Posted on 01/08/2016 1:36:46 PM PST by greeneyes
The Weekly Gardening Thread is a weekly gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you. This thread is non-political, although you will find that most here are conservative folks.
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If my dad were still here he’d say “ Dem’s good eatin’ “ Greetings winter gardeners. Nothing growing here in west Michigan except my first “crop” of alfalfa sprouts. Awaiting a snowstorm that starts tonight. Still praying for our brother gardener Johnny.
I did allot of research in 2012 about starting a CSA, some of the reasons I decided on market farming are: crop failure, you are under contract to provide a certain amount and kind of produce. Having people work on your farm that haven’t a clue could be more destructive than beneficial. Overhead costs are much more with a CSA, boxes and baskets not being returned or returned damaged or stained.
Through the farmers market, I have developed a select group of well to do folks that I allow to pick their own, only on Sundays 2-4. Most pay many times what the produce is worth, they are paying for the experience of picking their own. I have a DR that brings his family out almost every weekend, picks 10-20 bucks worth of produce and hands me a Hundred on the out.
I am determined to have an herb garden next year - used to have a good one, but the space was co-opted for something else & I went to raised beds. With limited raised bed space, I tried a few herbs in pots the last two years, but I miss the better, bigger plants I got with a larger space & if I missed one watering, the plants were wilting. I’ve been looking for some larger-than-pots but still moveable metal tubs in the sheds - found one, but really hated to poke holes in the bottom.
Yesterday, I was out on a farm helping a relative with a project. The former farm owner had a nice garden (now grown up) and I spotted something against the fence ..... looked like exactly what I had in mind (although I had not envisiond the stand) for an herb garden. When I asked “what is that?”, I was told the tubs and stand were mine if I wanted them because they were “in the way” during mowing! This morning, I tried to find a picture online & here’s a link to exactly what I now have:
http://www.amazon.com/Twin-wash-tub-stand-drain/dp/B00HDQTUOG
I’d say I scored a great deal (actually more of a steal)! The stand is rusty and needs to be cleaned and painted with something to stop the rust & protect it. The tubs are in great shape. Now I REALLY can’t wait for spring!
On, that is so cool about your getting the twin tub washstand. On the way to my Mom’s house, I drive past a home that has that same thing always spilling over with wave petunias, and other colorful flowers. It always lifts my spirits. I didn’t know they still made those. I always thought the one I see near my Mom’s was an antique wash tub.
I would like to try growing some dragonfruit/pitaya. Did you ever grow that when you were in the warmer climes?
No, but I did have Papaya, Mango, Avocado, Coconut, Banana, Plantains, and a futile attempt at COFFEE! :-)
I’m really excited about these tubs. They had potting soil in them that had gone to grass/weeds & the cart/stand is rusted up so they were sort of blending into the scenery - it was lucky I saw them. I have some work to do to clean up the stand - the tubs are fine. I can imagine they would be really pretty with flowers. If I ever get a dedicated raised bed for herbs, then I’ll switch the tubs over to flowers.
We went to see Johnny, Sunday. He is extremely ill. He was lying on a small couch in the living room with a window behind the couch so he could see someone coming to his front door. He cannot walk. He was able to move on his own, swing his legs to the floor so he was sitting upright. He is attached to oxygen 24 hours a day.
I could understand most of what he said. He can get himself in a wheelchair from his bed so someone can move him from the couch to his bed, about 10 steps from the couch. His communication is down to his phone which he can still punch and the print on the phone is magnified so he can see the words. He can still smile and laugh.
Earlier, I had a terrible cold and could not go there until I knew I was not going to infect him with a cold. I had seven Christmas cards and two small gifts from Freepers to give him that came after my last visit there. He knows Freepers have not forgotten him.
According to him, the docs say he could live a few weeks more. Hospice has been there, put in a hospital bed, and someone comes every other day to give him a sponge bath and a whole bath once a week. Hospice is looking for someone to be there 8 hrs. a day. Pray they find someone soon.
He has a niece, whom I met, and she is a God send, and comes there before and after her work. She keeps up with the medicines, washes clothes and bedding, cleans the house like a pro., and brings food or she cooks it. Her name is Patience, what better name for an angel. His brother comes during the time Patience is not there, so they can have someone there most of the time.
Patience, with Johnny's directions, the day before, put a computer on a standing tray and that is now over his bed so maybe he can operate that.
He can use text on his phone and that is how we communicate. I knew he had to be a bit better when I got a text from him that said, “Don't have the memorial service yet.” Before that text, he was sending text that said, “I am dying.”
As a funny: when I took all the Christmas gifts and cards the time before this, I had a present to him from me. I bought him a throw blanket to keep him warm when he was out of bed. It is a garish blend of bright colors, supposed to be Cheetah colors - it is gross blanket throw and I thought it was perfect for him - no way he could lose that. Bob's opinion of the throw was, “I would never buy that.”
Wellll, when Johnny sat up on the couch, the quilt over him slid back and that garish, very soft throw was over his body under that quilt. He said he loves his blanket and, in his mind, makes pictures of various objects out of the colors and black spaces. He showed me a cat's face he saw in those colors. It was true, that arrangement of the colors and black spaces, did look like a cat's face.
Patience told me, he has that blanket on him all the time and she got it one day and he complained, but she told him, “You will get it back, I need to wash it.”
Here is that highly colored blanket:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/your-zone-50-x-60-microplush-throw-tie-dye-cheetah/29131613
Please continue to pray for Johnny that we can keep him as long as possible. We did pray with Johnny when we were there.
Free Republic is more than people posting their opinions on this and that - it is a place where people meet and form friendships that go beyond internet space. Without Free Republic, I would not have met Johnny and be able to help him at this desperate time. Thank you, Jim Robinson, for Free Republic.
Thanks so much for the update, Marcella. Johnny is in my prayers every day. ~Q
Good afternoon.
Thanks for the update.
More prayers going up to the Lord.
5.56mm
Thanks so much for the update Marcella. So glad for all the angels that have been there for him, especially you and Bob. Praying for him daily and his caregivers. Very grateful for all the Freepers who took the time to send cards and packages. Something tangible sent with love. That blanket is a hoot. With Johnny being the artist he is, I can see why he likes it. Very glad you are feeling better too. God bless!
The cheetah blanket looks very soft and warm. I’m not surprised that Johnny loves it! Thanks so much for the update, Marcella.
Prayers for Johnny are on the way.
O Christ Jesus
When all is darkness
And we feel our weakness and helplessness,
Give us the sense of Your Presence,
Your Love and Your Strength.
Help us to have perfect trust
In Your protecting love
And strengthening power,
So that nothing may frighten or worry us,
For, living close to You,
We shall see Your Hand,
Your Purpose, Your Will through all things.
By St. Ignatius of Loyola
I planted some seeds on 1/9. Big Rainbow tomatoes, ancho poblanos and garlic chives. Two paper cups of each. I had thought to do more today, but I don’t think I’m up for it. Tomorrow, I hope.
Thanks for the update, Marcella. Trisham, thx for posting the beautiful prayer.
Thanks, sockmonkey.
Prayers up for Johnny. And Patience and his brother. God bless.
Wow! That is indeed colorful!
Still praying....
Thank you Marcella, johnny is never far from my thoughts and prayers are often offered throughout the day.
God’s Blessings to you for all you are doing for Johnny and being our link to him Marcella
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