Extra Work Raises Grade

Lughnasa                                 Waxing Artemis Moon Up early and out in the garden.  This is the way I like it, working in the garden before and during sunrise, a coolness, some damp lingering from the night, stillness carrying only the softest of sounds, the earth friable and eager, weeds willing to come up and the garden’s purpose […]

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Making Jam, Eating Greens

Summer                                     Full Strawberry Moon Global warming, how fast can it happen?  I don’t know, but my lilies have begun to open 2-3 weeks ahead of time.  That’s a remarkable fact.  The garden overall seems about 2 weeks ahead, at least that stuff that I got in the ground at temperature, but not date, appropriate times.  […]

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Harvest and Preservation

Lughnasa                      Waning Harvest Moon It changed.  The game.  After half-time most of the time, I expected to see showed up.  How about that 64 yard run by Peterson?  Wow.  Still, it concerned me that we didn’t get more pressure on Brady Quinn.  I’m looking forward to the analysis. Kate has made grape juice, a lot, […]

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They Nourish Us Five Times

Summer                     New Moon A.T. cleaned turnips and beets, cut their greens off and prepared them for boiling.  He also prepared kale and collard greens, first washing them, then cutting their rib out and storing them for Kate who will boil and freeze them. An old folk saying suggests fire wood warms you five times: when […]

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In the Garden

Summer                        New Moon A.T. used the chainsaw this morning.  He cut out a mulberry tree growing in an unwanted (eastern) location.  A.T. feels manly after he uses the chainsaw. Kate and A.T. harvested peas, greens, beets and turnips, too.  A.T. planted beans as a cover crop among the onions, where the garlic came out.  A.T. […]

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A Cool Night.

Beltane                    Full Flower Moon This is the kind of weather that can scare a Minnesota gardener.  Right now the temperature is 42.  It could, will, go lower, though the prediction says no lower than 40.  If I thought it were going to get down to freezing, I’d have to cover my new peas and turnips.  […]

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