On The Bookshelf

I've been enjoying more time outside. The weather is just perfect, in the seventies and beautiful. I was out weeding yesterday at 2:30 in the afternoon and realized that I won't be able to do that comfortably for much longer, the really warm weather is on it's way. Until then, my plan is to get as much done outside and get my children out for a little fun and lots of exersise. School? Let it simmer on the back burner for this week!

The garden is in full swing. We planted 26 tomato plants, all of my peppers that lived - I think that was only six, 30 strawberries, beans, corn (I will be succession planting this crop, with 4 more squares to go), watermelon, sugar pumpkin, zucchini and cucumber. The peas and all of the different types of lettuce (I have a whole 4x4 box, I hope it won't be too much at once) are doing well. I see a little green in my carrot squares too.

To help everything along and maybe make get some honey in the process, I've gotten my honey bee stuff. Although I REALLY wanted three hives, the older couple that sold me everything took one look at me and said, "Let's see if you can keep this hive alive before you go killing three." These people really speak their mind!

So, with these new projects, I've been doing a lot of reading in the evenings. Thought you'd like to take a little peek at what's on my bookshelf today...

First Lessons in Beekeeping by Keith S. Delaplane: This book is easy to read, easy to understand and has pictures. Just what I need. When I went to pick up my bee gear yesterday and the woman that runs the business was talking in bee-eese, this book translates it all for me. I pick up my bee hive and bees on Sunday!

Fruits and Berries for the Home Gardner by Lewis Hill: By far, my all time favorite book for the diy orchardist, and I have many. I don't have all that much fruit in my yard (2 peach, 1 plum, 1 apricot, 1 apple, four blueberries, four raspberries, the 30 strawberries, two tiny baby rhubarbs and one grape vine) but it keeps me hopping. There is lots of information in here. Even with this, I can't figure out what's eating my blueberries. :)

The New Self-Sufficient Gardner by John Seymor: This book is just fun to read, lots of good pictures and tips for gardening year around. It supplies ideas for what you can be doing during each season in your garden, such as composting, what to grow in different seasons, how to build a cold frame, etc.