Southern Belle gave me a list of tasks that would be helpful to her family.
So, yesterday I purchased some tomato plants:
- Sweet Baby Girl hybrid cherry tomato. Mrs ERJ's favorite by a wide margin. Lots of delicious cherry tomatoes all season long. Two plants should be plenty.
- Big Beef hybrid mainseason-red. Beef-steak type tomato. Uniform. Productive. Disease resistant. Uncomplicated, tomato taste. Three plants.
- Golden Jubilee, large, open-pollinated yellow tomato. Novelty. Considered "low-acid' by some gardeners. A beautiful tomato with a gorgeous color. One plant should be enough. If they like it then they can plant more next year.
Handsome Hombre had taken down the fence around the old garden site (now in the shade) and dragged the posts and fabric over to the new site. He even found a roll of unused fabric in the weeds that had been left by the previous owner (or the one before that).
Also, a big shout-out to him because he helped me load the tiller into the truck, first at my house, then again over at his. The tiller isn't that heavy but it is an awkward shape to grab a hold of and lift.
I installed fence posts, stretched fabric and tied it to the posts at the top so that it "draped" in place. And I was 10' short of fabric even after using the roll of fence. That is not a real big deal because I have a couple rolls of 5', welded wire fence fabric at home and can supply the missing 10'.
I can already see that I need to relax and let the kids make their own mistakes do things their own way, otherwise I will be sucking all of the joy out of the venture. Backing off will not be easy because I am very invested in growing food.
Tallying up their "enterprises", they have 20ish young pullets, two female "meat-rabbits", a ten fruit-tree orchard and several feral fruit trees scattered on the property, four young hazelnut bushes, four gooseberry bushes (from a previous owner), five raspberry bushes and a 400 square-foot garden. Not exactly dipping the tip of a toe into the water to check the temperature but also not quite diving in head-first.
They will be busy.
Two female meat rabbits aka Does but no male buck yet?
ReplyDeleteAs long as they don't "treat" to death their rabbits and actually butcher them it is a wonderful low effort food source.
Laughing, I used to buy chicken wings to add to my "Fried Chicken" for friends. OK to eat cute chickens but not buggs bunny.
No buck. Keeping things simple.
DeleteThey are very light on facilities for both chickens and rabbits. They already have orders for "conejos" from their church friends.
The source of the does offered to provide stud-service when they get around to it.
ERJ, sometimes it is hard letting something go just a bit, especially when it is something you are very enthusiastic about. That said, they sound very much positioned for success.
ReplyDeleteYou do not need to relax and let them do it their own way. Well, maybe them, but there are probably plenty of others that would like to consult you on getting started or moving forward. You and the little woman want to travel, maybe you could be paid to go places?
ReplyDeletesam