 is ON!'

Lets Do This !!!!!!!!! I'm In. Competitive Scottish nature...Engage! I'm going Rudolph Steiner on this challenge. This is the sort of thing that is meant by our motto "...while having fun..." that I want to see more of!!

June 14

Admin commented on David Parkin's blog post 'Pumpkin throw-down 2010 is ON!'

Dave - this post totally cracks me up! I need to scope out a place for my pumpkin - I do want to have it visible from the sidewalk so that the neighborhood can interact with it. Perhaps we can issue this challenge to the Phoenix Public Market patro…

June 14

Ericka Cero Wood replied to David Parkin's discussion 'Anyone grow giant pumpkins this year?'

I just saw this post too. I think the Big Cheese might be a bit wimpy compared to the real deal, but since they are growing (so far so good) might as well let them grow!

June 14

Ericka Cero Wood commented on David Parkin's blog post 'Pumpkin throw-down 2010 is ON!'

We have some Magdalana Big Cheese which looks like a pumpkin! If they behave, and are accepted in the pumpkin realm, we are in! BTW, had one last year weigh about 24 lbs. And, yes I saved those seeds!

June 14

David Parkin replied to David Parkin's discussion 'Anyone grow giant pumpkins this year?'

OK it's on!!! I just added the details under a new blog post "Pumpkin throw-down 2010 is ON!" This is the week to plant those pumpkins> Post address: http://azhomegrownsolutions.ning.com/profiles/blogs/pumpkin-throwdown-2010-is-on

June 13

David Parkin added a blog post

Pumpkin throw-down 2010 is ON!

Anyone interested in a pumpkin growing contest? I’ve challenged a cousin of mine to see who can grow a bigger pumpkin. Of course there is a lot of trash talk going back and fourth so it’s a bit of a hoot. The last time I grew pumpkins was about 15…

June 13

David Parkin commented on David Parkin's blog post 'Bucket Potatoes'

My next phase is to start a bunch of sweet potatoes. I drilled out the buckets so that I will have very good drainage and will see it this works. I also have a spare place in my garden that might work so I will plant there as well.

June 10

Nick commented on David Parkin's blog post 'Bucket Potatoes'

Well, I dumped over my can today. Kinda disappointed, but I expected to have limited yield due to the fact that I killed the plants about a month ago accidentally. (snapped the stems by dumping in too much compost at once :( So I got 5 large potatoe…

June 10

David Parkin replied to Nayeema Eusuf's discussion 'Mystery seedling needs ID...'

Looks pumpkin'ish to me.

June 3

Profile Information

What are you interested in learning about?

Arizonal gardeing

What skills and resources do you bring to this group?

Long time gardener using intensive gardening in raised bed planters.

David Parkin's Photos

Loading…

David Parkin's Blog

Pumpkin throw-down 2010 is ON!

… Continue

Posted on June 13, 2010 at 4:30pm — 6 Comments

Bucket Potatoes

I’m working on potatoes this year and will be trying to grow them in buckets. Five gallon buckets to be exact. I grew potatoes in Minnesota but have not tried them here in Arizona. I don’t know why because they are so good when they are young. Young, new, or baby potatoes – they are so tasty! I will grow several potato varieties this year and see how it works out.

… Continue

Posted on February 7, 2010 at 4:04pm — 17 Comments

Winter Garden - 2010

The winter garden is doing well. I have most of my crops under little greenhouses. I have the following growing:
Garlic
Shallots
Scallions
Onions
Carrots
Swiss Chard
Arugula
Lettuces
Tomatoes

The honeybees have been busy coming and going from flower to flower – mostly on my over-wintering tomatoes. I have also noticed that a pair of Curve Billed Threshers have taken up daily surface tilling in all of my garden beds. Between these two, the Cactus Wrens, and Mocking Birds, I am surprised to see a… Continue

Posted on January 1, 2010 at 7:31pm — 2 Comments

Waiting on the rain.

Just ran out of rainwater I use to brew compost tea. I’m on my last 5 gallons. So here I wait for the rain. My rain bins are ready now for the monsoons…will they come? We wait.

Posted on July 3, 2009 at 10:31pm — 2 Comments

Sunflowers are in!

Sunflowers are maturing and I have been drying them. I grew Russian Mammoth this year and the seeds are pretty good. I need to brine and dry them next I suppose… I grew some of the sunflowers between tomato plans and have used the sunflower stalks as tomato stakes. This is working pretty well especia… Continue

Posted on June 21, 2009 at 9:00am — 3 Comments

Comment Wall (4 comments)

You need to be a member of AZHomegrownSolutions to add comments!

Join AZHomegrownSolutions

At 8:00pm on June 14, 2010, Nayeema Eusuf said…: Thanks for the info, I might try those. I am also thinking of trying open ollinated seeds from www.bountifulgardens.org - and saving seed. But it's a bit worrisome to try something unknown.

At 3:55pm on June 14, 2010, Nayeema Eusuf said…: David - You mentioned in one of your posts that you grew onions (very impressive) fromn seeds. Do you buy in bulk, and where do you buy them? i am interested in trying this variety. Thanks.

At 4:01am on August 26, 2009, Nayeema Eusuf said…: Hi David - thanks for joining the Tempe Group. Welcome.

At 8:34pm on April 1, 2009, Anne Ashton Goldfeld said…: Welcome, David! I'm interested what kinds of planters you use for raised beds, as I've heard raised beds are difficult in the desert unless they are straw bales?