This is the third installment of my gardening/homesteading series which tracks progress on our little food plot.
Here is part one and part two.
Part Three: The Earth is Against Me
Just when I feel that I can start planting and moving forward with the garden, the weather turns.
I know the weather in Missouri is prone to change but I feel like this Spring has been either wet or cold or wet and cold at inconvenient times.
Stretches of 60 degree weather have been followed by freeze warnings. There are still temps in the 30s in the short range forecast.
Efforts so far
I’ve spent most of my time cleaning up the garden.
I’ve been pulling weeds, moving stuff, prepping the beds and so forth.
I thought I would be clever and spray the weeds with a vinegar, salt and dishsoap mixture. The broadleaf plants seemed irritated by it and are slowly crossing the veil. However, the grass seemed unimpressed.
The vinegar is the regular strength you find in the grocery store. Maybe I’ll try a stronger concentration later.
I broke out the hand scythe and managed to knock down the grass that way.
Victories!
The herb garden has some old friends who came back.
The yarrow and oregano are doing very well (pictured below) as are the chives and lemon balm.
There is some English lavender that is showing signs of life also.
There is some cilantro trying to make a comeback as well as a few others.
The strawberries are in their second season with us and are doing great! There are plenty of flowers and some berries starting to come in.
Future plans
The hayfield is greening up nicely. We had some good rains early on which gave the grass a head start. The cool temperatures are slowing things down so it’s still too early to cut. I may be able to get a fair yield in the next month or so.
I don’t use the hay for feed. I use it to cover the garden in between the beds and mulch around plants. I realize I’m likely introducing seed to the beds but I generally cut it early enough that I don’t have a lot of problems.
If it works out, I hope to get some action shots of the scythe. I started using it last season to cut the field and it’s been one of the most satisfying things I’ve ever down. You have to get up just before dawn when the dew is on the grass (it makes it easier to cut) and it’s just you and the birds along with the soft swishing of the blade. It’s a bit of a workout but as long as I keep the blade sharp, it’s pretty effortless.
My neighbors probably think I’m nuts but I don’t care. I feel like I should name the scythe but I don’t know what.
Final thoughts
My family is fortunate that we don’t have to rely on our garden to be able to eat. It’s just a hobby. However, the skills that I’ve learned over the years help give me some confidence that if I truly spent the time and energy, we could provide for ourselves to some level, assuming the land and weather cooperate. There would be a lot of extra infrastructure to add though, so to speak.
Although, I don’t have a goal to live off the land and off-grid, it is nice to have the land to work. It secures a connection with the Earth that we find essential. Not everyone has this privilege and I am grateful to God each day for allowing me this grace.