What did you do in the garden today?

[gtaus]

Getting ready to make some soil blocks with my new soil block maker I got last week. Went into town today and bought a bag of peat moss and vermiculite. I'll be using some of my chicken run compost for the third ingredient in the mix.

Bought a bunch of seed packets on clearance for only 19 cents each at Menards. Will save them for next year and start them in the soil blocks I hope to make at that time. If I get my act together, I hope to start my own veggies next year and not have to depend on the big box stores garden selection.

Noticed all my strawberries are missing from my strawberry plants today. Don't know if a squirrel found a way to get in under the bird netting or what. I have the strawberries planted in a 4X4 raised bed with hoops and bird netting over it. Until today, everything was looking good. Don't know what happened. Plants are all in good condition, so nothing appears to have been damaged.

Have had great success with the new hügelkultur raised beds I built this spring for our backyard. Checking out the wood behind the garage and looks like I might have enough wood to build two more raised beds. Another project for the to do list.

Not much rain this year, but we got about 6 hours of a light rain early this morning. I'll take whatever we can get from nature. Very hot and dry this year, but I know lots of people have it even worse.

 

[gtaus]

I did nothing- nada- zippo. Had to start using the CPAP mask and cannot sleep with it. Just THOUGHT I lacked energy. Today has been the third day without sleeping soundly at night that I laid around all day like a beached whale- not asleep, not quite alert, just there. Don’t want to read, watch TV, do a craft or move Just want to get some sleep. Trying not to sleep in the chair so I can sleep tonight.

I hope you get used to wearing the mask and sleeping well at night. I know a number of people who use the CPAP mask and it makes a world of difference in the quality of their sleep and, more importantly, their energy level the next day. Nobody wants to feel like a beached whale. Once you get comfortable with the mask, you should sleep much better and have all the energy you need for the day.

 

[chickengr]

I made a pot roast in the instant pot today.....used the potatoes, carrots, and onions from the garden. So satisfying when you know that delicious food came from your blood, sweat, and tears.....

Another interesting thought came to me today as I was cleaning and cutting up carrots. I was thinking how so many people today equate the look and taste of food by what they see or experience from a grocery store. For example, think of all the kids who grow up grocery story produce that looks perfect but is likely more bland because it is grown for shelf life instead of taste? Then those kids turn their noses up at garden grown veggies because they look and taste different than what they are used to from the store.... Anyone ever experienced this? I haven't (yet) but was just thinking about it.... Who knows....I might tonight. I made the roast with yellow carrots. My DH likes yellow carrots but we'll see how my teenage DD responds.

when I was a kid there were some friends of my mom who were buying veggies and fruits that had the best look (highly priced). they later complained about taste. I used to respond that my granny didn't have nice looking staff but taste was excellent. I guess I was meant to have my own garden one day.

 

[chickengr]

Love the pics. I do feel your pain with the AC. Is it wrong to dream of fall?

yes it is wrong to dream of fall! I love summer.

 

[jerryse]

I did nothing- nada- zippo. Had to start using the CPAP mask and cannot sleep with it. Just THOUGHT I lacked energy. Today has been the third day without sleeping soundly at night that I laid around all day like a beached whale- not asleep, not quite alert, just there. Don’t want to read, watch TV, do a craft or move Just want to get some sleep. Trying not to sleep in the chair so I can sleep tonight.

I had a similar problem . I do not fall asleep for at least a hour . I have to go a hour. or so without the mask . Then put it on . Just can not start out with it .

 

[Phaedra Geiermann]

Harvested various flowers and veggies, this is the best part of summer.

 

[Artichoke Lover]

I’ve been busy with other things but still trying to make a dent in the weeds between storms. It’s producing well despite the neglect though. The pumpkins are smothering the weeds in their section with no problem and I may have an orange one soon.

 

[Sally PB]

Not sure what I'll be doing today. I have to get an electrician out here. The power went off for a while last night, and when it came back, only half the house was on. The power company came out and checked, and we have power to the box outside, so the problem is on our end. We have running water (we're on a well), at least. But no stove, fridge, freezer, or water heater.

 

[Iluveggers]

It is so strange that some of you are dying for rain. It’s rained every day for at least part of the day for the last 2.5 weeks (minus the one day DH mowed the very wet lawn). Yesterday afternoon it was 85 and sunny, we got in the pool & the thunder started. Rained for an hour, but hard enough that there were 2 inch puddles in the walkways of my garden. I planted with slight hills on the veggie parts. The forecast the next 10 days has 9 of them with rain/thunderstorms. I am praying the ground has a chance to dry out. I would gladly share w some of you that need it. I worry about my tomatoes with blight. Have the bottom branches trimmed about a foot off the ground & try to trim a branch on each twice a week to keep them away from the splashes. It’s getting old...

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Good morning gardeners. Except for a few scattered sprinklings yesterday, it's been about 24 hours without rain here. More rain in the forecast with some of the effects of Elsa passing the northeast coast. I'm just hoping the grass dries out enough to mow. The garden is looking pretty good. The corn is growing unevenly. I have a few stalks that are around 2 feet tall but others hanging around 1 foot. My main concern is getting the pole beans to grow. The corn is basically my "for fun" crop. I did manage a little weeding and herb trimming during my walk around this morning. My squash plants are loaded with flowers-all male. I got the base of the new rooster coop done yesterday. I even managed to get a coat of paint on it. Today I'm hoping to get the wall frame completed. The temps are forecasted to be near 90F with ridiculous humidity, but it needs to get done. Have a great day everyone.