Colorful, Mini Milestones, and Other News Fresh From the Farm
Inside: Nature showing its true colors, A Rural Girl Writes turns two, and thoughts on waiting. . . Check out all the latest news fresh from the farm.
Nature Showing its True Colors
Waking up from winter, it amazes me how much color comes back into the world–and how hungry I am for it. It starts with green, pale at first, growing in intensity as the days get longer. Then little jewels of yellow and purple pop up from dandelions and violets invading the yard between mowings. Trees join in the spectacle, sprouting leaves and budding, according to their kind, my peach tree and redbud lending pink flowers to the mix.
What catches my attention lately are the cardinals, landing on the lawn, their vibrant red such a contrast to the green. Today I saw a robin out back by the hydrant, with orange belly adding to the palette. The other day a bluebird stopped by long enough to perch on the fence.
I’ve got a basket of pansies just outside my door, doing their part to show off–more shades of purples and yellows, unique in their color. More flowers are soon to gather ’round my porch as well, doing this dance we call spring.
And I find, after shedding my heavy coat of winter, my heart is lighter when I take in the beauty all around me.
A Rural Girl Writes Turns Two
ARGW turned two the end of last month, and I find that I’m still so thankful you tune in to catch up on what’s going on in my little corner of the good green earth. Readership has grown steadily and continues to do so. And while I haven’t gotten too wrapped up in analyzing what’s working, what needs work, I find it interesting to see which posts do well and which ones have been more mediocre. The best posts seem to always be food related–a girl’s got to eat, right? Most of my traffic comes from searches at this point in the game rather than social media. Probably because I haven’t been as consistent in those avenues as I should be.
If you are a regular reader of this blog, I have a question for you. How can I serve you better? What would you like to read more about? Please feel free to add a comment, or, if you prefer to write via email, send it to amy @amyharkemoore.com. Your comments would be greatly appreciated.
By the way, curious as to what the number one post is from the past two years? Click here for a peek.
Thoughts on Waiting
Waiting in the drive-thru lane of life at the moment, I’ve discovered something. . .
I don’t like it!
Yes, I know. Join the club, you want to say.
But I’m dealing with unresolved issues, I answer defensively. Issues that have made life hard for my family. I’ve been waiting for some time now. Waiting for prayers to be answered. Situations to change. Knowing everything is going to be all right–even better than all right–at some point in the future. I’m assured of that, and yet, yet, I don’t know when. And I’m tired–so very tired–of waiting.
A friend offered the perfect analogy the other day to my situation. She told me about how she and her husband were hiking in Colorado recently, heading up a trail to see a waterfall. As they kept going higher, they could hear the falls in the distance. Sometimes the falls sounded closer or farther away, depending on the twists and turns of the path. Sometimes they wondered if they should go a different way, if they were on the wrong path, but they followed the directions they’d heard would get them to the falls. They continued on, getting tired and more tired, climbing higher, and it seemed like they’d never get there when, all of a sudden, they arrived!
The falls appeared–the view they had been waiting for.
So I think I’ll keep heading down the path, listening for my own waterfall in the distance. One of these days it’s bound to be around the next corner.
What’s happening in your neck of the woods? Tell us about it in the comments.
Related posts:
My Top Ten Must-do Spring Activities
Spring Bucket List: 25 Ways to Celebrate the Season
Posts from a year ago:
Second Chance Month, Dog Reunion, and Other News Fresh From the Farm
Posts from two years ago:
Getting Started in the Garden
Inside: So you want to grow things? Getting started in the garden doesn’t have to be complicated. Read on as we break it down for you.
Simple, Sage Advice
Years ago, in our dating days when Hubs and I were young pups, he wanted to be a wildlife photographer. So one night when I was at work, he attended a seminar given by Frank Oberle, a photographer widely known in Missouri for his shots of wildlife and scenics. After the seminar, Mike ran into him in the restroom and asked him for advice, and I’ll never forget his words. The man said, simply, “Take pictures of what you like.”
I say I’ll never forget his words because, when the story was told to me, I thought his advice was trite and not particularly useful. Since then I’ve come to see the wisdom in what the man said. When you do something you love, your passion for it shows. The same holds true for any worthwhile endeavor under the sun.
And Speaking of Under the Sun. . .
So let’s start there. Grow what you like. Now, that said, if you’re from Missouri, you’re not exactly going to start an orange orchard. You do have to play within the rules of your climate. But even then you have a cornucopia of plants to choose.
From there you’ll have to decide whether to grow your plants from seed or buy transplants. The friendly folks at your local plant store (yay, Sugar Grove Growers!) can help you either way. The point is to grow plants you’re passionate about. It really is that simple.
Choose a good place to grow. Now you want to provide a good home for those treasures. If you’re starting seeds you’ll need a sunny window at the very least, some good potting soil, and little containers for your seedlings. (Pinterest has a ton of ideas for seed-starting containers.) If you find you really enjoy the process, you might want to invest in a grow light.
At some point you will need to transplant your babies–or the plants you purchased–into the ground. The subject of garden soil is vast and too lengthy to get into here, but suffice it to say, you need a healthy environment for your plants to grow. The good thing is that you can always buy bags of garden soil and potting soil if yours isn’t ideal. On a grand scale, this will be expensive, so I’d caution you to take your first baby steps as a gardener by keeping it simple. Container gardening is a good way to learn the fundamentals of taking care of plants.
Most of your plants are going to want a sunny location–six to eight hours is best. You can find plants that thrive in shade or partial sun, so it’s not impossible to have a garden if your yard is quite shady. If this is your challenge, a great place to start is to do a search on shade-loving plants.
Ideally, you’ll also want a place with easy access to water or else you’ll be carrying it.
Grow with purpose. So why do you want to grow plants? Because you’ve always wanted to try your hand at growing something? Do you want to save on your family’s grocery bill? Are you a foodie who likes to putter in the kitchen with only the freshest ingredients? Maybe you just get a kick out of seeing a seedling push its little head above the soil. No wrong answers here. It’s good to connect with your “why” because, when it’s brutally hot outside and your babies need a drink of water and you’re tired, that’s when you’ll want to remember why you decided to do this in the first place.
Breaking It Down
So, to summarize:
Grow what you like.
Choose a good place to grow.
Grow with purpose.
Gardening is a wonderful hobby that has given me much joy over the years. I come by it naturally, with generations of farmers going back far on both sides of my family tree. But it’s not only a passion I’ve inherited. I like that it’s a partnership with God. He provides the good things of this earth for my enjoyment and benefit.
And, like the child who presents his mother with a flower grown from a single seed in a Dixie cup, I really think He gets a kick out of when I grow things.
For More Information. . .
About starting seeds:
Leggy Seedlings: Don’t Let This Happen to You
About planning your garden:
Let It Go, Let It Grow: Planning and Planting Your Garden
Building a Raised Garden 3 Ways
Gardening Advice from a Thirty-year Greenhouse Veteran
Posts from a year ago:
Uncovering Strawberries in Spring
Is Perfectionism Holding You Back?
Posts from two years ago:
Welcoming Spring!
Inside: In spring, this rural girl’s fancy turns to gardening! What better place to head than to your local plant store for inspiration as we’re welcoming spring.
Spring + Fun = Gardening!
Ah, it’s finally spring! Which is when this rural girl’s fancy turns to gardening. And what better place to go than my favorite local plant store, Sugar Grove Growers!
Last week the good folks at Sugar Grove Growers celebrated the first day of spring with their event: Ask the Gardener – 1st Day of Spring Celebration. Local experts Bob Theobald, Bill Theobald, and Ann Harke (Mom) were on hand, fielding (pun intended) their customers’ gardening questions. Alana Fravell coordinated the event, with lots of food goodies and her water infusions, and even a free spring planting guide!
While the first day of spring wasn’t exactly spring-like, a nice crowd turned out for the event. A lively discussion about when to plant seed potato–by the sign of the moon or not?–ensued, and Bob helped gardeners choose seeds. Folks seemed eager to purchase onion sets and seed potatoes–and sample pear bread and appetizers as well as the water infusions (see below).
You know, that’s what I love about Sugar Grove Growers. They offer the gardener much more than just plants. They have a passion for growing things, and it shows in everything they do. They grow the plants in their own greenhouses, so their knowledge extends from seed to harvest. And because they’ve been in business for forty years (yes, forty years!) they know how to grow things! While a lot of places sell plants this time of year as something extra along with all their other wares, most lack the knowledge of how to take care of those plants beyond the stick stake information. If you love plants like I do, go to your local plant store. They’re full of knowledge and enthusiasm and are more than willing to help you with your gardening adventures!
Cool, Refreshing Water Infusions for Spring
Alana shared some of her tips for making water infusions with me. They’re pretty simple, she says.
For the strawberry-cucumber infused water, take three parts strawberries to one part cucumber (cucumbers tend to be strong). For the pineapple-orange infused water, add equal parts pineapple and oranges.
Alana is one of those good cooks who doesn’t really measure things. She says those ratios should work no matter what the size of your container. If she wants to assemble the ingredients the day before, she puts a bunch of ice in the containers with the fruit on top. The day of the event, she fills them with water. The ice layer at the bottom keeps the dispenser from getting clogged.
Thanks, Alana! And thanks to Bob and Bill and Mom for sharing their love of plants and expertise with the rest of us gardeners!
Are you ready for spring planting? Tell us about it in the comments.
Related posts:
My Top Ten Must-do Spring Activities
Gardening Advice from a Thirty-year Greenhouse Veteran
Stay Cool with Water Infusions
Posts from a year ago:
Accidental Peppers, March Weather Madness, and Other News Fresh From the Farm
From two years ago:
My Top Ten Must-do Spring Activities
Inside: Spring is a mere few days away, so I’ve chosen my top ten must-do spring activities from my spring bucket list. See if your list matches mine.
Ah, spring! We’ve gotten a nice dose of it this week, and it feels as though we’re finally leaving the heavy coat of winter behind us. I am more than ready to move on! Now I’m turning my attention to the new season, watching the stories of budding leaves, flowering trees, warm winds, and green grass. Eagerly listening to the melodies of birds fiercely belting out their morning tunes, and peepers rising from slumber to add to the chorus.
Here at the blog, I’m dusting off words and airing out posts from springs’ past. One of my favorites from last year was my Spring Bucket List: 25 Ways to Celebrate the Season. While I’d like to do each and every entry on the list, realistically I’ll probably only get to do a few of them. What follows is my top ten must-do activities. See if your list matches mine.
My Top Ten Must-do Spring Activities
In no particular order, here are my must-dos.
- Start seeds in a sunny window. (Number 2 on my spring bucket list. Here’s a good post on starting seeds.)
- Wear green on St. Patrick’s Day, whether or not you are Irish. (Number 9.)
- Buy a beautiful pot for growing flowers and plan how you will fill it (Number 7 on the list. . . Check out this post on container gardening.)
- Egg salad, anyone? Here’s an easy recipe for Curried Egg Salad: 2 hard boiled eggs chopped, 2 tablespoons of mayo, 1 teaspoon of sweet and spicy mustard, and 1/4 teaspoon of red curry powder. Nom! (Number 17. More ideas for all those eggs? Click here.)
- Become a backyard birdwatcher—if only for a day. (Number 16. . . Love birds? See Backyard Bird Feeding 101.)
- Indulge in a chocolate egg (small indulgence) or a chocolate bunny (big indulgence). (Number 10. . . More ideas for being good to yourself here.)
- Allow yourself to wander around a garden center, taking in the floral sights and scents of all the new arrivals. (Number 15.)
- Make strawberry shortcake. No need to be fancy. Buy a pound cake to slice, cut up some strawberries with sugar or sweetener, and dollop generously with whipped cream. (Number 24. . . More strawberry recipes in this post.)
- Try planting something you’ve never planted before. (Number 22. . . Tips for planning your garden here.)
- Break out your favorite pair of sandals for a “test walk.” (Number 25.)
So that’s my short list. Probably the first thing I’ll do is make egg salad. Of course, that chocolate bunny is calling my name. And if I do that, then I’d probably better go for that walk in my fave pair of sandals. . . .Okay, I’m on a mission.
Springtime, here I come!
How do you celebrate spring? Tell us about it in the comments.
Related posts:
Spring Bucket List: 25 Ways to Celebrate the Season
Uncovering Strawberries in Spring
Trending Spring, Garden Talk, and Other News Fresh From the Farm
Posts from a year ago:
Cloud Hunting, Cup O’ Happiness, and Other News Fresh From the Farm