I would like to thank all of you responded to my request for direction. I got great feedback and have put together a workshop that I think many will find helpful. It’s a bit ironic that, as I was working on this, I listened to a news broadcast by the PM of Greece saying that although a whole lot of people are pulling money out of Greek banks in anticipation of a disorderly default that it was not yet time to panic.
Back to our regularly scheduled programming.
The strawberries are loaded with blossoms. Unfortunately, they’re also loaded with dandelions and other assorted weeds. So much so that I decided to ignore the rain and weed anyway. As long as I was wet I kept on going and got the rest of the beans planted. They look a little odd. Whenever anybody has a picnic I raid the trash and bring home every plastic cup I can get my hands on. With the bottoms cut off they keep the worst of the cut worms at bay. I detest those little buggers. I can’t tell you how often I have to replant to get a crop of beans. It looks like I’ve planting some mutant vegetable. Let’s hope it works.
I had enough asparagus to get a load in the Excalibur too. As long as it was going I chopped up the last of celery and carrots from a vege platter my daughter-in-law brought over on Sunday. It feels good to be putting in rather than taking out of my food storage. The freezer is looking mighty empty and all that’s left in the canned food pantry are the things that no one really likes. The pigs will probably feast on those. I have maybe 10 pounds of potatoes left. They are sad and sorry looking things but even with the eyes starting to sprout, we are eating them. I did see the first little potato sprout in the garden today. Our turkeys were delivered this afternoon. At least I can anticipate a full pantry again.
I had my permaculture meeting last night. The talk was mainly about herbs. I left my good friend and herbalist neighbor, Sara, with a list of things I would dearly love to add the herb garden. I’ll swap for some eggs or strawberries and come out with better end of the deal. I got an address for buying sweet potatoes too. I want to order tomorrow. I’ll be putting them in the smaller greenhouse and hoping for enough heat to get a crop. I love sweet potatoes and they are so good for you that it’s something I want to master if I can.
I have to work in Greenfield in the morning. I’m delighted because it gives me an opportunity to visit the Greenfield Farmer’s Co-op. I always find neat things there. They have a great kitchen section and lots of herbs.
Jenna is great about posting pictures and videos when she host gatherings so you’ll be able to watch at least parts of the weekend’s presentation. I think you’ll be pleased. I’ll be sure to give you all a shout out.
Kathy
May 16, 2012 at 11:07 am
We just picked two tomatoes! Pink rather than red (birds love them and we still love the birds). They will ripen on the counter in a day or two. Will pick cucumbers today or tomorrow. We have the best zucchini crop that we have had in years. We are already eating green beans. Last year we had very few to freeze and are hoping to freeze 25 to 30 pints this year. I will skin, pulp, and freeze tomatoes for soup as soon as we have enough. We ran out of those during early winter since the heat and drought cut our production to less than half our usual crop last year. We like to have enough of everything to share with our neighbors. We are blessed with several good neighbors and a few that don’t take much care of their yards and houses. Thank goodness they are in the minority.
May 16, 2012 at 12:20 pm
I think my strawberries have been lost to some pretty invasive weeds & I’ll have to start over but we picked the first few May 1st! Delicious! The rest of the garden is almost in. The poison ivy is healing too, although I had a side effect to the Cortisone – swelling.
Great responses to your last post. I left off that I follow your site because I do think of GW & Peak Oil & damage done to all from GMO’s and I want to be as prepared as I can, but I also want to be optimistic. The changes coming may be hard but we’ll survive. If we put in the work. Your site is optimistic to me. Not unrealistic, but optimistic & empowering.