Finding My Inner ‘Ma’
‘Well,’ said I, to no one in particular, ‘its not going to get done just by sitting.’
‘And it’s not,’ I heard myself agree, ‘going to get any cooler, by wishin’ it so.’
Convinced this was no worse than going to the gym…oh wait, I hate going to the gym…I hauled myself outside into the relentless sunshine and its constant companion, the oppressively high humidity.
Impersonating a weaver on the odd occasion, I can forgive you for thinking this is an elaborate, oversized warp. But no, with the advent of home ownership comes the opportunity for creating a veg patch. Yes, container gardening was an option during those house-rental years, but I’m rubbish at it. Pots need watering. I forget to water pots. It’s a sad case of neglect for houseplants too. Good thing the kids keep the dog watered or the SPCA’d be knocking at my door. And we don’t want that, do we?
Since our ‘house-move-and-ensuing-chaos’ occurred during the vital ‘get-stuff-into-the-ground’ phase, we have to wait until next year for the actual ‘veg’ part of the veg patch. But this year it’s all about getting the soil ready. Long ago, a previous owner had a lovely vegetable garden—but time and neglect have taken over, so it’s back to the beginning…killing the grass.
Now, what was I thinking?
Is this me tapping into my Inner-Ma-Ingalls?
Is this me being green?
Is this crazy?
What possessed me to do this without any power equipment?
Ack!
Thankfully recent rains softened the soil.
‘How wise to wait!’ you might say.
‘Dumb luck,’ I reply.
After using the hand-edger to cut the templates, it’s a simple rock-weighted-rubbish-bag method of killing off the grass. Might as well use the Virginia heat and sunshine to my advantage, eh? Sure, there are easier ways. Of course there are quicker ways. But I’m feelin’ pretty good about the synergy of getting an all-body workout and doing this without chemicals or petrol powered machinery.
So, two more squares to cut and cover, then it’s the waiting game for me.
Autumn will bring the next backbreaker synergistic opportunity…hand tilling.
Oh My Word! You went from cool to HOT and HUMID and you are preparing a garden in JULY! I offer you a virtual cold sweaty glass of lemonade.
29 Jul 2008 at 7:50 am
how I feel with you! I was too lazy last year and one half of my once lovely veggie plot is overgrown with weeds and grass:(( I covered most of it with cardboard and plastic, but I dread the day where I have to start digging (too warm and humid just now:))! and I don’t think Ma Ingalls had to do digging and such - she probably asked one of the boys to do the hard graft for her - and just spent time at the spinning wheel or canning something for winter! the drag of being a modern woman with “equal rights”…….
29 Jul 2008 at 8:00 am
I am seriously impressed.
SERIOUSLY.
If I didn’t have my Dad worrying me about getting this done over at the greenwood, it would not. get. done.
As it is, he’s making noises about getting a “holding bed” put in this Thursday or Friday.
I am not worthy. But I am grateful! And - like I said - I am seriously impressed with your garden. Way to go!
29 Jul 2008 at 9:23 am
Kinda small idn’t it??? Just kidding. Brain power takes energy too. So what are you going to do with those no biodegradable bags when your done??? Kidding again. Remember, Ma died when she was 25. Good luck!
29 Jul 2008 at 9:40 am
I sometimes equate getting my garden started with losing weight. If someome would just get the garden all perfect for me, I’d be happy to maintain it. I just don’t want to do the work to get it going:)
29 Jul 2008 at 10:58 am
good thinking ahead though!
29 Jul 2008 at 11:37 am
I don’t know if you are just anti-power machinery, but if you are not there are many places you can rent a heavy duty tiller for a day. I broke my garden soil the first year I had a garden by hand and unfortunately did not get the soil worked deep enough for deeply rooting veg to really thrive. Also in NC we have heavy clay soil (I am hoping you do not encounter that) that makes digging deeper than 4 inches impossible.
I look forward to seeing all the lovely veg that goes in next spring!
29 Jul 2008 at 12:56 pm
I think what you are doing is admirable. A backyard garden, or community garden, is becoming increasingly important for taking care of our families and ourselves. Let that “Ma Ingalls” loose - you go girl.
29 Jul 2008 at 2:23 pm
Have you read Norma’s blog? There might be some ideas there to make it a bit easier!
http://nownormaknits2.typepad.com/
I like the garbage bag method! We killed a major patch of poison ivy very effectively with that method!
29 Jul 2008 at 8:06 pm
Lasagne gardening - google it for some grass killing/composting all at once info. I’m testing it out right now.
29 Jul 2008 at 10:21 pm
That’s the way my dad used to prepare a new area of ground for gardening, though he did take advantage of a tiller once the grass was dead.
I’d wondered how the humid heat of eastern USA compared with your previous abode in Ireland. It’s certainly a factor to take into consideration when planning anything in the summer. Personally, I’d just as soon live somewhere where the temp is 65-70 year ’round, but I don’t think I want to live in the land of earthquakes, so I guess I’ll continue to sweat my summers away here in east Texas!
30 Jul 2008 at 2:23 pm
Sounds like you’re the perfect candidate for a lasagna garden! Have you heard of it? If not, there’s a great book called “Lasagna Gardening” (of course!) by Patricia Lanza.
30 Jul 2008 at 4:19 pm
I just wanted to stop by and say hi there and it was wonderful meeting you last night at KH. Hope to see you there again sometime.
31 Jul 2008 at 10:12 am
good job! i am very impressed. yard work is my least favorite thing to do and it shows terriably. i long for a great garden but never have the ompf to do so my hat is off to you!
06 Aug 2008 at 12:06 am