What did you do in the garden today?

[wyoDreamer]

It just isn't fair when we work so hard to get something done and then someone comes along with a machine and show us how it is really done! DH does that to me all the time.

More lawn means more mowing ... just saying to be careful what you wish for, lol.

My DH has this thing about lawn - he seems to be making more and more of the fields into lawn. Granted, he does most of the mowing, but I would like to have enough pasture/field area on our 20+ acres to eventually have a beef steer or 2 for the freezer.

 

[sumi]

I know, right? I'm soooo tempted to ask the driver, who I had some lovely chats with during the week, how much he'd charge me to clean up some of the messiest bits in the back here. I don't think it would take more than a few hours.... VS taking me another 3 weeks!

Mowing a lawn is o.k. And I'm planning to keep chickens and ducks on it, so that will help And the feeling of satisfaction when I see a lawn where previously there was dead mess and rubbish is awesome. Not to mention my landlord's face when he came to look at a troublesome drain and I asked if he has a lawn mower I can borrow He is delighted with my hard work and efforts out there.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

@sumi , the biggest expense of hiring a rig like that is the transport to and from your property. Could just be that he'd cut you a great deal, seeing as how it's already parked at your place. If free parking wasn't provided, he'd have to come load that rig and transport it, before he might be ready to do so. It probably wouldn't take him even an hour to do your job.

 

[sumi]

@sumi , the biggest expense of hiring a rig like that is the transport to and from your property. Could just be that he'd cut you a great deal, seeing as how it's already parked at your place. If free parking wasn't provided, he'd have to come load that rig and transport it, before he might be ready to do so. It probably wouldn't take him even an hour to do your job.

I was actually thinking of that myself. It's in my backyard already? All he has to do is scrape a bit for me. It may take him an hour and save me a LOT of work and time. I'm thinking about it. If he's able to do it before they fence off the area and he needs to get that thing out of here and doesn't quote me too much, I may squeeze it into my budget

 

[Lazy Gardener]

The sooner you approach him with your request, the better, these guys often book tight. If he has a heads up, he can squeeze you in.... maybe. But, if it's a request made when he's already mentally moving on to the next job, he's likely not going to accommodate you.

 

[Marianne]

@Hinotori, using that berry picker to harvest dandelions is genius!!!!
I have a bag of greens and flowers in my frig, compliments of oldest son.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

I continue to rip and tear in the garden. I've removed most of the raspberry canes from the section where the asparagus beds will be. Unfortunately, there will be some roots left behind that will plague me in the new beds, but that can't be helped, unless I want to wait an other year to plant those beds. Almost all of the raspberry canes are infested all the way to the roots with cane borers or the damage left behind. I'm saving some of the small canes that don't appear to be affected. I'll do well to save enough canes to start my new rows. Am pulling the asparagus crowns as I find them. Any crowns with evidence that they are female are set aside to remove from the garden. The rest: "don't know" will be replanted in the first asparagus bed. I'll buy a Jersey, all male cultivar for the second bed. Next season, I hope to remove any remaining female plants from the first bed. Perhaps I'll plant those female crowns in the orchard. They are pretty. The orchard is more wet than the garden. My reading says that asparagus was originally a plant well suited to damp soils. I don't know how much I believe that, since I see it growing on road sides which are dead bones dry.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

Took the broad fork for a test drive today. I REALLY, REALLY like it. It allows me to loosen the soil much faster than the common garden fork. While I have a Troy Bilt, I prefer to do the work by hand.

Tomorrow's goal is to get scion wood, and graft 2 pear and 1 apple seedling. Bartlett for sure, and I'm not sure whether to go with Asian or Clapton Beauty for the second. Apple variety will be Liberty. The buds are swollen and just about to break, so timing is perfect.

 

[Hinotori]

How do you think it would work in rocky soil?

One of the stores here sells broad forks. Hubby tried to buy me one a few years ago but I didn't want to spend that money if it wouldn't work in rocky soil

 

[Lazy Gardener]

Depends on how rocky. My natural soil is very rocky. But, I thank God that the fill that was brought in to an area which is now my garden is sandy loam, and about 6 - 8" deep. There are rocks that keep working their way up, and no doubt that will continue forever. That's just the nature of life in frost zones. But, I find that it will dig down to, and below natural base with ease. When I get to a rock that won't budge, I work it out with spade, 4' pry bar, and stainless garden fork. If that doesn't work, I just leave it be. Really, those rocks are more of an affront to my ego than they are a problem in the garden! 5 Tines are about 4" apart, 10" long, and made of 3/8" steel. (my guess without measuring)

If you can dig in your soil with a garden fork, you can do so with a broad fork. And the ergonomics of the broad fork make it MUCH easier to use, while covering 2 - 3 x the area with a single stab.

I absolutely love the way this tool works for me. It gives an easy total body work out. I do physical therapy for a living, and am loathe to spend even a moment of my life doing mindless exercise for the sake of exercise. (call me the ultimate hypocrite!!!) The broad fork works extensors and flexors of legs and arms, calls core muscles into action, especially when I am doing a bit of a twisting action as the fork is rocked back (to help dislodge weeds). The twist is not part of the standard use instructions, but it sure does work well. I'm only 5'1", and have shoulder issues, often tweak my back, and have plantar fascitis. However, using the broadfork extensively yesterday left me with only pleasantly tired muscles. 2 Ibuprophen, a night's sleep, and I'm ready to go at it again.

I say that if your hubby wants to buy you a broad fork, you hand him your credit card, and ask: "How soon!!!!!"