I’m finally somewhat used to my new computer (although I still can’t use the current photo program; I’m used to the old Picasa 3, which I can’t currently download as it has been replaced). I’m back to printing labels for our seed business, copying orders, and doing Backwoods Home and Self-Reliance stuff.
Yesterday/last night, we had our first bout of freezing rain, which turned to snow, leaving half an inch of ice on everything and snow on the top. I’m glad the snow came. That six inches covered the ice pretty well so I’m not teetering and tottering when I’m out doing chores. I have friends in different areas around here that have fallen as they didn’t get as much snow to cover that dratted ice. However, today the sun’s out and it is warming up fast. Hooray! We need the moisture, but I don’t want to risk a fall. My knees are finally starting to improve. (Do I dare say that out loud?) I don’t want any setbacks. Yes, I have slip-on ice cleats, but I leave those for when it’s awful out as they’re hard for me to get on with limited knee bending.
While it was snowing, I got busy and canned up a wonderful batch of ham. We had some for dinner too. Yum! Now we have lots of dinner material in the pantry for another time.
I’ve noticed a funny thing with seeds. I planted a dozen Oda purple sweet pepper seeds in Jiffy Pellets and only had four come up. I replanted several more, from the same pack, in ProMix, in a small container and in five days, they’re popping up like popcorn. Same seeds, same heat, same moisture. The other peppers are already getting their third set of leaves in the peat pellets. Why? Who the heck knows! Weird. So, folks, if you have this or that variety of seeds that refuse to come up, don’t immediately think “bad seeds,” maybe just bad vibes?
This week I’m starting my first tomatoes. As we have about 121 varieties, it does take longer than most folks’ planting. And I’m slower at it, I think. They, too, are going in the peat pellets as it’s faster and easier to separate varieties and label them. I loved Lisa Nourse’s article on soil blocks in the recent BHM issue. Maybe next year I’ll give those a try, at least for some of our crops. Holy cow, I just wrote down the bean varieties we’ll be growing this year. There are a lot of them! A few new ones customers have sent us and, of course, plenty of our old favorite stand-by’s like Iroquois and Crawford. I can’t wait to get in the garden. But first, let’s wait until the ice and snow has melted, huh?
— Jackie
Your calf is awesome! Glad you’re getting everything planted.
I just finished filling 4 x 4 pots to plant peppers and tomatoes and wetting down the soil.will plant tomorrow with 2024 seeds. We have had lows in single digits and highs around 40 for the last week but the hoop houses and green house topped at 65!
I too had problems with Jiffy Pots, less than a fourth came up but planted in Pro Mix most all came up. Sometimes I think the Jiffy Pots have been contaminated with something. Also many bagged manure and garden soils are contaminated with Garzon. I have know first hand people who lost most of their garden due to that product coming through anything with “hay waste” in it. Also locale sourced manure from animals being fed bought feed made from hay sprayed with Grazon. I always ask about feed before accepting manure and try to warn people about it.
One lady took free loads of hay and manure after a livestock show and ending up moving due to all her garden and flowers dying.
I am so far behind with my garden that I think I am in first place (I don’t see anyone in front of me). I have almost given up on getting anything started (should have weeks ago!) for the spring garden. However, where I am, I can transplant tomato and pepper seeds in July and harvest through about mid November. Have 9 kids all on the bucket and another batch of kids due…….. Milking all the does is real time consuming. In awe of what all you and Will do.
Tami, that bump on the horizon is me. Waved
Jackie, Keep posting new ideas for canning, like ham! Great idea!
Glad to hear how your knees are doing. I’m six weeks out from my knee replacement surgery, and pt said not to push myself so hard, that there’s plenty of time. At the doctor today, evidently there’s no problem with scar tissue as a result of aggressive home/pt exercise. My degrees for straight are near zero, and bend near 120. Still, it feels like I’m walking on a block of wood in my knee; it’s numb from the top of the knee to top of foot. Geez.
Regarding the peppers, maybe the moon was in the correct phase for above ground crops when you planted the second batch in the pro mix?
Oh your calf is the cutest!! I just love how you share about your garden! Don’t feel bad about your knees and back. At this age we are all in the same boat
Wow you are busy- the celery seed I got from you has done well and today I transplanted to individual pots. Tomatoes started today-if the all grow it wil be 128 plants. The peppers are growing and I’ve transplanted them once. The onion seedlings look great. We had a brief snowfall that melted. Tomorrow I’ll get my wizard grandson Bo to help me with my computer. I’d be sunk without him. We have around 10 new calves and 20 yet to deliver. Only had to pull one. Maple syrup all canned up-20 pints. Now cleaning out chicken coop-a job I’m not fond of (all by hand-pitchfork and shovel). I have many takers for the excess eggs. I emptied two compost piles in the garden. It’s all hard on the knees and back-a “good tired” at night.