Maybe it’s just me, but March seemed to last forever. All during the month, I was continually thinking that the date was one week later than it actually was. It turned out to be a blessing though because we had a lot of projects to complete to be ready for spring planting.
Last Sunday we planted seeds in our garden and garden boxes, and a few plants we had bought at the store. In the past, we tried our hand at starting seeds in pots inside the house. They grew so slowly that they weren’t very big when we put them out in the garden. It was a disaster, really.
So, there are certain plants that we buy already started and big enough to go in the ground. Namely, we buy tomatoes, pepper plants, onions, and whatever herbs I want, like basil, oregano, dill, and thyme.
We replaced the apple tree that died, and are hoping that it will bloom when the other apple tree does. We didn’t get any apples last year, but the trees were pretty small.
I don’t think we will have any plums this year. For some reason, the plum tree only had a few blossoms. I don’t think I have ever seen a tree do that. When the peach tree bloomed, it was loaded with blossoms; now we have fuzzy little peaches growing! I love tree ripened peaches and I am so excited for them to be ready to eat.
The Brussels sprouts, strawberries, and asparagus are doing well. This year, I am determined to protect the vegetables in my garden boxes from the grasshoppers. Last year I had bought some netting to put over the boxes that will keep out grasshoppers, but I never got the netting cut and made into covers. This year I have a better design for the removable, reusable covers.
Someday, we will have everything figured out for ensuring the success of our organic gardening. So far, we have effective sprinkler systems, animal deterrents, and frost blankets. This year I will add insect protection to my garden boxes.
We are talking a lot about raising chickens and letting them roam through the big garden in runs made of wire so that they can eat grasshoppers and other pests. There is no doubt that we would eat the eggs, but we are not so sure that we are willing to do the work involved in having fresh chicken to eat. The topic will remain open because organic, free range chicken is so expensive to buy.
My husband and I are both animal lovers, but we are far from vegetarians. It seems more appropriate, as meat eating animal lovers, to humanely raise and humanely slaughter our own meat. Earlier this year, we bought half of a steer from a friend of ours. He raised the steer on grass instead of grain, and had it butchered by someone he trusts. It was far cheaper than buying grassfed beef in the store. We may eventually get a steer of our own to raise.
Well, anyway, this past week has flown by. We are anxiously waiting for our seeds to turn into seedlings. I really enjoy watching the fruits of my labors grow. Of course, the best part is the harvest, but it feels really good to see the results of our hard work done all done through acts of love. I am one of those crazy people who talks to my plants with encouraging words and showers them with love.
I did not get anything accomplished during the week, so this weekend will be full of mowing the fields and cleaning up around the barn. I know my stories sound like a lot of work; well they are. But I couldn’t live here and do all this unless it brought me joy. All is done in a labor of love for the land and animals, and with gratitude for all that God has blessed me with.
My husband is my life partner and together we build the life we wish to have. Each year gets sweeter as we learn what works and what doesn’t; and that goes for everything we do together, including our relationship. I look forward to growing old with him.
May your weekend be filled with good times, and may your next week be stress free.
Psalms 104:13-14 You send rain on the mountains from your heavenly home, and you fill the earth with the fruit of your labor. You cause grass to grow for the livestock and plants for people to use.
