Success!

I declare our Summer 2018 backyard garden a success! We added a new space where our river birch died using the No Dig method. Peppers, tomatoes, Swiss chard, herbs and dwarf corn grow there. The corn seeds were a gift from son Jonathan.  About four feet tall, if they managed pollination during this rainy spell, we will have enough for a few meals-another experiment. So many things can go wrong from seed to seed. These are an heirloom, sweet, blue corn bought from Hudson Valley Seed Co. Check them out. They have the best rutabagas I think.

The No Dig method is a subjective success. I do not weigh produce to compare from year to year but Charles Dowding, an English market farmer, does. He has revived and revised Ruth Stout's no dig method. His data shows that No Dig is as productive or more than when we till and turn garden soil. I have used it throughout our beds because it's time to stop beating myself up growning vegetables. Watch his videos on Youtube. His germination method mimics Craig LeHoullier's tomato germination method which is along the line of more is more. If you grow your plants from seed you gotta check out their videos/blog. There is much to know.

Volunteerism: I advocate such and allowed our summer garden to do so. From our in garden compost, from the bird feeder and self-seeding survivors,  sunflowers, pumpkins, holy basil, and butternut squash all volunteered, delighted, and produced. I may be able to enter pumpkins in the Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair this year. I have harvested seven nice sized butternuts squash this past week. Sunflowers will be left for the birds, holy basil will be dried and harvested for tea.