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Spring Garden Prep

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I'm in the middle of planning out a backyard garden. So far I've got blackberry and raspberry bushes, and just ordered about 40 varieties of vegetables and medicinal herbs online. I plan to build a structure with garden netting for vining plants to climb, with lower plants and root vegetables around them. Been re-consulting library books like Carrots Love Tomatoes, Vertical Gardening, etc. to figure what to put where next to what....

SPRING GARDEN PREPARATION (20150213) After the winter season But before the rains begin Catalogues of heirloom seeds Delivered just in time Earmarked and prioritized Farmer’s Almanac consulted Given planting periods Horoscopes included (but useless!) Individual seed varieties ordered Junk mail shredded and added to compost K (potassium) added as potash Lumber purchased for trellises Mulching around transplanted seedlings Non-Genetically Modified Organisms only Organic fertilizers only, too Planting by phases of the moon Quick-fix pesticides are anathema (Round-Up kills everything--US, not just weeds) Seed boxes keeping seedlings warm Testing the soil for minerals and organics Unleashing ladybugs and pollinators Vertical gardening to conserve space Watering just enough, but not too much Xenocide, killing unwanted weed species Youngsters helping (or hindering) Zoning plants to vary root depths

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Andrea Dietrich

Date: 2/28/2015 7:27:00 PM

your entry in this contest was super original and fresh! Congrats. A very nice one.

Casarah Nance

Date: 2/28/2015 8:22:00 AM

I like it, clever and creative just like you Mark! I'm ready for a garden now!

Mark J. Halliday
Date: 3/2/2015 11:10:00 AM

Time to plant is now! Spent the weekend turning soil, and mixing in about a dozen bags of soil, compost, and steer/horse/chicken manures. Yard has a lot of clay in it sadly.

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 2/28/2015 1:42:00 AM

Your garden sounds wonderful! You will soon be enjoying the fruits of your labor. Congrats onyour win Mark. I enjoyed this poem, from a kindred spirit!

Mark J. Halliday
Date: 3/2/2015 11:08:00 AM

Isn't actually planted yet. Prepared over the weekend about half of the terrain. Having a lot of clay there, added a lot of new soil, compost, and 3 kinds of manure. Need to build a structure now for climbing veggies.

Skat A

Date: 2/27/2015 11:21:00 PM

Mark, Congratulations **SKAT LOVE**

Mark J. Halliday
Date: 3/2/2015 11:06:00 AM

Thanks Skat.

Eve Roper

Date: 2/27/2015 10:45:00 PM

Congratulations on your win. Blessings

Mark J. Halliday
Date: 3/2/2015 11:06:00 AM

Glad you liked it. Thanks for commenting.

Sara Kendrick

Date: 2/27/2015 2:16:00 PM

Clever way to go for the contest..Sara

Mark J. Halliday
Date: 3/2/2015 11:06:00 AM

Glad you liked it. Thanks for commenting.

Sara Kendrick

Date: 2/27/2015 2:15:00 PM

The ABC’s have danced the spring dance and won!!! Way to go!! Congrats …Sara

Mark J. Halliday
Date: 2/27/2015 5:42:00 PM

Thanks Sara

Shadow Hamilton

Date: 2/27/2015 7:13:00 AM

hi Mark your K line cost you valuable points congrats on placing 3rd hugs

Mark J. Halliday
Date: 2/27/2015 10:34:00 AM

I thought that was rather clever myself, being that K is the chemical symbol for potassium. I could have easily referenced something like kelp fertilizer instead.

Jan Allison

Date: 2/27/2015 6:35:00 AM

Dropping back with my congrats Mark:-) Hugs Jan xxx

Mark J. Halliday
Date: 2/27/2015 10:34:00 AM

Thanks Jan

Nette Onclaud

Date: 2/14/2015 10:11:00 AM

time to brighten the environ with a robust spring garden... a splendid abecedarian, mark; well done!.. huggs

Mark J. Halliday
Date: 2/21/2015 10:46:00 AM

Thanks Nette

Jan Allison

Date: 2/13/2015 5:55:00 PM

oh a very clever abecedarian Mark and good luck with the new garden project:-) good luck with the contest:-) hugs jan xx

Mark J. Halliday
Date: 2/13/2015 11:10:00 PM

X was the trickiest one. Fortunately I had read the novel Xenocide, which was a sequel to Enders Game (recently made into a film). It was about destroying an entire species of aliens.