Tag: spring

Happy Spring! Do You Know Where Your Potatoes Are?

Happy Spring! Do You Know Where Your Potatoes Are?

It’s finally Spring! Okay, so it doesn’t much feel like it from where I’m standing, but the calendar says Spring started today so it must be true.

There isn’t a lot of spring-like activity going on outside our home right now so I don’t have much to show for it, but my son and I did manage to take advantage of a single warm day last week to plant some potatoes. Yay, potatoes! Now the old tale says that one should plant potatoes before St. Patrick’s Day (and we came in just under the wire), but I’m sure there’s still time to sow some tasty tubers of your own.

potatoes

If you’ve never planted potatoes, I urge you to give it a go. There is just something special about a lunch of new potatoes and fried okra harvested from your own garden on a hot summer day.  It makes me feel like I have really accomplished something special, but secretly I know these are two of the easiest veggies to grow here in the Midwest. It’s still a good feeling and an even better meal!

You can plant seed potatoes directly in the ground or even in a very large pot. We seem to have better success in the pot, because it’s easier to keep the varmints from eating off the tops and the tubers are easier to find at harvest time.

Use “seed” potatoes to grow your own bounty by cutting them in half, making sure there are at least two eyes in each half, and planting them directly in the soil about 3-5 inches deep. Some folks suggest you let the cut pieces dry out over night before planting, but I’ve never done this and seem to have success. You can also buy seed potatoes of different varieties at your local store and follow the directions on the packaging.

As the potatoes grow, they will sprout a stem that grows above ground. Keep animals from eating this stem so that it can gather energy from the sun to help your tators grow. This foliage will eventually wither and die when your potatoes are ready to be harvested, but you can also dig up early tubers if you like to munch on the smaller variety. You can actually harvest potatoes at multiples time during the summer, but try not to disturb the soil too much if you plan to let a few continue to grow. Harvest times do vary depending on the type of potato you grow, but you can do a little research or read packaging to find out how soon you can expect your first feast.

Happy Spring and Happy Potato Planting!

 
photo credit: Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com Small Potatoes via photopin (license)

I Ate My Bacon in the Shower

I Ate My Bacon in the Shower

bacon in the shower

Wow! What a spring! It has been an entire month since I have taken a breath long enough to write down a few thoughts and, counting up all my irons in the fire, I’m surprised I haven’t just thrown in the towel. In fact, just last week I actually ate my bacon in the shower (yes, as the water was flowing), which should have been a huge clue that I’m probably more than just a tad too busy. Of course I have no one to blame but myself for most of my family’s carryings-on, but it has been very exciting around here at the Quarter-Acre Wood so I wanted to share just a few happenings with all of you.

  • First of all, let me just go ahead and admit that this year’s attempt at the 40 Bags in 40 Days Challenge was an epic failure. I didn’t even make it halfway to my goal before my timeline simply timed out. On the bright side of things, I did manage to clean out several trouble spots in my home even if I ignored the huge looming storage room under the garage. I just simply close my eyes and stumble around every time I retrieve a flower vase or restock holiday decorations. I’ve only stumped my toes a few times. Okay, not so much, but that method would probably make me a lot happier since I wouldn’t have to look at my mess.
  • Although I struck out at cleaning my house, I did manage to complete a hefty item on my wish list and that was the Daughters of the American Revolution. After a bit of research and document gathering, I only had to wait a few months for everything to be verified. I became official on April 5 and will be sworn in this afternoon at our monthly meeting. I’m super excited to be a part of this very patriotic group of ladies and thankful to my ancestor, William Crowson, who fought for our country’s independence.
  • In addition to the D.A.R., I’ve also joined another important group of individuals — the pastor search committee at Park Hill Baptist Church. Our church lost its pastor at the end of the year and now we are searching for the man who will continue to lead our congregation for the coming years. I am very honored and excited to be serving on this committee, but it’s also a lot of pressure! Of course I realize we aren’t alone in this, and with continued prayer we will call the person God has appointed. . . still, it’s a lot of pressure!!
  • Also church related, I’m coordinating Vacation Bible School again this year, and things are already in full swing. I love VBS, but trying to bring everything together is kind of crazy!!!
  • One of the biggest (and most expensive) ventures we have going this spring comes with the title of “Land Baroness.” Okay, so that’s a self-imposed title, but I kind of like it. My husband and I finally enquired about the three acres that backs to our property and I’m happy to say we now officially own it. Yay! It’s an oddly shaped property that wraps around the end of our neighborhood, but it’s ours and it’s not part of the homeowners’ association. You know what that means. . . chickens!! We had to find a new home for our feathered friends when we moved here almost five years ago and although it was a very sad day, happy days are here again (if we can just figure out how to keep all our predators at bay)!

Okay, so now that I’ve caught you up on some of the major happenings at the now “Three and a Quarter-Acre Wood,” I guess I should get back to my Saturday morning. After all, I have a chicken coop to assemble and a DAR meeting to attend (these things make me smile, you know).

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