The hori-hori is my favorite gardening tool. I've had mine for nine years. It looks absolutely fierce out of context. AM Leonard has a leather holster that holds both the hori-hori and pruners. Another great tool is the ho-mi Korean hand hoe. The one I have is called EZ Digger Gardening Tool.
It’s snowing in my Va. neck of the woods in Albemarle County. Your gardening inspires me to think about planting a few seeds this spring. I have a few very large planting pots that I used for pepper plants last season. I think I’ll plant fresh herbs this year.
Have a good time at CPAC! It has to be a delightful conference with POTUS and our VP speaking!
Speaking of gardening and gardening tools: for a small garden and even for a British allotment, this has been my very favourite tool: the YOUNGJU HOMI (Hand Gardening Hoe for Digging soli, Removing Weeds & Other Gardening).
It's brilliant, especially in small spaces. You can dig yer holes for planting, you can poke holes to drop seeds in, you can get weeds out, smooth over the soil - everything. it never left my side when I was still gardening.
It also has a very sharp point - a consideration for a lone lady going home late in the evening in uncertain, dangerous times ...
How about Nasturtiums? Bright orange & yellow blossoms are prolific, and along with their leaves, are great in salads - and you can pickle the seeds for "capers.".
How delightful! Have been starting to reflect on what to try this year.
My initial hunt for yellow tomatoes was strange. Packets mostly in the $3 range with seemly similar seeds from a major seed catalog at $45. Found some tiny cucumbers (am starting to balk at Gates coatings on available cucs). Reportedly great fresh picked, but mushy one day later? Thanks for mentioning peas.
I see the hot topic at the Dept of Ag is how to deal with bird flu. A hot candidate is to vaccinate of course. On the more promising side, Brook is it says she's looking forward to working with Bobby on MAHA. If more come to consider getting pet chickens (eggs and meat get contaminated with vax), a how to focus study may be welcome.
CPAC!!! Meeting friends. So sorry about Bolsonaro. Hope he's going to be alright. Hope Milei will readily overcome this (intended copy of Trump's coin thing?), flap over the crypto coin thing. My impression is things are going fairly well other wise and he's looking for investments to further his country.
I gatherv one of the CPAC things this years is getting to know Trump's up and coming trooper's for tomorrow. I'm glad he's working on building a transition.
Saturday for your presentation! A clear honor! Will be there in spirit and hoping to see it later. MUCH SUCCESS!
Jean, Re: Gate's coating on cukes. Stores/grocers I've asked say "Not that they know of." Since even organic veges can have it on them!, by what means do/can you confirm its presence?
The darn stuff melted off. I didn't get to my last cuc soon enough and the baggie it was in held in the evidence. It was soft and gummy on the peel as well. It was an .85 cter. The organics run $4.85. So I gave up on them. My thing with cucs is seeds and peel, which makes it extra offensive.
I started gardening in CA some 40 years ago (the best: great climate, few bugs), then moved to Las Vegas (quite a challenge), TX, MO and now in Denver. Each have had their challenges, especially with bugs. Indoors, I have 6 AeroGardens and 1 Gardyn (the upright type that works well for tomatoes, cucumbers and strawberries). Gardening is fun, easy and relaxing. You learn patience: seeds take time to grow and you cannot hurry them. I did not know about the hori-hori tool. Thanks for that info.
Love your substack! I hardly remember the Victory Garden my parents grew in West Orange NJ many years ago. but the seed was planted and I have been organic gardening in NJ, PA, Cape Cod and now Piedmont NC ever since. Now helping develop a local Community Garden. Its a great, healthy lifelong addiction. Thank You....for all you do.
I have burned out on gardening because of the pest problem and the sprays that defeated my attempt at growing organic. I will try once more using the netting and raised beds. I’m 72 and alone now but I think I can arrange a few raised beds and hoops for netting. I really enjoy reading about you and Jill’s experiences on your farm. We were farmers for many years before age caught up with us. Going to Give it the old college try one more time. Good luck with your garden and the horses!
We bought a hydroponic garden. I will try putting seeds in it this Spring. I have never grown tomatoes from seeds . I always buy the plants. How sad that you can’t grow sweet peas. Our growing season is shorter than you have in Virginia. We have a snowstorm hitting this afternoon. We need the moisture as our climate in Idaho is very dry. I love reading your gardening tips.
How exciting for your speech today! Have a great day!
Black Krimm is also my favorite tomato. San Marano never does well here in BC but I found a meaty tomato called Red Pear. It's huge and I can it along with my Black Krimms. I wish I lived where you do so I could start gardening. I love the work you're doing and really appreciate it.
We had three Aero Gardens at our old place. We still have one but have not set it up since we moved. I always loved having one in the kitchen. It was a great place to read while having morning coffee. It was on a small table we called the cat table - bought so we could put the cat food and water up where the dog wouldn't get it. By the time we had the Aero Garden, the cat didn't need the food kept away because the current dog slept outside in his Kennel. We are a ways away from starting seeds in Wisconsin (-16 two nights ago, -9 last night), but we do start seed in the house and we also set up deck rail containers for leaf lettuce, carrots, and some peppers. Our main garden is all raised beds. Can't wait for the planting season to start. Thanks for the early inspirational article.
Yes they fit on the 2X4 top rails on the deck. They are plastic oblong containers about 2 feet long and about 14 inches wide. Bought at our local ACE Hardware. On Amazon: the Emsco Group Bloomers Railing Planter with Drainage Holes – 24" Weatherproof Resin Planter – Terracotta
The yin yang of your farm friends eating your crops. My NW Washington State area is over populated, ( IMHO ), with blacktail deer. They will eat anything vegetation once and most anything repeatedly. With HOA fencing restrictions it becomes a bit of a chess game planting and protecting vegetation from the deer. Our State fish and game agency is the sole legal manager, ( owner ? ), of the deer, making any population control or mitigation effort by private property owners punishable. I do enjoy their presence and work with them as best I can. I have a dear friend sports writer who keeps telling me when visiting "vegetables are what food eats".
It's possible. Requires HOA approval. No fences over 3' in front yards and no more than 6' in back yards, ( usually a golfing fairway ), and gates must be provided to find errant golf balls.
The hori-hori is my favorite gardening tool. I've had mine for nine years. It looks absolutely fierce out of context. AM Leonard has a leather holster that holds both the hori-hori and pruners. Another great tool is the ho-mi Korean hand hoe. The one I have is called EZ Digger Gardening Tool.
It’s snowing in my Va. neck of the woods in Albemarle County. Your gardening inspires me to think about planting a few seeds this spring. I have a few very large planting pots that I used for pepper plants last season. I think I’ll plant fresh herbs this year.
Have a good time at CPAC! It has to be a delightful conference with POTUS and our VP speaking!
In PNW, snow gone, 50 degrees and sunny, Arugula and Chard survived the winter just fine. Rose pruning time.
Speaking of gardening and gardening tools: for a small garden and even for a British allotment, this has been my very favourite tool: the YOUNGJU HOMI (Hand Gardening Hoe for Digging soli, Removing Weeds & Other Gardening).
It's brilliant, especially in small spaces. You can dig yer holes for planting, you can poke holes to drop seeds in, you can get weeds out, smooth over the soil - everything. it never left my side when I was still gardening.
It also has a very sharp point - a consideration for a lone lady going home late in the evening in uncertain, dangerous times ...
I just ordered one, based on your recommendation!
How about Nasturtiums? Bright orange & yellow blossoms are prolific, and along with their leaves, are great in salads - and you can pickle the seeds for "capers.".
How delightful! Have been starting to reflect on what to try this year.
My initial hunt for yellow tomatoes was strange. Packets mostly in the $3 range with seemly similar seeds from a major seed catalog at $45. Found some tiny cucumbers (am starting to balk at Gates coatings on available cucs). Reportedly great fresh picked, but mushy one day later? Thanks for mentioning peas.
I see the hot topic at the Dept of Ag is how to deal with bird flu. A hot candidate is to vaccinate of course. On the more promising side, Brook is it says she's looking forward to working with Bobby on MAHA. If more come to consider getting pet chickens (eggs and meat get contaminated with vax), a how to focus study may be welcome.
CPAC!!! Meeting friends. So sorry about Bolsonaro. Hope he's going to be alright. Hope Milei will readily overcome this (intended copy of Trump's coin thing?), flap over the crypto coin thing. My impression is things are going fairly well other wise and he's looking for investments to further his country.
I gatherv one of the CPAC things this years is getting to know Trump's up and coming trooper's for tomorrow. I'm glad he's working on building a transition.
Saturday for your presentation! A clear honor! Will be there in spirit and hoping to see it later. MUCH SUCCESS!
Have a great time!
Jean, Re: Gate's coating on cukes. Stores/grocers I've asked say "Not that they know of." Since even organic veges can have it on them!, by what means do/can you confirm its presence?
The darn stuff melted off. I didn't get to my last cuc soon enough and the baggie it was in held in the evidence. It was soft and gummy on the peel as well. It was an .85 cter. The organics run $4.85. So I gave up on them. My thing with cucs is seeds and peel, which makes it extra offensive.
I started gardening in CA some 40 years ago (the best: great climate, few bugs), then moved to Las Vegas (quite a challenge), TX, MO and now in Denver. Each have had their challenges, especially with bugs. Indoors, I have 6 AeroGardens and 1 Gardyn (the upright type that works well for tomatoes, cucumbers and strawberries). Gardening is fun, easy and relaxing. You learn patience: seeds take time to grow and you cannot hurry them. I did not know about the hori-hori tool. Thanks for that info.
You simply must post pics like you did from the MAHA Ball!
We will live vicariously through you at CPAC-DC : )
Have a great time!
Love your substack! I hardly remember the Victory Garden my parents grew in West Orange NJ many years ago. but the seed was planted and I have been organic gardening in NJ, PA, Cape Cod and now Piedmont NC ever since. Now helping develop a local Community Garden. Its a great, healthy lifelong addiction. Thank You....for all you do.
I have burned out on gardening because of the pest problem and the sprays that defeated my attempt at growing organic. I will try once more using the netting and raised beds. I’m 72 and alone now but I think I can arrange a few raised beds and hoops for netting. I really enjoy reading about you and Jill’s experiences on your farm. We were farmers for many years before age caught up with us. Going to Give it the old college try one more time. Good luck with your garden and the horses!
We bought a hydroponic garden. I will try putting seeds in it this Spring. I have never grown tomatoes from seeds . I always buy the plants. How sad that you can’t grow sweet peas. Our growing season is shorter than you have in Virginia. We have a snowstorm hitting this afternoon. We need the moisture as our climate in Idaho is very dry. I love reading your gardening tips.
How exciting for your speech today! Have a great day!
Thank you! That knife is really useful. Lots of great info here! 💯♥️
Black Krimm is also my favorite tomato. San Marano never does well here in BC but I found a meaty tomato called Red Pear. It's huge and I can it along with my Black Krimms. I wish I lived where you do so I could start gardening. I love the work you're doing and really appreciate it.
Cheers
Gerald Savard
We had three Aero Gardens at our old place. We still have one but have not set it up since we moved. I always loved having one in the kitchen. It was a great place to read while having morning coffee. It was on a small table we called the cat table - bought so we could put the cat food and water up where the dog wouldn't get it. By the time we had the Aero Garden, the cat didn't need the food kept away because the current dog slept outside in his Kennel. We are a ways away from starting seeds in Wisconsin (-16 two nights ago, -9 last night), but we do start seed in the house and we also set up deck rail containers for leaf lettuce, carrots, and some peppers. Our main garden is all raised beds. Can't wait for the planting season to start. Thanks for the early inspirational article.
Swabbie, "Deck rail containers"?
Yes they fit on the 2X4 top rails on the deck. They are plastic oblong containers about 2 feet long and about 14 inches wide. Bought at our local ACE Hardware. On Amazon: the Emsco Group Bloomers Railing Planter with Drainage Holes – 24" Weatherproof Resin Planter – Terracotta
Sounds very usable. Thank you!
Great syllabus for the pioneer spirit gardeners!
Thank you, Dr. Malone. Wonderful read. Makes me want to try my hand again. A raised garden! The knife is very interesting for me to check into buying.
Enjoy CPAC! Cold here in Alabama but below the snow line!!! Thankful.
The yin yang of your farm friends eating your crops. My NW Washington State area is over populated, ( IMHO ), with blacktail deer. They will eat anything vegetation once and most anything repeatedly. With HOA fencing restrictions it becomes a bit of a chess game planting and protecting vegetation from the deer. Our State fish and game agency is the sole legal manager, ( owner ? ), of the deer, making any population control or mitigation effort by private property owners punishable. I do enjoy their presence and work with them as best I can. I have a dear friend sports writer who keeps telling me when visiting "vegetables are what food eats".
Garry, you could erect a very minimum structure greenhouse, that "just by coincidence" also keeps the deer out.
It's possible. Requires HOA approval. No fences over 3' in front yards and no more than 6' in back yards, ( usually a golfing fairway ), and gates must be provided to find errant golf balls.
Godspeed to you both, Jill and Robert. Blessings and Joy.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tYdPo5opcO2vEJemYw6Q4xW4OmuHYtf3/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hKSCaUXxdrgmogT5gJZCDangFoxX2lrF/view?usp=sharing