trudy's Blog

Busy, Busy, Busy
May 14, 2008 | 2:40 AM PST
Tags: Georgia Thumpers , strawbale , squash , zukes

I haven't been around much lately, sorry bout that.  I had to do a system restore an I'm still reloading everything.  Lost some things but ole well.   Its been such a nice spring this year an cooler longer than I remember in the past.  No telling how harse this summer will be.  My yard has exploded in blooms an smells intoxicating.   I haven't really added much new plantings this year but have been busy maintaining what I have.  I got the veggie garden planted an did add a few more containers,  needed somewhere to plant the extras I seeded out.  

I am experimenting again this year with strawbale gardening.  I had read where this method really works well with certain veggies an being how I wanted to extend my veggie patch it seemed to be the answer, will see how it goes.   I planted zukes, an squashes in them,  I only used 9 bales as thats all I had on hand an didn't want to go buying anymore in case it was a failure.   

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Hopefully this pic will show up,  since taking it I have fertilized an they are nice a green.  If not you may need to C&P.

I have torn down a raised bed that was next to the side of the house, just gotta finish cleaning it up.  It had rotten an was falling apart.  I'm thinking about extending that area out but not into a raised bed.  I'd like to plant a pea patch there.  I've been hearing an reading about  how food prices are on the rise along with fuel an how if you have a spot to plant food we'd better get to planting due to the high cost it'll be to purchase in the stores.  I hope thats not true, but I think its coming so I'd rather be better prepared if possible. 

I have also been fighting those Georgia Thumper grasshoppers,  they are babies right now so hopefully I can eliminate them before they become adults.  They wil devour everything!  Well gott run, time for work!  Yawl have a blessed day.

Just had to get them
Jun 21, 2007 | 6:14 AM PST
Tags: tomatoes , zukes , cukes , strawberries , grasshoppers , Ga. Thumpers , canning

I got a good check up with the doc yesterday, upped my weight limit to 20 lbs. You know what that means right? I can now do a few things in the yard an garden, may not be much but its better than it was b4. So on my way home yesterday I stopped by the produce stand an bought a case of mators which came from Sloccomb, Al. So I knew they would be good. Sloccomb is known around here for having the best tasting tomatoes. Something to do with the soil there. They had just been picked the afternoon b4, an knowing how I need to replenish my tomatoe supply I figured why not. So today I'm canning those up.

This morning I got the veggie sprinkler going at 7:30 b4 the heat sets in. Ordinarilly I can only water in late evening due to my work hours, but while I'm on leave its nice to be able to water in the mornings. Everyday I have been harvesting a few things like cukes, mators, few staggered strawberries. A couple days ago the zuke plant replacement I noticed was wilting, well something apparently cut it off at the base. So I'm not sure if I want to replace it yet again or just give up on zukes this year.

Late yesterday afternoon after my nap an boredom set in I went out on the porch an decided to prune out some of the dead canes out of my 2 climbers at the entrance. Nothing strinuous, b4 I knew it I had a couple small piles I now need to take to the edge of the woods. But the roses look better! Hiding on a cane was a grown GA. Thumper (Grasshopper), they east everything in site. So far since seeing them in early spring everytime I see one or more I stomp them to death. By doing this I have decreased the numbers I see almost daily. So to grasshopper heaven he went.

Well time to get busy while the mood has hit me, trudy