Category: Seedlings

Still Ice Fishing, Seed Trays, IOGA and Spray Drift Pamphlet

2/15/2011

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Hi, Dear Reader!
Isn't this weather grand? Just when we thought the snow would never go away, we FINALLY get above freezing temps (just barely) and the snow starts to disappear. It's so great when the snow continues to disappear through the night. What a difference it has made! And maybe 50 degree temps by Friday! Welcome Spring!

I've been doing so much and haven't had the time to share it all with you. So here goes....
In January, there was a special meeting for Organic farmers and gardeners at the Specialty Product Conference in Springfield. We're forming the Illinois Organic Growers Association. I gave a short presesntation on the importance of Organic Education Centers to be included in the new Illinois Organic Growers Association (IOGA) at that conference. Since then, I have been busy putting together a pamphlet on How to Handle Pesticide Drift Issues with Anita Poeppel who spoke on this subject at the same conference. Tomorrow I will meet with Jack Erisman who owns the largest organic operation in Illinois (2000 acres) south of Decatur. It's exciting to be starting a new - and much needed - organization. If you would like to see anything included in our topics, dear Reader, please send your comments along. We welcome them all! Also, if you would like a copy of our pamphlet, please email for one and I will get it to you.

I've transplanted some plants from my first seed tray and am about to start some more seeds. I can hardly wait until I'm in the garden! Speaking of gardens, I am starting new gardens this year and letting my older gardens rest.

I wish I had some pictures with green grass and leafy trees for you, but you'll have to bear with me as I show more photos of the land in winter. The first two photos show Chris and Smitty back again this past weekend, along with Smitty's brother and friend. I wasn't here when another one of Chris' friends brought his children out to ice fish. They didn't stay long as no one caught any fish. Smitty says that''s typical of this time of year. They did see a huge bass go by their hole, though. Just taunting them, I guess!

The last photo on the first row is a shot of the new garden-to-be. Doesn't look like much, does it!

The next photos are of the seed tray and the new transplants. The little seedlings took the transplanting well. I think they should be growing faster, so will have them checked out at a lab. They are cute, however, and I talk to them all the time. (I can't help it!)

Last Friday I took a walk in the (then) deep, deep snow. Every step I plunged down quite far. The rest of the photos show what I saw on that walk: JJ's chapel under snow, and the plaque we have for him that I uncovered. Also included is the outhouse - excuse me - the "tool shed" behind JJ's chapel in what we call JJ's nursery (Jack and JJ planted these trees when JJ was one year old).

The next row shows "alien" footprints (taken before the fishermen returned) and damaged pine trees. The Illinois Department of Agriculture concluded there was no spray drift damage done to my trees last spring, but I beg to differ!

So there you have it! Lots going on, and I have even more exciting news, but it will have to wait a bit. Stay tuned!

Have a wonderful spring-like day, dear Reader!

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Where is Spring, Packers win Superbowl

2/7/2011

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You can certainly tell from the photos above that we had a storm, although I realize there were higher drifts else where. I like the big drift down to the pond. It looks so cool!

My driveway is all clear now, thanks to Dave Haury and Tom... well...here's how the story went:

When Dave arrived (and believe it or not he drove in! - right through the drifts to my front door!), he started my little ol' Farmall Cub and proceeded to "chew" at the biggest drift right in front of my new garage. He realized it was going to take too much time, so he started cleaning up the rest of the driveway to the gate. After several hours, he still had not gotten beyond the gate. I decided to do some shoveling at Steward Road around the mailbox. While I was out there (and here's where the miracle starts), a BIG shiny tractor comes up Steward Road with a snowplow on the back. It slowed down and the man inside motioned if I wanted him to open up the entrance to my lane. I nodded yes (still not realizing who it was) and he did that. I bowed, showing him my appreciation. He then jumps out of the tractor and it's my neighbor up the road, Tom Gorman! I couldn't believe it! He then very nicely asked if I wanted him to do the lane. By now I looked down my lane to see that Dave was just starting to put-put by the gate, and the difference between the size of the tractors really became apparent. I told him I would be so grateful if he would. He asked if there was a place to turn around, and I said I thought so, as Dave had cleared a lot of the lane inside the gate. I stood back and Tom went to work. In a few minutes he had cleared the snow all the way into the gate. Dave put-putted out of the way, realizing what was happening. I went back to the cottage and Dave brought the tractor up and parked it out of the way. Tom drove all the way up to the cottage, turned around and did a nice job of clearing the lane from the cottage out to Steward Road. Dave thanked him and said Tom had saved him at least 2 hours of work. Tom then disappeared and my lane is completely opened.

That left only the huge drift in front of the new carriage house, so Dave worked on that - and voila! - my driveway looks super! Tom (and Dave) had done a good job of scraping down to the gravel in some spots and it's really easy to get out.

Do you realize, dear Reader, this is the first - the very first - kind act from one of my neighbors (that I did not pay for) since I moved back here 11 years ago? I am so grateful!

You will notice that the last picture shows my first seedling tray of the year. I started it a few days ago and it already has some little tomato seedlings showing. Now all we need to know is: Where is spring?

I heard, dear Reader, we may actually get a thaw by this coming Saturday! Keep your fingers crossed!

I hope you are completely dug out and enjoyed the Super Bowl. I didn't see it, but heard the Packers won. Even though I am a Bears fan, I wished the Packers well, and am happy they won. If you made any bets on the game, I hope you backed the winning team!

Stay warm, dear Reader, stay warm!

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Still Ice Fishing, Seed Trays, IOGA and Spray Drift Pamphlet

Where is Spring, Packers win Superbowl

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