Bloom Where You Are Planted

I REALLY debated if I wanted to post this or not and decided yes, I should share...

This isn't a particularly funny or entertaining post today. Nor is it photo laden as are many of blog entries I post. However, I would like think this is worth the read.

The hubbs and I have been working around the ol' homestead, trying to clean up and get rid of stuff. So much stuff.  You know how it goes...things that you set aside, with the promise that you will take care of it tomorrow or next week or next month or next year. Then pretty soon you stop seeing all the stuff and clutter. Or you just stop caring because your attention and energy are focused elsewhere.

Behind our garage I have a very old, rusty dump cart. It has a tire that goes flat all the time but once the tire is inflated it can still be hooked up to the riding mower to haul stuff. Except it has been back there for about 2 years. Unused, aging and piled up with all sorts of stuff. Old willow branches, plastic flower pots, busted solar lights, extra tomato cages, and  some old plants which were meant to be composted.

In the midst of finally clearing out what really should be considered a garbage pile, I came across a very tattered package. It was sun faded, ragged, and disintegrating due being exposed to the elements. I was able to make out just enough from the faded image this had been the sleeve to a blackberry plant. Much to my surprise, beneath the debris was the little plastic bag that had contained the bare root blackberry, and it was... alive. 

The bag had split so moisture had been able to seep in, it had been insulated from the harshest of the weather by all the junk piled on top, but was still able have some slivers of sunlight. Against all odds, this organic, living plant had survived. I wish I had a photo when I first pulled it out, it had only 1 set of straggly leaves. Rather wilted and  looking almost ready to give up.  I was able to intervene and save it...although technically it was my fault it was in the "junk" pile. When it been placed there I really thought it was non viable.

This really gave me pause. The cart and the plant. They are metaphors for the human condition. How often do we clutter our lives, our minds our emotions by hanging on to what is essentially junk? Suppressing the feelings, emotions, ideas or projects which need to be nurtured?  You like the cart, carry this burden. If you are lucky, occasionally you have something that pumps you up and gets you going again when feel overwhelmed. You like the plant held onto hope. Grasping and clawing to survive, just to get through to the next moment. Until you couldn't. And just when you are ready to give up, your burden is eased. Either through external influence or the casting off your internal baggage.

As you can see this plant-as shown in the photo above-now thrives. A change in perspective if you will. Now firmly rooted, the plant is safe and secure. The tendrils of growth reach for the warmth of the sun and more growth has appeared as the plant is now longer confined to the plastic bag.

This story, no story isn't quite right. Story implies a entertainment or whimsical fable. This is a truth. This no longer about the human condition in general non-descript terms. This is me and my truth. Oh the plant and it's conditions were quite true. This is me.

You see... for the last 17 years, living in this house, I was never quite emotionally invested. This house was NEVER meant to be the forever house. We moved here during a very tumultuous time in our (my life) lives. I have carried so many burdens, moving through life with stoic responsibility. I was always hoping, wishing, wanting different and better.

During the time in this house there has been major chronic illness, job loss, death, and despair. There have also been moments of joy and celebration but I was often fixated tomorrow. Or as soon as I fix this..or change that...or when it is perfect I will...or SOMEDAY I am gonna...What if...

Next thing I know, it is 17 years later. I am 50 years old and I have buried myself under a pile of unrealistic expectations. I made myself a prisoner of unhappiness. I didn't allow myself to grow as I was too busy searching for happiness and fulfillment to realize that which I sought was always within my grasp.

You see, even though I live in My Cozy Little Farmhouse, very few--if any one--external to my family comes to my home. There are many reasons I could offer. I like solitude, peace and quiet. My home is my dojo--my sanctuary. But when you peel back all the layers, the core truth is insecurity. I am insecure.

The house isn't perfect. I'm not perfect. There is a litany list of unfinished projects. I am an unfinished project. To invite someone in is have my serenity interrupted. I will be vulnerable. The thought of my house being scrutinized sends my anxiety skyrocketing. I will be judged.  I'll tell you this... being a neurotic control freak can be quite lonely at times. 

I met with a very dear friend for lunch recently. She was kind enough to loan me some books (the top 4 are loans, the Encyclopedia was her gift to me, the pressure cooker books are library loans and the last 3 garden books are mine) from her glorious personal library. 

We have known each other for at least 8 years. And she has not, in all that time, been to my house. I have been to her house a few times. I have other friends whom I have known even longer and it is the same situation. I have been to their homes, but they have not been to mine. Or the select few that have been here, it has been only once, many years ago.

So during the lunch conversation, my friend and I discussed opening myself up to happiness.  Much like my tenacious little blackberry plant, I can be a bit prickly. For the blackberry plant, beyond the thorns and layers of foliage, with time and nurturing is a reward. Fortunately for me I have a few wonderful and caring people in my life who have decided to look beyond my thorns. And the reward is I am blessed with their friendship.

This blog is easy. The friendships...and I REALLY do consider these friendships are distant. You don't really see the chaos and imperfection, because after all it is selective editing and presentation.  Up close and personal interaction...well that is a bit more difficult.

 However, I am no longer just hoping and wishing for perfection. I am going to reach for my happiness which has been here all along. I am going to bask in the warm sun of every new day,  make the most of where and how I live. I have cast off my junk pile of burdens and break out of my self imposed prison. It may take some time for me to acclimate to this new life. Because much like my spunky little blackberry plant, I too will thrive.

You see, I finally made the decision to bloom where I am planted.

©My Cozy Little Farmhouse 2009-current. Unauthorized use and/ or duplication without written permission from blog author/ owner is prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used provided acknowledgement is given to My Cozy Little Farmhouse, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Trees Please

Remember when I talked about planting some trees on Earth Day?

Well I placed an order from Stark Brothers Nursery. And this is a completely unsolicited response on my part... They have AMAZING customer service. Stark's was incredibly communicative. I received emails every step of the order process, who promptly fulfilled the order and shipped. I ordered April 9th, had a shipping confirmation on April 11 with delivery on April 14. And this was not a paid expedited shipment. Color me impressed!

Ok--a funny and cute anecdote about the post title "Trees Please". When my daughter was a toddler, she loved broccoli, except she couldn't pronounce broccoli. She would ask for "trees please". haha

Since these were bare root saplings, I soaked the roots for 24 hrs after they were un-packaged.

And this stuff--coconut coir-- is the shizzle!

It is a SUPER hard, compressed block of coconut fibers. But when you add water, it is oh so magical. This is an eleven pound block.  Add water and it expands substantially. I failed to estimate exactly how much of this stuff I would end up with from that compressed block, ha. This is my 4 cubic feet garden cart. Soooo, yeah, lots of coconut coir. Fear not, I have put it to good use--more on that later.

I mixed the coir and an organic garden soil in a 1:3 ratio. The coir is a great soil conditioner. It helps with water retention, air circulation and adds organic matter to the soil while having a neutral pH.

I purchased 3 Heirloom variety Apple trees--Antique Treasures Collection. The collection contained 3 semi dwarf bare root trees of  1 each Cox's Orange Pippin Antique -an English cultivar dating back to 1835; Orleans Antique-a NY cultivar dating to 1924; Ben Davis-this is a US cultivar dating back to the 1800's.

I also purchased Peach tree seedlings--the Burbank Choice Peach Tree Collection. Saplings? Or should I say whips? Because they have no branching yet. This collection consisted of  2 dwarf trees-1 each July Elberta Peach and Starking Delicious. The July Elberta is heat resistant, originates in California and dates back to the 1930's. The Starking Delicious is frost hardy Elberta type, originates in Arkansas and dates back to 1949.

I currently have 2 Redhaven dwarf trees. Errrr... 1 tree and a bush?   Redhaven's  originate from Michigan and date back to the 1930's. Not sure what happened to the 2nd tree/ bush.  I thought it died but apparently not. I am debating whether to keep the "bush" or not. I need to see if  the shoots are above the graft.  I am not certain if these are suckers or water sprouts.

All of my peaches are self pollinating, freestone with a July harvest. And in case you were wondering clingstone vs. freestone refers to how the fruit flesh clings (or doesn't) to the fruit pit when cut in half. The tree on the left is 2-3 years and needs a bit of pruning. See the large "V" branch on the front of the tree? I think that should be pruned off. I am worried once fruit laden it may split. The tree/bush was planted last year.

  I started all my bare root saplings in 5 gallon buckets  because I haven't had much luck in the past years with my trees. Too many variables with weather, soil conditions, deer (gggrrr), or unfortunate incidents due to the weedwhacker. I decided I put too much money in to lose another set of saplings. And as you can see by the pictures,  the bucket saplings are growing quite well. The big question is should I plant them this year?

Fruit trees should be planted in the Spring but I really wanted to give the trees a chance to grow. If I were to plant them in fall I would need to plant them by the 1st week of September to make certain they can acclimate. I could mulch the roots and wrap the trunk prior to the onset of cold weather. The biggest damage for trees in cold weather is when the sun warms the trunk and the temperatures drop rapidly after the sun goes down.

I know it is only May and I am already talking about winter prep. If I overwinter them, should I keep them in the 5 gallon buckets? Or  make root balls and wrap them in Burlap? I can over winter them in the garage--which is cinder block and uninsulated.

I really, REALLY don't want to lose any more trees. I have lost all of my apple trees (a total of 4) and 3 peach trees.  Not to mention multiple ornamentals.  It is time consuming and expensive.  What say you, my bloggie friends? I am open to advice and suggestions.

©My Cozy Little Farmhouse 2009-current. Unauthorized use and/ or duplication without written permission from blog author/ owner is prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used provided acknowledgement is given to My Cozy Little Farmhouse, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Freaking Fracking Rabbits!

Ehhrrrmmeeehhggaawwddd! 

The freaking, fracking, rabbits are eating through my fence. Two weeks. Two stinking weeks I have had my fence and there are FIVE patches. 

You realize of course, this means war!

I have already decided next year, I am building a hardware cloth enclosure. And I am electrifying it!

At least the deer have only left paw prints and a few, umm... presents near the garden perimeter.

In my ongoing quest for critter deterrent, we have nearly tried just about everything around the perimeter or inside the garden.

Chunks of Irish Spring
Animal urine (dogs)
Coffee Grounds
Bone Meal
Blood Meal
Fabric sheet sachets (to hold human hair or pet fur)
Mylar strips
Aluminum pie pans
a scarecrow
a plastic owl
I even had the hubbs get tanked and pee around the garden.

Except the critters keep coming. Apparently I grow really good stuff, man. HAHA

Off came the gardening gloves. No more Ms. Nice Gardner.  It's on like donkey kong.

I ponied up the money for Liquid Fence brand  Deer and Rabbit deterrent. It is eco friendly.  The ingredients are  "Putrescent Egg Solids, Garlic Powder, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Water". 

This stuff is rank! I accidently got some on my clothes and thought I would need to burn them. It actually washed out just fine. Once it dries it is barely discernable to the human sense of smell. The dogs found it quite interesting though.

Yes- I could have DIY'ed a similar batch  but I didn't want my house to reek. That is most definitely a cook it outside kind of smell. And I wanted instant gratification because I was mad as hell.

Last night I sprayed the outside and inside perimeter of the garden, all the raised beds, around the grape arbor, around my remaining peach tree and just to be a jerk around the compost bin. The idea is this is supposed to mimic decay/ decomposition and the critters will think predator activity is nearby. All the reviews tended to give a high ratings. Although one review said it may draw in  some confused turkey vultures. Oh joy.

There didn't appear to be any additional perimeter breach. We also had a monster bonfire last night. So I am not sure if the liquid fence worked or if the fire/smoke scared the critters away.

Look at my delicious little lovelies...NO FREELOADING CRITTERS are touching these!

How about you? Are you doing battle with critters?

No time for housework, I have a garden to tend!

Remember when I was wishing and hoping

And complaining I had the 3 stooges of seedlings

And some stuff was way overgrown and out of control

And everything was all muckety muck

But I persevered. Slowly bringing the garden back to life. I cleaned out the weeds. SO MANY WEEDS!  I added bird netting and a small section of plastic fence to protect the strawberries.

I planted some blueberries plants (AGAIN!) and used a pair of folding trellis draped with  bird netting

I tried using bird netting to protect the blackberries but it was a big ol' tangled mess.

There had to be a better way.  I made a berry hut. It has some design flaws. This is the first edition. I will post more about it later.

I installed 110 feet of plastic fencing. I would have preferred to install a stronger fence but budget wise this is what I could afford. Maybe next year...

And I made an ugly, pantless scarecrow. HAHA, I used a nylon chinese lantern for the head and I stuffed the body with plastic bags.

Why yes, my scarecrow IS holding a pin-wheel.

Then I upgraded the ugly pink head to the Bird-Be-Gone Scary Eyes which I bought at Rural King. It is rather frightening in appearance. The eyes are reflective. 

I have my eyes on you!

And I mulched every last damn inch of raised beds and the veggie plot. I used pine chips for the blueberries, strawberries, rhubarb and black berries, since they are all prefer slightly more acidic soil. FirstMan from Two Men and a Little Farm gave me the idea for bagged straw bales, where I used every where else. 

Don't mind the weeds around the raised beds. I need to lift the bird netting to do weed control.

I even added a small flower patch inside the veggie plot. I hope these flowers will draw pollinators to the garden.

I added a cute little rain gauge and a few solar lights on the inside perimeter of the fenced plot.

So...whatcha think? I am absolutely in love with my garden this year :)

My sunshine day

I took a vacation day on Wednesday because I was in dire need of a "me" day. And it so happened the sun was shining with temperatures in the 60's. In other words--perfect to work on the raised garden beds. My camera batteries were charging, so I don't have any before pictures. But trust me they would have been horrible. Everything was a hot mess.

Here is my after. You can see the rhubarb (far left) is out of control, which is indicative of the entire garden prior to clean up. Each one of those piles of debris were from the beds. All 6 were overrun with weeds. And creep crawly spiders (shudders). I did my spider freak out dance a few times. ugh

The good news is I initially thought there was only 1 strawberry plant that survived the marauding deer last year. As I dug through all the weeds, I actually had 11! Some are rather puny and spindly but hopefully they will bulk up. I have 12 new strawberry plants and 10 bare roots plants. I am going to need a bigger strawberry bed! 

All 3 blackberry bushes survived. I have 2 Apache thornless blackberries on either side of a Navaho thornless blackberry.  The Navaho is far more vigorous in its growth than the Apache's. I need a better (stronger) trellis.  On the to do list!

My bamboo teepee trellis can no longer weather the elements. So it will be disassembled and added to the burn pile. See where it is currently placed?  That was a raised bed but the wood frame fell apart. We scavenged the pieces which were usable, to repair some of the remaining beds and the soil was redistributed as well. This weekend we are purchasing some composite material or composite kits, soil mix and materials for the deer fencing.. 

I had an unwelcome overnight visitor. Or group of visitors.  #@$% rabbits have already made the strawberries their buffet! GAH!!!

So I rigged up a barrier for now. It isn't very attractive but hopefully it does the job intended.

I scored some pretty good deals at Tractor Supply on Wednesday. Bare root roses, normally $6.99 for $0.99 (more about these later), a 10 pack of bare root strawberries for $1.79 and bareroot thornless boysenberries for $2.29 each. WOOT!

Anyone else find some good deals? Or are dealing with keeping wildlife out of your gardens?

Dreary Weekend and a Garden Update

It is ANOTHER dreary weekend. I can't believe it is so cold and rainy.  I am so worried about my seedlings.

The big garden has been rototilled 3x now. The problem is, it has been much too cold and rainy to plant. We typically put the garden in by Mother's day.  I am waiting-not very patiently, mind you--for Mother Nature to make up her mind.

As a result of the weather, I have the Three Stooges of Seedlings.

No-Grow
Now at 34 days since the seeds were sown. Not ONE single pepper seed has germinated, despite my heating pad/ hot water bottle as a seed mat to warm the soil, and steaming up the portable cold frame tricks. I thought I saw some teensy green shoots, but it was only the pearlite that had discolored.

Slow-Grow

44 days-With all the cool weather we are having, I thought it would be the optimum growing conditions for my lettuce, spinach and green onions.

Grow Crazy

34 days-My cucurbits are growing -well- crazy! I have already transplanted the winter squash once. With our weather being so weird I may need to transplant again. 

The raised beds are a mess. The rhubarb needs cut down and everything else needs weeded. or blown up with dynamite.  I have new strawberries to plant since the deer decimated mine last year. Only 1 plant came back this year. How sad.  I also have 4 new blueberry plants. One of these days, I will be successful with blueberries.

We still need to pull the 2 dead peach trees. And replace them...again. I would like to plant some apple trees...again. I thought about espalier fruit trees on the side of my garage, but that requires relocating the perennial bed and about 7 yrs to train the fruit trees to form. Ain't nobody got time for that!

It looks like 1 of the blackberries survived the marauding deer. The other 2 are in bad shape. Hopefully after the hard pruning they will recover for next year.

Last night and expected tonight the temps are in the mid 30's. Today's high was 46° but with the wind it feels like high 30's...bbbrrrr.

So I used the crappy weather to my advantage. I removed the baseboard from the dining room (to prepare for new flooring), painted the walls and plastered the cracked walls in the stairwell.

Oh well, I will keep chipping away at my to do list and hope for improved weather.  What weekend projects are you working on?

Oh deer, a project diss and boozy peaches

Hello all my bloggies! A quick post today.

1) The marauding band of deer returned and finished the remains of my garden. The strawberries are merely green sticks, all the tomato plants stripped bare--every last tomato is gone-- the only thing I am left with are a few fat jalapenos and a couple of habaneros....Sigh... We are expecting temps in the 90's this weekend, which would have been great for my tomatoes--if there were any left! I am considering buying a couple of plants for the patio. Damn deer! What are some of your tips for keeping the wildlife from turning your garden into an all you can eat buffet?

The deer could have at least eaten the weeds in addition to the strawberries. How rude!

2) I am almost finished with my No Dig Zone project. The hubbs kinda dissed my project. Stay tuned for part 3 which shows the completed project, you can read about his unfortunate diss and decide who was right about this project...ummm me!

3) I scored a really good deal on some peaches, so there is some small batch canning going on at the MCLF homestead. Boozy peaches anyone? oh yeah!

 As a side note, I am wondering if my blog is working properly?

Hello...Is this thing on?

I am experiencing a lot of traffic on my site and seeing shares with Google Plus but not one comment in 10 days. I know some other bloggers were experiencing some issues with comments. So if you would take a moment, to leave a comment. If you find there is an issue and you are unable to comment on my post, would someone be so kind as to go to my Facebook page, leave a comment there or private message me?

Garden Gone Wild!

I am trying to reign the gardens in after a year of neglect. Yes--a year. What happened? I am still trying to answer that question for myself. 2014 was big year for me in terms of completing school, graduating, getting a job and taking my certification exam. All which happened  during the growing season. I think I was too overwhelmed to care. Except now I do care!

And let me tell you...or rather show you... because they are a mess!

These are 2 of the 3 blackberries. Kind of difficult to see amongst all the weed and the other I forgot to remove the cage, now I have to cut it off.

Here are the blackberries after 6 weeks. I have been working on the gardens in small increments after work and on weekends--weather permitting.  These  finally look healthy. I cleaned up the beds and pruned back the dead growth. I need to cut the cage off the middle plant, add some compost and straw mulch these beds.

Rhubarb before and after 4 weeks. After clearing the bed of weeds, they were cut down to 2 inches above the soil and have bounced back beautifully.

 Strawberries...one of these it not like the others! They are loaded with berries. Time to get the netting out if I have any hope of harvesting before the wildlife strips the plants bare.

This had the added bonus of an ant nest...good times... I haven't quite made up my mind what I am going to plant in this bed.

2 of my 3 peach trees died. It took me calling 5 different Lowes, but I managed to track down 2 peach trees. The bummer? If I had pulled the trees before April 24, my 1 year warranty would have been in effect and I could have had the replaced for free.  DOH! We picked the trees up yesterday, gave them a nice long drink and they are going in the ground tonight. I am also wrapping the trunks and going to put perimeter cages around the trees to protect them from wildlife and the hubb's weedwhacker!

Oh the flower beds...so very very ugly!!  Here is an example of 1 bed, but they are all  in the same condition. Before--filled with poison ivy, buckeye, poke plant, oxalis, and who know what else.

In progress. It is gonna take while to clear the weeds and I need to move the hostas, day lilies, irises and sedum. And chop down that damn honeysuckle bush! Siiiggghhh... 

We are scaling the garden down this year, for a few of reasons.

1. The large garden plot needs to have the organic content built back up

2. I have other projects on which I need to focus

3. I need to slow down a bit and manage my work life balance.

Ummm, hello project...

So I gotta ask...Have your gardens gone wild? 

Puttin' on the Green

I spent what little free time I had this past Saturday playing in the garden when we had very balmy temperatures in the 70's. I cleaned out the strawberry beds, planted peas, spinach, lettuce, carrots and radishes which it a tad late for the season but really it has been far to cold because of snow to do so before now.

 I also planted my Pink Lemonade Blueberry Bushes which produces fuchsia colored blueberries.

However not only did we have a cold snap--we had the cursed snow--on Tuesday. Everything fared well, except my blue berry bushes. All the leaves turned brown. I am pretty sure they will bounce back...or so I hope.

The strawberries seem to be okay after the cold snap, which is also where I inter planted the spinach since they are companion plants.

This is the bed 1 of 2 which has been planted with peas, lettuce and radishes. I am in the process of setting up my bamboo teepee's for the vines to climb. I still need to weave in the 4 foot horizontal bamboo poles, which I will secure with zip ties, only because it is easier than wrapping twine.  The ideal behind the companion planting is the radishes act as a flea beetle trap and aerate the soil when harvested since they mature in approximately 30 days and the lettuce will be harvested in about 45 days. And according to folklore radishes taste better when planted with lettuce. That is to be determined... As the peas grow and vine they will shield the lettuce and give the soil a much needed nitrogen boost. This idea will be repeated with poles beans.

My asparagus is coming up but not much of yield because there was the weeding incident where the hubbs was "trying" to help me and disturbed the root crowns. So much for 2 years worth of work...sigh...he tries, he really does, bless his heart....

The big garden has been tuned over and fed with the small amount of compost I had from my bin. I hope to set up a 2nd bin and have more black gold for my garden. I have my trays of tomatoes, peppers and cucurbit seedlings. Lets hope the weather is decent and we can plant before Memorial weekend this year.

A sure sign of Spring are daffodils and hyacinths. They always make me happy with the cheerful colors and, of course,  the hyacinth perfuming the air.

What is new in your garden?