Arcticdude
Top Poster
Thanks Sally, Danilgrl. I've only dug down about 3 feet so far, which isn't below the normal frost line. I guess I'm just anxious for this winter to be over. I have noticed a few small wild flowers popping up in the meadows.
What have you done for garden prep so far?
- Thread starter Brent S
- Start date
Help Support Doomsday Prepper Forums:
Maverick
Top Poster
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2013
- Messages
- 10,652
- Reaction score
- 26,523
For nothing better to do, I ask Lisa are earthworms native here, she said no, modern day earthworms where brought over by the Europeans.
I had no clue *sigh
Maverick
Top Poster
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2013
- Messages
- 10,652
- Reaction score
- 26,523
Looks like Friday the only good day out of the next ten days unfortunately.
Arcticdude
Top Poster
That makes sense too. I guess it won't hurt to buy a bunch of worms and turn them loose. I think I'll start by buying some today and go fishing, after I work on the tractor some more. Any that survive the trip will be set free in the garden area.
Hmm...I looked it up. It's a lot more complicated situation than you can imagine. There are earthworms native to North America, but in the northern climes (between 45° and 60° latitude) , native earthworms were wiped out by the "Wisconsin glaciation" in the last Ice Age which stripped the soil down to bedrock, taking the earthworms with it.
Much of the vegetation in the north adapted to slowly decaying organic matter. Some of the invasive earthworms were introduced in the 1700s, but many of the invasive earthworms are actually escaped bait worms, and as such are still being introduced. As earthworms spread north they accelerate the decomposition of organic matter, altering the makeup of the topsoil, causing native plants to die out in places.
Down South, earthworms have been part of the scene all along, so we are not as susceptible to the invasive species.
Much of the vegetation in the north adapted to slowly decaying organic matter. Some of the invasive earthworms were introduced in the 1700s, but many of the invasive earthworms are actually escaped bait worms, and as such are still being introduced. As earthworms spread north they accelerate the decomposition of organic matter, altering the makeup of the topsoil, causing native plants to die out in places.
Down South, earthworms have been part of the scene all along, so we are not as susceptible to the invasive species.
Maverick
Top Poster
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2013
- Messages
- 10,652
- Reaction score
- 26,523
That's similar to what the wife was saying but more technical using words I couldn't pronounce much less spell so I shortened her explanation which is generally what I do with her :-/
I gave up on the peppers and chillies today. They haven't moved since I pricked them out and when I tipped out the pots, there was practically no root system on them at all, I don't know what happened there.
I sowed some more Basil(the slugs got the last sowing) and Dill today as well as beans. The greenhouse is filling up.
Brussels, purple sprouting broccoli and kale are all up, I'm just waiting for the celeriac and leeks to show.
I sowed some more Basil(the slugs got the last sowing) and Dill today as well as beans. The greenhouse is filling up.
Brussels, purple sprouting broccoli and kale are all up, I'm just waiting for the celeriac and leeks to show.
Danil54grl
Top Poster
I've been hilling up my corn. I do have to replant a few as it seems that something got in and help themselves to it, but my dog that normally likes to stay out at night has been wanting to come in now that the weather is getting warmer out. She is my Anita, so has thick hair and doesn't care for the heat. There is whole in the fencing that needs repaired so that is probably where it got in last night. I made the mistake of planting horseradish in my garden a few years back and not containering it. Hunny took his tractor with the tiller and tilled the whole thing up not realizing after the season was done. This was when I wasn't keeping it going all year long. Anyway, he spread all those roots around and now I too am battling it. It is popping up where I planted my tomato plants, but I just take a hand shovel and dig as much of it out as I can. It's a pain in the rear, but I do love the stuff It doesn't ever seem to hurt the other plants around it so that's OK by me. In fact, I really think it helps keep the bugs away too, but that is just me.
Danil54grl
Top Poster
She is my Akita, not Anita. . . I hate auto correct sometimes! 
Arcticdude
Top Poster
I was planning on building some more raised beds to have them ready for planting. But we got another 3 inches of snow today so I don't think there's any hurry. Got the rest of the lumber for the chicken coop. Guess I'll work on finishing it up.
Danil54grl
Top Poster
Always something around a homestead to do. Even when wet, or in your case snow, there's something else to do. . . keeps us young, right?
Arcticdude
Top Poster
That's right, I guess. My list of things to do is a mile long. On days like this I can work in the barn. But I am starting to get a little tired of being cold and wet and knee deep in mud.
Brent S
Top Poster
Then why do I feel so old! Lol
Arcticdude
Top Poster
I was just thinking; if all this work keeps us young then I must be 18 by now.
Brent S
Top Poster
I just might live forever! On the same line here of two many projects going, I had a really great day. I actually completed sevreal things on my list. Even got the oil changed on one of the work trucks. Some days everything you touch goes to s--t, today was one of those smooth days.
Arcticdude
Top Poster
Today started out kind of crappy for me, cold and raining. So I decided to go to town and get fuel for the generators. On my way home the clouds broke enough to see the mountains where the ranch is located all covered in new snow. After lunch I decided to finish the pig feeder and a build a wooden deck for their water trough. Around 4.00 it quit snowing and the sun came out. Got the feeder and deck installed in the pig pen. Even though I was cold and wet, and the bog where the tractor is filled with water, I still got something accomplished today. Speaking of oil changes, I have two generators that need their oil changed. That will be on the top of my list tomorrow.
Brent S
Top Poster
I normally do all the oil changes over winter, but didn't get to it this time. I still have two generators, two lawn mowers, and now the tractor I just got which needs a thorough 'everything' serviced. Just keep getting younger.....
I am going to expand the Garden this weekend,I will move about 30 ft of fence put up a new gate and gain about 100 sf of garden area,I need the room to put out the rest of my potatoes
Heehee, they say you reach your second childhood as you age, now we know how!
I had a lot of rain last night,I may be able to put out the last of my potatoes if the rain will just stop
