Funny, I would have never imagined myself as Elmer Fudd. When I was a kid, I always assumed I would just love bunnies, even the wisecracking Bugs Bunny kind. I could never understand why Mr. McGregor would chase Peter Rabbit with a hoe. UNTIL NOW! Right now, I am all Elmer Fudd! Rounds and rounds of “Kill the wabbit” circling through my mind, because those are the only words I can remember from that song. A hoe, a BB gun, a shovel, a rake . . . whatever! I would just like to decrease the wabbit population of a very small patch of land, encircled (apparently not effectively enough) by 6 foot tall fence with fairly small little holes.
This abrupt change has occurred because of the ongoing drama of the messy garden and the black thumb! February – we started growing from seed in February. We planted the first round of plants as soon as the frost had passed. A whole row of tomatoes and peppers, another of broccoli, cabbage, and onions. All but the onions disappeared within a week. Not died, not withered, not diseased, not taken over by weeds (miracle considering the state of the messy garden). GONE! Ok, so we direct seeded a few things and went back to the drawing board. Hubs tried again, planted another round of tomatoes and peppers. Gone! I decided to try for more robust plants from a local nursery. Broccoli, cabbage, tomatoes, and peppers. I planted in the cool of the evening at SERIOUSLY 9pm. By 11am the next morning – 1/2 of those plants were cut off at the stem!
If it weren’t for the tiny successes of actual growing peas and (for the very first time ever) corn – I might give up on the garden again before we even have cows to eat it! Really there are a few more successes and that is where I will try to keep my mind! Onions are growing nicely.
I’ve never grown beans before, half of those look good. Though I did have to dig them out from under the clover a bit.
I’m trying to remain positive about this new fangled no till gardening. My garden buddies will tell you I lose that battle often!
Cucumbers – looking pretty good.
Squash and zucchini growing. (sorry no photo) A few lettuce plants are peeking through. I haven’t killed the cheater herb garden yet. One single spinach plant is hanging out in the corner of the porch planter.
Again, I remind myself – I will not starve to death if every single plaint is stolen by that evil wabbit! I can go to the farmer’s market for my Roma tomatoes . . . and peppers . . . and broccoli . . . and cabbage . . . and whatever else I seem to be planting for the sole purpose of providing the local bunny population (or possibly turtle) with a salad bar.
I might be able to learn something new this year like how to can green beans in a pressure canner. I might be able to successfully taste corn from my own garden. I haven’t given up yet, but I have surely grumbled a bit! Trying to live a good example, not give up, keep working to see what we can get, look at what we have and not what we lack, if at first we don’t succeed – try, try again. I MIGHT walk back up there this weekend to see if anything is left and plant a few more seeds, plant a few more plants and add some electric fence!
Trying to be thankful in all things . . .
On a brighter note – the guys have been working in the barn to give us a little more light. It is much nicer! They revamped the hay feeders to decrease waste – also working well. David is becoming quite a good shepherd!
God is good, even when I want to march around the garden with a gun and a brown hat with ear flaps singing “kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit . .”
brandnewfarmers 