I know I know, pride is one of the seven deadly sins, but I must say I’m jolly proud of the results of my gardening endeavours. After the most sunless summer, I can remember…but I remember very little and understand even less... my larder is stuffed and my freezers are full to the brim.
Look at these carrots…I’m sure they could win some carrot competition or other.
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And what about this beautiful lettuce, February orchid coriander, mizuna, basil as well as spinach and beets that will see me through the winter, all grown with sweat and scads of chicken shit.
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I have garlic and onions galore as well as tons of spuds. Some are a lot smaller than others but as any gentleman will tell you, size doesn’t matter it’s what you do with it, and in our house we start the prep for every meal with an onion.
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On a less positive note, I made a right mess with my pea rack. Instead of planting inside the frame so the net supported the peas, I stupidly planted outside and they fell over. I swear I looked at countless images online and they all looked like the peas were outside the net. Sometimes my ineptitude amazes even me, though I did get a bumper crop nonetheless.
Which brings me to my apple trees, we have 12 from which we got the princely total of 3, yes THREE apples.
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Is it the noticeable absence of the birds, the bees and the sun this year I wonder? Or is it something to do with whatever shit they’re raining down on us from above, as those planes make pretty little grid patterns in the sky?
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Nah, Can’t be. That’s just a conspiracy theory:)
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How awful about the apples! Last year I got zero peaches and pears, but this year, my peach trees third, I got many dozen, and the neighbor's pear tree was so heavy with pears branches were snapping right off. I buy the chemtrails theory even if @jacobtothe does not, but I think it more likely that your wonky weather resulted in only three.
Will you be able to have greens through the winter? This is my goal for next year. Lettuce year round, and greens to cook for more of the year. Your stored food, of course, dwarfs mine, but I do have some onions, garlic, potatoes, winter squash and cabbage stored. A full chest freezer that I didn't have last year, and a some canned stuff, although I despise canning.
I had greens all through last winter but it is a tad colder this year. We had snow yesterday which is quite rare. I was going to try canning myself but it looked a little beyond my capabilities. Hearing you say that you despise it, I'm glad I decided against it.
I'm so jealous! I buy most of my lettuce from a local farm, but I really want to not be so dependent on them. I haven't been able to grow lettuce well. Next year, I'm going in big!
I solved one big canning problem, that of my kitchen heating up during the hottest months of the year, by getting a presto electric canner. And after twenty times, it does get less stressful. But it's still a major pain in the ass. I'm a big fan, now, of freezing food.
After doing a bit of research on canning I decided to buy another freezer!
An upright I hope. I regret getting a chest freezer - it's very hard to organize and find stuff in.
I now have 2 chest freezers and one upright but I'm an extremely organised person so everything is catalogued and colour coded!:)
I don't buy the chemtrail theories, but widespread use of pesticides and herbicides in agriculture and lawn care is undeniably an extra stress factor for the birds and the bees. Have you tested your soil to see if it's too alkaline or to measure nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels? Apple trees like rose fertilizer with fairly equal NPK numbers, and a slow-release granule isn't a bad idea once they've entered winter dormancy but before the snow hits.
Like with most questions, I have an open mind on this one. You seem like a well-informed, thinking person. What's your take on the planes leaving trails that expand to form clouds, that turn the blue sky white and block the sun? Some photos from this morning...
Edit: Thanks for the apple tree info but short of giving them a big hug, I've tried everything in the How to grow apples on your apple tree manual. Hopefully I've done enough to make them more fruitful next year.
Simple answer on contrails: over the last several decades, jet engines have changed to offer higher bypass ratios. The amount of air pushed around the jet engine by the turbofan as compared to the amount directly pushed through the jet has increased. This means more moisture is compressed to higher pressure and exposed to hot jet exhaust before rapidly expanding, cooling, and condensing.
I don't think it's a coincidence that these ratios jumped to around 8:1 in the 90s when chemtrail theories started to spread. Now 10:1 and even 12:1 are common in jet liners as they pursue greater fuel efficiency and power. Most passenger jetliners only have 2 massive engines now, too.
Additionally, the pictures I have seen purporting to be chemical spray tanks and what it this far have all had much more mundane explanations that make more sense.
It's not that I don't think government would spray us with unknown agents, because the evidence of history and public statements about current events suggest they can and do often treat us like guinea pigs. But so far the chemtrail claims have not passed the threshold of persuading me with evidence, and what I do know of physics tends to pass Occam's Razor.
I've read that argument but it doesn't explain what's happening. Our place is very rural and we're far away from any flightpath. Besides, these are very small planes that fly backwards and forwards, going nowhere and leaving behind vapour that does not dissipate but expands.
The one argument I can't get past to fully embrace the chemtrail thing is that if they are spraying us, they are also breathing the air.
You can always check flightaware and other sites which track transponders for commercial aviation to see what's up there, where they are going, and how high it is.
No wonder you are fit. The work involved in getting such a bumper crop! I don't know you (although I feel I do know you), but I'm so very proud of what you can do. You mentioned once that farming was new to you. Well, you are a fast learner.
Chicken shit...next time someone uses that expression in referring to something, it will have a different meaning completely for me.
Congratulations! (Sorry about the apples).
I feel as if you know me too!:) And I suppose if it's not dancing, Yoga, Thai Chi or maths, I am a fast learner. Don't worry about the apples...I did a spot of scrumping in my neighbour's garden.🙃
Awww that's amazing 🤩 I can imagine some Irish Stew with those plump carrots and potatoes, and ohh those beautiful red onions! Surely you have got a green thumb considering there's not much sunshine! 🩷😊
I make a mean lentil stew alright and though I did grow a few red onions the image above is just a very bad shot of my yellow onions:)
Nice haul. Interesting, the apple trees in my yard produced next to nothing this year, too.
!Pimp
I'm delighted to hear that:) At least I'm not alone in my misery!
So many greens 😍 congrats on your harvest!
I’m very proud of the apple trees actually. They probably did all they can to at least give you three apples ❤️ maybe giving them a hug would help?
Funny you should mention hugs. I did think of that. My brother believes he brought our dead as a doornail Eucalyptus tree back to life by doing just that!
Can’t hurt, give it a try, why not. I always speak to plants, it just comes naturally, and it’s fun 😊 gives me joy.
I mean, they are living beings, and I as a human like to be loved and get energy when someone gives me kind words or a hug or appreciation.
Have you heard about that experiment that was done with water by Dr. Masaru Emoto? Just today I thought this would be a great place to try this myself.
Yes, I know about the water experiment. I'll tell you a little secret but don't tell anyone in case it ruins my reputation as a hard chaw, but as I harvest my plants I always thank them for feeding me. I think they respond well too.
Ha, I knew it! 😄😘
I want to say how blessed you are to have such a bountiful garden, where you grow your own real food.
It's a blessing indeed not to have to consume a helping of pesticide with every meal.
Did someone say conspiracy? Because I am very conspiranoid haha 😂
Nice carrots, they would win the carrot competition 👀 haha
All conspiranoids welcome here. Conspiranoid lives matter!
My carrots thank you for your appreciation and are contemplating entry for the carrotiest carrots of the year contest next week.
There's nothing sinful about being proud of your gardening results! Don't worry too much about the apple trees. My sister and her husband have had an apple orchard for about 35 years, and she tells me they don't get a good crop every year. It's just the way apple trees behave. I didn't plant much this year,due to travel plans and general fatigue, so my freezer and shelves aren't as loaded as usual. But we do have potatoes stored away.
So the apple trees are just taking a break . That's good to hear. I won't get my axe out so!:)
Homemade stuff is the best, lot of potatoes I see
As for apples, I guess depends on weathering I guess? 3 apple is really little, apple trees do loads usually
Lots of potatoes indeed, sure amn't I Irish!
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