What did you do in the garden today?

[Bugseye]

Oh, yah, Beekissed and Guvnah, it's awesome being a caretaker in the creation. I look at my hive and wonder whether any of my gals will make it through the winter. It's been rough for them. If they don't, I guess I'll order again, and if they do, I'll baby them. I've been battling aphids in my Aerogarden lettuce; seems like I'm making headway, though I'm vigilant so they don't take over again.

 

[politicalcenter]

Filled up my extended raised bed with rotten hay mixed with goat manure and the dirt is solid black. I was going to use pig dirt but the pig pen is still pretty wet. I will use it in another bed. I will use these beds for flowers most likely. I want to put two Brugmansia right in front of the place I plan to sell plants come spring. One Brug. will be pink and the other yellow. I have a bed of daffodils in front of that.

We also pulled the last of our carrots up and fed the small ones to the pigs and fed the greens to the goats. We got a lot of carrots this year in a small place. The garden is just about done and it is time to start up for spring.

I have been thinking about a BTE garden but it won't work for me because I have no access to wood chips. But we can get all the pine straw and leaves we can tote. You can grow a very good garden with manure and mulch.

 

[henless]

I have been thinking about a BTE garden but it won't work for me because I have no access to wood chips. But we can get all the pine straw and leaves we can tote. You can grow a very good garden with manure and mulch.

I'm doing a BTE garden and using leaves as my mulch cover. I would love to get some tree trimmings since they are heavier. In the meantime, I will use what I've got which is leaves/pine straw.

 

[politicalcenter]

I'm doing a BTE garden and using leaves as my mulch cover. I would love to get some tree trimmings since they are heavier. In the meantime, I will use what I've got which is leaves/pine straw.

A lot of sawmills and wood working shops are now using the wood waste to generate electricity. They are harder to get than they used to be.

But I am sure leaves and pine straw will work very well. They work for me. But nothing breaks up this hard Alabama clay better than manure.

Ilive close to a livestock auction and I am going to see if I can get a couple of pickup loads of cow manure.

 

[henless]

I put cardboard down a couple days ago in my BTE garden. It rained last night, which is good for my cardboard, but the wind was up this morning. It was blowing 16 mph with gusts up to 25, so I was out there this morning at 7:45 putting 13 bags of cow compost on top of the cardboard. I'll rake some more leaves up tomorrow to put on top.

 

[Beekissed]

Here's an interesting way to look at gardening (and chicken-ing!)...

We don't actually grow anything. God is the author of life. We are merely his Adams and Eves, tending the life he creates. We might have extra knowledge, skills, talents to remove impediments and add advantages in the spaces we have been appointed to tend, so we're not just cogs in a machine. We all have different gifts. Gardening and chicken-herding are some of mine. I never lose my awe for the natural cathedral of life I am blessed to visit in my own back yard! I am honored to be its caretaker.

Amen!! That's exactly how I feel about all of that...I'm just the steward and it's an awesome and fearful responsibility to take that on, considering the Owner and Creator of all things is watching over the progress of it all. That's why I try not to take a step or decision about the chickens, gardens, orchard, etc. without first running it past the Designer. Whenever I've failed to do so or didn't wait for God's help in things, I've always made a mess of it...and I still find myself making that same mistake, so must keep reminding myself to slow down, let God do all the real work and in His own time.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Thank you!!!!!

Quote: Really???? I do keep thinking about that tree. While it is not a commercial type at all, being much smaller, it seems like it is very hardy. It is coastal Maine where it is thriving, perhaps it will do ok here as well in southern New England 20 miles from the coast.

 

[jerryse]

Thank you!!!!!

Really???? I do keep thinking about that tree. While it is not a commercial type at all, being much smaller, it seems like it is very hardy. It is coastal Maine where it is thriving, perhaps it will do ok here as well in southern New England 20 miles from the coast.

watch this

 

[politicalcenter]

Just potted up some rooted rose cuttings and moved some of my seed starts into the greenhouse.

Also potted up some rooted Chinese Sedum.

 

[Beekissed]

Checked my worms...and was amazed at how quickly the leaf layer on top of the bin has diminished and how all the leaves are being broken up and integrated into the soil of the bin. That gives me a picture of what will be happening in my garden come spring when the soil warms up and I seed all these worms into the deep litter there. Those leaves that I think may be just a little too deeply layered on there right now just may start shrinking rather quickly by the time spring is over. When the worms are done I should have some beautiful, black and rich humus going on in that garden and I'll be rejoicing all the while!

Long about that time it'll be fall again and I can add another thick layer of leaves for them to consume and do it all over again. Shouldn't take too long, between wood chips and leaves, for me to build a decent layer of top soil on this old clay based ridgetop soil. Loamy, black, lovely soil.

And all of it done by the grace of God and from His wonderful design of how things grow here on this Earth~ if man doesn't muddle it up too much.