By Steve and Jeanne Wolfe from White Dove Farm
Spring has sprung! However, where are the April showers to bring the May flowers? We have used up our water in the rain barrels and that was just for specific plants, not the grass, which is now brown and crunchy underfoot. There has been many a year when we have had extremely dry or wet seasons. This year I need a little extra grace.
Steve and I would like to really encourage you to attend the May 20th Garden Connect meeting here at White Dove Farm since we will have a new speaker which is Dr. Reddy, MD who will speak on plant-based nutrition. In the past ten years, we have had countless speakers. Some have come back time and again by invitation because they were so vital and enriched our lives. We love them all.
If you are putting together a new garden this spring, you will have to really mulch slowly as the plant becomes established by putting down pine needles and leaves. I put worm castings with soil and pat it around the little plants. Remember not to put these before the seedlings become established or else they will not be able to get in line with the sun and will not flourish.
I noticed that I have lost some plants due to lack of moisture, so go searching for leaves since people will put bags of leaves by their curbside and don’t mind at all if someone carries them away. Find a source for horse manure. It is possible by ringing the doorbells of those who own horses and politely ask when and where you can have some of that black gold. We put a black garbage bag into a garbage can and don’t fill it too much because it will be too heavy.
My friend and I would get five gallon buckets and a shovel. Three quarters full was what we could handle. Toss the mixture into a low pile, toss a bag of topsoil on it, then let the sun dry and mix with a rake. Caution, though, never put green manure of any type near your plants. Let it ferment and cure first.
When you decide to use this wonderful mixture, pitch it around your plants, not up against them. Water the mixture well. Try a new kind of seed this year, and you will be amazed to see it grow. I particularly was astonished when I saw and said, “What is this?” Guess what! It was Brussels sprouts. Share your experiences with us. Have you ever eaten Kohlrabi? It’s great! Is your family resistant to eating vegetables? I make a vegetable pie that everyone loves. Email me for the recipe at whtdovefarm@yahoo.com.
Send us your RSVP request for the May 20th Garden Connect Event. Be blessed!!