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| Is it really springtime? |
Windy Time has just about blown past us. The first day was true to its name. The day was beautiful, but a strong wind picked up at night and seemed to change the pattern for the entire month. For the most part, it's been cool and cloudy.
A few wild flowers are just beginning to appear.
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| Blood root in bloom |
Blood root just opened up today.
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| Daphne |
We found some Daphne blooming in the woods.
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| Colts foot |
We also found some Colts foot near the path. So far, we seem to be having a reluctant spring.
To update on our stove, I've been working my way through the various features. Popping corn was a problem, and so was cooking oatmeal. (I'm rather picky about my oatmeal. It should in no way resemble wallpaper paste!) I have finally developed a technique for proper porridge. It's nearly right.
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| Popper in action |
We bought a stove top corn popper and Bob, the resident popmeister is thrilled with it!
On the whole, we're very happy with the induction stove.
Now, about the garden.This year will be our 26th garden, our 20th with completely organic culture. The weather has impeded us a bit, but we have gotten a start.
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| Making holes for potatoes |
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| Pruning black raspberries |
I've got potatoes and peas planted.
All of the fruit is pruned.
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| Swiss chard ready to go outside |
The cool weather starts are now outside hardened off. I'll put these in the ground on Monday.
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| Lunette inspects the fertilizer mix |
We've got our organic fertilizer mix all ready, and the garden beds are almost all prepared.
Everyone's been working hard.
Regarding our new system we're trying: The book that we read is No Dig, No Weed Gardening, by Raymond Poincelot. It's over 30 years old, so don't hurry out and look for it.
Now, do not confuse this approach with conventional "no till" farming, which depends on using GMO seeds and dousing everything with chemicals. This method focuses on not disturbing the soil, which allows weed seeds to germinate. Weeds are kept under control by mulching.
Highly recommended is black plastic. This is the only drawback that I see, because we try to avoid excessive use of petroleum products. Here is an example of balancing ideals with reality. The reality is that we've used organic mulches for years and our garden is plagued with slugs. Not just any slugs, but slugs the size of submarines! In case you didn't know, slugs LOVE organic mulches. We hope they'll not have the same affinity for black plastic.
Weeds are a big problem in some of our beds. They can't grow under the black plastic.
We'll also be trying some of the author's other suggestions.
So, the bottom line: we'll be doing a few things differently this year. Using black plastic, aerial feeding and "spot fertilizing" (using organic amendments, of course) and setting out more things as transplants to avoid some pest problems. Even after 25+ years we can learn new tricks.
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| One tired pup |
We're all good and tired at the end of the day, but that's what life's about. It's an honest tired, and beats working out in a stuffy, stinky gym!
Here's to a good season ahead for all of us (and you). Get yourselves outside and reconnect with something besides four man made walls. It's great! Catch you all at the end of Shoots Show.
Bob, Kathleen and Lunette
