Maybe Just Happy

Husband and I put 90 squash/pumpkin plants in the ground yesterday. He did a lot of work, attempting to make a natural water shed and irrigation.

I looked at all those squash, and informed my husband we are going to need a larger garden to hold every thing I have started. He already has plans for a separate bean patch. I do hope every one like squash. Luckily they are versatile, you can make both sweet and savory entrees and desserts with them.

I was asked how many tomato plants I would be using this year. I don't know, I haven't counted them yet. But I will tell you as I get them in the ground.

The hog panel trellis was also asked about. Our panel is to short to bend. Right now they are straight. The beans will grow up and then we will add panels to the tops to allow them to crawl over and keep our lettuce and such shaded. After 2 moths, my lettuce seeds are just now sprouting. I was about to give up on them, and plant something else, but here they come It is a little late, but I do hope that shading them will keep them from bolting too soon.

Last night I went to a seminar for activism. It was more like an eighth grade civics class. I was unable to stay for the entire 5 hours as I was falling a sleep and passing notes to my mother. Not something you want to do when you are at a lecture. My mother wasn't sure how to leave without offending anyone. I told mom I would be happy to say "I am now making a graceful exit." She wouldn't let me. She just told one of the instructors that we couldn't stay. I will write about it more on the Kansas Preppers Network. One cool thing was that I met the founder of the Wichita Chapter of the 912ers. I was tired and anxious and a sag, I tend to speak without thinking it through. But I merely embarrassed myself, or actually it should have embarrassed me. But since I am uncouth in public, it didn't faze me.

One of the cows figured out how to open the feed bin. I was unable to get Murrial into the stanchion last night, I think she was a little full of her treat.

Is that spring I smell?

I have potatoes and onions in the ground. Loose leaf veggies and cabbage family items in, and let us not forget the peas. Now if we can only stay away from a hard frost in April, I will be happy.

Urth is no longer nursing on Eddie. Milking is twice a day on her now. And all the green grass that is coming in has increased the Dams milk supply.

Sammy comes when called. She seems a little weary, but pushes through that. Good neighbor told me horror stories about her. So I am confused on why he wants me to have her. Talk about a horse neophyte. But he tried to reassure me yesterday that everything would be fine, then proceeded to tell me a story about her throwing him. I haven't tried to ride her yet. We are just getting to know each other right now. I will wait to ride until I have a buddy to call the ambulance when I fall off of her, or am thrown off of her.

Are you getting your spring gardens ready, those in the Midwest? I realize there is still time for you northerners.

You eat them with BBQ Sauce

I received two questions yesterday. The first was about lettuce.

Could you talk about lettuce? I tried growing some in pots and it didn't do to good. The plant got about two feet tall, with small spaced out leaves, then it flowered and went to seed.

To be honest, I have never seen a 2 foot tall lettuce plant. I have seen stems grow close to that before seed though. You can start eating lettuce as soon as it sprouts, but to keep it producing, wait until a good amount of leaves have been produced, stripping the plant of both mature and baby leaves as it grows (from the lower 1/3 of the plant). The leaves will grow back. As for bolting, lettuce will do this when the days get longer and warmer. To help slow down the bolting process, try placing a wet cheese cloth over it (them). But as this question stated, the leaves were too small and spaced out. Lettuce likes water, air, light and well crumbled soil that has been fertilized the year before. If the soil isn't good for lettuce, it will concentrate on seeds rather then leaves. Lettuce have very short root systems and will not go on the hunt for food. I hope that helps.

I have a peach tree in the back yard. It produces peaches, but the squirrels always get to them. Do you know how I can keep those pesky long-tailed rats away!

I don't have squirrels here. My uncle us to make them into Buffalo Wings. Most people use netting to keeps birds out. And your local garden stores will have blow up owls and snakes (some have plastic ones). I hear these work wonders for keeping them away. We have a 6 foot gold manikin dressed in loose clothing, this keeps birds away.

I also received an email about my cows being the best antidepressant. This link was included:

ScienceDaily (Apr. 11, 2008) — Time down on the farm with animals could provide some therapeutic benefit for people with mental illness, according to researchers. The results come from the first randomised controlled study of the benefits of farm animals, as opposed to domestic pets.

And my mom needs your help. She is trying to name her goat. Got a good name? Silly name? Go leave it here for her.

Tim brought it up, blame him.

My lettuce and radishes are ready to eat.

When I first planted a small garden here, 4 years ago, I bought a mix salad seed packet from Jung's. Everything came in wonderfully, then they bolted. I kept the seeds of the ones that I really liked, separated and organized them. My favorite by far is Simpson, it comes up early and can be replanted through-out the year. Just as soon as I pull up one head, I plant another. So far this is the only one the will come into maturity successfully in high summer. I also have 2 types of Romain and buttercrunch, all are delicious, but have to eat them young in the high summer, though I can allow them to go to full maturity in the fall. Autumn is the time when I allow them to bolt and save their seeds for next spring. Lettuce is by far one of the easiest crops to grow. If you haven't yet,you can still plant a heat tolerant type of leafy green to get you a wonderfully fresh salad for the summer. They even do well in a pot on the window sill.

What kind of lettuce are you eating?

The organic Garden

This morning I must take the time to reflect on why I chose to have an organic garden. And not the USDA's version of organic. I am talking no stimulants, no pesticides, no herbicides. This weekend we took on the much needed weeding. My melon patch {actually it should be called a gourd patch, I have watermelon, lumina and big max pumpkin, butternut and spaghetti squash, zucchini and cantaloupe} has been invaded by tall tree like weeds. I need to find out what they are called {The enemy must have a name} Weeded the 28 tomato plants and found six volunteers, and two volunteer watermelon vines. We fenced and started to trellis the tomato plants, last year I was literally crawling on the ground to pick the fruit. My lettuce and cabbage have been surrounded by field grass and wheat. So today my hands are sore and gnarled. I fear the brown and green stains will never come off my hands.

We sweated in the 98f degree weather, was attacked by flying ants while bumblebees thumped us on the forehead. The sun found a way to burn us through our sun screen. Caterpillars have found their nirvana on our veggies, and I have grown us to the stink of squashing certain beetles with my fingers every morning. But on the bright side, we had fresh carrots, lettuce, radishes, cucumber and peas to eat with dinner. The corn looks strong, the radish have started to seed, the pok choi is delicious, and the peppers have flowered. It will be only a matter of time before we get to fully enjoy the benefits of our garden.

Now to figure out this mulch thing.

pictured above is a varity of fresh loose leaf lettuce