Raindrops are falling…in my rain gauge

Okay, so it’s not as catchy as “raindrops are falling on my head,” but the rain gauge has become an important fixture in our garden. Last Friday, May 22, it rained 0.3″ but now it’s Tuesday and the weather is warming up. We needed another shower.
This evening Debbie and I sat in [...]

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Rain barrels for $10

We have been looking for 55-gallon drums made of plastic used in food production.  Theoretically, food-grade plastic barrels have no toxins in their plastic formulae, and are hence safe to use in home gardens.  Our local USDA office has a rain barrel program and we’re on the waiting list for used pickle barrels for $8/each.   [...]

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Putting the plants to bed

Last Saturday, we put the plants to bed. Literally. So, here they are, three weeks ahead of what we have been told is the last frost date, May 15. We’re taking a chance, but really not so much so. Why? Because we have more plants where these came from. [...]

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The garden ready for spring

Here in southern Virginia, the last frost date is about May 1, so we’re not quite ready to stick plants or seeds in the ground yet, but when the time comes, the garden is ready!  Debbie and I spent all day last Saturday in 45-degree weather finishing up the square-foot garden plot.  Spring seemed very [...]

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First snow of the year

 View of the backyard covered with snow.
Last Thursday it snowed.  Actually, snow started falling Wednesday night after church and continued until we had a little over an inch.  Not much, but it was the first snowfall of the year, so everybody was excited.  School was cancelled, kids made small snowmen, and it was a lot [...]

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