Monday, June 6, 2011

A Little Sweat and a Dirty Hoe

You still can't really tell that we aim to grow our own food around this place from the looks of it. We've plowed three times! It's frustrating that we've only managed to put in one row of potatoes so far this year. Honestly, it feels like the instant we THINK about planting, the weather radio beeps and whirs to life with a warning or watch about one thing or another. Any plants we have in that have survived are equal parts lucky and strong for surviving hail, torrential downpours and fierce winds all within their short lifespans.
My seed starting has been a failed experiment on a grand scale, though I am by no means discouraged. I don't remember if it was Einstein or Edison but someone much more intelligent than I once penned a line about discovering ways that do not work, and I contend that I've merely been a huge success in doing THAT rather than farming. Yep. Been real busy with that around here lately.
Since there's no shame in asking for help, tonight the family and I visited a local garden center where we picked up a few seedlings (plants! pre-growed!). Tomorrow, hopefully before the 90 degree heat the weathermen call for, I'll be back at it with my dirty hoe by my side, trying to get them in before the next round of thunderstorms, which are on their way Thursday... it's a small miracle when the dry days match up with my days off. I'll take it when I can get it, even if means lots of sweating, swearing and starting over.

7 comments:

  1. Hang in here, Heather, you'll get there! Maybe your goal should be to grow what you can this year and then make sure all your beds are ready for next year. Time flies, dear. It'll time to start next year's plants in about 8 or 9 months! You have incredible Farmer's Markets in Ohio--take advantage of those and don't beat yourself up. Gardening is A LOT of hard work, especially when you're starting from scratch!

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  2. One of the District Managers I've worked with (in my illustrious retail career) described me as "determined", so no worries about me throwing in the the towel. Getting frustrated just makes me all the more motivated to make it happen~ basically to prove to myself that I can.. Last night my hubs took me to the garden center and we bought some seedlings. It was 90 degrees out and was supposed to be scary stormy here again this morning, so I worked till dusk and got 80 percent of it in. All it did was rain (so far~phew!).
    I think next year I will build raised beds, which will make the whole process easier. As far as starting seeds, I need to get proper equipment or at the very least some hanging lights and a crap-ton more homemade liter bottle pots. We'll get there. As they say, Rome wasn't built in a day, so there's no way the SemiFarm will be either.

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  3. We've taken 5 years to get where we are...my first garden was 2, 4 X 12 raised beds. Now we have almost 500 square feet outside and over 100 square feet in the greenhouse! Build it slowly, and you'll have time to learn your microclimate, see where water settles, test the pH and nutrients of your soil.

    I worked retail at Borders for 7 years, I can understand how it sucks your soul. Have you read Radical Homemakers? I am just now reading it and it's kind of stirring me up into a frenzy! Pick it up if you haven't read it, its by Shannon Hayes.

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  4. I SO love this book!And a big YES to the frenzy stirring~ that book and "Your Money or Your Life" are among my faves. :)

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  5. "I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that won't work." ~Thomas Alva Edison.

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  6. Try some zucchini and beets.Those always grow well for me. I never have luck with peppers and eggplant though.

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  7. Thanks for the suggestions! We didn't plant zucchini because my dad always does and ends up with thousands. Last year we couldn't give it away fast enough and shredded and froze several bags full. I haven't the slightest idea what you do with fresh beets~ I only had them once, from a can, as a kid. I've seen some cool varieties to grow though. How do you cook/eat them?

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