Spring Is Springing!

Let me start this post with a BIG thank you to Jason Beverley and Justin Ritchie for the monetary gift they gave toward the success of the Giving Garden!! You two are what makes giving to those in need an easier thing to keep doing!

The weather here has gone from winter to spring without a gradual change this year. Consequently, fruit trees and bushes are blooming a little early, so we have to trust there won't be a late freeze!

One of the things that many people don't realize is that it is important to spray the blooms of fruit trees once the blooms open to keep worms out of the fruit. That's right! That is how worms generally get in and ruin otherwise good fruit. That was my job today...spraying the apple blossoms with an organic insecticidal soap. Even while I was spraying, those blossoms smelled wonderfully sweet!

All of the apple trees and blueberry bushes were here when we bought the farm. Over the last three years we have been working on cultivating and pruning them to get the best and most fruit possible. In the first picture, the tree on the right is a great example of the right height and shape of a healthy, productive apple tree.

This third apple tree is located near our paddock and stable. I named it "Andrew's Tree" since a dear friend's son discovered he really liked the freshly picked green apples from this tree. By the way, one of our mares loves these apples, too!

The last picture is the first of our blueberry bushes to bloom. A video would have allowed you to see and hear the local bees busy at work. These berries are totally organic and though no one ever believes me until they witness it themselves, the bushes just keep giving and giving and giving!

You've probably already guessed that the fruit from these trees and bushes will be part of our giving garden also.

Hopefully, you have enjoyed this "pretty" post as a change from the "dirty" ones!!

John used the disc plow yesterday to continue preparing the soil.

The soil sample indicated the need for adding lime so we will mix some into the soil when we add the compost.

Giving Garden after John used the bottom plow. The bottom plow breaks up compacted dirt making it easier to then use a tiller or disc plow to further prepare the soil.

Another view.

This is the giving garden in early fall after we chose the location. In the distance is our horse stable we are refurbishing.

March 2011

We have begun clearing and preparing the space for The Giving Garden!


In January, John bush hogged as much space as we thought we could reasonably handle for the inaugural season of the garden. Two weeks ago, John borrowed a bottom plow from Donnie Marks to begin breaking up the soil. The next step will be to test the soil for any deficiencies content we need to correct. We suspect we may need to spread some lime, at the least.


But even before the soil test comes back, we will begin tilling and adding in organic compost/fertilizer.


As you may have noticed, so far most of the work has been done by John. Other than choosing what I hope is the best location (based on what I know about the hot summer sun's movement over the area), my real work will begin once the soil has been prepared and we begin planting.

Our excitement increases with each step we take to give back to the Lord by way of giving to our community. We will post pictures and updates every few weeks.