All planted…five varieties of tomatoes, all heirloom except one.
I grew up in a medium-sized town in WV. We had a bustling downtown till they built the mall around the time I graduated from high school. Even though I was a “townie”, we spent just about every weekend out at my grandparents’ farm. Grandma and PopPop had a truck garden next to the house, and they grew a canning garden up on top of the hill. I worked alongside my grandma for as long as I can remember. From planting seeds to harvesting to putting up the produce, my hands were always busy.
I planted marigolds to keep the bugs away.
Like most adolescents, I grew up wanting something different. I didn’t want to be “stuck” working on a farm all my live raising a houseful of children. I wanted my life to be exciting. And it was. I lived in England for a couple of years and then Colorado for forty more. Somewhere in there, I decided I wanted a farm. Trouble was, I didn’t have a husband that wanted the same thing.
Our rhubarb plant was overgrown and died, so I bought a new one. This will be kept in a pot.
When Mr. Virgo died in March of 2013, I took advantage of the opportunity to return to my roots. I actually lived on Grandma’s farm for a couple of years and it was phenomenal. Then, about five years later, I married my high school sweetheart and, as most of you know, we live on our little five-acre pseudo homestead. We are not self sufficient, but we get closer every year. And even though we are both in our early seventies, we strive to do everything we reasonably can to reduce our carbon footprint and be prepared for any negative circumstances.
Tomato Variety Board…SIMM’s Greenhouse – Palestine, WV
We’ve tried having a garden here on Marshmallow Ranch, but we are of an age where dragging a tiller around and bending over for hours planting and weeding is just too much for our aging bodies. We always. Plan our summer projects during the winters when we are closed in with snow. This winter, Mr. FixIt decided he wanted to build a raised garden bed where we could at least raise tomatoes for the table. He bought the wood last week and slowly put it together. We tweaked it a little here and there till we got the configuration we thought would be useful. He finished putting the boards on the last side yesterday and lined the box with a double thickness of plastic. He had half a pickup load of top soil, some straw, and a few bags of compost/manure mix. Our son came over yesterday and between the two of them, they had the raised bed filled with dirt in a couple of hours.
While the guys worked on our super new garden space, I went to the tractor store and bought a new drive belt for the Husqvarna. We need to take the mower deck off today and replace that belt so I can get out there and mow. It’s getting really deep in the areas that are not designated as pollinator gardens. When I got home, our son was just leaving and Mr. FixIt and I decided to go to Simm’s Greenhouse for plants. When we got back, I planted the garden. Along with the tomatoes, I bought some marigolds to help keep the bugs away. I also bought a beautiful rhubarb plants and I’m going to grow it in a tub out back.
Our grand-doggy, Cooper. He is SO precious!
It was a very busy day but our bones were weary in a good way. It’s supposed to rain so I know I won’t get out on the mower today. But, there is ALWAYS something to do around here so I am sure the grass won’t grow under our feet. As I am sitting here writing to you, the little grey tree frogs are out there singing their hearts out for Ms. Right. It’s a pink-fringed evening with a cool breeze and I’m happy to my core.
I’m finally home.
🩵🌷🩵
“Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds, for riches don’t last forever, and the crown might not be passed to the next generation. After the hay is harvested and the new crop appears and the mountain grasses are gathered in, your sheep will provide wool for clothing, and your goats will provide the price of a field. And you will have enough goats’ milk for yourself, your family, and your servant girls.”
Proverbs 27:23-27 NLT
***Gratitude Journal*** Today, I am grateful for the opportunity to be as close to a farm girl as I’ve ever been. No chickens or pigs or goats, but we’re living in the country with the birds and the bees! And that’s something!