• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Home Garden Companion

Home Garden Companion

Ilona's Garden Journal

  • Plant Library On The Journal
    • All Season Garden Color
    • Sitemap
  • Garden chores
    • Essential Garden Tools For Beginners
    • Garden Tips and Advice
  • Ilona’s Garden Home
    • Old House Blog
    • Garden Librarian
  • Ilona’s Garden Flavor Shop
  • Privacy Policy

one great day!

21.03.09 | Ilona Erwin | 1 Comment

everyone i know down here had their hands in the dirt today…. my gardening proceeds in fits and starts in many areas around the place. i have no real garden “plan”…. it just sort of calls me to do various things, in random places. i wish i were more organized, but i just go with the flow.
most of the veggie beds get rotated somewhat seasonally, and i do companion plant in places, but when i get going out there, i am jammin’. some would say its vernal ADD; i just see lots to do.
i often get bored with one job and there are plenty others to take its place. that’s life on the farm.
my energy returns with the sunshine, and though busy with many tasks, i do mix it up during a day’s work. in the end, it all seems to fall into place. most jobs done and a good worn-out achy feeling in my back…

we had just had four days of constant rain, and the drying out period seemed soo long.
today, the asparagus bed has been deep-dug… ready to plant new roots. also tilled beds for potatoes–it’s a bit late here, as may can be really hot/dry some years.
taking a risk is worth it tho’…. those little easter egg new potatoes will make,
even if the tops dry up.

i also started many trays of tomatoes, heirlooms (brandywine, roma-non hybrid, and american rose)…. come april, there is a local open market every saturday morning in a tiny nearby community, indian springs.
i am planning to share a booth with a friend this season. many big city folks make the drive for fresh local produce and a ‘quaint’ country afternoon…. there’s also the state park, a fancy sandwich place, ice cream shop and art gallery, and big “whimsy” garden. last year it seemed to be very active all summer, and people willingly paid good prices for organic food. i am going to offer tomato plants, asparagus, kale and mizuna greens, fancy lettuce( i like deer tongue, speckled trout-back, and romaines). later on tomatoes, if i have extra, and chile-type pepper varieties as well as japanese long eggplant. maybe collards later on, if i hold up thru summer heat.

i have always grown extra food and shared, traded or just given extra away.
in these economic times, with local farm markets getting very popular, it seems a fair trade-off.
in exchange for my good dirt, my work and my time, folks are willing and able to pay for “cheffy” peppers and eggplants. this season i am also going to put up a bit more food than my usual tomato sauce, green beans and pickled stuff. this is the first year in a long time that i am putting a real effort into making some extra money from the garden. i am grateful that the trend to fresh and local markets is finding a way into public consciousness. we will all benefit from better fresher food, and better (organic) eating habits.

this eve, am sitting in my armchair with a cuppa chai, bone weary from this long workday. i feel every muscle that hasn’t been used much this winter, and i have beautiful dark dirt all
under my nails and in my pants cuffs.
i am deeply satisfied with this first day of spring.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Related

← Previous Post
The Life of Bees
Next Post →
seeds,seeds, and more seeds….redux

About Ilona Erwin

I was a garden blog pioneer, and began writing on this blog in 2003. Before that I had begun a garden website that has been at its own domain since 2006, Ilona's Garden.

I still love writing, gardening, and art after all these years, although travel and grandchildren have become a big part of my life, now.

DISCLOSURE: I may be an affiliate for products that I recommend. If you purchase those items through my links I will earn a commission. You will not pay more when buying a product through my link. Thank you, in advance for your support! Privacy Policy

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ilona says

    March 22, 2009 at 5:06 pm

    What a bounty of inspiration this post gives me! Do not be surprised if I place my travel time to Atlanta around the Indian Spring Market. My daughter might want to put in a little area for tomatoes, and I’d love to help her do that. When is the best time to plant tomatoes in Atlanta?

Primary Sidebar

Oh, hi there!

I was a garden blog pioneer, and began writing on this blog in 2003. Before that I had begun a garden website that has been at its own domain since 2006, Ilona's Garden.

I still love writing, gardening, and art after all these years, although travel and grandchildren have become a big part of my life, now.

Newest Postings Here

  • Hawaiian Flower Arrangements
  • HELLLOOOO, From The Other Side
  • February Gardening, Last of Winter in the Flower Garden
  • Compilation of Past Mini-Posts of 2003
  • Wayback in Ilona Garden Time

Visit for a Spell

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Mission

Finding your way home via the garden path

Books, Tools, Tips

Read reviews from the GardenLibarian

Portrait of a Gardener

gardener musings
Musings

What’s Wrong With Today’s Gardening?

Modern gardening
What Is Wrong?

Garden Journal

fine garden journal
Journal, Planner and Log Book
buy quality plants

You might also like

seeds

National Seed Swap Day in January

Garden advice

What Makes a Low Maintenance Garden?

Create A Child’s Garden, Grow Love For Nature

Growing Indoor Flowers In December

I Found Out About “She Sheds” And Coincidentally, About Friends

Newest Postings Here

  • Hawaiian Flower Arrangements
  • HELLLOOOO, From The Other Side
  • February Gardening, Last of Winter in the Flower Garden
  • Compilation of Past Mini-Posts of 2003
  • Wayback in Ilona Garden Time

Books, Tools, Tips

Read reviews from the GardenLibarian

Standouts

10 Useful Gardening Tips For Spring

Do You Grow Herbs? 10 Reasons To Love Them

10 Cool Season Annual Flowers To Plant

Standouts

August Gardening: Ten Suggestions

What are your ten top choices for perennial plantings?

ilonagarden

With village lights With village lights
Christmas decor #christmasspirit🎄 Christmas decor #christmasspirit🎄
Instagram post 17935013548845771 Instagram post 17935013548845771
Instagram post 17981374354427684 Instagram post 17981374354427684
Instagram post 17865517706595888 Instagram post 17865517706595888
Gift of flowers by my bedside Gift of flowers by my bedside
#mockorange #juneflowers #ohio #mockorange #juneflowers #ohio
Instagram post 18224713828022497 Instagram post 18224713828022497
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Join Me

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2023 · Your Site Name

Hazel Theme by Code + Coconut