Aug 13 2008
Green Thumb
Not much to say about riding today. It’s not that I’m not riding - I am…plenty - but there’s nothing tremendously exciting about 20′ intervals. So we’ll just leave it at that.
What is exciting, at least right now, is harvesting veggies and getting the garden ready for the fall and winter. Having been in our current house for a couple years and gotten used to the space I have (5 raised beds), I’ve finally settled on a nice rotation for each of the beds. I’ve got a sense for what the family likes and how fast (or not) we go through things.
I think putting a little more effort this year than most came about during the early summer when I saw how exorbitant food prices were getting. So if a couple hours a week is all it takes to harvest a reasonably steady supply of organic food year round, I’m ok with that. Plus, it’s just good old fun to play around in the dirt.
This year’s late spring threw a lot of people off, myself included. I’m not expecting a lot out of the heat lovers this year - cukes, tomatoes, peppers, etc. Part of it was the weather. The other part was the 6 truly naughty chickens we have. It is utterly amazing to watch the speed at which they can shred a small patch of foliage if left unattended for 5 minutes.
So between them and our cat who continually likes to shit in the raised beds - I swear we were close to roast chicken with spicy cat sauce - I had a rough start this spring. I’ve since fully caged the chickens. I also place 2′ x 4′ wire fence segments over the little amount of bare earth where I put seeds down. For the most part, I manage to keep the beds covered with a cover crop when they’re not in use.
Anyway, most stuff has recovered and we’ve had no shortage of lettuce so far this year. The fall plantings are in full swing; cauliflower, walla wallas, kale, chard, lettuce, carrots and spinach. I’m still learning how to plant seed in the heat of the summer so coverage is a bit spotty. Should still be fine though. Plus, I have slugs. Slugs! From what I’ve read, they’re likely hiding in the lettuce bed and are able to move around on the soil that I keep moist for the seedlings. The bulbs, garlic and shallots, and winter cover crops will be later in Sept. and Oct. Very exciting.