I have received many wishes for a Happy Mother’s Day and I had one. I heard from all of my kids and several visited. I also went to church and heard an inspiring sermon on the origins of the day. It turns out the holiday was not created to enrich the coffers of Hallmark but rather to support the cause of peace after the Civil War. It was started by a woman so devastated by the loss of her son that she banded with other mothers to pursue peace. Peace is still illusive but I have asked that this be the last year I receive purchased cards or gifts. I am asking that my kids either make me something, grow something or donate to a charity that promotes peace. I still want a recognition of the day, just not one that involves a monetary outlay.
I spent the yesterday building a new compost pile. I am determined to do it right this time. I know the fundamentals but I never seem to do it right. The pile keeps shrinking and I keep adding to it, never removing any finished compost. I want this compost to sit and cook for the summer and hope to actually use it next spring. I have put an old kitchen garbage can on the back porch. As the inside compost bucket fills up I bring it out there. When that’s filled, I will haul it out to be another layer for the pile. I started the pile with a layer of downed and dried sticks and branches, then added a layer of the sod we pulled from the lawn when we put the blueberries in. Next I added layers of rotting hay and the kitchen compostables. and covered it all with a layer of last year’s leaves. I have an old tarp to cover it with. I have very little kitchen waste as the chickens get most of the food scraps.
We got the blackberries pulled up. They were deadly, with huge thorns. I had put them way too close to the neighbor’s clothesline. We’re growing a hedge of elderberries to separate the two properties. We may head out to the nursery to pick up a few more. We also need to replace two trees that didn’t mae it through the winter. Bruce is determined to have peach trees but I think it’s a mistake. We’re a bit too close to the river and often get a late frost. I think it makes more sense to swap with my neighbor for peaches and to concentrate on what grows well, predictably and with little effort.
I got a third greenhouse! A friend had gotten one on Craig’s List a couple of years ago and has decided that it was an ill-advised purchase. I’m getting it for a song, still in the box. I’m not sure It will get up this year but I don’t mind storing it until I have the time to put it up or until Ben and Maggie need it. It sure is nice having the extra help with some of our heavier chores. Ben dug up a blueberry bush and got it moved so the summer kitchen and greenhouse can go in. Maggie and I are going to organize all of my canning supplies before the coming glut of food.
May 9, 2011 at 5:29 pm
Woohoo! I got my 4 elderberries in as well as the strawberries. It was a nice and peaceful Mother’s Day. I got a gift certificate to a seed place and an orchid!
May 9, 2011 at 6:52 pm
My Mother’s Day gift is always a trip to the nursery and help in the garden -this year I got help for two days! I did get the strawberries covered but it’s with bird netting as there wasn’t any remay or floating row covers around. I’ll order for next year and make sure to take the netting off as soon as we’re done harvesting. I have old metal frames from political signs holding the netting up off the plants so hopefully birds won’t get caught in it. I also hooked up the rain barrels – and as Murphy would have it, we’re not expecting rain all week so I’ll have to water the new plants from the tap until this weekend when rain is in the forecast. Note to self – Start earlier!
Much to learn.
May 9, 2011 at 9:58 pm
This is unrelated to your Mother’s day post, but I purchased some tea tree oil at a natural foods store today. I know it has lots of uses and has antiseptic properties. Have you learned anything about it in your research and do you use it in your home? Thanks!
May 9, 2011 at 10:20 pm
Hmmm. Garden help for Mother’s Day here, too. Do I notice a theme?
Maxine, we’re noticing here that we need to start a wee bit earlier than in years past. Seems like some of the calendar creep is an effect of climate change?
May 10, 2011 at 6:01 am
Tea tree oil is not something I use althought I too have heard lots of good things about it. I have really been aware of how planting dates have changed.
May 10, 2011 at 9:42 am
Kathy, how do you feel about greenhouse kits? I have been saving and saving for one but hate to lay down the cash if they are not worth the money. Kit is 6×8 made out of poly tex for around $700.00
May 10, 2011 at 11:51 am
It sounds lie the one I have. I love mine-with caveats. It was a challenge to put together and reguired some cutting to fit properly. It also needed a lot of supports to be stable in heavy winds. Bruce added braces so the panels didn’t fly out. We also added a panel from an old swimming pool solar cover along the back wall to act as a heat sink. I think our is especially stble because we built it on the back end of our shed. Bruce just got a second for his birthday and I piced up a third so you can see I’m a fan.
May 10, 2011 at 3:03 pm
Debby, I’ve wondered about those kits too. There are lots of YouTube videos of people wrestling with the economical Harbor Freight greenhouse kits; they come up with clever upgrades to overcome basic design issues. If you do decide to buy one and put it together, please post about how it works for you. Best wishes, Donna
May 10, 2011 at 5:58 pm
We are collecting storm windows and patio doors from various places to build our own. I think Mother Earth News had an article on building one; or it might have been better homes & gardens….
May 11, 2011 at 4:51 pm
I gave my mother rhubarb as her plant did not have a good season
Always cracks me up to hear about people paying money for elderberry trees when I am always weeding them out of the garden here – the birds drop them everywhere.