Garden Update =)

Just a quick garden update before May ends! Haha!! I apologize for not posting near as often as I should. You all can blame it on Chick-fil-a. ;)
Naw, but in all seriousness, these past two months have been wonderful. Crazy busy, but wonderful. The sunshine has been glorious, wouldn't ya'll agree? And I just love this warm weather. It makes me happy. Everything is green, the trees are in their full foilage, critters are everywhere, the night critters strike up an amazing jam session every evening, and the sweet smell of honeysuckle fills the warm air. I like it. Yep, it makes me happy. =)

My garden here on our land is doing really well. Everything seems to be thriving (except my eggplants--rude flea beetles!) and I am getting even more excited as the season progresses. However, I am embarassingly behind in garden work over at Darby Farms, and am currently overwhelmed. :P HA!
Yes I know I am working a full time daytime job and everyone told me it would be a challenge to keep with everything that's on my plate, and they were right; I knew they would be right, but I am not giving up. This is a season, and it will get done. It will just take a little sweat and even more patience. And the Lord is really teaching me Patience. And how to "enjoy the journey". And you know what? I am enjoying the journey. Immensely. I knew this was going to be a good Summer. No, I knew it was somehow going to be a great Summer....and I still know that in my heart, in my bones, in my spirit. I am excited. I am looking forward to journeying to where the Lord wants me. The journey has begun and I am enjoying it in more ways than one. And that....that, makes me happy. :)

Here are a few pictures of some happy green things a growin' round here! =)

Seeds, Dirt, Sun, and Joy!

It's here folks. I can really feel it. I love it. Sringtime is simply wonderful. For the person who is on the agrarian path it is indeed a busy time of year (indeed!), but it is so very worth it.

The other day after putting in a full day's work outside, I just couldn't sit still. I wanted to run, and leap for joy. I was so excited, and so completely happy. I had spent the day outside, in the sweet sunshine, with a wonderful friend and a lovely sister, and had worked hard. There is nothing to compare with that feeling. I had just put in so many seeds, and could just imagine how everything would look by June or July. And too, there's just something about putting a seed in the ground, covering it, and bidding it to be sure and grow strong. And then, soon enough it will germinate. And soon thereafter, it will be a big ol' squash plant, or stalk of okra, or whatever. And then soon after that, it will begin bearing fruit. Just going down a row, gently touching the dirt, carefully placing the seeds in their places--well, it's just something that cain't be explained. It's a happy thing.

I still have a half acre to finish, so there is still a lot of work left to be done. I can hardly wait though, and I will be sure and post pictures of that adventure when it comes.

I love the sun. And it sure has been exceedingly lovely lately. I love how it gives warmth and energy. I love the way it shines on the plants and the grass; and through the trees, dappling the ground beneath.

I love the dirt. I love working in it. I love getting my hands dirty and getting those plants or seeds off to a good start.

And I love the joy that comes from doing so.

I hope everyone is enjoying this lovely week!






Mak and Elisha sure were a great help to me!

A Lil' More Sunshine

Yup yup. =) Sunshine + dirt = much happiness. =)

Sunshine, on my shoulders, makes me happy =)

Indeed it does. And we have had a good deal of it lately. It has been wonderful. :)

I wanted to give an update on my gardening endeavers and what I've been up to over the past few weeks.

First of all, I have completed the first step of the application process to become Certified Naturally Grown. I am so excited about this, and I consider it a pretty big step.


Secondly,

Meet Daniel Dover.


My wonderful farmer mentor. He is the owner of Darby Farms here in Good Hope. He raises pastured poultry. (Eggs, meat birds, and turkeys) He and his family, Jeni and Darby, have been a wonderful help and inspiration to me. I am so thankful to them.

So, ya know the half acre of land that they leased me to work, well, we had to get it broke up. :)




And now, it's all broke up and lookin' so purdy.


There is more sunshine to come. More warm weather. More garden work. It all makes me so happy. I have a feeling that this coming Spring and Summer are going to be the best I've experienced yet. :)



"Sunshine, on my shoulders, makes me happy.
Sunshine, in my eyes, can make me cry.
Sunshine, on the water, looks so lovely...
Sunshine, almost always, makes me high..."

Garden Planning and much excitement!!

It's that time of year. Yep, it's freezing cold outside, you have no choice but to put on shoes and socks, and all you can think 'bout is fresh, juicy maters. Yet they are not there. Nope. The garden plot is covered in a layer of mulch and compost and waits for the Spring.

So, what is a die-hard Georgian who loves to garden to do? Well, plan for Spring of course. And I dunno about all of ya'll, but I thoroughly enjoy this part of the process pretty well. I always do.

So what exactly does that involve for me?

First off, it would involve seed catalogs!! I receive several every year, but this year, I ordered exclusively from Baker Creek and Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, and all I can say is that I am extremely pleased. :)


Second, I would have to say that re-learning is part of the process. I gather all of my garden books together and start reading as if I am new to gardening again. Although you will read lots and lots that you already know, trust me, you will gain more knowledge by doing this. So re-read and re-read! :)


The next thing I do is draw diagrams of my garden and where I will put what. I strongly believe in companion planting, and so you must make sure your plants are next to their good friends!
A few good links to look at are as follows:

http://www.ghorganics.com/page2.html

http://www.companionplanting.net/

http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/complant.html

Now, I have some very exciting news. Not only will I be doing my garden here at home, but Daniel and Jeni of Darby Farms have given me the opportunity to grow and manage a garden on their property as well. I cain't even begin to express my excited state of excited-ness!! It is probably four or five times the size of my own, so it will give me many new possibilities. I will have room for so many new things, and too, I will be selling at two Farmers markets this year. Can you say EXCITEMENT! The Lord is really opening all kinds of doors for me, and I am so thankful for all these opportunities!

Jess is excited. And she hasn't even had any caffeine. Nope, for some reason, anything pertaining to agriculture or horticulture has the same (if not better) effect on me. Ohhhhh sweet Springtime, I am so looking forward to your arrival!

Just wonderin'......

have any of you other chicken-raisers ever received from one of your girls an egg this small???????

Yeah, I laughed as I was gathering the eggs for the day. It is certainly the smallest I have ever found. :)


Just so you can see the size in comparison to my hand...


I dunno. I'm amused. :)

Startin' off the new year with a new friend :)

Sooooo I have been searching and searching for a new vehicle. I have been praying for one too. Little did I know my prayers would be answered so quickly. AND, that the answer would be beyond my wildest dreams. So, I would like to introduce ya'll to my brand spankin' new friend...from 1985......=)



Ain't he the most handsome Chevy you ever did see!!! Maybe I am slightly biased, but let me just say that I am quite smitten. =)










Yep, I am a very happy gal... :)