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Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Like much has changed since yesterday.

Adult conversations are nice. Something besides motorcycles and cows. This is one reason I like my good neighbor so much. I went out and waited for the bus with Small, chatted with the electric co-op guy (he was sent to make sure we were reading our meter correct, then all but pats me on the head to informs me I did good) and bee lined it to the fence were my good neighbor was playing out in his field.

We had a disagreement about the definition of an F1 tomato. I finally said, we will see what happens with them next year.

I didn't even want to look at my fruit trees. Once again I will go without. And I was so looking forward to it (our orchard is on the good neighbors side of our field).

Geese stink! I should have been able to move them out of the house by now. But because of these freezes they are still in my bathroom. I clean their cage, but it still smells. So much so that we couldn't tell the difference between them and the propane. We ran out. I thought we had more in the tank than we did. Propane guy came out yesterday, so we only went 1 night without any. And of course it was the night it dropped down to 19F. hahaha! I ticked fate off somewhere along the line. Propane was down to only $1.70 a gallon. When we moved out here it was $0.77 a gallon. The kilowatt per use price went up on our electric bill as well, by $2.00. Here is where I say, are you kidding me? How our people suppose to get ahead or even keep their head above water with these prices going up?

My mother told me the other day or awhile back, that she was at the store and was going to buy some canned tuna. Her and another lady were just standing there, looking at the price of the canned tune which had doubled. Suddenly they both bent down and grabbed for a can. The woman carefully looked at my mother and said "how are people going to be able to afford food?" I understand the feeling. Here you can't by junk bread for less then $2 unless it is old. Luckily flour is still affordable, though the price is on the rise. I will feel better when I can grow my own wheat, enough to meet the needs of my family harvest to harvest.

I need to work in the early garden again today. Get some wind blocks going. We are in tornado season, though it still is behaving like winter, but the winds of Kansas have picked up. I need to get blocks up and maybe my plants will have half a chance.

Irma, how's those pickles coming?

If anyone needs to know something, nows a good time to ask.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Tell me about wind blocks. The name explains what is does; however, what kind of material do you use? I thought of bamboo but it is too invasive.

Captain's Wife - Jennifer said...

Phelan, I want to know if there is any way to save the fruit trees from the freezes! We planted two apple trees this year so we are a long way off from fruit, but man, there has to be a way to protect them. There just has to!

The Fool said...

Ooooh...don't get me started about the electro-demons...our kw price went up 75-effen% in this town...and we now sit on the highest rate in the country. Only in this town...the rest of the state seems to have held. Some folks electro-bills now out-skyrocket their fuel bills. Folks are braiding rope...

Phelan said...

Annette, For living wind blocks we have evergreens and willows, for garden/living wind blocks we use sunflowers (edible) and corn. Non living is what I am talking about today. Any large flat piece of wood tied or screwed into posts will do. Just something, anything to block all that wind.

Jennifer, first don't tick of the fates, second pray to whom ever you pray to, and third cover them with a sheet or trash bags. You have to try to keep the frost off of the flowers. Planting in the fall will help to, as for the tree itself. Fall planting gives the trees time to work on root development, while spring planting causes them to focus their energy on leaves and flowers.

The Fool, gggrrr. . .

HermitJim said...

Food prices are growing higher and higher...and electric bills, water bills and the like are not far behimd!

There is just no end in site, I'm afraid!

Art Blomquist said...

Food is going through the roof. and it isn't over yet. My plan this year is to extend the "re-tired garden" and try and experimental plot of wheat. One that I can harvest by hand.

Kelle at The Never Done Farm said...

I agree with you, Fool and Hermit on food and energy prices going up and up. The sad thing is I think it's just begun and it will be a long hard road for many, before it even hits peak!

Our water and sewer( we have acreage but are on city services) is about to take a 35% increase. Everyone just keeps passing the buck down to us little folks, pretty soon it's all going to have to stop. We've, personally cut back out utlities to the point that if it keeps climbing we may just have to shut them off, go off grid( which is our goal anyway!)

Phelan said...

HJim, it is kind of scary to think about.

Art, good luck with that. Will it be a hard red wheat? I see you live up north, red wheat is what we grow here in the winter (we, I mean Kansas)

Kelle, I am happy that we don't have sewer or water bills, not sure what I would do if I had. I am so looking forward to getting away from the grid.

Stephanie in AR said...

When we lived in Illinois an old farmer used old clay drainage tiles as his tomatoe windbreaks. Set the plant, set the tile (most of his were at least 7 inches tall) with part in the ground, and water. He left them all summer and watered by filling the tiles. Of course he had the tile as he replaced old stuff but it sure worked. Made watering easier too.

crowson2000 said...

i had the same thing happen to me in the tuna isle the other day. I just stood there shaking my head trying to decide if i could make myself pay that much for canned tuna. I finally decided that I wouldn't...

Melissa ~ Mom to 6 said...

We got a notice our mortgage company has a shortage in our escrow account of $3,891. Um WHAT?! I researched and while our tax value stayed the same, our taxes doubled in 3 years plus our home owners insurance tripled since last fall. We are currently shopping for a new insurance company. I can't even begin to tell you how much stuff we don't buy anymore because it costs too much.

I want more info on growing grains and harvesting them. :) Dumb question but can you get non-GM wheat?

Phelan said...

A list of Organic wheat sellers

Heritage wheat

Irma said...

Hey Phelan, after the garlic immediately turning a funky colour (it didn't actually turn greenish blue this time!) there has been no further change in the pickles, carrots and cauliflower still look fine. Not saying I am going to eat them but I am keeping them around as a sort of "control" batch. Maybe I just had funky garlic. I am going to try another small batch using your advice this weekend; making more (even with purchased produce) will help decrease my Garden Itch, seeing how my Eastern Canadian backyard is nothing but a giant, ugly melting snowbank and will remain so for the forseeable future.

alrescate said...

Some orchards around here burn hay bales to try to save their trees...sounds like a pretty expensive solution to me but I guess if you're looking at losing thousands of dollars it makes sense.

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