In between predicted rains we have been working very hard to get everything planted, and cleaned up. I finally finished planting my gardens - it usually takes me about a week to complete my over 10,000 sq ft gardens. Besides all the small plants, now protected by large cans, I have rows upon rows of seeds planted. Here's a photo of my largest garden, which is about 75 x 175:
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| Peppers, tomatoes and cabbages are in the cans. Everything else is seed planted. The big green stuff in the middle is a stand of yarrow I need to move yet. Bees like yarrow, and it is good for dried floral arrangements in the winter! |
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This year I have tried some new things to grow - leeks, sugar snap peas (edible podded peas), a new variety of heirloom green pepper called Keystone, buttercrunch head lettuce, and a new variety of heirloom pickling cucumbers called Chicago Picklers. I like to use heirloom seeds and non-GMO seeds as much as possible, because if they are not hybrid, you can save the seeds to plant next year. If times get tough (like all the financial experts are saying is "coming soon"), then I can at least plant my own seeds without having to buy anything. I think the only hybrid I plant is acorn squash and zucchini, and I could probably do without them. All the main crops I grow are from non-hybrid seed. I have found that heirloom varieties are pretty stable growers, so I have to wonder why botanists are so intent on coming up with hybrid seeds?
While I've been planting away, Harold has been very busy trying to clear a field next to our smaller garden. Since 1986 when he first came up here with his Dad, that field has been a junk-all. It's been hard to mow around the garden to keep weeds down, so now that Harold has a tractor capable of moving things, he has been taking out large boulders, scrap iron, and 29 years of farm junk. Also young trees not worth anything (popple) We will be able to mow this very soon. Our dream is to plant a bunch of apple trees there, but I wonder if I will live long enough to see apples from them? A person can dream anyway! Speaking of dreams, Harold has always wanted a big enough tractor to move things around and do real farm work. It's been many years in the making, but he finally got his wish with the tractor we purchased earlier this year. Just goes to show that dreams can happen, but sometimes it can takes years! So finally at age 65, Harold got his dream tractor.
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| Loading up the bucket with scrap to haul to the scrap pile. |
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| Harold has already cleared quite a large area! |
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| Hauling off another load to the 'back 40' |
Our bees are doing so well that they are just about bursting at the seams. Time to put supers on.
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| Bees hanging out everywhere! |
Well, this is what we've been up to lately! Supposed to rain for a couple days now, so we can get a rest.
1 comment:
My daughter says it is raining in the cities today. Rather warm around here. Oh, my rhubarb is growing so-so. Three are sticking their heads out of the ground by a couple three inches, a couple are bashful and #6 is a bit pokey, Maybe also bashful.
Your garden looks good and Harold's effort seem to be taking hold as well.
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