Be Ye Separate

If it's empty...PLANT IT!:P

Blessings!

   Around here, if something is empty and it has no immediate alternate use...it gets planted! This means just about anything. From tires to wading pools, washtubs to shoes:) And the creative fun makes it worth it:)

   This year, our planting season was delayed a long while. I was sure we wouldn't have a garden at all this year due to the storms, rain, snow and downright cold weather that seemed would never end. Our summer did start a little late (actually a lot late), so the girls and I decided to just start planting things in containers in hopes of keeping up with things since the ground was much too muddy and cold.

   Then when planting season finally did begin we got the garden area tilled up on a first pass but it wasn't deep enough. While Brother Craig was preparing to make a second pass over the garden to get it deeper and plantable, the tiller broke:( This meant more delays and we would definitely NOT get things in the ground. We still intend to plant in the ground but for now we have our containers and I couldn't be happier:)

   We started with tires. We had many many tomato plants that were started and needed to be transplanted and soon so we pulled in a bunch of tires from the local tire shop. They have to pay to get rid of those tires so we simply sign a form stating we will not use the tires for our vehicles and that we do not hold the tire shop liable for their condition or purpose of use. Free tires is always a nice thing:)

   The tires were planted up with 4 plants per tire. My how they've grown:)Notice that the weeds are all outside of the tires:) It's overgrown grass actually and we'll be cutting it out this weekend. Other than that, the tomatoes are blossoming and beginning to show signs of upcoming fruit for the table:)

Then there's the zuch's and squashes:The zucchini and summer are in the left wading pool. The crookneck and spaghetti squash are in the right one:)

Then there's the myriad of peppers in the small planters on the right. Those are jalapeno, green chile's, purple and yellow chile's and another I can't remember. They haven't done as well as I had hoped but we think it's because the soil was regular potting soil instead of the garden soil. Maybe a little compost and vitamins would help. On the right are some strawberry plants. They are nearly 10 times the size we planted them. They were on clearance because all the strawberry plants had been bought up and planted months ago. I don't know if they'll produce but it never hurts to try:) Also notice the wading pool at the bottom of the picture. That is our eggplant plants:)

   The container is the old horse trough. We sold him at auction a couple months ago and it's too tall for our goats so why not?:P

Pickling and slicing cucumbers in the next wading pool. They are growing so well and so quickly:) Notice, again...no weeds!:)

Watermelon and pumpkin in the yellow wading pool. Those are also growing so fast. Yes these will do a little cascading but we'll make consession for that when the time comes. They will produce enough for us to make sugar, have a few sweet picnics and can enough pumpkin to see us through the winter:)

The closest wading pool has a variety of lettuces. They were started as seed just about a week ago and we are beginning to get some sprouts already. It's always nice to have a fresh salad right at our fingertips:)

 Notice the empty tire? Well, that originally had green onions in it. The chickens liked them...ALL:P Bad chickens:P In a previous picture you can see an empty wading pool on the inside of the fencing. That is our henyard:) The pool is for their water as well as the ducks bathing and drinking. It's so nice to have everything rather convenient to the house:)

Miss Mary-Ann is our little gardener and has done all of the planting this year. She's very industrious and determined:) In fact, if it wasn't for her prodding and encouragment I think I would have let the idea of a garden go this year. Largely due to starting so late. I'm glad she talked us into it:)

With that said, she is solely responsible for all the herbs grown here. She has always enjoyed herbs and spices. Growing them for many different reasons from cooking to medicinal to teas:) She planted up anything she could find:) Some of the containers (like the oval washtub) was rusted through after years and years of use so she planted it up! It was on it's way to the dumps when she pulled it and said it was perfect for what she needed. I told her that she could plant up anything she liked if it was going to be thrown out. She took me at my word:)

This is the walkway to the front door where she has used all kinds of things to plant up her herbs:)And just opposite of these is some more plants just under the frontroom window on the other side of the pathway.Notice the little stepladder looking thing on the right? It's actually a little plant holder that we bought at a barnsale a few weeks ago for a dollar:) It was so cute and is now filled with all kinds of herbs and other plants now:) I don't have a picture of it filled up yet but I'll get more planting pictures loaded up soon and do another post on our progress:)

Well, that's it for now:) I'll go over our watering style in another post as time permits:) For now, just remember that God has given us the wonders of His creation for our personal pleasure. He has provided us with all we need to feed ourselves. He has told us to take charge of His earth and "subdue it". Grow our food, raise our animals and enjoy the bounty He provides through our stewardship:)

Have a very blessed summer as you enjoy your bounty from His hand to yours:)

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

Untitled Comment

{ 04:58, Saturday, July 26, 2008 } { Posted by rildapeel1 }

WOW! Fantastic!! All looks wonderful. This is what is called make do. And you do it very very well my dear. Thanks for sharing!! I enjoyed your post and seeing your creativity for it is amazing what one can do when they put their mind to it. Great garden and no weeds is a blessing for sure. Have a blessed day!!
rilda *U*

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{ 05:22, Saturday, July 26, 2008 } { Posted by Mennobrarian }

We got a late start, too, but better late than never. Things are going quite well, so it would have been a loss to miss out on a garden this year. Your daughter is doing a great job. About the wading pools- did you have to drill holes in the bottom of them for drainage?
~Monica~

Great Idea

{ 13:34, Saturday, July 26, 2008 } { Posted by ReginaS }

Hi Sister Lori,
I never would have thought to use old tires or wading pools to plant things. I'm going to be planting tomatoes and maybe some strawberies. It is late in the season but I still would like to give it a shot.

Thanks for your post...

{ 09:10, Sunday, July 27, 2008 } { Posted by mulberrylane }

I've done that in the past, but have not thought to do it again this year... I think I might just do that to get my fall garden in and planted before it is too late... some more beans, zucchini, yellow squash... OH, how nice... we have some tires out back I can put to use right away... now to find a little soil to fill them with!

Warmly, ~Melissa