Plant, Weed, Mulch, Repeat

Sometimes life is slow going and other times it is non-stop.  The last half of May was going constantly...all good things, yet very busy.  Field trips, class events,wrapping up our MOPS year, planting the rest of the garden, baking for the school carnival, Mothers day, and a family weddng.  So how do I follow that?  I also joined a health/gym place for women only, so I can actually get in shape for the first time in my life without my psyche getting the best of me.  Busy times...very little left for online pursuits.  So, be forewarned my posts may be fewer and shorter.  Welcome to summer vacation!

Now the garden is in and the last of the seeds planted are just starting to peek out of the ground.  Come walk with me in my garden.

Back Patio: Mint, pansies and marigolds (edible blossoms) in planters.  Grapes are just a few feet away.  The grapes are taking off.  This is the second year for them, not sure if we will have grapes yet or not, but they are growing!  I also have a salad bowl and a tray of loosey-goosey plants that have no place in the garden...they will likely be given away.


Kitchen garden: Salad greens are up and will be ready to pick soon.  Herbs have done very well.  Already dehydrated one batch of parsley, two of cilantro.  I put two basil plants in: red and sweet.  The herbs have been going to seed early due to the early season this year.  Most of them are perennial or from last year's seed.






Tea garden: His is where my tea herbs (along with irises) reside.  The lavendar smells fantastic.  Chamomile looks to bloom soon.  Echnicea is struggling--dog has trampled it trying to herd chickens who are in the adjacent pen.  I just put in a rosemary, too.

Chickens: The seven hens are doing great.  Shortly after my last chicken post RedRoo did indeed crow.  It's not very loud yet, but his days are numbered.  They have taken permanent outdoor residency and thank goodness!  In waiting for the chicen coop to be done,the girls have discovered the old doghouse makes a nice shelter from sun and rain.  One night it was late when I got out there and they were all snuggled in so we decided they would be fine in there with a board in front of the doggie door to keep out critters at night.  The actual coop looks fantastic and was moved outside today!

Vine Patch: I'm trying something new here this year, combining plantings.  In the pst  have done 3 or 4 hills of pumpkins and had more than we needed.  This year I have two hills of pumpkins, one hill of watermelon, one hill of muskmelon.

Berries: The dry spell we had here did not do any favors.  We shall see...I don't expect great abundance.  I didn'tater the strawberries as much as I should have.  They have stalled out and some blooms dried up.  Doggone broken sprinkler.  Got a new one right before it rained again.  Go figure.  Blueberries should be on by the end of the month.  Some got frost nipped in early May, but some are still growing!

Fence-row:  I tried something new, planting my climbing cucumbers along the fence.  It sounds good in theory, but I have yet to see sprouts from the seeds.  Not sure if it's that something ate them or if I'm just not patient enough.  Time will tell.  I planted 5 hills, one on each fence post parallel to our main garden.

View from the north-east corner.

Main Garden:  So starting at the gate, as you walk in you will find...potatoes to the left, ready to bloom (5 rows of red and 2 rows of gold) the red are growing more consistently, but the gold are larger plants despite being planted two weeks later.  We'll see which are more productive in a few months!  To the right is the patch of corn -- 7 rows -- just starting to pop up (planted a week ago).  Keep walking and at the left (next to the potatoes) are the 5 rows of green beans.  They, too, were planted a week ago and have started popping up!  Take the left path from here and you see the 8 late cabbage and 3 early cabbage, 2 plants of dill, 2 rhubarb plants and 3 rows of onions.  I have finally managed a healthy onion patch -- 5th try's the charm.  Back at the center path, if you take the right path you see 24 tomato plants, 4 hot peppers, 12 sweet peppers, garlic, leeks, broccoli, a few last-minute cauliflower that may or may not make it (3 year olds don't always watch where they walk :p ).  Turn right at the cauliflower and you see 5 rows of carrots and 5 rows of beets.

View from the south-east corner.

View from the south-west corner.

Touch of Class hybrid tea rose.

Blooming: Out front I have clematis blooming still, and planted yellow petunias in the little wagon by the front step.  At the west of the house, my red asiatic lilies are in bloom (a month early, like most things).  You'll also find my wedding garden here -- planted on our 5th anniversary (3 years ago): white roses, irises (which are done blooming now -- they were supposed to be blue, but are really more purple), and delphinium in pale blue.  *heart smiles*  To the south of the house is my rose garden, in bloom, too.  This was planted for the love of roses I got from my grandparents, who always had roses.  :)

Ville de Lyon Clematis

It's been busy days in the garden.  Plant, weed, mulch, repeat.  It's a crucial process, especially with the dry weeks we've had; mulch will save your garden.  To a point, the weeds actually help your garden, shading the soil.  Yet, eventually they will overtake your plants and steel nutrients.  Better to pull them and mulch the soil.  You can use the weeds you have pulled or wood chips (untreated, uncolored).  We chip up the trimmed tree limbs every season and that provides most of what we need.  You can also get truck/trailer loads from a local landscaper or yard-waste landfill.  They don't have to be fancy, just cover the soil so the dirt doesn't dry as quickly.  Extra bonus: mulch becomes compost, and thus adds back to your soil!

I love the road in the woods image...
added three little squirrels just for a personal touch ;)

Last bit of the check-in for May/June =

Goals: My goal was to paint the picture ...and... I did it!!!  I am so excited to say I actually did it.  I've been keeping that blank canvas on the easel since October.  I'm not fabulous artist, but I love to paint and I love to save money by doing things myself.  It was a fantastic night to just get lost in the paint... I didn't go to sleep until 11:45, but it was a great night!

   Next month, my goal is to get the clutter cleared out: garage sale!


Lessons: Life takes lots of tending and maintenance and sometimes we wish we weren't responsible for that; but make sure you don't waste all that effort of the past by neglecting it now.  It's not fun to be unkempt or parched.  Do what it takes to nurture your family, yourself and your relationships.  Most of all don't neglect your relationship with the Creator -- He cares intimately for you and your concerns.  It's so hard, but let Him help you carry the burdens, He is waiting for you to do so.

April 2012 - Cold Weather Growers

April is drawing to a close, and I thought a garden tally was appropriate, for those of you wondering what to grow and when -- or just what I do with my day besides blogging and chasing boys.  The unseasonable warmth had me put these things in a little early (some a week or so before normal), but I don't think it's too late to plant them yet.  Just make sure they have enough water as it gets warmer.  A partly shady garden spot will extend the growth of these plants, too, as it's cooler in the summer than the full-sun areas.

Potato plants coming up now.

By the end of this April I have the following in my garden:  26 broccoli plants (some home-grown, others store-bought as my seedlings were very thin this year), 5 rows or red potatoes (from last years stock), 2 rows of yukon gold (purchased), 3 rows of red onions (purchased), a square plot of garlic (3 cloves), 5 rows of beets, 5 rows of carrots, and 8 cabbage plants (new this year).  I have pea seeds, but I'm still not getting my trellis figured out.  Ideally I'd like a trellised entry over the gate, but that means buy ($$ no thanks) or adding another construction project.  I'll have to keep noodling that one around.

Finally, it's a salad garden, instead
of strawberries!

I'm looking forward to fresh salad and herbs.  Some herbs are approaching bloom already -- insane early!  The salad garden is just starting to pop out of the ground.  I also have a salad bowl planter and a planter with chives next to the patio for quick-grabs.

I've staked off the peppers and tomatoes.  Strawberries are blooming (early, I might add) and I don't have the heart to pluck the blooms like I'm supposed to -- I may just let them go and see what happens.    Blueberries and grapes are in various stages of blooming, too.  This will be our first year harvesting those.

This week was also spent transplanting plant starts so they will grow better.  The tomatoes last Thursday (into peat pots a little bigger than the 9-pack seed starters).  Peat pots are worth the expense to me because you don't disrupt the roots when planting in May.  I did the same for the strawberries Tuesday and peppers yesterday (Wednesday).  I'm growing for myself and a few friends.  The leftovers will go in the garage sale for a few extra bucks.

Dog pen, soon to be chicken run.

Chickens, foraging in the green grass.

Our chickens were the big adventure of the month.  They are about 4 weeks old and growing like crazy!  The coop is coming along and boys are trying so very hard to be helpful.  Eventually we will move the shed, clean out the seldom-used dog pen, put Tula's house and a tie out elsewhere in our yard (only to be used when we will be gone for most of the day), set up the coop and have those chickens outside.  For now, they still spend their nights in the brooder box indoors and their days in a re-purposed kid-pen in the sunshine and grass.

Finally, it's always enjoyable to beautify the yard, too!  The boys went around with the garden sheers and trimmed around beds and fixtures.  I planted some pansies in hanging baskets and pots.  I get a $15 budget for annuals (flowers) every year, only spent $11.20 and filled 4 planters and 3 hanging baskets.  I could grow more flowers for the buck from scratch -- but without grow lights, some don't do as well.  I'll be planting marigolds and sunflowers (leftover from previous years' seeds) in the main garden for varmint control and pollinator attraction.  I have a few other potted annuals that were actually in the house over the winter -- one more way to save the bucks!

Miss Bateman Clematis (climber)

Purple Leaf Sand Cherry (shrub)

Just a glimpse of what's blooming, for posterity's sake:  Clematis -- my Miss Bateman is blooming, but the Ville de Lyon (pink-red) and the purple/white one (the name escapes me) are not quite there yet -- just buds.  The iris are just popping -- they are one of my faves -- especially the blue ones in my anniversary garden, as those were one of our wedding flowers.  The roses are budding, but not open yet.  The lilacs are just finishing (a month early!)  My flower bushes in the front yard bloomed about two weeks ago and are now just a pretty red leaf.

Hanging baskets --
$2 planter, $1.24 in plants each

Last month I made the point of setting a goal: to paint the picture for our bedroom.  Nope -- didn't get it done.  Guess I'll have to forward that to next month.  I did do some creative things, including some gifts for others, finishing a 2-year crochet project, brainstormed a few ideas, and fixed a few pairs of shoes with my trusty hot glue -- that's a craft, right?  In truth, I feel I get my creative edge when I dig and plant, too.  I'm so blessed be able to get dirty and nurture the various life in and around our home.  Being a mom is just kind of like that -- a little messy, but well worth the rewards!

March 2012 Roll Call

First bloom of the season!

I had intended this to go up a few days ago ~ but Spring Break was a blur of boys and my weekend was just non-stop.  I find myself on Monday making a long list of all the things I didn't get to this weekend, but really need/want done by...tomorrow!  Renewed library books since I didn't get the research/plan done that I had intended, working on a measure of things for MOPS, and loving the hot coffee and quiet house!

Now, I've decided I'm gonna take inventory at the end of each month as a sort of journal.  Things I've accomplished, highlights, garden progress, etc.  Also a reflection of what I've learned and what I want to tackle next month.  My hope is that this inspires you, dear reader, to do the same.  To pause and reflect, to give thanks and to adjust to what's changed: a way to appreciate this life!

So here's my Top Ten for March on my little home-front:

• Early growth in a great many things.  All the perennials and shrubs are going crazy.  Lilacs, blueberries, grapes, hosta, tulips, herbs.  Even the roses are leafing out all the way up the stems; won't be surprised to see early buds, and full bushes this year -- provided we don't get a late blizzaster. 

roses

grapes

• Moved my strawberries; they seem to be surviving!  Hopefully they flower and we still get a good measure of fruit this year!  I suspect I could make the 10x10' bed bigger; I have so many more strawberry plants.  I planted rows 8" apart, and plants every 6" (recommendation is 2-3 plants per square foot, but the bed they were it was wall to wall strawberries, so I went somewhere in between).

They are all surviving -- debating putting even more in (there are plenty left)
or just selling the rest at a garage sale this spring.  This bed will be FULL by fall, either way.

• Got most of my spring clean up done early, what a load off!  Procrastination is a psychological enemy for me -- the longer I wait, the more apprehensive I am about doing something and the more stressed I get. Yeah for an early start and sunshine to motivate us!

These hosta were all planted from splitting a single over-grown plant a few years ago!
I always love how it looks after I get the winter junk cleaned out!

• Garden plan is made and seeds are started.  May be tweaking the plan a little -- putting cukes outside the garden against our fence so we have more space within the garden for potatoes or corn.  Still toying with that idea.  My goal was to grow enough of each to sustain my family for the year.  Started extra plants too with the prayer to be able to share them with others -- plant it forward!  Tomato seeds are 2" tall and have 2nd set of leaves!  54 tomatoes started, 36 broccoli, 45 peppers, 45 various greens.  Potatoes, beets, etc. go in as soon as it stays dry enough to till the garden.  Blueberries, strawberries, salad, herbs, grapes, and pumpkins are all in separate areas throughout the yard.

Aprx 40'x35', DH says we can always make it bigger too!
red circles = tomatoes (3 types), various Ps at the upper right =peppers,
B = green beans, Br = broccoli, R= rhubarb

• Took the chicken class at our local nature center, as per the urban chicken ordinance here.  Not sure when we'll get the birds, this year or next, but I'm excited about adding another level of self-sufficiency!  DH wants to get a coop built before we get birds.
• My seedlings are getting taller, the garden is getting tilled (about half-way right now), and potatoes & beets are in the ground!  

• Patched a round of boy-jeans.  These boys go through knees like crazy.  I try to have a few pairs that are nice, but the rest get patched rather than replaced.  They are just playing in them anyway!  DS2 says he likes the patches because they are fun and cool, and mommy made them! *swelling heart*  Also fixed a pair of shoes with my trusty hot glue gun.  We don't throw it away until it's beyond help!
• Started a new out-of-the-house work-ish opportunity.  No paycheck, but I love doing the work and have been very blessed by it!  I had thought about a part-time paying job, now that DS1&2 are in school and DS3 is potty trained, but there were big neon signs directing me otherwise.  This is just once a week and it's done wonders for my sanity, and my prayer life!  The Lord made it very clear that I was to be concerned with the work I could do for others, not the paycheck.   Bonus: it gives DS3 time alone with daddy and I'm home before DH goes to work - so no sitter required.  I'm always amazed when God makes his will clear!
• Got into my music more than I have in a long time.  I play viola (not violin) and have been slowly getting my muscle tone and technique back.  I have found a whole new level of uplifting joy by playing through the hymnal -- I seldom play anything else now.  It has literally squashed my irritability and depression.  God is bigger than all my problems and Christ's blood was for my benefit -- a true mercy.  There is something awesome about lifting up praise with words and music that have praised God for many generations, centuries in some cases!
• Got our taxes done and the desk/filing organized.  Procrastinated that way too long, but I'm so glad it's done now!

Biggest Lesson Learned:  Worrying about things changes nothing.  Trying to do everything for myself changes nothing.  The plan is still in His hand and he is ALWAYS our provider.  Trust, prayer and submission go a lot further than self-reliance, frustration, and the rat-race.  Peace is a direct by-product of submitting to the Plan greater than our own.

Goal for Next Month: Finish something I've been putting off -- a painting for our bedroom.  Bought the canvas in November -- have yet to start it!  I love to do it, but keep telling myself I can't until I have a huge chunk of undistracted time.  So basically, I need to let go of my "requirements" and just do what I can when I can -- honestly something I need to do in many areas of my to-do list!

So here's to our pleasant March Lamb (though that last day was a little lion-ish) and off to April we go!