After kvetching about inclement weather, broken appliances, and a gimpy water system, MC would like to raise up a positive event that transpired during the Cranky Girls' trip to the farm: preparing the garden. In fairness, this chore took place efficiently and productively because MC had very little to do with it. In the picture above, 1)Cousin Tom is driving 2)another neighbor's tractor and pulling 3)Uncle M's cultivator. This neighborhood cooperation looks suspiciously like socialism, which we all know from the health care reform discussions is a dangerous threat to our freedoms. But this particular sharing of community resources must be OK because Cousin Tom has more guns than any self-respecting socialist could own outright. MC will be on the lookout for vegetables with bolshevik tendencies.
Cranky #1 ramrodded the decorative portion of the garden, clearing out roots and weeds to make room for the morning glories and other flowery additions that we will encourage to climb up the new corrals. Cranky #2 was concerned about what these vine-y plants will do when they reach the top of the corral and have no place left to go. MC would deem the effort a success if the flowers--or Cranky #2-- grew taller than the pigweed does this summer.
Burning grass in the yard might seem like a page from the "we must destroy this village to save it" school of horticulture. But MC is following best practices here. She planted a patch of lovegrass the size of a baby wading pool in pile of construction dirt. It grew into tall, plume-y clumps, just like the real deal. Real lovegrass farmers burn off their dead clumps to let the new grass grow in faster. MC is a real farmer, by damn, and she had the lighter in her pocket to prove it.
Lovegrass burning shows a bit of gardening savvy; dirt on the face, however, is the hallmark of quality gardening. Those children that Mrs. Obama invites to work in the White House garden don't look nearly dirty enough when they're done, but maybe their sisters don't throw clods at them. In any event, blowing bubbles reflects the satisfaction of a job well done.--MC
You Crankies can come oversee my garden any time. Although we might be hindered by city ordinances about burning things. There is a lot of velcro weed I'd like to burn, although I read in the Food section of the Statesman last week that one can make medicinal tea from that stuff.
ReplyDeleteAs always, fine job, my dear.
Renaissance Mom