Snow, Snow go away see you on a far away day!!!

Here in the North Country I think I can speak for most of us, “WE ARE SICK OF SNOW!”

I for one can’t wait to start my garden plotted for this year.

Let me back track for a bit, Charlie and I moved into his parent’s house. We fondly call it the homestead. The homestead was built by Charlie’s parents in the early 50’s. Every nail pounded by them, every brush stroke by my in-laws.

Charlie’s Dad had a garden for a few years and that is where we plan to plot our garden out.

I prefer a square foot garden rather than one by rows.

Once we have it all plotted out we will decide what veggies to plant where.

I prefer to have plants that help each other together.

My first square will have my heirloom Mammoth snow peas. I will build a tower of three long about ten feet high poles. Tying them as a tripod at each pole I will place 1 plant of peas. In the space under the tripod I will grow spinach. The rest of the space will be filled with radishes.

 

This will take 2 squares. And yes I am getting ahead of myself because the soil isn’t ready yet…

Once again I beg you to follow me back to the plot.

The day to plow is when you can form a handful of earth and it will hold without water dripping.. But it will crumble..

Man I can’t wait for that day!

 Did I tell ya how sick of snow I am lol? 

I get the lovely job of taking out the grassy clomps and toss them into the wheelbarrow.

 This ole gal doesn’t like to waste anything so I will fill in any holes that old man winter may have left me.. With the best of the grassy clumps.

My secret to a happy garden, is the food I feed it in spring.

 A mixture of rotted horse manure, peat moss and a good potting soil. Shovel it into the garden a good 6 inches deep and then the Love Of My Life will plow it under again. The last step is a layer of peat moss over the top of the soil. And lightly water the whole plot. This will start the soil to begin its rebirth. Can I get an Amen! And yes I usually dance around the garden every year .. Its my Julia thingy,  I figure a celebration can’t hurt right?

Some of you readers may remember I started a worm farm. Well I have three trays full of worms.. and I will add them to the garden. Lordy bless the worms. They take all my paper and peelings and make it into a very rich soil!

Next is to place down the walkways. I have used recycled pizza boxes over the years, under the boxes I place my peelings, grass clippings and leaves. The worms love it under there also, I can always find plenty of worms for fishing!

Now I am trying something on my bucket list, making a twig fence. To keep out the pests hopefully! Along the fence I can grow beans and marigolds.

I will make a place for the gate. If I find an old chest of drawers I will place it out there to hold all my garden items.

Friends it is time for me to go … next will be pics of me out there getting all kinds of dirty! Til then make some happy memories and get those hands dirty!

Don’t ya just love a Sunday morning!

 The Sun is shining on the snow .. it could about blind ya ! Waiting on my coffee .. oh yes need that jumpstart in my morning! Don’t you?

One of the first things I opened when we moved in was the kitchen cupboards.. Mainly looking to see the coffee mugs my Mother in law has.

 Well cute as geese on cups are, they aren't my cup of coffee! 

So what to do with them..

I found a blog that shows me how to recycle these cute cups into my whimsical garden!

Teacup bird feeders! How great is that darlings?!!!!?

Then this old brain started to spin and I thought hmmmm why stop at cups.. couldn’t I use some of these old chipped tea pots and add some flowers..

Well this ole gal didn’t stop her vision there .. a café table .. two chairs nestled under a shade tree with tea cups and tea pots flowers .. and maybe some vines.. and I can call it the madhatter garden.. lol! I love it already and haven’t even started it..

So my Darlins make some birdfeeders and bird bath and take some pics and show me and the world.. cause ya never know who ya will inspire .. 

For more of my Mad Hatters ideas : follow .. The Mad Hatter Garden Ideas

Planning out my dream home

Hello my whimsical Darlins!

This spring as most of you know I will be planning the gardens here at the homestead. 
This year I will start with the front garden.. My goal; is to make The Ferry Homestead into Ferry Cottage, Filled with magickal places everywhere ya look.

The front yard is very small, with a 50 old crabapple tree in the middle. My dream is to find a lovely old cast-iron settee that will go around the crabapple. A white picket fence.. with some wild roses growing over. The fence I am hoping will be made of recycled plastic and a nice gate opening to a slate walkway with moss.. from the driveway there will also be a gate and a walkway. In between the walkways with be a English cottage of flowers.. Foxglove, Echinacea, lupines, lily of the valley, peonies, English ivy, Violets, to start.. and transplant some crocus for the following spring.

The moss will be coming from our old place I plan on raising it here.. also some bulbs will be divided and planted lilies and irises ..

Once the fence is in I will make a sign Ferry Cottage…

As soon as the snow is gone we will be taking down the ramp in the front .. recycle the wood that we can and the hardware. Planning on designing a small deck/gazebo to sit and watch the sun set and the neighbors walk by.. the back of the gazebo I plan to recycle some doors for privacy from our neighbors but open to the front drive..

I also plan on making a bird bath out of some of these dishes and pottery I have found around here. Also feeders.. placed around this front garden so one may watch under the crabapple, the deck, and gazebo..

I also plan on a new look for the front steps.. Hoping to find a bunch of stuff on my outings.. Hopefully free and whimsical!

As we work along with my dream of Ferry Cottage.. I will be taking pictures so you can see step by step…