Comment

Comment by Sentient Biped on November 20, 2012 at 8:41pm

Amer, do you also grow Schlumbergera cactus?  They are blooming like crazy here, right now.  

Comment by amer chohan on November 20, 2012 at 12:04pm

Joan! I am in love with my cactus. Anything in the way of their improvement attracts me heavily. After your advice I spent at least 2 hrs in search of methods and ended up buying PH testing kit used in school labs. They use Litmus papers for testing soil samples. Thanks a lot anyway.

Comment by Joan Denoo on November 19, 2012 at 9:44pm

How to Test Soil With Litmus Strips

Things You'll Need

• Red and blue Litmus strips
• Soil auger or probe
• Plastic buckets
• Spade or trowel
• Eye dropper
• Petri dish or clean glass plate
• Distilled water

Comment by Joan Denoo on November 19, 2012 at 9:38pm

I found litmus test strips in the grocery store yesterday. Have never noticed them before. 

Comment by Joan Denoo on November 19, 2012 at 9:37pm

Backyard homestead

I thought this was a rooftop garden but it turns out to be hillside garden; lots going on in this little space. 

Comment by Joan Denoo on November 19, 2012 at 1:00am

Sentient, really good news about your thinking of keeping bees; your small patch of Earth will be a virtual garden of life. Do keep us informed. 

Comment by Joan Denoo on November 19, 2012 at 12:13am

Dallas, thank you so much for this Ode to a Worm. I'm going to have to find a way to put this in a form that is permanent and in my garden. I have a potter friend who may know how to preserve the words. 

Comment by Dallas (on hiatus) on November 18, 2012 at 11:29am

Earthworm

My spading fork turning the earth turns
This fellow out…without touching him this time.
Robbed of all resistance to his progress
He squirms awhile in the too-easy air
Before an ancient and implicit purpose
Starts him traveling in one direction
Reaching out, contracting, reaching out,
Contracting…a clean and glistening earth-pink.
He has turned more earth than I have with my fork.
He has lifted more earth than all men have or will.
Breaking the earth in spring men break his body.
And it is broken in the beaks of birds.
He has become and will again become
The flying and singing of birds. Yet another spring
Shall find him working noiselessly in the earth.
When I am earth again he will be there.

-- Robert Francis

 

Comment by amer chohan on November 18, 2012 at 11:03am

Thanks Joan, I wasn't aware that there could be some household methods for PH testing. Now I will find a way. Thanks again for showing the direction.

Comment by Sentient Biped on November 18, 2012 at 10:49am

Went to a 3 hour beekeeping class last night.  Might actually do that!

This garden already has hens and orchard mason bees.  And lots of earthworms.  And the visiting birds.  Not just plants.

According to the beekeeping teacher, hobby beekeeping is a growing trend.  WHo knew?

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