It's been more than a month since my last post so I'll try and give you a little run
down of what's been happening around here. Last time I told you about how the boys helped clear "the jungle" and about the fencing contractor I hired to fence in the little pasture area I have around the Lil Bitty barn. A few days after the fencing was complete I began to broadcast the seed onto the bare ground. The hand-cranked seeder I used once belonged to "Pappy", my life-long farming grandfather. I remember driving his tractor across a freshly tilled field while he sat on the back and cranked the seeder. Below is my helper, grandson Henderson, helping me scatter the clover, rye grass, meadow fescue, orchard grass and timothy grass seed.
- forking and hauling manure has been my primary activity lately. I don't have any "big equipment" so it's all hand work. And now that I'm not a "spring chicken"
anymore I accomplish this task by pacing myself, about 3 loads per evening is about good for the old geezer. It's not particularly pleasant work but it's good exercise and I try and make it enjoyable by envisioning lush gardens and pasture as a result of God's natural fertilizer. I wish everyone had the privilege of scooping a little poop. It helps us stay in touch with the natural life cycles that God established many millennia ago -life, growth, death, decay and repeat.
- I planted 17 raspberry plants. Most are doing good but two are struggling and one was chewed at the top and then pulled out of the ground by a deer. I didn't see it right away and so it was pretty dried out from laying on top of the ground. I replanted and have been watering it but I don't think it is going to make it. Those who read this blog regularly may remember that last year I had deer issues in the garden as well. My plan this year is to spread liberal doses of human hair (not mine, I don't have any to spare! !) to try and deter the deer with human odor. Marla's hairdresser is saving it for me - Thanks Sharon! !
- Marla helped me plant part of the raised-bed the other day. That consists of two kinds of lettuce, spinach, radishes and onions. We'll plant more of the same in another two weeks, that way the harvest is more extended and not over all at once.
- the asparagus is up and we are starting to pick it. I wish you could hear Henderson try and say "asparagus" - cute as the dickens.
Thanks again for being a part of this "Lil" on-line community. I count it a privilege that you take your precious time to read these humble words. Hope that you are somehow blessed and encouraged by stopping by.
Agrarian blessings to you my friends! !
Todd