The Status of Growing Things

Before I show you what's going on around here, I want you to know that my friend, Mavis, announced a great giveaway this morning.  If you don't know Mavis, you should know that she feeds her family of four (two adults and two teenagers) on $100 a month through gardening, chickening and couponing.  Go check it out, but don't forget to come back.  I mean, I know I'm not quite as exciting and entertaining as Mavis, but I'd appreciate it:-). (Photo courtesy of Mavis)

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Despite the heat and the little dry spell we had, everything keeps growing.  Some things below look a bit thirsty.  When I took these pictures we were hoping for some rain that evening, otherwise we would have started watering.  Our water tanks are still working out beautifully.

Our first picking of peas yielded 8 pints to freeze.  I would have had more to freeze, but Sadie eats probably a good pint of raw peas a day. This year, I've decided to do what my mother-in-law does which is to put her freezer bags into boxes.  I love using bags because they conform to your space and are easy to thaw, but as stuff gets moved around in the freezer, they shift and slide and cause much angst. 

Our chickens really aren't growing anymore, but I wanted to mention them here because I feel a bit sorry for them.  In a week or so, their world will change when we add another family of hens (about 15) to theirs.  It makes my stomach queasy just thinking about it.  I feel for them.  I feel for the new hens.  I've never really prayed for chickens before, but I may start this week.

In order above we have 1) Sour cherries almost ready for picking.  Our mulberry tree is in full berry which is keeping the birds away from the cherries (for now- this can add a false sense of security), 2) Ripening pears, 3) Red raspberry bushes, 4) Wineberries- they are prolific this year.  I can't wait to see how many we get, 5) Wild black raspberries just starting to ripen.  Between the black raspberries and the mulberries, my kids hands and mouths are stained a semi-permanent purple.

 
Tomatoes, newly planted sweet potatoes, regular potatoes.

Can you tell what this picture is?  What's growing to the right of the potatoes?  Yep.  They were our green beans.  Our new boarder and her baby (of the ground hog variety) chowed down and destroyed our beans.  Jamey cleared some new space in the fenced in garden, and replanted this past weekend.  We need beans. 

 

We'll end on a happy note, though.  Here is our sunflower bed.  It's okay that there are weeds, as long as they stay below the sunflowers (which they're doing).  Jamey (and Sam) plant in stages.  The closest section was planted first, then the second.  The section that looks like dirt with the stakes at the ends was planted a week or so ago.  Beyond that are weeds that will mowed down prior to the next planting.  Planting in stages like this will give us sunflowers to sell most of the summer.  The first section should be ready around 4th of July weekend.

So, there you have it.  Green, green everywhere.  This is what I long for in the winter.  Don't forget to stop, breathe in the warm (or hot) air and give thanks.