Johnny Milkweedseed

Sometimes I spend some time spreading Milkweed seeds and then I realize it may have one of the most effective distribution systems of any plant. 

Compost... It's what's for dinner

Dear Garden, Dinner's almost ready!

Here Comes The Double Decker!

Double Decker Raised Beds

Coming soon- double decker raised bed!  Had to make room for the impending shed which will solve all kinds of problems. Can't wait for the shed. Question of the day- do we need a shed with skylight and seed starting space? Just don't know. 

New Fence

Nothing like a new fence to spruce up a garden.

Milkweed

The milkweed is doing just fine... And we saw our first Monarch in the yard. Hopefully he'll tell all his buddies. 

Prickly Pear- With Spikes

If you want your prickly pear cactus ( native to the mid-Atlantic!) to grow spikes like this, you will need to bump it now and then. 

Woodpecker

Woodpecker... In the front yard. Attacking the yucca. Now that doesn't happen every day. Couldn't get him on "film" but you can see his handiwork here.

Bee Balm

Supposed to be good for... The bees.

Day Lillies?

Moved these out of the backyard years ago. They are finally happy.

Milkweed!

After years of collecting seed and gentle coaxing - the milkweed is growing like crazy, like a ... Weed. Now- where are those monarchs?

Strawberry Harvest #2

Strawberry Harvest #1

I'm Your Strawberry

Why'd we take out our lawn? Here's your answer.

There Will Be Cherries

Potatoes in a Bag

Opened up a bag - found a buncha potato spaghetti. That's how it goes when you don't keep track of things. Planted them in a hurry today. Some might make it.

Red & Yellow

One of my favorites from the latest additions.

Orange Dreamcicle Bulb

Dogwood In The Night

The Modern Farmer Magazine

There are a lot of gardening/farming magazines out there. Each have their niche audience - Urban Farm (people with less space and more money), Mother Earth News (people with more space and less money), Organic Gardening (people with more space and more money…and chablis…JK).  I've tried  all the above, and they are all good for different purposes. But my wife just brought home something that really caught my eye.

The Modern Farmer instantly caught my attention. Very well designed magazine with nice "eye feel." Seems like the Dwell of farming/gardening. Great photos and graphics abound. The covers almost seem more like what you would find on an art publication. Very eye catching. The articles range from product reviews to profiles of farmers all over the world…including the third world. There are also more scientifically focused articles which focus on deeper issues associated with food production. There are articles on farmers market ettiquette and articles on wasting food. The latter featured some pretty cool websites or apps. A Scottish one caught my attention. It's whole  purpose was to find recipes that would utilize whatever you had in your fridge. Kinda cool. Maybe useful. And it's Scottish, so…It's gotta be good. Other articles focus on Corn Mazes, growing in winter, and eating roadkill.

The website gives a feel for what the magazine has to offer: http://modernfarmer.com .

The next issue will feature a look at the reindeer ranching Sami in Finland and northern Scandinavia. Already looking forward to that one!

Spring is Coming...I Hope

Spring Is Coming...I hope

Soil Testing

Finally got our soil tested. Now I just have to figure out what it means. You pack up a few cubic inches of dirt - from various parts of your garden. Send it off to the VA Tech Soil lab with a 10 or so bucks and a few days later you get an email with all this info.