Spring Has Sprung!

Spring is here. Get out and get your hands dirty.
The weather has been warm all winter, with only one or two days where the ground felt frozen. We had one snow day with a foot of snow. My hoop house collapsed from the weight of the snow. I was able to rescue it with the help of some duct tape. When the weather gets warm enough to take the plastic off, I'll be able to redo the supports.
Two weeks ago I heard the peepers,and I was told the bees have been making brood for almost a month. Everything seems to be month ahead of schedule. I feel like I'm a month behind.
Today I finally finished fencing in the garden. My hope is to at least keep the chickens out. I certainly don't have any grandiose ideas of trying to keep out any critters. But I think I may be able to at least detour the chickens.
I planted peas,and picked corn salad for dinner. This years garden is really starting to take shape. I have expanded even further this year. Now that both compost piles have been moved I have so much extra space on the west side. Not to mention the soil there is all compost.
I love getting my hands dirty.

When Pigs Fly

Why does this saying make me smile.. Maybe because this is what I imagine.

A winged porcine in a state of bliss.

That I have created.

December

Gosh, Where did the summer go??
It's December already?? Seems like yesterday that I was lamenting the coming off spring.
 I never got a chance to comment on any of the progress made in the garden.
It was a fairly successful year. We harvested quite a bit,  and I have found a new love for greens.
I have become a huge fan of the hay bale gardens. Everything, except the beans, grew really well in them. I think there might have been too much nitrogen for them from the composting bales.
I did have some problems with slugs. I found them easy to find and pick off being at more eye level. The chickens have enjoyed all the extra snacks. There was also a small rodent. It was either a field mouse or a mole, but it made a nuisance in the beets. It would nibble around each root, so that when I would pull it, the beet looked like an apple core.We did enjoy the beet greens though.

The acorn squash that I planted on the furthest side of the garden made it's way all the way to the other side.

The potatoes, a new crop for me was a total success. I will totally step it up next year.  I planted 2 pounds and harvested about 15 delicious pounds of fingerling.

The tomatoes were everywhere. I dried them, canned them, fried them still green( another new fave) chopped them for salsa and piccalilli, and ate them as is.
There were also tomatillos another new crop that I will be add next year too.

I was having so much fun I forgot to write.
I'll have to work on that as well.

Backyard Meadow

I am not opposed to mowing. In certain areas mowing serves a purpose. The wooded area around out house is mowed of any underbrush to serve a a buffer in the event of fire. But the backyard the mowing is kept to a minimum. We have mown several paths to help us get from one area to another, but the rest is left to do what it may. I love this. I am not the only one. The meadow is host to birds, bees, dragonflies, butterflies, as well as a host of many other critters.

I love to watch the grasses move in the breeze. I love to see what new flowers are starting to bloom.

I would like to think that I am helping the environment by giving birds and insects a place to live and be happy.

Many people ask if I ever mow.

We do.. We mow the front yard and the sides..
But the back is for the birds.

I'm back.

After a very long time without my computer, I am now back.
I missed all of spring. The busy time.

The Hay bales have been planted.The middle areas filled with composted hay and chicken manure, are planted with carrots,3 varieties of beet, and parsnips. The actual bales have; beans,mustard greens,cucumber,squash,peppers,Swiss chard,tomatoes,and zucchini.

The hay bales are planted and growing like gangbusters.

We have been eating lots of beet, and mustard greens. Salads of lettuce,herbs and greens.

The potatoes started blooming. Soon we'll have new potatoes.

Sunken Garden

I have always wanted a sunken garden. As a little girl my grandmother would take me to the Hornblower estate where there were terraced gardens with sunken"rooms" and goldfish pools. It all seemed so magical to me. This year I have decided to create a potager, or kitchen garden, in the corner next to the woodshed.
I started by digging out a walkway in the center of the garden area, and lined this with stones. I then spread crushed paving gravel in the center and placed paving stones over the top.

I added lots of organic matter to the planting area. So far I have planted cabbage(red and white), beans( an heirloom with pretty blossoms called painted lady) and herbs(chives,dill,tarragon and cilantro)
Once the weather improves I will add more vegetables, herbs and some edible flowers.
I have also added my fountain to the corner.

It will add a nice sound to that corner of the yard. It will be nice to hear the sound of tinkling water as I tend to my Sunken Garden