Growing up, there were times I helped drop seeds in the ground during planting time, we helped pick peas, tomatoes, cucumbers and squash and we definitely shelled peas, beans, and shucked corn. I had to help in the kitchen bagging things as they cooled, and then in my high school years we helped with the blanching.
But planting a garden and putting up produce are two very different things. This was the first year that I really got my garden rows right. Bobby's laughed that I've done it backwards the last few years (planting seeds in the furrows instead of the mounds), and I like the difference it has made so far.
Since we have an underground fence line, I use straw bales for part of my garden so I don't risk cutting the cord to the dog's electrical current. We tried this a few years ago (and learned that small plants truly work best), and last year I had moderate success with it. I didn't "season" the bales long enough before planting, so it took a little longer for my plants to really get going. This year we started earlier. Today when planting beans, peas, and replanting my squash, I encountered ants. Ever since Hurricane Matthew last fall we have been swamped with mounds of ants like I've never seen here. And they've made their home in two of the straw bales. So today I guess I'll be researching gardens and ants and poisons to see what my options are.
I try not to be shocked when people call and ask me for advice on their chickens or their garden. I know very little! I've had more failures than successes. But I suppose each failure is a lesson learned, though there are many days I wish my grandparents were still around so I could ask them questions. My Dad and his brothers all do things very differently in their gardens, and I'm curious what my grandparents would say about it.
But planting a garden and putting up produce are two very different things. This was the first year that I really got my garden rows right. Bobby's laughed that I've done it backwards the last few years (planting seeds in the furrows instead of the mounds), and I like the difference it has made so far.
Since we have an underground fence line, I use straw bales for part of my garden so I don't risk cutting the cord to the dog's electrical current. We tried this a few years ago (and learned that small plants truly work best), and last year I had moderate success with it. I didn't "season" the bales long enough before planting, so it took a little longer for my plants to really get going. This year we started earlier. Today when planting beans, peas, and replanting my squash, I encountered ants. Ever since Hurricane Matthew last fall we have been swamped with mounds of ants like I've never seen here. And they've made their home in two of the straw bales. So today I guess I'll be researching gardens and ants and poisons to see what my options are.
I try not to be shocked when people call and ask me for advice on their chickens or their garden. I know very little! I've had more failures than successes. But I suppose each failure is a lesson learned, though there are many days I wish my grandparents were still around so I could ask them questions. My Dad and his brothers all do things very differently in their gardens, and I'm curious what my grandparents would say about it.
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