Monday, April 18, 2011

Backyard farmers

 We went to our local country co op and bought plants to start the garden this year. It feels late to start even tough it isn't because the weather warmed up early.
 The farmer tilled up the row he wanted to make in addition to the rest of everything we plant.
 He has a good dose of spring fever. He's going to plant corn next to the fence and then the "things that run," in hills.
 He hot wired the new garden patch to keep the hooligan from being "a thing that runs" amuck.
 The tornado weather did not get all of the roses.
 Watermelons and cantaloupes.
 Up at the shed in the mailbox a little mama birdie has taken advantage of the little habitat. I had hoped some feathered friend would enjoy it.
 One of many. The cardinals are my favorite and they are just too fast too catch.
 A pleasant distraction.


 A mockingbird is nesting here.


This guy is welcome too. Do you see him?  We welcome everything that eats bugs. I wish squirrels ate bugs. Some of them are the size of cats around here.

Farmchick mentioned straw bale gardening.  I saw a video and an article about it on FB and my head is just going crazy with excitement over this technique! How cool would it be, not to have to bend over, weed, or fertilize and have a great crop? If you have tried it and liked it, please feel free to write a post of your own in the comment section. I'm too cheap to buy a book on this so I want to know how to "prepare" the bale. How much, how long, and when is it ready to plant? You got your assignment?
Good, please teach.

8 comments:

Laura~peach~ said...

i want to learn straw bale farming too my back and knee would appreciate it alot.
:)
as for going to the dr ... you know we uninsured must be a foot fall from dead to even contemplate that option... :)
I am far from that so....
anyway cant wait to see what is learned about the bales.
love n hugs

Mental P Mama said...

It looks so amazing there! And those bales look awesome...I went to that website, and his stuff looks so interesting....

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

I see nothing but fertile and beautiful hope...gorgeous!

Yeah I am with you...I wish Big Black Dogs ate bugs. Really, I do!

Michelle said...

Karen - I read about it after googling it. I didn't buy a book or anything. The basic deal is to soak your bale of straw (NOT hay) and allow it to sit for a couple of weeks after that. It will heat up and then cool down. Next you will mix up some soil and fertilizer (manure for me) and spread it on top of the bales. Then you plant your seeds in that soil mixture. This is not meant for root crops, so I have a patch for corn, potatoes, and beets. But, heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkins, squash, etc... will be in the bales. Also, no weeding with the bales!!!!!!!

Jeanie said...

It looks like you are doing a lot of hard work that will yield wonderful results.

farmlady said...

And the gardening begins....
I hadn't heard of straw bale gardening before. I will check it out. I'm always up for new gardening ideas and less weeding.
Wonderful post....

Chris H said...

I bet you have an awesome crop... and how clever to hot wire the garden from Roman!

Kat said...

Now that is what spring is supposed to look like. Not around here though. :( I swear, if I didn't have our whole family living here I'd move down south. ;)

Beautiful yard!