My Opera is closing 3rd of March

SOMETIMES I RANT...

and sometimes I just mutter under my breath

Surprise!

Monday, February 22, 2010 6:35:03 AM

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They must have been tiny little guys in the moss I collected from the yard - just enough air to from the plants to keep them going


Here we are at the end of a long, busy weekend. I had grand plans to relax and rest a lot, but the modem drama cut into two day's worth of that. I'm happy to say, however, we are back online NORMALLY, and shouldn't have to worry about it again for another couple of years...

Let's hope.

I had hoped for a lot of time in the garden, but due to the aforementioned drama that time was cut considerably. I still managed to make some progress though! What I call "phase three" is ready for planting - all dirt clods broken down and sod removed to the compost pile. Phase one and two, however, are in need of much work!

I dug up the end of the garden where the pumpkins were last year, and planted sweet onions there. Once we're sure there will be no more freezes, I'll be planting green onions between the rows. Today I turned over the next section of the garden, to prepare for potato planting. Crikies! I can see why people use tillers to turn their soil! Of course, I don't have one (and don't want to borrow/rent one), so it's hard labor for me! The soil was so heavy and wet. I dug it up, and a lot of straw got turned under. Compost will be added the next time I dig around in it.

I kind of like it though. And I wish I could work a couple of hours like this every day - I'd be slim and trim in no time! Oh well. I'll do what I can when I can... the potato area needs more turning, so I'll do that in a couple of days. I'm already eyeing another area of the yard for sod turning and garden expansion.

I'm mad, mad I tell you!!!!

Not really. I just want to produce as much food as possible for us this year. I hope the weather cooperates again!

So far, so good... we've been having temperature WAY above normal. The plants are all going crazy, blooming early and the like. It's very weird - as is near 60 degree weather in February. That being said, I can remember it hitting 70 degrees on my birthday, in early March. But still - sunscreen?!!! In February?!!! It must be done...

Cherry blossoms

Back to work tomorrow... I'd much rather dig in the dirt. But the library needs me too.

Technology...testing.

Comments

Adrianadrianmircea Tuesday, February 23, 2010 11:21:46 PM

question: what products are you using for the plants?

Annelibrarianguish Wednesday, February 24, 2010 6:40:35 AM

Which plants - my vegetable garden?

NONE!

Well, just before I planted, when I was preparing the ground I bought a few bags of compost and mixed them in with the soil. But I didn't use any fertilizer last year (it was a really amazing year, weatherwise). I also did not use any commercial pesticides.

When I find a slug or snail, I chuck it over the fence into the neighbor's yard! devil

We did have a scourge of aphids at one point, and I made a mix of dish soap and water to spray on them. It worked, but I had to really keep on it. I ended up with several brussel sprout plants that looked very strange...

Adrianadrianmircea Wednesday, February 24, 2010 10:55:00 AM

lol

Adrianadrianmircea Wednesday, February 24, 2010 11:14:20 AM

i'm using different products, herbal the most and a little house soap and alcohol sometimes for some insects. but the timing must be right, or else i kill the useful ones to. i'm lucky to have all needed plants growing in my garden, or near it. i don't have enough compost because i need that everywhere, but i fertilize a lot. and once in 3 years i add manure, which i buy from the neighbors. there are organic products to buy, but they are too expensive, so i make them myself. more to work, but less costs. and with the weather i don't have too much luck. the last 2 years rained too much, and a lot of problems appeared. years ago there was always a problem with not enough rain, but for me it was better that way. and of course the late frost that we had. destroyed almost all. to give you an example about how freaky the weather can be around here: beginning january +16 C in the shade. end jan -30 C. and it goes like this till late april. not always -30, but enough to finish the trees.

Annelibrarianguish Thursday, February 25, 2010 3:04:20 AM

Wow. The weather is the factor we just can't control, eh? We had a very sunny, fairly dry summer here last year - I'm hoping for something similar this year. We'll see...

I tend not to want to spend too much money on things either, so I make do with whatever I can do myself. I may look into a citrus spray of some sort to keep the cat out of the garden - I don't want her in there making messes!

How big is your garden, and what do you grow?

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