countrylane's Blog

Seeds are ordered and more
Feb 19, 2010 | 1:31 PM PST

Finally made the final list and ordered my seeds. Most are from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. I really like their S/H price...$3.00! No matter the size of your order! I also ordered a mini greenhouse rack from Henry Fields. Idea is that I can start my tomatoes and peppers in this mini greenhouse. I have a spot where I want to put it. Oh, for my birthday, my mom bought me 2 compost bins!!!! :) I am so happy and grateful that she gave this to me! I've been wanting some for sooo long! Hubby gave me a Lowe's gift card, which he said is to pay for the materials to build a few more raised beds :) So sweet! He's been very supportive in my desire to grow more and more stuff. Not just veggies and fruit, but also herbs (farmers refer to these as "weeds") and flowers.

I have been doing a lot of research on apple trees. I have found that you must grow different kinds of apple trees to help in pollination. So, I am going to order a couple of trees. Still deciding on  which two kinds. I want one kind to make applesauce, apple pie filling and apple butter with. The other kind I want to get for fresh eating all through the winter. I have a fridge to put them in.

Have had a lot of snow. Supposed to be getting more snow this weekend and the first part of next week. I am hoping that we can all go bowling this Saturday evening, before my brother will have to go out to salt parking lots, etc. Tonight, I'm getting together with a good friend. The boys (hubby included) are staying home and eating the stuff in the crock pot and fresh baked bread, while I go eat at her house. Looking forward to this. I see her at church, but this will be a fun evening, when we can let our hair down and laugh our guts out :) 

Finalizing the orders
Feb 8, 2010 | 2:49 PM PST

Talked to a friend on Sunday about ordering seeds. She said that if I wanted certain seeds, I should order as soon as possible. I guess seeds are being ordered and the companies can't keep up. Guess I need to place my orders ASAP. (gulp)

Sounds like we're going to get hit again with more snow tomorrow and into Wed. We just got the driveway shoveled out. Hubby is hoping to be down south as soon as he can.

Also checking into if I can grow different kinds of apple trees, and they could pollinate each other. Or do I have to plant the same kinds?

choosing seeds, not such an easy job
Feb 6, 2010 | 12:26 PM PST
I've been scouring the many garden catalogs that I asked for. Dog-earing the pages, circling the items, writing out lists, first drafts of what I'd like to order, etc. Then one day last week, I was cleaning out the back room, aka mud room or laundry room. Found a bucket and sack full of seeds that I got on clearance last fall or had saved from last year's veggies. Anyway, thought I'd better write down what I have and how much. Boy, am I glad I did! I was able to mark out at least half of the order. Of course, I filled the spaces back in with other stuff I think I want. :) I decided to plant a mixture of hybrid and heirloom seeds, hoping they will help each other out. Doing lots of studying up on companion planting. Planning a compost bin, complete with a holding bin for leaves and straw to use for layering. (Plus, it will keep the dog out of the kitchen scraps...ugh!) Trying to plan more beds...will have to, in order to rotate the crops. I have such big plans, it's so hard not to do too much or get overwhelmed! Guess I'll be busy this spring, huh?