Our garden traces the lowlands of our back yard, where water collects during rainfall; part of a natural irrigation system. There are flowers and herbs growing alongside wild berries and shrubs. Birds and insects flourish, attracted to the multi-faceted aspect of this place; our backyard sanctuary, our urban garden, our one-acre farm. [...]
Entries from August 2007
August 29, 2007
Bumblebees
Three years ago, a neighbor from down the road presented us with a lovely little flowering plant she called catnip, that was actually catmint (same genus). Either way, cats could probably find something enjoyable about this eagerly growing, continuously fragrant flower factory.
The plant quickly spreads to fill its two foot diameter, attracting specifically, through my [...]
August 28, 2007
Finishing work
In other news, Erick helped me finish one of the guilds tonight. I love it when he volunteers. I finished three today and two yesterday. Two more for this load and another two or three (I’ve lost count) left before we’ve completed all 15! This has been an enormous project, but already [...]
August 27, 2007
Soaking news
I’m working on guilds this morning. We’re nearly to the end! Six more to go and I’ll likely finish two to three of those tonight. Erick picked up a huge load of manure yesterday, so we have lots of good stuff with which to work.
Things I’m noticing about the land: clover [...]
August 24, 2007
Surviving Cancer
My resolve is strengthened to grow cherries without chemicals by the lengthy health-related stumbles I’ve taken lately. Though I’m in remission, I’ve been experiencing the residule affect of chemo and radiation on my body. I’m not allowed to drive at this time as my doctor beleives I may have experienced a series of mini-strokes and [...]
August 14, 2007
Strawberry Beds
Lucy and I completed the strawberry beds this morning. They’re now thick and rich with composted hay and manure, awaiting next year’s plantings. Lucy watered while I did finish work.
We have six guilds ready and waiting with nine more to go. The remaining guilds will be smaller (we can easily [...]
August 13, 2007
Mulberry Guilds and more
I’m working this morning on building the mulberry guild(s). We picked up some manure yesterday, but in the heat and without the tractor, we ended up with a very small load mostly made up of sawdust and ash. I decided to use this for the trees that require less fertility and perhaps some [...]
August 9, 2007
A Simple Observation
In Northern Michigan we’re experiencing a drought. We’re 40% below our normal average rainfall and it’s showing in our crops, lawns and the amount of dust we’re seeing in the air. At the same time, while we’re baking in high, dry temperatures, we’ve noticed some of the plants stay green despite the brutal conditions. Most [...]
August 8, 2007
Manure
We’ll be picking up manure. There was a delay as we switched trucks, but if the rain holds back (though we would certainly welcome it!), we’ll be picking up manure tonight. With the manure, we’ll build the remaining guilds and watch as these circular mounds are devoured over the course of several months by the [...]
