My name is Carole De Somma and let me introduce myself to the Endling Project Community. I’m an avid gardener and have been growing my own plants from seeds, both flowers and vegetables, for the past 15 years. I have successfully completed the Master Gardener Program through the Cornell Cooperative Extension and became a Master Gardener in 2013. Since 2013, I have been a long term member of the Cornell Gardeners where I have been growing, maintaining and harvesting their volunteer vegetable garden. In addition, I am currently active in two other garden clubs.
Every year, in early spring, I utilize storage racks with rows of LED grow light fixtures to start all my seedlings. I then use the vegetable plants in my 2,000 square foot home vegetable garden and the flower plants are used throughout my yard, a shy acre, to landscape in my flower beds throughout my home. The wide variety of flowers I grow attract pollinators and I am especially passionate about growing flower varieties that specifically attract hummingbirds.
For years I have kept a detailed garden diary encompassing all aspects of each growing season. I then reference my diary comparing growing seasons and ways to improve my garden techniques. Every year I add one or two different varieties to trial. For example, I’ve been successfully growing Shiitake Mushrooms on logs for the past several years. I utilize my 200 square foot greenhouse to grow select winter vegetables without utilizing any heating system. I am able to continue harvesting these vegetables throughout the winter months.
Finally, for the last ten years I have been focusing on growing more heirloom varieties which also give me the capability of saving the seeds for future plantings. I especially enjoy propagating plants through various methods, mostly tip cuttings. I have propagated many different fig varieties and have been growing them successfully in pots and in the ground.I look forward to becoming a part of the Endling Project Community.