November 01, 2019
The fall planted lettuce never got thinned so it's now a short, thick hedge. It makes harvesting it with a scissors easy. It's not as sweet as spring lettuce but only a buffoon would call it bitter. It's "tangy" ok? The dark color is because it's full of chlorophyll, which some people think is so good for you that they buy it in bottles and drink it..
The "tang" reminds me that unidentified components in organically grown veggies may be as beneficial to us as the ones we know about. Organically grown is required to produce its own pest preventatives, and their value to our health is undetermined at this point in our understanding of nutrition. Iceberg lettuce may be sweeter than leaf lettuce, but some of us believe the "tang" is better for us..
November 02, 2019
The barren oak trees grasp at the sky like witch's hands. Halloween brings the return of haunted thoughts, like swamp gasses rising up in the form of ghouls. We get to address our superstitions and laugh at our demons, which causes them to return under the rocks where they belong. Red Breasted Robin's keep showing up in the garden..
They are a sign of spring so what are they doing here now? Do they return in springtime? The internet informs me that, yes, most of them migrate south in the winter, but some will remain based on the availability of food sources. My keeping a thick layer of staw in the garden allows earthworms to feed close to the surface, and makes them accesable to the scratching birds. I don't really want to feed my worms to the birds, but if they leave a poop for every worm they eat, I'll call it even..
November 03, 2019
So, how many of you have got your garlic planted yet? I didn't think so. With these cold nights arriving you might be wise to wait awhile. I did. I waited a whole 20 min. I sat in the morning sun will my bag of 4 garlic bulbs and contemplated where to plant them. The winter garden is very low maintenance and I find myself sitting and contemplating often..
Most of the time I have no plans for specific activity when I go to the garden, but a short spell of sitting leads to tasks to keep warm. I started the annual chore of cutting back the blackberries yesterday. I thought I'd just do a little section behind one of the melon mounds, and ended up, like the Energizer Bunny, going and going. Sometimes tasks that aren't particularly appealing become incredibly enjoyable as you do them. I think our bodies like to move, and endorphins get produced that affect your brain, causing you a heightened sense of well being..
