My main objective in this blog thing was garden journaling. Of course, I have fallen far from my goal, and instead have had a number of detours instead, mostly soapbox-worthy things regarding the quality of our food. Besides, a journal of "X bloomed on Y day" is really insufferably boring copy, even to its gardener!
But memory fails, often, especially regarding the garden. So I will give you all a tip. I expanded my veg beds considerably last fall, and now it's far too large for me to keep on top of it all, especially as a sketch on a piece of paper. So here is my answer. Recycling.
This is a cut-up piece of a vinyl miniblind. Yes, it's recycled, but from GoodWill: our farmhouse was last decorated in the days way before miniblinds, frankly. If you cut them at 6-7", and write on them with a permanent marker, these things will be legible through the season. A deciphering of my scrawl lists the seed variety, the plant date, the point of origin of the seed, and the date I got the seeds. I usually bury them to a height of 2", and hill mulch around them enough so I don't have to look at them, unless I really want to.
Where this blog will go is a mystery. It has been an enjoyable morning routine for me. I have really enjoyed "meeting" all of you, as that has been the biggest surprise of all: readers!
11 comments:
And I've enjoyed "meeting" you. Happy Blogiversary. And what a great idea for plant labels!
Carol at May Dreams Gardens
Happy Blogiversary, El - you write well and have a lot to say. Your rural life is so different from mine that I seldom comment, but do enjoy coming here!
Your labels cracked me up - I did the same thing years ago when some Master Gardener friends from Illinois passed the idea along. It's still a good way to recycle those mini-blinds.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Lucky me to have found you!
(I love your mini-blinds trick. Fortunately, with about 20 square feet of plantings, I'm not in trouble yet. Yet!)
happy blogoversary and many more!
Thankfully, my garden is still small enough that I can remember what everything is. Though I do it all down at the beginning of the season in my garden journal -- just in case... :)
Happy blogiversary. Wishing you many more!
Congrats! I've certainly enjoyed reading your blog. I look forward to it as part of my 'just before bedtime' reading routine. Hope you will continue on!
The happiest of blog birthdays to you. ;)
I've done that same trick with big yogurt containers. But now I just forget to label!
Happy blogiversary El! So glad to have run across your blog. You are always interesting! And that is a great tip for reusing venetian blinds. Maybe the plant marker elves won't abscond with those in the dark of night like they do my others. I was just looking at a pepper last night, not being able to remember what it was and there was no marker to be seen when I know darn well I made sure to securely place them near the plant.
Congratulations. What a great year it has been! Thank you.
Happy Blogiversary, El! I've been enjoying your blog as well and am glad to have "met" you.
Carol: Likewise! I can't think of my lawn the same after learning about yours.
Annie: I can't remember where I got that tip, but whomever started it should get royalties. I thank you for your thoughts, and hope I can sustain your interest!
CC: It is a matter of time, sweetie. Remember I was pushing dirt in a small patch not too long ago...though then again I don't have your ready access to your farmer's market!
CG! Miss you! Glad to know you're still out there, though. I think of you often.
AMWD: Thanks for stopping by! I agree journals do help, if you keep things in the same place, that is ;0D
Artemisia: Glad to know I am part of a routine! I hope you've found a pal for Edna.
Liz: Wow. Yogurt containers. Hmmm. I have lots of those... But thanks for your warm wishes.
Meredith: Elves! Wow. Not chickens? My only problem with the labels is having enough of them. I have to write them as I plant, it seems, because sometimes I change my mind on where I put things, and of course cannot remember the next time I visit the garden. (Thanks, it's mutual!)
Hank: Miss you, too! You and CG were part of MY routine, sniff. Hoping you happiness in Digitalistan.
Kim: Likewise! I see your gardens and say, wow, I should've done that in MY city garden (we seem to have had the same amount of shade, and space).
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