Finally a day without rain! I staked 50 of my tomato plants. . .and my arms aren't sore!

Patience is a Virtue

It has been said that patience is a virtue.  If this is true, my garden should be successful.  My midwestern garden still lays unplanted.  The ground is still quite wet underneath.  When the farmer in the bib overalls worked the ground yet again with the disc pulled by the big green tractor, I couldn't help but notice by the mud caked on the dual wheels that the garden must be too wet.  This makes me sad.  Very sad.  However, I come from a long line of farmers who have said that the key to a successful crop is healthy soil conditions when planting.  I hope this is the case, because I may be the last of the gardeners in my neck of the woods to plant their garden.  This should worry me, but it doesn't.  I will be able to sleep tonight knowing that I won't have to cover my tomato plants when it frosts this weekend. 

On another subject, planting of the field crops should begin soon.  The engines of the tractors have been running as they are worked upon in the barn.  The planter is poised and ready to begin its work in the field; and the seed corn has been delivered.  This may very well be one of my favorite times of the year.  I love to hear the purr of the tractor as it plants the seeds in the field. 

Please forgive me for the lack of photos.  Due to the lack of planting in the garden or fields, the camera has not seen much action.

Waiting. . .on better weather

Spring is such a wonderful time of year!  Birds chirping, daffodils blooming, and seeds to plant.  Spring is a busy time of year here on the farm!  I ordered my garden seeds from a catalog in January and the day the seeds arrived in the mail was a joyous day for me!  What isn't exciting is seeing my seeds ready to plant just sitting in the carboard box in which they were shipped, waiting for a non-rainy day to plant them.  The farmer in bib overalls worked my garden ground a few weeks ago with a big green tractor, but now the garden sits. . .waiting for the rain to stop and the ground to dry before the seeds can be planted. 

I, like most gardeners, become inpatient waiting for the day in which I can plant my seeds.  I may even be slightly competitive hoping that I get my garden planted before my fellow gardeners!  Now, let's get this straight.  It is April.  We're not talking about planting tomatoes yet.  We're talking peas, radishes, onion sets, lettuce, and carrots.  For those of you who are new to gardening, I'm going to show you the tricks of the trade.  You'll be eating fresh produce and sharing the bounty with your neighbors in no time!