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Garden Gate:  Garden Adventures  |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 26 2010 : 5:06:01 PM
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Hi Ruth. I love to read good blogs and have way too many saved. I read them alot. I also get some really good recipes from them. Here is the blog for the cake. She also has a good recipe for frozen blackberry yogurt. www.countrywhispers.blogspot.com. I want to try the yogurt.
But I only picked maybe 10 blackberries awhile ago. Why are all the really big juicy ones in the middle of the nasty evil bushes? Why? I hate blackberry bushes. And rose bushes too. I always get caught and am usually dripping blood when I go near them. They are evil, I tell you! They hurt me.
I laid down awhile ago and took a nap. Like a little old lady. I could not keep my eyes open any longer. My granddaughter is wearing me out! I have to blame he because I am not really doing anything to be so tired. Anyway, I am going back to bed soon. So goodnight ya'll!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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sue5901
True Blue Farmgirl
122 Posts
Sue
Wellingborough
United Kingdom
122 Posts |
Posted - Jun 28 2010 : 04:57:41 AM
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Hi Girls - can I tell you about my lucky escape today.
I got a phonecall from my daughter at 5.30 this morning to say there had been a massive fire at our allotments (not sure if you have these in US but they are a kind of like your plot-based community gardens - let me know if you need more info on these)
I dashed up there to find out the firemen had managed to put it out 2 foot from my potatoes and saved all my crops and shed, tools and everything. The neighbouring plots had lost almost everything.I was really lucky because the other side of the fire was heading towards a plot with a chicken coop so the firemen had understandably concentrated on putting that side out first
We have had really hot weather and no rain here for weeks so everywhere is really dry - we've no idea how it started but it looks accidental.
Just saying big thankyou's to the fire service today
Sue
Dance like nobody's watching! |
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KellyWall
True Blue Farmgirl
336 Posts
Kelly
Apison
Tn
USA
336 Posts |
Posted - Jun 28 2010 : 05:57:24 AM
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Sue I am relieved to hear your plots were saved!
Kelly #238
May your bobbin always be full... |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jun 28 2010 : 06:55:16 AM
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Sue, that was really close. But I'm glad they saved the chickens! We have what's called community gardens here. Where people rent plots of ground and grow their gardens and tend them. Really nice to have if you are a city person with no land. I am so glad your garden spot was saved. And I hope ya'll get some rain soon. We are drying up here too. I need to at least water my poor tomatoes.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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LadyInRed
True Blue Farmgirl
6740 Posts
PeggyAnn
Vancouver
WA
USA
6740 Posts |
Posted - Jun 28 2010 : 07:48:57 AM
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Wow Sue...what a huge blessing that your garden was spared! Too bad for those who must start over.
How disheartening huh? I live in a Senior Estates Retirement Community and we have a Community Garden.
It is free for us to sign up for each year. Ours are about Postage Stamp size but it is just really
perfect for my husband and I. Our kids are all grown with families of their own. I have always been a
City girl in my adult life but always have raised my own garden, canned, dehydrated etc. There is just
something so personally special about a little plot of ground to grow your own fresh produce and be able
to share your harvest with others. Would love to see a picture of your plot. When mine grows a little more
now that we are getting sunshine instead of rain...I will post a picture of mine.
Blessings,
~Peggy
Lady In Red
http://ladyinredsite.blogspot.com
A "SMILE" Should Be A Woman's First Accessory, Then Her Purse, Shoes, and Bling! ~p.smith |
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sue5901
True Blue Farmgirl
122 Posts
Sue
Wellingborough
United Kingdom
122 Posts |
Posted - Jun 28 2010 : 11:45:55 AM
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Thanks for the wishes - a lot of people I have told today don't really understand what losing a years garden would feel like but I knew the people on here would!!
I really love my Allotment and being up there with loads of people all growing and producing their own food.
This year I lots of potatoes, onion, shallots, spring onions, peas, broad beans, mooli radish, carrots, Parsnips, Cauliflour, Beetroot, Courgettes (Zucchini), Runner beans, leeks, cabbage, sweetcorn, lettuce, rocket, chard, pumpkin, rhubarb, horse radish, tomatoes, red and black currants, gooseberries and blueberries.
It would be interesting to know how this compares to what you plant.
I've also just taken on a bit more land and so I can have chickens next year and maybe bees but I'm not sure on that.
Peggy I will try and get some photo's of my little plot and post them up, I've loved seeing the photos of other poeple's farms and gardens I find it so inspiring.
Sue
Sue
Dance like nobody's watching! |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jun 28 2010 : 5:56:34 PM
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I finally broke down and watered my poor tomatoes and peppers and squash. And the zinnias too. I have been watering the grape vines and blackberry canes and bluseberry bushes but I have to carry buckets to them. So I hooked up more hoses and used the faucet at the little house which is closer. I hope they are happy now. If only I could get interested in weeding now.
And the heifer Roxie got into the other garden. So I am just letting her eat it up. I put the goats over there this morning and they will help her. It's all mostly weeds anyway and looks horrible. SO hopefully they will clean up the mess for me. I really feel so guilty for not taking better care of it. But with tillers broken I just can't do it. And it's really big.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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LadyInRed
True Blue Farmgirl
6740 Posts
PeggyAnn
Vancouver
WA
USA
6740 Posts |
Posted - Jun 29 2010 : 12:35:47 AM
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Sue...I planted Zucchini, Summer Squash, acorn squash, cucumbers, onions, green beans (the rain rotted them)
Sugar Peas (the rain got those too), Rhubarb (no sign of life there either), One Heirloom Tomatoe, Two Roma
tomatoes, carrots and I am growing some kind of Tree that a bird or squirrel special delivered to my little
garden plot. Thought I would grow it for awhile then transplant it in the bird sanctuary behind where we live. Sounds like your space is very large. Do you have to rent that space or just sign up for a plot?
And do you get the same space each year?
Where ever something rotted-away due to the rain...I planted Garden Art. A Big Spade that says, "Peggy's Garden" where my Jerusalem Artichoke was suppose to come up. One big green buggy-eyed Bull Frog where my
beans were suppose to be and one silly little frog laying on his back enjoying the sunshine where my sugar peas should be. I figured, Hey...if I can't grow vegetables this year I might as well enjoy some garden art. They make me smile and the Russian women think they are amusing too!
May All Your Gardens Produce Abundantly and may your Harvest be Fruitful enough to share with others.
Blessings,
~peggy
Lady In Red
http://ladyinredsite.blogspot.com
A "SMILE" Should Be A Woman's First Accessory, Then Her Purse, Shoes, and Bling! ~p.smith |
Edited by - LadyInRed on Jun 29 2010 12:39:51 AM |
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sue5901
True Blue Farmgirl
122 Posts
Sue
Wellingborough
United Kingdom
122 Posts |
Posted - Jun 29 2010 : 09:04:46 AM
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Peggy - my plot is about 75' by 30' now as we have the extension for the chickens next year. We haven't got it all in crops this year but next year we will have it fully in use.
Our allotment system is based on very ancient legal rights - every local council has to provide land to be allotted (hence the name) to local people to grow their own food - there is a law requiring this. If a certain number of people are on a waiting list then the council has to provide more land, this land is given free but you pay a nominal rent - about £15 ($20 approx) per year for the water connection. When allocated one as long as you remain in the local area, pay your rent and use it to produce food you keep it forever and can even choose who has it after you - so you can keep it in the family forever if there is someone to cultivate it.
How does your system compare? I think people in the US have much bigger gardens than we tend to so I guess it isn't needed as much.
I love the idea of using Garden Art when something fails so you don't have a big gap in your veg patch glaring at you. And it would make your garden totally personal espicially when it is in a shared space and lots of people come and see it.
I had my first red currents the other day and the blueberry are nearly ready too. I was in the North today and they had some rain last night but it still hasn't reached us here - so i'm off to water again
Sue
Dance like nobody's watching! |
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shunger
True Blue Farmgirl
224 Posts
Suzanne
Helena
MT
USA
224 Posts |
Posted - Jun 29 2010 : 09:32:42 AM
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Hi, I haven't visited the Garden Gate before. It's fascinating. Yesterday, I put a small stature of St. Francis feeding a bird in my garden where my translpanted nasturtiums didn't do a thing. The seeds I put in there are doing well. I think the early rains and cold got to the transplants. It's been an adventure in spring gardening here in Montana. Usually we are dry, dry, dry. Not this spring, we had rain, rain, and rain. And cold. Now we have heat. Our tomato plants finally have a dark green color.
On a sidenote, my son's friend in St. Louis has started a garden for the chlldren at the school where she teaches. I thought that very cool. Suzanne |
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LadyInRed
True Blue Farmgirl
6740 Posts
PeggyAnn
Vancouver
WA
USA
6740 Posts |
Posted - Jun 29 2010 : 5:20:53 PM
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Suzanne, Welcome to our Garden Gate! It is fun to compare notes with our Neighbors here, there
and everywhere about our gardens; floral, vegetable or herb. Even Rock Gardens! I like that you
put St. Francis out in your garden. Garden Art can be so much fun and so enjoyable when you are
out there pulling those weeds! I saw in a magazine not long ago that you could take old bowling
balls and turn them into big old Garden bugs by painting them. One was an adorable Lady Bug and
one was a Bumble Bee. Wouldn't that be fun to do and look at?
I also think it is great that your son's friend started a Children's Garden. Kids love to work in the garden if adults make it fun for them.
I was raised in Libby MT until I was 10 yrs old then we moved to WA State. I have good memories
of camping, fishing, cutting down our family Christmas Trees and sled-riding in Montana. There
can sure be some cold cold winters there. I am more of a sun worshiper than snow...so, I like it
here on the border of Oregon and Washington where the winters are much milder.
Well, headed to my crafting group. Chat with you all later.
Blessings,
~peggy
Lady In Red
http://ladyinredsite.blogspot.com
A "SMILE" Should Be A Woman's First Accessory, Then Her Purse, Shoes, and Bling! ~p.smith |
Edited by - LadyInRed on Jun 29 2010 5:23:18 PM |
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violetrose
True Blue Farmgirl
960 Posts
Ruth
Epworth
GA
USA
960 Posts |
Posted - Jun 29 2010 : 6:29:19 PM
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Hi Sue, Welcome - your garden sounds lovely - would love to see photo's if you can post them!
Kris, I know what you mean about those blackberries - we have some in our back yard and I was looking at those yummy berries today - Then I thought about the thorns and the chiggers and wasn't ready to put on long sleeves, long pants, bug repellent, etc. so they are still out there. When it gets cooler in a day or two I'll go out there!
Hugs, Ruth
Farmgirl # 1738
God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us!
St. Augustine |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jun 29 2010 : 7:31:51 PM
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Hello, Suzanne. I am so glad you joined us here. I love adding pretty things to the gardens. Makes them more fun and attracts my attention. I am looking for a dead tree with really neat branches that I can make a bottle tree out of. I love colored bottles and think they look so pretty outside with the sun shining on them. Or just full of bright beautiful zinnias and sunflowers sitting all over the house.
Ruth, I did buy 2 thornless blackberry kind of bushes. They really aren't bushes though. More like just one branch. They are not bushy. I don't know if they will get bushy. I have never grown them before. But the one from last year will have berries on it then it's cut off next year and this years will bear next year. I think. It seems like alot of work for not many berries.
I have been really babying my grape vines and blueberries though. I just think grape vines all in a row are so pretty. There is one blueberry that will be just right in a few days to pick and eat. I have my eye on it.
I went to my daughter's today and stole a ripe tomato. It was so pretty just hanging there. So I took it. I told her though. I have only been getting ripe cherry tomatoes so far. The few ripe bigger tomatoes have had blossom end rot on them. That always seems to happen to the first ones. After that they all seem ok.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Butterscotch Grove
True Blue Farmgirl
196 Posts
Melissa
Fairbanks
AK
196 Posts |
Posted - Jun 29 2010 : 8:06:31 PM
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Rain, rain, and more rain! Well, that's supposed to make for a good berrying year, according to my dental hygenist. Suzanne, I know what you mean - June and July are usually our dry months, then August brings the rain (my 4 year old keeps saying, "Mommy, is it August?" He knows the state fair and the rain both come in August, so he's all ready to go ride the little train and go down the big slide - two months early.) But this year the rain's come early. My peas are happy though. Actually, everything's going like gangbusters. I might even get tomatoes! Yea! Outside of the greenhouse!
I haven't checked in much lately - I've been trying to sell stuff (dolls and jewelry, mostly) at our Farmer's Market, and haven't had as much time to surf.
Kris, and Sue in the UK - hope you get some of our rain, soon.
Peggy - glad you finally got some sun!
All the best,
Melissa
My blog:
http://ButterscotchGrove.wordpress.com |
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LadyInRed
True Blue Farmgirl
6740 Posts
PeggyAnn
Vancouver
WA
USA
6740 Posts |
Posted - Jun 29 2010 : 11:25:21 PM
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Kris...I love your Bottle Tree Idea. Hope you don't mind but I am going to make one too.
Sounds beautiful! Another something fun to look forward to making.
Blessings,
~peggy
Lady In Red
http://ladyinredsite.blogspot.com
A "SMILE" Should Be A Woman's First Accessory, Then Her Purse, Shoes, and Bling! ~p.smith |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jun 30 2010 : 06:15:32 AM
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Hello Melissa. It's good to be busy making things to sell. I'm glad you're doing so good at it. I have really been out of it lately. I think when I cut my finger and it got infected and all those other things happened because of it, it really messed me up. So for the past month or so I have not been caring too much about the gardens. The heifer got in the big garden a few days ago and I went ahead and put the goats out there too. They have not eaten the cantaloupe or sweet potato vines. They haven't made it to the front yet. There are beans and peas up there. I don't think they can get to them yet. They have not touched the 2 rows of okra or the row of zucchini either. Maybe they just don't like them.
I went out this morning and picked okra in the other garden. I also found some ripe Roma tomatoes and some Big Boys! Yippee! I just might have enough to can some this year.
I saw some chickens out in the garden and I went to get them out. Jimmy Buffet, the roo, was standing next to the carrot bed. I moved stuff around and out hopped a hen. There were 4 eggs in there. So there is another spot they are laying. Yseterday I found 2 in the cold frame, 1 in the box in the cat room and another in the crate in the cat room, 1 in the goat barn under the shelf and another up front in the nest box in the other hen house. So I have quite a time egg hunting around here.
We do need rain. It really looks like it's going to set in raining today. A nice all day gentle sprinkle would be great. It's very humid too.
Peggy, go right ahead. I thought it was a good idea and looks really pretty. I think maybe a little cedar tree would work good because they have lots of branches all over going up the trunk. Have fun with it. I hope you can post pictures. I sure would love to see some of ya'lls gardens.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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shunger
True Blue Farmgirl
224 Posts
Suzanne
Helena
MT
USA
224 Posts |
Posted - Jun 30 2010 : 06:25:38 AM
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Thank you all for the kind welcome. We had wind, wind, and more wind last night. I ran out in my housecoat this morning to see if there had been damage. None that I could see. I was so grateful. The weeds are moving in. I know how I will spend part of my weekend.
Kris -- I loved the chicken stories. Our next project is a chicken house and chickens. it will take us some time to get there, but we will.
Happy gardening, Suzanne |
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LadyInRed
True Blue Farmgirl
6740 Posts
PeggyAnn
Vancouver
WA
USA
6740 Posts |
Posted - Jun 30 2010 : 3:04:58 PM
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Kris...I have never heard of an Egg Scavenger Hunt! Sounds like your Hens keep you hopping
around all day long! Mercy, how would you have time to garden or do anything else. LOL! Do you
have a chicken coop? How did you cut your finger? I don't remember hearing about that?
Suzanne don't spend all your weekend working...save some work for next week and enjoy the Holiday!
Blessings,
~peggy
Lady In Red
http://ladyinredsite.blogspot.com
A "SMILE" Should Be A Woman's First Accessory, Then Her Purse, Shoes, and Bling! ~p.smith |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jun 30 2010 : 3:53:48 PM
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yeah, egg hunts on the farm. It keeps me hoppin' for sure. I have to find them before the dogs get to them. They love raw eggs. And I sell all I can so I need them. Today I found 10!
Peggy, I cut my pinky on my left hand June 4th while cutting some not very good beef. I started feeding my dogs raw meat and had gotten some from the place that kills animals and processes it. Gosh I hate the brain freeze. Anyway, I cut the bone nearest my nail. It was fine for a few days then really got infected bad. It was really nasty looking and swollen and very red. I do not go to doctors til I absolutley have to. I did all I could for over a week. Everyone said I needed to go. So a week later on Sat. night I was laying in bed and just got scared thinking of how I got cut and the bad beef and I decided to go to a clinic near here on Sun. So I went. With my mother. She had to hold my hand. Really. I got the biggest antibiotic shot ever and it hurt! He tried to get me to get a tetanus shot but I didn't. Anyway, I have not taken antibiotics in years and the last time I did I got a yeast infection. So I thought I would be on top of it if I drank lots of kefir and ate plain yogurt. Which I did, all the time. I even took the pill with the kefir. So on Thurs. I got a yeast infection. So I quit taking the pills right away. Also ran out of my wheat bread so ended up with another problem. SO I was not happy at all. It just wiped me out for a few weeks. Well, this was long. I have been trying to be extra careful ever since.
Suzanne, I'm so glad you didn't lose anything from the wind. We usually have the tall corn blow over but it will stand back up in a few days.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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LadyInRed
True Blue Farmgirl
6740 Posts
PeggyAnn
Vancouver
WA
USA
6740 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2010 : 12:46:57 AM
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Kris...that is terrible about your finger and then getting the yeast infection on top of it. I
always tell the Dr.s that I get yeast infections easily from antibiotics so they give me some super-duper
strong thing...that doesn't cause yeast. Did the dogs get sick from the bad meat??? You probably really
should have had a tetanus shot sister. Have you had one in the last 10 yrs? Anyway, it all sounds so awful what you went through. Sorry to hear about that.
I guess that makes hunting eggs seem like child's play doesn't it? LOL
Blessings,
~peggy
Lady In Red
http://ladyinredsite.blogspot.com
A "SMILE" Should Be A Woman's First Accessory, Then Her Purse, Shoes, and Bling! ~p.smith |
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violetrose
True Blue Farmgirl
960 Posts
Ruth
Epworth
GA
USA
960 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2010 : 05:16:31 AM
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Good Morning Kris, I didn't know about your finger either. You did mention once about your pinkie, but I thought you were talking about your broken toe! Silly me! I agree with Peggy on the tetanus shot, if you haven't had one in the last 10 years. The last couple I have had didn't even hurt! Is your finger healing well now????
Glad you got a good tomato! Yummy! open faced Tomato sandwich- sliced tomato topped w/cheese, topped with italian spices under the broiler - SUMMER! blueberry muffins for dessert! Boy am I getting hungry.
Happy 4th of July everyone - enjoy our independence with family and friends!
Farmgirl # 1738
God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us!
St. Augustine |
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LadyInRed
True Blue Farmgirl
6740 Posts
PeggyAnn
Vancouver
WA
USA
6740 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2010 : 12:08:50 PM
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OK Ruth...now you've gone and made me hungry. And I don't have any
ripe tomatoes to slice and put on a sandwich. Wish I did...I love them sun warmed right out of the garden with sun fresh thinly sliced cucumber on them too. 
Hope everyone is having a beautiful day and plan to have a Great
Fourth of July.
"Here in America...In God We Still Trust" from a Diamond Rio song 
blessings,
~peggy
Lady In Red
http://ladyinredsite.blogspot.com
A "SMILE" Should Be A Woman's First Accessory, Then Her Purse, Shoes, and Bling! ~p.smith |
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shunger
True Blue Farmgirl
224 Posts
Suzanne
Helena
MT
USA
224 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2010 : 12:15:14 PM
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Kris, I'm so sorry that you went through all of that with your finger and the end results. Hope you are feeling better.
Our gardening adventures continue with huge winds and rain late in the evening after I'm in bed. I krept out this morning to pick lettuce for som friends and was hoping everything would be okay. Lots of little tree branches around but the garden still stands -- such courage and fortitude it takes for plants in my part of Montana. The lettuce is delicious and beautiful -- reds and greens.
I brought some to a friend this morning and she sniffed and sniffed that fresh garden smell -- she was perfectly happy with simple lettuce. How fun. Suzanne |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2010 : 3:51:49 PM
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Hi ya'll. I didn't mean to go on about the finger. It is better. I am being so careful now. A bit afraid of the knives though.
Peggy, that was the first time I gave them raw meat. It takes awhile for them to get used to it. They are all loving it now. It's amazing, but they do. And I have started going on Tuesday now so the meat is fresh and in the cooler.
Ruth, that does sound good. I love tomato sandwiches. I make my wheat bread and it just does not taste as good as white bread for a nice juicy mater sandwich. I just might have to go buy a loaf of white bread when the tomatoes start coming in good. One of my favorite sandwiches is tomato and bacon. Oh my goodness, that is SO good. I could eat them every day. And on sourdough is even better. I've got to get another sourdough starter going. I love that bread.
Suzanne, I did not have good luck with my lettuce this year. Or spinach either. The salad mix I planted was a Meclun mix and it was awful! I did not like it at all. I think it was the arugula. It was nasty to me. It's like cilantro. Yuck! I hate that too. It stinks so bad and so did that arugula. Must be in the same family. And it was spicy too. Not for me. I like the spring mix better.
I hope you all have a great 4th. Be careful and have fun.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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shunger
True Blue Farmgirl
224 Posts
Suzanne
Helena
MT
USA
224 Posts |
Posted - Jul 05 2010 : 8:34:14 PM
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Kris, my husband doesn't like the Mesclun lettuce mix either. Our beets aren't looking great, but I have hopes that we will have some warm weather and sun.
Our adventure this weekend was fixing up our garden shed -- we painted it a pretty yellow and my husband is trimming it with some cedar boards we have had for a while. It's a very pretty place and it protects us from the wind when we sit out on the garden side of the building.
I did weed a lot this weekend. And picked up rocks. The rains bring the rocks to the surface, or push the dirt from the rocks -- in either case, the rocks are abundant.
Gardening must be good for the soul -- I am rested and ready for the work week. Suzanne |
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Garden Gate: Garden Adventures |
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Garden Adventures
