Posted in Progress

Rain barrel related projects

I am almost out of the water we stored in reused gallon jugs last year when we emptied our rain barrel for the season.  Since I don’t want to start using tap water if I can help it, naturally I’ve been wondering when we put it out last year, and it was indeed in April, though I didn’t actually get it set up until the 25th.  This is our third year collecting rainwater to use on plantings. Continue reading “Rain barrel related projects”

First corn sighting

After we picked up our second rain barrel today, we went out to plant the remaining starters I had purchased prior, and I noticed what looks like an awfully promising baby stalk of corn breaching the ground.  This made me so happy.

One of our tomato seed spots seemed a bit dug up.  I’m glad I used the toilet tissue rolls, as that seems to have deterred the digger from doing more than unearthing down to the top of the roll.  Time will tell.

Posted in Progress

Watering, snipping grass, neglected compost and old foe skeletons

I did manage to get some time outside yesterday to do more than a round of watering.  Compared to last year, I’m consistently using three “can fills” per water from the rain barrel so far, where last year we barely needed just the one.  Most of that is due to the kitchen garden related plants, as well as trying to encourage some perennials that didn’t overwinter very well.  We haven’t been able to pick up the new rain barrel we paid for, but will when schedules align.  We haven’t needed it yet, so I’m not agonizing over the lack of pickup,  if it matters.

Note the two flying insect "shadows" you can see near the one cluster of fruit growing. I didn't even realize they'd made the shot.
Some of our plants have names (we’re odd). Shoobie, our northern highbush blueberry, was two years old when introduced last year, and this year’s crop is looking good for a three year old.

Continue reading “Watering, snipping grass, neglected compost and old foe skeletons”

Paid for the second rain barrel today

Here you pay for a rain barrel in one place (City Hall), and then pick up in another (transfer station).    The pick up place isn’t open as many days of the week as the pay place.

But it’s paid for, and that’s one less thing on the check box.

Second rain barrel install

I updated the countdown for the install of the rain barrel itself.  That should be easy enough as long as we can get over there to pick it up on a day the center is open.  Getting the guttering up in that corner, though…that’s a bit more iffy.