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Wednesday, 04 May 2011 20:11 |
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by Bob Smith
Hi there.
The old time winter, and the wonderful rainy spring has produced an early tall lawn, and thousands of bright yellow dandelion blossoms where my lawn grasses should be mowed three inches tall. Experts often recommend that the first mowing be lower than usual, but I prefer to always mow at a three inch height (maybe because I have to bend over and do a little work to adjust the cutting height of the big, fast, heavy mower blades).
So in mowing my lawns, I cut off thousands if not millions of dandelion leaves and yellow blossoms, probably preventing millions, if not billions of dandelion plants from springing out of the ground. I love dandelion greens, and dandelion leaves in a salad (picked at the right time), but I don’t like them to overtake my lawn grasses. Dandelion blossoms (picked at the right time) can be dipped in batter, and deep fried – and sort of - taste like fried oysters. Enough appear each year, so I don’t think we will ever run out of dandelions, but I do like to have at least two meals a year including a dandelion dish.
I believe three inches is the best height for my lawn to be mowed – it controls most weeds, it doesn’t need to be done as many times as if we mowed at two inches, and unless one plays a lot of croquet, I see nothing against a three inch deep lawn – yet I don’t mind an occasional bright dandelion blossom in early spring. There are reasons for different heights of mowing, and three inches is my preference – you decide how tall your lawn should be kept, and keep the cutting edges sharp for best results.
If, as happened this spring, the grass grows a lot taller than your desired cutting level, the accepted recommendation is to raise your cutting blades to half the distance the tall grass is higher than what you want, mow that off, then lower the blade to your desired height, and mow again. This will finely chop the too tall grass clippings, and they will decompose into compost, quickly. Because this tall grass is young and tender, I chose to whop it off at my chosen three inch height. My mower burns $4.25 gallon gas just like automobiles for which the high tax helps build roads - and while farmers with big diesel powered equipment can buy “tax free” reddish diesel fuel, we gardeners haven’t yet achieved “tax free” gas for lawn, landscaping, and gardening use!
My soil was so wet, that my big mower slid into my neighbor’s plowed muddy field, and was stuck. I got my 1953 Ford tractor out of the barn to pull it out so I could finish mowing, hooked the chain from the mower to the crane of the tractor, - but when I tried to restart the tractor, the bendix spring of the starter somehow locked out of position – as it has occasionally done in the past – and I failed to find the big strong screwdriver that I always used to correct this problem in the past.
I, and maybe you, have a lot of tools, often kept in places where I most likely will use those tools. Judy knows better than to look in any of my tool boxes for tools to fix her sewing machine or serger, and in the house, she has her tool kit in her sewing room, and my house tools are in the hall closet. But, I have my leftover truck tool box in the barn, tools in two different locations in my shop, gardening tools in the garden shed, and tractor tools in the room where the tractors rest.
Starting next week, there will be copies of a list of all tools owned, and where they will be stored, and any deviation from not replacing any or several tools to its assigned location will place the offender under severe capital punishment – including stupid me! Actually, I think, if you have different tool storage areas, you do the same – we all age, you know, and the brain slows, just like muscles, tendons, and bones! Make a list of your household and garden tools – it will be worthwhile, I think, and, when I write this, it is still too wet to plow . . . good gardening by Bob Smith Hi there. The old time winter, and the wonderful rainy spring has produced an early tall lawn, and thousands of bright yellow dandelion blossoms where my lawn grasses should be mowed three inches tall. Experts often recommend that the first mowing be lower than usual, but I prefer to always mow at a three inch height (maybe because I have to bend over and do a little work to adjust the cutting height of the big, fast, heavy mower blades).
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Wednesday, 27 April 2011 16:24 |
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by Bob Smith
Hi there.
You know, and Judy and I know, that I am getting old, and that I am lots older. Sometimes it comes in handy like on a warm Easter weekend, sunny enough to have a good Easter. The Magic Wand was suddenly open for breakfast on Easter which I used to think was Denise’s vacation, but when we headed for another of Busco’s fine restaurants, Judy said, “Look! The Magic Wand is open!” And we enjoyed our usual Sunday breakfast at our usual Sunday restaurant!
Then, Judy and I both colored eggs and hid them outside, and hunted until she had to start cooking. We hunted where the other had hidden eggs, I couldn’t find but half of hers, but she had to leave to start dinner with 1/4 of mine still hidden, BUT I couldn’t even remember where I had hidden my own eggs! While the lamb was baking, she went out and captured all the eggs I couldn’t find!
If the rain ever stops, we are both anxious to get into the soil. The grass is growing well, I felt like getting on the huge riding mower, but it (even without me riding) weighs a lot, and I hated to ask a neighbor to come and pull my deeply stuck tractor out, so I mowed beside the driveways so if it got a little stuck, my 1953 8N Ford tractor probably could pull it free. But it worked fine, and while there are five acres more that need mowing when the rain stops, I feel good!
If you haven’t tested your gardening soils, there is still time. Many garden failures occur because people either don’t fertilize at all, or if they do, they put on too much of the wrong fertilizer. We have been testing our soil, and getting advice from our County Extension Office since I bought my retirement paradise, and was able to garden. A soil test will tell what the ph (alkalinity or acidity) of your test area is, how much organic matter is present, and how to treat your garden to improve your desired results.
The County Extension Office’s expenses are born by the city, county, state, and federal governments, so if you want to think you are paying for their knowledge, why not use it! Ask a farmer you like if they ever have used the knowledge of the Extension Office if you doubt me, a stranger!
Improper watering causes several problems, either way 1. people apply too much water, or - 2. people don’t apply enough. Our gardens certainly don’t need more water this week, even if you are trying to grow rice! I believe our gardens here are happiest and more productive if they receive an average of one inch per week, during growing season. Listening to the local weather is close, but rain gauges are really a wonderful investment, and some are made tall, so we can stick the base in the soil, and just by bending our head a little, see how much has fallen since last check.
When we water, we can use the same devices to be sure we apply the amount of water to that garden for that week and unless it rains as much as it has recently, enough soil will drain away through any but the absolutely heaviest clay soils, before doing any damage.
You should know how long it takes for each of your crops to mature, because it is possible to plant a quick growing crop like lettuce, and after harvest, plant a crop that matures in the fall. I always plan that, but forget to plant the fall crop after early harvest. Judy will tell me this year. . . . Good gardening by Bob Smith Hi there. You know, and Judy and I know, that I am getting old, and that I am lots older. Sometimes it comes in handy like on a warm Easter weekend, sunny enough to have a good Easter. The Magic Wand was suddenly open for breakfast on Easter which I used to think was Denise’s vacation, but when we headed for another of Busco’s fine restaurants, Judy said, “Look! The Magic Wand is open!” And we enjoyed our usual Sunday breakfast at our usual Sunday restaurant!
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Tuesday, 19 April 2011 13:01 |
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by Bob Smith
Hi there.
Last week I had a syncope! It is pronounced sincopay, and I think mostly old folks like me get them, but I have had three, in the last few years. Judy, when I get unresponsive (one of the causes might be a syncope) – but not just my usual pouting selfish self – has, thank God, called 911- three times in the last four years.
The service I have gotten is tremendously good – Churubusco Volunteer Firemen arrive – most often in their own vehicle (regardless of gas price), and they usually beat the Parkview ambulance to my residence. This time, three firemen, each in his own vehicle arrived, saw the activity in the front yard, and by cell phone or radio communicated with the people working on me, - but they made sure the situation was being handled – and they are UNPAID VOLUNTEERS, TRAINED, WILLING, AVAILABLE, AND ABLE, to help save my, and your good health, life, and happiness!
I am not light of weight, weak, nor known for my compliance to requests, and as a result I have spent a lot of time near, and under the care of medically trained technicians and experts, (even served as ambulance driver in WW2, the BIG ONE) and feel our service here is exceptionally good. I think mostly, I haven’t expressed my appreciation for the medical service I have received, and I hope I do better – we don’t know when next we might need them to help us, our family, or our neighbor!
The hospital employees are paid, but not as much as I think they should get – I don’t think they take gifts, but they do like and deserve sincere thanks – verbally, written, expressed on a purchased card and mailed to them, or spoken, with maybe a tear of appreciation rolling down your cheek.
It interrupted my gardening activities – but thanks to their treatment, I am moving our garden seeds from the one inch apart rows where I had planted them, in a 11 X 22 inch flat, filled with moist potting soil, with warm white and cool white four foot long florescent lights hanging four to six inches above them – lit for 18 hours a day – into individual 36 cell flats, with identification markers on each six cell group. They will continue to grow there in my 65 degree cellar until Memorial Day, which, weather permitting, is my selected garden planting day.
Tender young garden plants do not like to live in freezing weather, and the average frost free day here is about May 15 – but my math teacher hated “average” as a measure, because “if you stand with one foot on a hot stove, and one foot on a cake of ice, you would not feel comfortable on the average temperature.” I used to feel it important to have “the first” garden harvest, but Indiana late frosts and freezes helped me select Memorial Day, and it works for our garden! If you know a ‘Busco Fireman,’ appreciate what he and they do for you! . . . good gardening by Bob Smith Hi there. Last week I had a syncope! It is pronounced sincopay, and I think mostly old folks like me get them, but I have had three, in the last few years. Judy, when I get unresponsive (one of the causes might be a syncope) – but not just my usual pouting selfish self – has, thank God, called 911- three times in the last four years.
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Wednesday, 13 April 2011 22:13 |
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by Bob Smith
Hi there.
It doesn’t seem like March should pass unless I had had time to compute and pay Income Tax before the Ides of March, and even though my income is low, I miss the feeling of relief I used to get when my tax year was completed and mailed, and I still feel guilty of something on the 16th of March! My tax lady, Bonnie, has everything ready for my signature now, in advance of the new deadline! Of course, Early Judy already has her Michigan taxes done by Bonnie, and mailed!
On the other hand, gardening seasoning is nearly here! We start our garden seeds that require a longer season than Indiana provides, at the end of March, and we have plastic flats, cells, properly moistened starting soil in a sealed pail, waiting downstairs in our 65 degree basement. Both Judy’s flower and our vegetable seeds are sealed in the refrigerator, staying dry and ready to be planted to begin a new happy, pleasing, productive life.
We could plant cool season vegetables like spinach, radishes, lettuce, chard, potatoes, leeks, etc., if your garden soil is ready. Since I am planning on starting seeds in the basement soon, I prefer to plant spinach, which Judy loves and knows a lot of different ways to prepare, in a flat, in a proper light controlled, warm environment, easily harvested when needed.
There have evolved many newer methods of gardening, like raised beds, square foot gardening, and home green houses, and many products like Dipel dust to control many insects that like to bother our garden plants, and with the big emphasis on recycling, turning kitchen and other refuse back into the soil returns nutrients, nitrogen, and organic matter into the soil – much, in my farming father’s day is what every farmer that grew any livestock, did with a team of horses, a wagon, and a fork.
I remember loading and spreading similar wagon loads, used as winter insulation of the bottom two feet of the outside house walls for winter, then in spring, reloading them to spread in the crop fields. The only manure I have used here in Indiana, has been really old manure, that in the process of decomposing has reached a high enough temperature to kill any weed seeds that passed through the providing animals.
Theoretically, commercially available compost has undergone this treatment, and if you are considering proper home composting, you will learn how to accomplish this weed treatment, and how hot your compost pile needs to be to kill the weed seeds, and buy the proper thermometer – then follow up on mixing the compost pile properly and frequently enough.
Many plants like cucumbers and squash, like to climb up something – we have a wire fence (also makes them easier to harvest instead of bending over to the ground!) but they could grow up a small tree, or a tall tomato cage (I hate to bend over – but the really hard part is getting back up!)
There are early season plants, and late season plants, and I always have planned to plant late season plants during August, and plant early season plants to harvest in their season - but usually I forget I have the seeds ready in sealed cold storage when it is time to plant them in the garden. Brussels sprouts, turnips, and kohlrabi, I think all fit this description – and some can be harvested right up to Thanksgiving – if I remember correctly. Better check on these – call the Extension Office! Then, remember to plant them . . . good gardening by Bob Smith Hi there. It doesn’t seem like March should pass unless I had had time to compute and pay Income Tax before the Ides of March, and even though my income is low, I miss the feeling of relief I used to get when my tax year was completed and mailed, and I still feel guilty of something on the 16th of March! My tax lady, Bonnie, has everything ready for my signature now, in advance of the new deadline! Of course, Early Judy already has her Michigan taxes done by Bonnie, and mailed!
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Wednesday, 30 March 2011 22:05 |
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by Bob Smith
Hi there.
I think the arrival of spring is an Irish holiday, because, in my opinion, 2011 spring arrived on Saint Patrick’s Day, 2011! Suddenly I am anxious to finish all of last fall’s work I left undone needlessly, this year’s garden seeds started to grow downstairs in my 65 degree cellar geothermal room, and my wonderful mowing machine is getting its annual refreshing physical at Precision Sharpening.
I am happy spring has arrived, and I am happier that we live on the top of a hill, in a farming community, far from any oceanic earthquakes and floods, and a long away from any nuclear reactors. It is tough enough to just be dumb and old, without any of the problems much of the earth’s people face.
When our power is interrupted, it is fixed within hours, night or day. I appreciate that so much that I call the power company, and ask that the operator relay my thanks to those responsible. I have lived without nearly all of the modern conveniences, and maybe us elders appreciate having modern cars, radio, wall phones, TV, programmed heating and cooling temperatures, more than our and their children – and I am happy to let them enjoy texting, computers, and youth, without forcing them all on me!
Crocus flowers are the earliest perennial spring plant, usually blooming just before now in a usual (?) Indiana weather year. They are planted in the fall. I have ordered three times as many as I need, and plan to place 10 of them in each of 10 little bags, to be given to readers of this column, who write or e-mail Busco News at busconews.com requesting crocuses, winners to be selected by the managerial staff, and can be picked up late summer at the News office, with planting and growing suggestions.
Another amazing deal for subscribers – Teghtmeyer Ace Hardware store, in our county seat, Columbia City, has a seldom bettered offer – if you go there and spend $25 for any of their vast inventory items, you will save $10! The offer ends 3/31/11, so you need to hurry – and if you don’t want your $10 saving, tell them to give it to me or this paper. We have been buying from them since they were downtown Columbia City, with three or four floors of merchandise – no elevators – but still a great hardware store – now it is all one huge floor – no stairs to climb! . . .Good gardening by Bob Smith Hi there. I think the arrival of spring is an Irish holiday, because, in my opinion, 2011 spring arrived on Saint Patrick’s Day, 2011! Suddenly I am anxious to finish all of last fall’s work I left undone needlessly, this year’s garden seeds started to grow downstairs in my 65 degree cellar geothermal room, and my wonderful mowing machine is getting its annual refreshing physical at Precision Sharpening.
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