My tools of gardening.

No matter how many gardeners I run across in my travels, they always seem to have a few tools that I have not seen before.  Whether that would be a generational hand me down like an antique weathered trowel one of their parents used or a random item they picked up at a yard sale, they always have seemed to peak my interest.  If pursued, most of the gardeners can relate a story or memory that made the tools more than just that - a tool.  No, these have a connection that goes far beyond the utilitarian purpose the item serves.
So, that got me to thinking about some of the tools that I have accumulated throughout my years of gardening. I don't have any that I would say are generational hand me downs from my side of the family as my parents were not enthusiasts of gardening.  But, I do have some beyond the ordinary tools that I have acquired or bought.
For instance, I have a hoe that was given to me by my father in law that his dad used many years ago.

 As you can see, it isn't something you are going to find in any store, flea market or yard sale.  It is kind of rough looking but has a very menacing look to it.  I cant remember ever seeing tines that big and thick on a hoe.  I have used this untold times in my garden and I can tell you, it is very effective at loosening the soil and removing deep rooted weeds with little effort.  But beyond that, I have memories of my wife's grandfather and I can envision him taking this hoe and swinging it with authority.  I am sure this piece is the result of him taking the head piece and fastening a new handle to it.  He was just that kind of man.  And therein lies the connection.




Another piece I have is what I call a root killer.

 Much like the hoe, it also came from my wife's grandfather.  It doesn't look like it, but it too is a heavy piece.  Seems that he had several pieces that were of this ilk.  I know this is because these were probably made during the 40's or 50's when almost everything made, was made to last.  And, attesting to this fact is that they are still around and I have continued to use them.  I did in fact use this to remove a stump last year.  Sure, there probably was an easier way but I do get a kick using these.  I can attest to this pieces' heft and it's strength.  It is a fitting testimony to both that generations grit and the pride they put into their work.  



And yet another piece from Grandpa's collection - I didn't realize I had so many until I started this blog entry - is an old wooden handled potato fork.  At least I think that's what is called.

I haven't grown potatoes but maybe this will give me the motivation to do that.  

Next, is a pitch fork that probably is for bailing hay.  I can attest to it's ability to reach way down into my garden soil in the spring.  I don't have any hay so I had to re-purpose it.  

Next is a sifter that I use on my compost.  And, yes, I pulled this out of grandpa's garage.

You can see the aging and I was told that he built it himself.
The next piece may bring back good or bad memories of when you were young, depending on your age naturally.  I actually do remember using one of these and I have used it here in my yards.  See, before there was the invention of the weed whackers, we had to use this.                                            

Oh man, I spent countless hours in my parents front yard pushing and pulling one of these contraptions.  It did the job alright but it was and still is kind of a back breaker.  I bought this at an antique store in Annville Pa. called The First Floor Attic.  I have used it since then but generally only in the Spring to cut a definitive edge.  Then I use my weed whacker to maintain the edge.
And finally, I bought this piece at the same store.

I wasn't sure what it was actually but I later found out from my wife that it was a chicken feed spreader.  Who knew there was such a thing?  Well, besides my wife that is.  I saw it and figured it would be a good compost spreader.  I actually use it to spread almost any soil amendment I use such as vermiculite, sand or peat moss.  It works really well and doesn't overload me.

So there you have it.  My collection of old tools still in use in my gardening endeavors shared for the whole world to see what my family and friends have known for many years.  That I am a bit fanatical about my gardening and the tools I use.  Hopefully, this has been a bit of a walk back into your past or an enlightenment of what people used over the years.  I get a sense of when I am using these, that I am reconnecting to the past in some way myself.  I hope you have enjoyed it!  Until next time, Happy Gardening!         

  

Spring's promise.

What a beginning two weeks of March it has been.  In like a Lion, out like a Lamb is very true this year.  We've had over 9 inches of snow on one day and several days in the 50's and 60'S.  And, that volatility is not even over yet. As I write this, we are expecting several days where the lows are going to be below freezing with highs from the 40's to the 60's. Crazy weather - right?
Preparations should be the order of the day for this week.  Speaking of preparations, I now have 3 cabbage, 3 broccoli and 8 pepper plants under my lights.  I also have 6 various types of heirloom tomatoes under the lights.  So, the process is under way for another year of gardening.
There is still a lot of preparation to do before the gardening begins in earnest.  I definitely need to clean and sharpen my tools, perhaps oil them and make sure they are ready for use in the not so distant future.  I began pulling some of the winter stored items out of my shed but I believe doing too much would be a bit hasty at this time.  One thing I did get accomplished was I pulled out my plant boxes for my hydroponic system and cleaned them with a bleach/water mixture to kill off any unwanted problems.  I set up the pole they are held by this morning so it's almost go time for that.  I can't wait to start planting the lettuce and associated crops which I will wait to do until the end of this week.
Cleanup needs to be completed around the beds and probably, thanks to the harsh winter, in the beds themselves.  Last fall I planted winter rye as a cover crop so that really needs to be cut and worked into the beds.  I spotted my weed whacker this morning along with the sting for it.  I just cut the rye and leave it set for a couple days then turn it over once the ground dries a little bit.  I used rye last year and my plants seemed to do better during the dry summer we had. So, I figured I would use it again.  Besides, it keeps the squirrels out of them, adds green manure directly to the soil and it looks nicer than just having empty beds.
Gearing up for Spring can be a daunting task so I try and do a little here and there to take the pressure off once the weather finally turns about mid March.  It almost time but we are just starting to see the beginnings of Springs promise.  

The transitional month of March

As I sit down to write this today, we are having a snow and sleet event here in the Baltimore region. So while I look forward to the upcoming planting season, there is still a bit of winter to deal with. My beds are covered with about 3 inches of snow and any thoughts of working on them must wait for the time being.  But, there are things that need to be done if I am to have a successful growing season. Preparations abound around this time.
Yesterday I started, albeit late, my Cabbage and Broccoli plants.  Sometimes, life gets in the way of your garden and I had one of those life events.  I am trying newer varieties of Cabbage that I have never tried before.  They are Earliana and All Seasons.  The Broccoli are Waltham's which are supposed to be good for Zone 7.  I also started 8 plants of Peppers that are on schedule.  The Peppers are California Wonders which have always been good producers for me.
In the next couple days I will be starting my many varieties of Heirloom tomatoes.  I am going to experiment with Peppers by starting a new set of seedlings in two weeks to attempt to get two harvests before the end of the season.  I cannot start all my plants from seeds as I would need a large greenhouse for that.  So, I have two sources for plants that have proven reliable where I can get the varieties of vegetables that I like at a price that is reasonable.  I'll have more to say on that subject in later posts.
Outside preparations are at a minimum at this time naturally due to the uncertainty of the weather. From what I can see, we will be whipsawing this week as they are predicting just about every type of weather imaginable this week.  That's the nature of March in the Mid-Atlantic.  Given that, I am currently working on a checklist of the various things I need to do when the snow is gone.  I also have been getting my tools in good working order as its a great time to do this type of work.
March is a hard month to read early on.  Some gardeners try to force the beginning of the season with the many techniques that are available.  I too, tried some them over the years.  But, in my opinion, the effort to get an early start is a proposition fraught with peril.  Many times, the plants just didn't seem to produce as well as I would have expected.  I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who hasn't gardened before.  It took me quite a few years to venture out of the normal season.
So, at this point, I am waiting for Mother Nature to calm down.  Until that time, I will keep myself active preparing for when that time comes.  Happy Gardening everyone!              

Meet Craig

My name is Craig and I live in the Baltimore area.  While I am an Accountant by trade, my real passion is growing fresh organic vegetables.  There is no more rewarding pursuit than taking a garden from seeds in the basement to fresh, succulent vegetables on the dinner table.  All that effort, the sweat and labor that permeates your soul, is the payoff every gardener, big and small, looks forward to at the beginning of each season.  We begin with so much promise and so much enthusiasm after a long winter's hibernation.  That is why I do it.  The sheer enjoyment of digging my hand into the soil and feeling the crumbly, soft soil sift through my hands.  I often take a handful of this black gold, raise it close to my nose, and breathe in ever so deeply the rich, fragrant aroma of a new year to come.  That’s what wakes me up early in the morning and keeps me excited throughout the season. 

I was not always a gardener and quite frankly, I wasn’t much interested to tell the truth.  It was not until my mid-teens that this little hobby of mine began.  My parents tore down the old pool in our back yard.  They were perplexed at what to do with the big brown area it uncovered.  Our neighbor Levere convinced me to take a stab at a vegetable garden.  He was a very experienced older Italian gentleman gardener who grew some of the best Italian varieties you could find.  I could swear he took me under his wing more for his own amusement.  Through patient guidance, he helped instill in me the love for gardening.  My first year was pretty good by my standards and each succeeding year got better.  I was hooked from that point and there was no going back.

With that as my foundation, over the years I have explored the many and varied forms of the art of gardening.  As most of us do, I started with the typical row garden.  From there, my gardening has evolved, transformed and begat what I now call my hybrid garden.  I have often tried something new and/or different when it came to the garden.  I have come to believe that experimentation is the best way to keep things fresh for you and the garden.  The results haven’t always been spectacular but I think I learned something new each time I ventured off the beaten path.  And that’s the nature of gardening. 

I have even dragged my wife into this crazy world.  She has fed my obsession with gardening by supporting me with the many well thought out gifts I received over the years and by doing research herself on various things I would only mention casually.  Through her research, I have been exposed to things that I did not even know existed.  I mean, who knew that I needed a Mason Bee Hive in my backyard?  Or even a hydroponic system.   Well, certainly not I.  If not for her, I would not be half the gardener I am today.  

So this is going to be a journey of things known and unknown.  I hope to inspire those who see gardening as a scary proposition to take the leap.  So, come along with me and let's explore the vast world of gardening.  It is a rewarding pursuit.