Category Archives: Gardening and growing

From ‘The Good Earth’ to good earth

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The book had been laying on the small table in the living room for weeks. My original copy of Pearl S. Buck’s “The Good Earth,” the paperback was quite small, almost tiny compared to the trade paperbacks that make up most of my current-day reading.

My original copy of "The Good Earth," the classic by Nobel Prize-winning writer Pearl S. Buck.

My original copy of “The Good Earth,” the classic novel by Nobel Prize-winning author Pearl S. Buck.

I had recently re-read the tale of the Chinese farmer, Wang Lung, and the life he built by working the land. But the book I read this time was a much newer copy, one that I had picked up last fall at the YWCA of Hanover‘s annual used-book sale. It was bigger, easier to hold and to read.

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Storm Coming

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There’s a storm coming. You could hear the buzz all day long, in the newsroom and at Lowe’s and all around town. By now, everyone knows what’s coming.
And what’s coming keeps growing, at least in the eyes of forecasters. 3 to 6 inches. No, 4 to 8. The last time I checked, I think we were in the 10-inch scare, or maybe a whole foot.
The total doesn’t matter as much as this: If you tend things — especially outdoor things — there are certain things that need to be done every time a dumping is in the offing, so to speak.

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Before the storm, a mild and sunny late afternoon.

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The House of Lettuce

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Today, I seeded lettuces and arugula in my little window greenhouse.

minigreenhouse

Built from old windows removed from our farmhouse, this mini-greenhouse is used from late fall to mid-spring. in particular to extend the greens growing season.

We saw one of these simple structures in Lancaster a few years ago, on one of our Saturday drives. And by 6 p.m. that evening, I had one of these for my very own. Not purchased, but built by the very talented  handyman right here at Pinespring. OK, we happened to have a nice selection of old windows around, since we were gradually replacing all those in the old farmhouse. Still, I think that’s pretty darned good when you have a guy who will, with no urging, be inspired by something like this and just go home and make one — that same day.

You don’t need to have a mini-greenhouse, though, to have a crop of early spring greens. If you have a protected area — a little area of bed next to the house, maybe — consider growing a crop of spring greens. Find an area that faces south, a planting area next to a building or wall. Even if this is a spot you use later for perennial flower color, it can be devoted to early greens from March through mid-May.

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Coaxing spring

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It hasn’t been a particularly rough winter. A little snow, a little rain. A few very cold days. But nothing very extreme. And yet, I find myself greeting every sign of spring as if I’d just lived through a winter on the northern plains.

forsbush

I just planted this bush two years ago.

Today, I cut forsythia branches to force into bloom. It sounds so aggressive, ‘forcing’ little yellow blooms. Maybe “coaxing” would be a better word. Either way, if it brings a bit of spring a bit earlier, I’ll do it.

 

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