The rain has come today. A steady rain, enough to quench my thirsty gardens and containers. It seems that my last few days of gardening has been focused on watering and now I can relax. Today I can catch up on my reading, phone calls, bill-paying and such.
Saturday afternoon brought an interesting offer of maple logs and kindling. My neighbor finally decided his beautiful maple was, indeed, dead and that it was time to take it down before a storm did, indiscriminately, upon his house. Neighbor Randy cut most of the trunk into pieces fit for our forced air fireplace (the box is not very big - pieces cannot be longer than 16 inches), and cut the major branches as well. All of this was conveniently dropped about 25 feet from my log pile over the fence line using his Kubota tractor with the handy bucket scoop in front. (One of those toys my husband not-so-secretly covets.)
The rest was up to us to collect. I paid my oldest (that was the only way I was going to get her out there) to help me pick up, break or cut pieces, and load them into the yard cart. We made about six or seven trips and now have an impressive pile of finger-width to arm-width kindling to go with the logs.
I feel like the ant in the Ant and Grasshopper story, even smug that I've begun "storing" away needs for the winter. Since the hike in gas prices, we are among the many who heat their homes primarily with wood in the winter.
The additional of the wood has force me out of maintainance - watering and weeding - and into a new section of my "Ambitious" plan. A few days ago, I bought a compounding lopper. I think I've died and gone to heaven. I never knew how easy cutting shrubs and brush could be! This is one tool I would say is on my must list for any serious gardener. My first use of the tool was on Saturday, when oldest daughter and I cut kindling from the neighbor's maple tree for our winter stock. Cuts like butter - softened butter!
Using this wonderous tool, I tamed a large section of the property. Referring back to my diagram (July 5, 2006), I worked in the upper left area, or the northwest section just north of the vegetable and herb garden. I concentrated on removing brush that I didn't want. I'm STILL picking up what I cut down. I also began pruning the lilac that slightly obscures the compost pile from view, trimmed an evergreen, and used Round-up on poison ivy. (My apologies to the organic gardeners out there. Poison ivy and I have an ugly history. This is one instance that it is a must.)
After the rain abates this week, I plan to finish my clean-up and mow the area. My husband and I have had conversations about potentially moving the composting area because it doesn't get enough rain in its current location. Having pondered it awhile, I like the location for this use and think that it could just as easily be watered like the garden near it.
This area is bordered by fence line since the neighbors have goats. The fence line north of the prospective composting area would serve well as a place for an extra wood pile. (I hate hauling wood. It kills my back!) The fence is aging - falling apart actually! - and in that area, a wood pile would be a convenient way of keeping the goats out of my back yard!
I can't wait to take pictures to document my progress!
Comments (2)
You and your paid help should be bursting with muscles if you keep this up.
It is fun to follow your progress. Please keep the reports coming.
Posted by Cop Car | July 12, 2006 7:59 AM
Posted on July 12, 2006 07:59
You are SO industrious! You whipped my gardens into shape, and then went home to work on your own. Thanks for bringing the loppers on this visit, so that I could experience them for myself. I bet they will become MY favorite tool, too!
Posted by buffy | July 15, 2006 8:58 AM
Posted on July 15, 2006 08:58