Ramblings from the Homestead

There are certain advantages to being early risers. Every morning is beautiful. Some are simply more exceptional than others. This sort of beauty lasts only a few moments before the clear rays of the sun dissolve the brilliant hues. Let there be. It was and is. And it is very good. -David-

We started #1 with a shovel and a rake shortly after moving in three years ago. It took two 4 x 20 beds to realize that Troybilt had a better idea. No. You don't need 40 acres and a mule. A few 5 gallon buckets on your patio or deck will grow more than you might think and it's a heck of a lot of fun. In fact, a deck garden is a sight to behold. We grew one in New Jersey. If it will grow in the ground it will grow in a bucket. You just have to remember to keep it watered. #2 and #3 are in the lower part of the property.

They were already blooming three weeks ago but a rude blast of freezing cold air set them back.

Last year's corn coming up... yummy! I can't wait to get started on a new crop.

Yesterday and today were just gorgeous gardening weather. D and I spent some time in the rows; I picked the last of the mustard greens ( and he tilled the row under- great green manure!!) He dug the last of the turnip roots. Today, we planted flowers galore. I overplanted the new bed he tilled in the front yard, and weeded and cleaned out and then replanted the front bed with Shasta Daisies and Purple Conflower. We bought some seed from CheapSeeds.com and that is what I used. You cant beat their prices. Also, started in the greenhouse are some Sweet 100 tomatoes, some yellow squash and some butternut squash, a few giant pumkins, some basil and chives and jalepeno and bell peppers. The spinach is coming up nicely, as are the carrots and another planting of beets. The beets we have growing now seem not to have done as well as we would like-- maybe the cold winter we had got to them. The kale, however is beautiful! D picked a mess of it, and we will process and freeze it. The swiss chard ...