After my oldest granddaughter’s doctor appointment, I realized that taking her back to school for forty-five minutes was ridiculous. She told me all she would be missing is gym class. Being a grandfather that finds all aspects of school important I told her she could do gym at home. She’s still mowing grass. She’s done about a half acre so far with a push mower. I fully support the education system.
Then guilt overcame me. I finished up what I was doing inside (putting a clear coat on our new barn door headboard which I’ll share photos of later) and headed outside. Our middle granddaughter is supposed to be responsible for our strawberry patch. She has failed this year. I grabbed the weed trimmer and cleared out between the raised beds.
There are eight beds in all, of which only three and a half were home to the strawberry plants. Two were used this year for the youngest one’s gourds. She did an amazing job. She planted ten seeds, picked a few weeds, and waited. Lots of gourds.
Anyhow, the middle one does, and did this past September, make what we call strawberry bombs. (See Photo) They are propagation balls that are meant for trees, but we use them on the strawberries. We put a little peat moss in it and clamp it shut with a runner plant in it. Wait a few weeks and you have a nicely rooted plant.
While clearing the weeds, I found all her bombs and more runners. I cleaned out the weeds from the other four beds and prepped the soil. I then spent two hours planting starter plants. We will have a bumper crop next year if all goes well. I still have a pile of starter plants that I don’t want to put anywhere else. They may end up in the greenhouse for winter strawberries.
I put them all to work pulling weeds, filling the compost bins, and of course, mowing. It truly is a challenge working with them, especially the two younger ones. I never saw children need to go inside the house so much. I have to pee. I need a drink of water. I need a tissue. A tissue? Ahhh!!
The strawberries are planted. Most of the weeds that were pulled have made it to the compost bin, and the mowing continues. I never liked gym class, but I’m starting to love it. Tomorrow we’ll attack more weeds and get the beds put down for the season. Fence still needs put up and a lot of tilling done.
I know this isn’t the most exciting post, but you made it to the end. Congratulations! Thanks for reading.
Let’s talk soon…
The Renaissance Maniac 