Construction is moving right along on our new shed. YEAH!!!!!

Construction Has Begun

Construction has begun on our new shed!!!!! Our old "Armstrong Shed" served us well for over three years but use and weather had taken their toll on it. So, it was retired and set out to pasture on Harold's farm. A very generous angel has donated the funding for this new shed. It will be 8 x 15 when completed so it will provide a little more storage space and should also be more secure.

If your squash plants are dying like this, even though you are watering them, it's because they have been attacked by squash vine borers.  They dig into the base of the plant's stem and chew it up, killing the plant.  By the time they get into the plant, there's little you can do.

I've had some luck in dowsing the stems with Dipel dust while they are growing and before they get attacked.  There are other remedies, but most people say that few of them are fool proof.

The damage is done by the larva of the squash vine bug, a beautiful creature that somewhat resembles a red wasp.  Here's a picture.

Waiting until later in the season may to plant squash may reduce the possibility of infestation.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

My daughter, Abby, and I were making our way from one end of our plot to the other, when we came across an awesome suprise!! I just had to share this picture of her-- so cute!! Plus, we were there to witness Ben and his potats! Congrats Basil Ben! I am so proud to share my wonderful gardening experience with my children and this amazing community! Thanks everyone for all the tips and tricks to having a successful harvest!

http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1465&context=icwdm_usdanwrc&sei-redir=1#search=Robert+Hollingsworth+testing+caffeine+spray

Coffee grounds are apparently very good at controlling snails and slugs.

Ben harvested 35 pounds of red potatoes today!  Congratulations!!

 Basically, a radish is a turnip with a slightly different take on life. What I did was melt about 6 ounces of butter and put the pan on very low. I added two cloves of garlic, sliced fairly large. Then I sliced 2 cups of the radishes into 1/4 inch cubes and put them into the pan with the butter and garlic and kept it low for a long time - at least an hour - stirring every now and then, making sure the butter stayed clear. Add more butter or olive oil when you need to. Taste a few and they will tell you when the radishes are ready. Boil the pasta, toss with the radishes and butter (and more oil if you need it), and add some grated parmesano reggiano. Oh, I also added some chopped mint to the radishes. I forgot. It was great.