Tag Archives: outside

Help plan the vegetable garden

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I’m starting to think about my vegetable garden.

You may recall that this garden does not exist yet. Even moreso right now since everything is still buried in snow.

However, that’s not stopping me from thinking about layouts and plants and dimensions and fencing and fertilizer and trellises and… and… and…

The garden is my one and only outdoor project for this year.

Would you help me with planning, please?

The objective is to turn the patch of burr bushes behind this little picket fence…

Vegetable garden before

Into a bucolic oasis like this.

No sweat, right?

Here’s what I’ve sorted out so far.

I’m going to dismantle what Matt calls the “goat ring” (I think it’s a longeing ring for horses) to get my fencing.

Longe ring

Under this mound of snow, I have a stash of wood posts that I can use either for fencing or for edging the garden beds.

Wooden fenceposts under snow

I’ve collected a few rolls of chain link that will be helpful to keep small hungry critters from munching on my produce.

Roll of black chain link fencing

Aaaaaand that’s about all I have so far.

Next week is spring break. I’m taking a vacation from the day job, which means a little more time at home to work on projects. One project is starting to map out the garden.

I don’t think I can do much more than that until the snow melts.

I’m going to be taking a break from the blog for the week too. While I’m away, I’d really appreciate it if you could offer your suggestions for the garden.

What should I plant? How should I organize the garden? What dimensions are best for the individual beds? How big should the garden be overall? What’s the best way to get rid of the burr bushes and prepare the soil? Do you have a garden yourself? What grows best for you? Are there any garden blogs I should be reading? Thanks in advance for your help.

Fall iris

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So apparently it’s not fall after all.

One of our irises has popped out in bloom.

Purple iris

Should I be concerned? I know the climate’s changing, but this seems a little off. This iris bloomed already this year back in the spring. Isn’t that normal? Aren’t irises usually spring flowers?

At the base of the iris, the blooming sedum and fallen leaves give away what season it really is.

Iris blooming in fall

Tell me. How weird is this? Have you ever had a flower bloom out of season?

Fields of beans

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It’s been nearly three months since our fields were planted with soybeans. Well past time for an update, Baxter informed me.

Hello y’all. Baxter here. I went on a detailed inspection of our fields this weekend, and I’m here to share my report on the state of our soybeans. I can’t believe Julia’s let it go this long without showin’ y’all what’s been going on. I’ve decided to take care of this myself. A farm dog’s responsibilities never end.

First off, our soybeans are tall. As tall as me. Some spots are shorter, but most are growin’ pretty well.

Baxter in our field of soybeans

Second off, our soybeans are not real sniffy. They smell mostly like green.

Baxter sniffing the soybeans

Third off, our soybeans are fuzzy. Not furry like a dog. Just fuzzy.

Soybeans

Yup. We’ve got actual beans, y’all.

I haven’t tasted them yet. I’m waitin’ ’til they get a bit riper for that test. I’ll keep y’all informed.

Baxter’s crop report is turning into an annual occasion. Click here to read his last one from a year ago.

July clouds

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At the beginning of July Matt proclaimed, “July has the best clouds.”

Throughout the month, I was treated to sightings of muscle men flexing, food stuffs, animals, body parts and other cloud sculptures that he spotted.

Then, August 1, driving home, Matt said, “See, August’s clouds just aren’t as interesting.” True enough, the sky was hazy, there were no fluffy white beings to be seen.

My own most interesting clouds came near the end of July early one morning, although I’m not sure my picture does it justice.

Summer sunrise at the farm

Sometimes there’s perks to being up at dawn.

Do you look for pictures in the clouds? What sights do you usually see? Do you have a favourite cloud month?

Now for the pot of gold

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Rainbow over green fields

A late afternoon downpour followed by a sun shower was followed by the biggest rainbow we’ve had at the farm. It spanned from the front field all the way to the back woods. It was so big I couldn’t fit it all in one picture. I had to stick two together to get the full arch.

Matt and I are taking some time off this week to search for the pot of gold. I’ll still be posting, but I may not be responding to comments as quickly. I hope your week is full of sunshine and blue skies.

Just a farmer

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I think intuitively I knew farming was a hard job. But since moving to the country, I have a whole different appreciation. Equipment, land, time–farmers respond to a higher calling.

When I see tractor lights circling around our fields at 9:30 on a Sunday night, I understand that this is not a job.

Spraying the fields at night

Our local community newsletter printed the following poem last year. It said all of the things I’ve seen from our farmer.

“Just a farmer,” you said
And I laughed ’cause I knew
All the things that farmers
Must be able to do.

They must study the land,
Then watch the sky
And figure just what
Is the right time and why

To sow and to plant
To buy and to sell
To go to the market
With cattle, and well.

You know all the books
That farmers must keep
To pay all those taxes
And be able to sleep.

And you know the fixin’
That farmers must do
When machines like mad monsters
Blow a gasket or two.

I guess when God needed
Folks to care for His earth,
He chose “just farmers”
Cause he knew their true worth.

By Helen C. Coon