Well folks, you might not believe it, but I've been out the last couple days tilling up the large garden space we have here. We didn't work it up last year so it's pretty tough in spots, but I'm getting the job done. My DW has provided some excellent fertilizer from her rabbitry and a couple pick-up loads of horse manure were added for good measure. I'll work all that in real good, then set up the raised "square foot" beds and get ready for planting. It's a lot of work, but I can already taste those vine-ripe tomatoes and that ice cold watermelon ~ YUM-YUM!

According to the weatherman, my efforts will be put on hold because of the rain we're supposed to get tonight, but there's plenty to keep me busy elsewhere! As soon as I get the website put together there will be pictures of our farm and projects for everyone to view. You'll get to meet our extended family, too :8). I'll keep you posted!

-- Phil in KS (pemccoy@yahoo.com), February 18, 2002

Answers

Me and the wife spent five days last week on our garden, got the forty beds in the vegetable garden all ready and about 20 of the herb garden. We planted the english peas and should have put out potatoes and onions. This is the earlest we have gotten the garden this far along. The tomatoe racks are in place and we are just waiting for last frost date. I've just got to remember winter will give us some more frost but its hard when it is just like spring. We spent the evening down on the creek picking up drift wood for us to carve wood spirits on. If it had not been so cold last night we would have to have watched out for snakes. Tommorow we go to cut bamboo cane to stake the beans and such. Really enjoy this time of the year, rather spring which this looks and feels like/. David and Judy.

-- David in North Al. (bluewaterfarm@mindspring.com), February 19, 2002.

Gosh, I envy you guys! Last week I had to wear waders to pick some kale for dinner (name of this place is Frog Hollow), then we had some great drying days and I started to get my hopes up. Now, as I write, here comes yet another Pacific storm! I don't always take NOAA's word for it, but the burn barrel just bounced off the cabin and it lives 250ft away behind the shop.

But then, if were perfect, we couldn't afford to live here. (SSSH..., it IS perfect most of the time , but don't tell anyone)

-- Griff in OR (griff@hangnail.com), February 19, 2002.

I spent last saturday hauling bucket after bucket of chicken manure out of the coop and placing it on my garden. Just in time for the rain to soak it into the ground. I have been emtying my wood ashes in the garden all winter long. So far now I have wood ashes, chicken manure, and one snow fall in my garden prep.

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), February 19, 2002.

I can still ski through my garden (grumble, grumble, grumble). On the bright side, I'll be planting my first flat of onion seeds tomorrow. I swear, the only reason I grow onions from seed is so I can get my hands into the dirt in February!

-- Sheryl in Me (radams@sacoriver.net), February 20, 2002.

R.H. bucket after bucket? Wouldn't a wheelbarrow be easier? I have been using the wheelbarrow to clean out the chicken/goat building. Have the garden half covered with manure now. It will be so nice to get into the garden again. And would you believe this will only be my second year of gardening?!?

-- Michael W. Smith in North-West Pennsylvania (kirklbb@penn.com), February 24, 2002.