Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: June 12~18, 2022

[SouthernBreeze]

My last walmart.com order was a week ago yesterday. I had two orders and they were mostly the same, it took longer for it to get here than usual. Both packages were very heavy, and I'm sure the 20#s of sugar in each package made it that heavy, in addition to the canned goods. I want to order more pickled beets but they have been on pickup only, along with other canned veggies. So no ordering for me until they go back to shipping. Its best for me to stay out of the stores and saves on gas too. Since I've been sick nothing has gotten put away. Maybe tomorrow.

I'm noticing that Sam's has stopped delivery on some of their items, too. Cary wanted 2 more cases of Ramen noodles, but they were instore pick up/delivery only. Our DDIL had to go by there, and pick some up for him, once she got off work (She works in big town). The cartons of dehydrated hash browns are the same. I won't be ordering anything from them if I can't get it delivered to my door. We've stopped going into big town, unless it's for doctor's appts.

 

[WanderLore]

The sawdust would be great for an outhouse or composting toilet.

I was just going to say that also. 4 pallets tied together make a good compost bin. That's what I have for my cabin potty.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

In our very first raised bed garden years ago, a 10x10, we mixed old sawdust, cow manure, and sand all together in it. It grew more tomatoes and cucumbers than I knew what to do with. Why wouldn't that work now in our raised beds? I don't need a composting toilet. Might need an outhouse in a few years if things keep going the way they are, but I need to find a way to use the sawdust now, or just throw it away to get it out of the yard.

 

[nomifyle]

In our very first raised bed garden years ago, a 10x10, we mixed old sawdust, cow manure, and sand all together in it. It grew more tomatoes and cucumbers than I knew what to do with. Why wouldn't that work now in our raised beds? I don't need a composting toilet. Might need an outhouse in a few years if things keep going the way they are, but I need to find a way to use the sawdust now, or just throw it away to get it out of the yard.

so you have one five gallon bucket of sawdust and you don't know what to do with it. You already have comments about putting it in a garden, you don't want to compost it. Call around and see if anyone you know needs its for bedding or to put in nest boxes.

DH puts it on the ground between raised beds and he has tons of it from his saw mill, he also gives it away for outside pet bedding. Our one dog snuggles up in a pile of in the barn or she did before the tree took out half the barn.

 

[briches]

I did a small trip to Walmart yesterday while we ran into the area for hubby to get some items from Home Depot (toilet - vanity - sink) …. Anyhow - I picked up some more q tips, shampoo and conditioner, shower gel, and a few shorts/shirts for me to wear (that were CHEAP). I grabbed a couple more things of salt. I also picked up a box of pasta and a sauce. I get one each time I go to a store.
I try to keep our “toiletry items” to a 2 year supply. I think I’m there so simply try to now but those as we use them.

I want to check our dog food bags this week and continue to build from what we have. I worked to get us to six months, but want to start increasing that as well. I need to find the space for that though.

Slow and steady …..

 

[Digger]

I tried my turtle trap again. I have a small turtle in it this time. It's the first time I have caught one. But it is encouraging. The pond is full of turtles. I would like to thin them way down so we could have some perch at least. Our other pond looks much better and does have fish. Turtle thinning is part of my pond rehab plan.

We cut hay Sunday. Started baling yesterday. We had 5 bales on the ground and had a major baler breakdown. We are not sure what to do about our old baler. We contacted a neighbor who does hay for other people. He is probably going to round bale it for us. He is just up the road at our neighbors field. One customer will take round bales, the other has no way to move them. We will put what does not sell in the barn. I don't know how many round bales it will make. We were guessing 100-150 square, but you never know till they are on the ground. The thought did occur to me that at least round bales would be harder to steal.

I finished the garden electric fence. The chickens can free range several hours a day now. That should cut way down on the feed bill.

I was spraying the fruit trees and there was a snake in the peach tree. It was probably after a bird. It was non-poisonous. So long as it stays out of the hen house, it can do its thing. I still need to thin a few peaches. I may have to can some this year. My freezers are full.

We bought shrimp that a guy brought up from the gulf. I put 7 packages in the freezer in meal size portions. I love shrimp.

We have to run to town for hubbys check up so I may write more later.

 

[school marm]

Everything survived last night's threatened freeze! I'm so grateful! DH said the thermometer was 32 degrees when he got up last night, so I was worried about the beans and squash that I was too tired to go out and cover. But everything survived. Now I need to get out there and work!

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Right now, temp is 88 with heat index of 97. Going to reach 98, today, with heat index of 107. I got all the gardens watered in good with MiracleGro first thing this morning. Cary toted buckets of water with MiracleGro in it to all my new rose bushes and the pole beans growing on the fence. We've got BEES! Yeah, little sweat bees were swarming the squash this morning, and I saw a bumblebee, too! YAY!......... Now, I've got my canner going. More ground beef. This will finish off 2 cases of pint canning jars. I'm not canning anymore ground beef for awhile. Moving on to beef stew meat.

Tomorrow, we have plans to go to small town for grocery shopping. Cary also needs to pick up 2 prescriptions. One at Walmart and the other at Walgreens. They are cheaper there than his prescription mail delivery method. I will be making out an order for Sam's in the next couple of days, too. Hopefully, everything on my order list will be able to be delivered, instead of being instore pickup only. Cary sent off an order to AZO for more of our kidney and bladder defence/pain meds this morning. My interstitial cystitis is acting up, and I've been using some of our stash, so I told him to order more. Just like everything else, when I open one, I replace with two.

I also finished separating out all my gravy mixes, yesterday. I've got each flavor in sealed containers of their own. Now, I don't have to go through each one every time to find what I'm looking for. I've got them all dated and set on the shelves in the order they are to be used. Oldest first.

 

[briches]

I worked a bit in my pantry (spare bedroom has several shelves) again today. I’m not done, but will continue to work on it daily as I can.

Chickens (we have 3) got fresh water and topped off their feed. They got to enjoy some fresh strawberry tops from the garden.

Got a 45 minute walk in this morning as I am also actively trying to get healthier and focus on some mental health each day. For me, that is currently one of my biggest priorities!

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I worked a bit in my pantry (spare bedroom has several shelves) again today. I’m not done, but will continue to work on it daily as I can.

Chickens (we have 3) got fresh water and topped off their feed. They got to enjoy some fresh strawberry tops from the garden.

Got a 45 minute walk in this morning as I am also actively trying to get healthier and focus on some mental health each day. For me, that is currently one of my biggest priorities!

I've been trying to concentrate on getting more walks and exercise in, myself. I've gained some of my old weight back, and I'm not pleased with myself. I need to lose at least 10lbs, before my doctor starts fussing at me.

 

[John Deere Girl]

It is HOT today, and the humidity is heavy, so I'm going to work in the garden tonight. Everything is growing well, and we are hoping for a good harvest this year. Our fruit trees are looking good as well. Already picked a bowl of raspberries and plan to make jam in a bit.

 

[briches]

I've been trying to concentrate on getting more walks and exercise in, myself. I've gained some of my old weight back, and I'm not pleased with myself. I need to lose at least 10lbs, before my doctor starts fussing at me.

It is so easy to put it back on! I lost close to 40 pounds last year and have put 20 back on. I’m back to WW (formerly weight watchers) as I’ve found that really works for me. I hate to admit that I need that accountability, but apparently I do. Im frustrated that I allowed myself to put that much back on, but I’ll get it off again.
I just have to pre plan more. Not being mindful is a downfall for me.

I simply feel SO much better (and don’t hurt at night) when I get the pounds off.

Slow and steady (with this as well!)

 

[nomifyle]

DH had to go to town today to the bank and walmart. I opted not to go with him as I got up feeling much better and wanted to work in the kitchen. I didn't get it all done before the heat go too bad and then all of a sudden it was too hot to do anything.

Its 91 in my office/computer room and the living room and almost that bad in the kitchen. I got over heated and started coughing badly so there was nothing for me to do except sit in my chair under my fans.

We are missing another female goat. Someone is stealing them. This was a nannie with a nursing baby, but he's old enough to be okay. DH is just got to put up the game cameras. I'm waiting on the sheriff's office to call me back about it.

I still don't have any of the food put away but I thought it was more important to get things done in the kitchen.

I've regained some weight and I've having a terrible time getting any back off.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

It is so easy to put it back on! I lost close to 40 pounds last year and have put 20 back on. I’m back to WW (formerly weight watchers) as I’ve found that really works for me. I hate to admit that I need that accountability, but apparently I do. Im frustrated that I allowed myself to put that much back on, but I’ll get it off again.
I just have to pre plan more. Not being mindful is a downfall for me.

I simply feel SO much better (and don’t hurt at night) when I get the pounds off.

Slow and steady (with this as well!)

Oh, I hear ya! I lost 40lbs in 6 months by doing the keto diet. My Rheumatologist wanted the weight off my hip and knee joints. I did really well just by not eating bread of any kind, and ate more lean meat than a lot of carbs. I didn't stick strictly to the keto diet, just really limited the carbs. I rewarded myself once a week with something I really enjoyed eating. I got bored with the diet, and stopped, and now, I've gained 15 of those pounds back. I felt lots better after losing the weight, and I can tell I don't feel as well now that I've gained some of it back.

 

[moldy]

Well, the tiredness is catching up to me. I now have friends and co-workers driving me to radiation - it's nice to get caught up on what is going on. Today, my 'chauffeur' was one of the supervisors. She mentioned that while she felt nervous about the situations in the country, she now felt better. I told her I wanted to watch what news she watched, because I did NOT feel the same. She just smiled and said, 'The situation's not better, but now I have a plan.' We talked more about canning and preserving food. She and her family have a bugout location a state away - they just don't call it that.

I did manage to weed part of the carrots (they are the worst to weed!) and make some iced coffee and cucumber salad. My speech therapist now has me chewing fruit snacks to strengthen my jaw. I'll probably hate them by the time this is over!!

 

[ioujc]

Hang in there Moldy.....we are all rooting for you!!

 

[briches]

Prayers continue Moldy!

Judy - hope the heat isn’t too miserable today.

 

[Digger]

One of our neighbors came to our rescue with his round hay baler. The hay is saved, but my customers that don't have tractors are looking for hay again. I am not sure what to charge for round bales. We will put it in the barn and do some figuring.

Hubby's dr appointment went great. His A1C had come down to 5.9. The dr said to keep up whatever he was doing. We have cut out bread and most fast carbs to just occasionally. I am fine eating this way, but he loves breads, potatoes, and desserts.

I am taking today off except for inside work. We have the 4 year old grandson later today. I will have to play video games for awhile and probably legos. He is a fun little boy.

I thinned the peaches on the first tree to get ripe. I probably should have thinned more. I will look it over in a day or two and may take off a few more. The later trees don't seem to need it. The pear tree is loaded. Now if the dog will keep the squirrels ran off, we just might get some.

 

[Marseydoats]

Digger, you don't have to have a tractor to feed round bales. It's really nice, but not a necessity. We store our round bales in the barnyard and fork our hay off. If I gave the girls a bale it would be trashed in one day, even if I had a bale feeder. My supplier loads my bales so I can roll them off the truck, and even as old as I am, I don't have any problem pushing them off, unless he runs out of his sale hay and starts giving me the 900 pound bales he keeps for himself.
The feed store is still rationing hay here, and quality round bales start at $70.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Currently, our temp is 80 with heat index of 92 at 7:56 am. Today's high of 98 with heat index of 109. It's so humid out that it is steamy outside. A damp haze over everything. Reminds me of being inside a tropical greenhouse.

I came in from being out in the gardens this morning, and I'm just sick. Bell peppers are loaded, but the plants look pitiful. Things seem to have changed overnight. They may be dying. Banana peppers looked better, yesterday, but not so much now. I'm about ready to pull the squash out of the ground, because the plants look to be dying, and all the baby squash are drying up, again. Tomatoes are loaded, but the plants look too spindly, not full and lush. I went on a rant at Cary for not wanting to work the soil the way it needed to be worked, before being planted. We also made the mistake of not putting down more cow manure in each bed, instead of just garden soil. I knew the soil was depleted of nutrients from last year when the tomatoes did nothing, but sit in the ground. MiracleGro is not the "cure all" for growing a bountiful garden! I told him to forget ever having a garden again, unless he and I were both willing to put in the time and effort it takes to have one. Our saving hope is that we'll be able to afford and find food when we need it, cause our way of gardening this year will let us starve. It was a good rant, too. I got it all off my chest! Yep, my Scottish temper flared up.

Going grocery shopping afterwhile. Guess I better keep stocking up on canned veggies.......and bell peppers to dehydrate.

Sorry for the rant, but I'm just heartsick over our garden.

 

[ReneeT]

Moldy, I am happy to hear that you have folks to drive you to and from treatments

I had a surprise night off work last night - and I didn't mind at all, even though I was already in the parking lot when they called to ask if I wanted to be on-call instead of having to come in I'm waiting for the hook - it'll likely come later in the week I probably should have thought about it a little more - it's at least a gallon of gas each way, and gas is $5.79/gallon, so if I'd gotten called back in it would have been $23 bucks and change in fuel costs for the drives. I'm really worrying about our lower paid staff due to the fuel costs...

Since I was already in town, I decided no use wasting the trip so stopped at Home Depot for a brass hose splitter (the one I bought at the Evil Empire and fought with last year was some kind of soft metal and the threads mashed together). Then I hit Aldi to pick up a few groceries - that I otherwise would have either had to make an extra trip or nap in the parking lot after work to wait for them to open in order to shop. And then I stopped by Lee's Chicken to treat myself to some to-go chicken strips and sides so no cooking tonight (as I'm griping about fuel prices )

And speaking of fuel prices... we got our contract notice for propane in the mail the other day - $2.22 a gallon; and prices are only good from Oct 1~Feb 28. Almost high enough to make me think about putting the wood stove in, but the increased insurance costs - homeowners AND medical lol! - would probably make up the difference.

I'd only managed to get the front garden watered before I headed in to work last night - the one that is mostly transplants rather than seed, so went out to water the other one and the raised strawberry bed as well this morning. Since it is going to be in the high 90's again today - and for the next 10 days, I'll likely spend a lot of time watering plants. I do make sure to go back after I water and rake (kick lol!) dry soil over the top of the wet areas to keep the ground from cracking.

No other major plans beyond laundry and some minor housekeeping chores before I head over to keep an eye on the grandsons early this afternoon, and then take middle grandson to pick up his football gear. Daughter has a medical appointment and then is going to go to a paddleboarding thing to see if she likes it, so it's hard to tell where we will end up after that, but likely they will be in the pool - I might go buy myself a pool noodle to use as a sort of rest and get in there with them, although I do have a new book, so it's a toss up.

SB, how often do you use the Miracle Grow? I might use it when I put in transplants, and maybe again if the plants look peaked, but otherwise it rarely gets used. I do use sale barn manure in the gardens, but it has been composted for a year or more when I get it. The salts in the fertilizer can build up in the soil and 'burn' the plants.

Ha - the 'hook' I mentioned r/t being on call earlier didn't come very much later - it came about 5 minutes ago; sorry work; I've got kids tonight.

Off to get some laundry done and take a short nap before I go wrangle boys - since I'd slept about 5 hours yesterday during the day, I didn't go back to sleep until around 3:30 this morning, so now I'm ready for a nap Night shift; gotta love it...

 

[SouthernBreeze]

SB, how often do you use the Miracle Grow? I might use it when I put in transplants, and maybe again if the plants look peaked, but otherwise it rarely gets used. I do use sale barn manure in the gardens, but it has been composted for a year or more when I get it. The salts in the fertilizer can build up in the soil and 'burn' the plants.

Cary says it needs it every 10 - 14 days, so that's what he's been doing. That's the only fertilizer he wants to use. I just don't think it is working as good as regular cow manure worked into the soil, or other types of fertilizers. Like I said, these raised beds haven't been used in a couple of years, and no soil prep was done this year before planting, except to add more garden soil to them. Just plain garden soil, not enriched with anything. I did put some Epsom salt around each plant a few days ago, but I think with the MiracleGro that was put on everything, yesterday, it was too much of something. Today, everything looks bad. Probably burned up the whole garden.

I told Cary that we needed to get rid of all these raised beds, and go back to traditional gardening, even if it meant buying a new tiller! These raised beds seem to be a lot more work if we plan to keep gardening in them. We need more room to grow a lot more food anyway.

 

[WanderLore]

Hotter than blazes today. Pool time. Got chores and housework done early.
Boys won their last game last night! Coach gave them all medallions.
So except for son's wedding and a 4-h leader thing I have to go to, we're off the hook.
Gardens are going great. Even stuff I put in cabin yard.
SB I don't do anything to the garden other than the manure and straw around the plants. In the fall I like to cover as much as possible and let it compost.
Hubs got a shower and trimmed his beard and agreed to getting his rooms cleaned when it cools down. So that's progress.
Boys are picking mulberries like crazy.
Daughter has been making dinners. I'll see what I can do to give her a break from it.
There is no ac in the house except hers and one room upstairs on that side.
Hubs and I are used to it and make do.
Still have a hen sitting on nest. Have to wait and see if she hatches anything.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

SB I don't do anything to the garden other than the manure and straw around the plants. In the fall I like to cover as much as possible and let it compost.

We once did that, too. Worked cow manure into the soil every year, before planting, and only lightly fertilized if the plants seem to need it along the way. Piled mulch up around everything, too. In the Fall, we raked leaves to put on top of each raised bed as a cover. Each Spring that was also worked into the soil with the manure. Grew so much stuff that we had to give some away. We also only used rain water to water when needed. We have a 650gal water tank with a long hose that we used. Now, with using the MiraclGro feeder on the end of the hose, we are using community water heavy with chlorine. Can't grow a good garden if work and time isn't spent doing it right!

 

[WanderLore]

Oh no on the chlorine. I used straight well water or rain catch. I hope you figure it out, it's so much work to do to not get much or stuff die off

 

[etdeb]

Just time before work to pick a mess of cream peas for supper tonight

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Just time before work to pick a mess of cream peas for supper tonight

Is there a big difference in the taste of those cream peas and purple hulls? They look the same.

 

[ReneeT]

Just time before work to pick a mess of cream peas for supper tonight

Those look good, but now nosy old me needs to know how you fix them!

 

[drafter]

My bandsaw mill arrived today! Now I’ll be able to mill my own boards using my own trees to construct outbuildings on the property and whatever woodworking projects I come up with.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

We haven't been back long from our shopping trip. I got everything on my list, and it didn't cost as much as the last 2 trips. About $140 less, today. I had planned on getting some large packs of beef stew meat, but when I saw the cost, I said, "NO". $15+ for a 2.5 lb pack! I got the beet chews, garlic pills, and some supplements to help me sleep. The money saved will allow me to send off my Sam's order, tomorrow. Everything ordered from Sam's will add to food storage.

Cary stopped at TSC to see the cost of their garden tillers. They didn't have any. Went on to Walgreens to pick up his med.

Am feeling much calmer than I did this morning. We've talked about it more, and both realize that we need to be doing more. We just haven't decided on what we need or want to do, yet. We both feel that time to get something going for next year is running out. If we want the tiller, and go back to traditional gardening, that needs to be bought now. If more raised beds, those need to be made this fall and no slacking on the work that will be involved. I think our best bet would be to buy the tiller, and go back to traditional gardening. We've got the whole big back yard to do that with.

 

[etdeb]

Is there a big difference in the taste of those cream peas and purple hulls? They look the same.

Yes

 

[nomifyle]

Its still very hot, 91 where I'm sitting at my computer. I've added a neck fan that helps a little bit.

A deputy came yesterday and took my statement about the missing goats. Then today a nice detective came by also and we chatted about the situation. He wants to keep checking and also have the patrol keep a close eye for live stock theft. Really nice man. The deputy yesterday told me I could only shoot someone who was trying to come in the house and the detective today said I could shoot anyone that made me feel threatened. Both were very nice but I liked the one today best.

The hot water sprung a leak in the middle of the night. DH heard the pop and put a bucket under it. So no hot water but thank God we have running water. I still have laundry to do but cold water will work just fine.

I'm boiling water in a hot pot to work on the kitchen. That's working out just fine. I've got a dish pan in each sink, one for washing and one for rinsing. I keep reminding myself that I've saving on the electric bill by not having the hot water running.

I slept later this morning so it was not as cool in the house when I got up. I honestly don't know how people had to energy to get things done when it so hot. If I had small children in this heat I'd lose my mind. I think the extreme heat is not helping me getting over my cough. The closed curtin in the living room is helping keep the heat down a bit.

 

[WanderLore]

Judy, when hurricane Hugo hit, September of 89, in Charleston..it was in 90s and almost 100% humidity.
I had 4 children, one only 8 weeks old.
We had no power for 6 weeks. We had water but it was tainted by pine. We had gas for the stove.
It was horrendously hot. Everyone was up with the sun and went to bed at dark.
I had a kiddie pool and filled that. We all played in that. At night I washed laundry in it.
Only a few trees so not much shade.
I don't know how we got through it.
National Guard and other entities came through every day and gave us stuff. Maybe a gallon of milk one day, gallon of water next. Once it was dry ice.
Really awful I remember. I feel for you.

 

[Digger]

My dad never had a tractor that would move round bales. We just pushed them out of the truck into the field. But that is not what my hay customers want. They want square bales that they can handle. We sold hay in square bales because we bought the equipment cheap from the guy we bought the land from. I personally hate trying to fork hay off a round bale. I have never had one the it was an easy job. My customers are looking for square bales elsewhere. But someone will want these round bales.

 

[WanderLore]

We use round bales. The huge ones. Two of us to push off truck then feed as unwrap.

 

[Barry Natchitoches]

Currently, our temp is 80 with heat index of 92 at 7:56 am. Today's high of 98 with heat index of 109. It's so humid out that it is steamy outside. A damp haze over everything. Reminds me of being inside a tropical greenhouse.

I came in from being out in the gardens this morning, and I'm just sick. Bell peppers are loaded, but the plants look pitiful. Things seem to have changed overnight. They may be dying. Banana peppers looked better, yesterday, but not so much now. I'm about ready to pull the squash out of the ground, because the plants look to be dying, and all the baby squash are drying up, again. Tomatoes are loaded, but the plants look too spindly, not full and lush. I went on a rant at Cary for not wanting to work the soil the way it needed to be worked, before being planted. We also made the mistake of not putting down more cow manure in each bed, instead of just garden soil. I knew the soil was depleted of nutrients from last year when the tomatoes did nothing, but sit in the ground. MiracleGro is not the "cure all" for growing a bountiful garden! I told him to forget ever having a garden again, unless he and I were both willing to put in the time and effort it takes to have one. Our saving hope is that we'll be able to afford and find food when we need it, cause our way of gardening this year will let us starve. It was a good rant, too. I got it all off my chest! Yep, my Scottish temper flared up.

Going grocery shopping afterwhile. Guess I better keep stocking up on canned veggies.......and bell peppers to dehydrate.

Sorry for the rant, but I'm just heartsick over our garden.

Miracle Grow is never the answer for a food garden, IMHO.

I use a home mixed mulch liberally in my garden - a combination that is 1/3 small broken twigs, 1/3 shredded autumn leaves and 1/3 fresh grass clippings from my CHEMICAL FREE lawn. (You can use a commercially produced wood mulch if you don’thave a ready source for broken twigs and small branches.)

That mulch mixture provides all the benefits of an organic mulch this year (weed control, moisture control,etc). And it will feed the earthworms and the beneficial soil microorganisms that, in turn, do a much better job feeding our plant roots than chemical fertilizers like Miracle Grow could ever do.

But the best part is that that mulch mix gradually turns into compost right there on my garden bed. Of course, I do add in aged chicken manure, also.

And lets face it, the best fertilizer in the world is organic compost - with or without aged manure to supplement it. So this years mulch is next year’s fertilizer. Free fertilizer. Zero dependence on commercial markets or foreign entities.

if you keep adding organic mulch on a regular basis, you don’t ever need to till - at least not after you get your garden established the first time. I do have a tiller, but I haven’t used it in years. I only use the tiller to break new ground for a new garden.

Miracle Grow is just another chemical to mess up the nutritional quality of our food supply, IMHO. Our grandparents grew healthy food without chemical fertilizers like Miracle Grow. I trust the ways of my grandmother far more than I trust the ways of duPont, Ortho and Monsanto.

They didn’t use Miracle Grow in the Garden of Eden, and Barry don’t use it in his garden, neither.

That is The Gospel, according to Barry. FWIW.

 

[Barry Natchitoches]

Oh, yeah, I guess this is shameful bragging, but I harvested my first two, vine ripened, organic tomatoes for the season this afternoon.

 

[WanderLore]

Question: what is a good homemade pest killer to use on a peach tree?

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Miracle Grow is never the answer for a food garden, IMHO.

I use a home mixed mulch liberally in my garden - a combination that is 1/3 small broken twigs, 1/3 shredded autumn leaves and 1/3 fresh grass clippings from my CHEMICAL FREE lawn. (You can use a commercially produced wood mulch if you don’thave a ready source for broken twigs and small branches.)

That mulch mixture provides all the benefits of an organic mulch this year (weed control, moisture control,etc). And it will feed the earthworms and the beneficial soil microorganisms that, in turn, do a much better job feeding our plant roots than chemical fertilizers like Miracle Grow could ever do.

But the best part is that that mulch mix gradually turns into compost right there on my garden bed. Of course, I do add in aged chicken manure, also.

And lets face it, the best fertilizer in the world is organic compost - with or without aged manure to supplement it. So this years mulch is next year’s fertilizer. Free fertilizer. Zero dependence on commercial markets or foreign entities.

if you keep adding organic mulch on a regular basis, you don’t ever need to till - at least not after you get your garden established the first time. I do have a tiller, but I haven’t used it in years. I only use the tiller to break new ground for a new garden.

Miracle Grow is just another chemical to mess up the nutritional quality of our food supply, IMHO. Our grandparents grew healthy food without chemical fertilizers like Miracle Grow. I trust the ways of my grandmother far more than I trust the ways of duPont, Ortho and Monsanto.

They didn’t use Miracle Grow in the Garden of Eden, and Barry don’t use it in his garden, neither.

That is The Gospel, according to Barry. FWIW.

I know and understand everything you said, Barry. When we were doing traditional gardening, we did it the same way you just described. We used old aged goat manure, instead of chicken. Composted directly into the garden, and raked all leaves to add to it. That's back when our whole back yard was one huge garden. Cary used a huge Troybilt tiller on it, and it grew an abundance of food. Then, we went to raised bed gardening, thinking it wouldn't be as much trouble. Boy, the first few years of doing that worked great. We worked them the way they needed working. My health went downhill, Cary retired, and his health got bad for awhile. He lost all interest in gardening. I couldn't do it by myself. Now, that things on the world scene are going downhill, we need to get out butts in gear, and come up with a gardening solution.

Barry, since our climates are the same, can I replant squash and cucumber seed, or is it too late?

We've been toting buckets of rain water to the gardens this morning. Everything, except the squash and cucumbers seem to be holding their own, but not great. Pretty sure the squash and cucumbers are dying, even though, we now have bees.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Well, it looks like Sam's has increased their list of items that are instore pickup only! No coffee, vitamins, Ramen noodles, or hash browns will be delivered any longer, and that's just what was on my list to order. I don't know what all else they have stopped delivering. I went ahead, and ordered the other items that can be shipped, but will start picking the other things up at Walmart. Also, Sam's 6/pk canned chicken breasts are now $18.98, and Folgers coffee $12.98!!!!!! It's fastly getting to the point that we will no longer be shopping at Sam's. If what I want can't be shipped, I'm not spending the gas to make a special trip there to get it. Not to mention the increase in prices.