Saturday, May 16, 2009

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.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Jennifer,
It sounds like you are off to a GREAT start. We are just starting to get things in the ground. I do have some herbs growing inside. Today we will plant the rest of our veggies (last week we put out our onion starters and planted carrots). Yesterday, Ralph planted four tomato plants (we don't have room for any more and we put them in planters). I would love to grow fruit, but that will have to wait until we have a lot more room than we have now.

I look forward to hearing how your garden and orchard go, and how much honey you will harvest from your hives.

Rachel said...

Wow! You are ambitous. How fun to have the space to plant all of that. And bees? You are also brave. LOL It will be fun to see pictures of your harvest.

Dalyn said...

I am dying to get honey bees! My husband gets freaked out by that...so I stick with all my other critters *U*

I hear that it is HARD to keep the hives alive. I wish you success! Maybe someday we will be trading cheeses and milk for honey *U* I love my raw honey.

Carrie said...

Jennifer,

Looks like I need to pick your brain and take gobs of notes...I have the black thumb of death and tend to stay away from gardening, but I really want my children to have the skill...I think we will be planting some things this year, but we need to do some work still in our garden space....
Bees,
That sounds fun! They say if someone in your family has allergies, have them eat local honey...yours will REALLY be local...I just purchased some beeswax to make candles with, so there is another product that you can use from your bees...although, I have read that it takes quite a bit to produce a pound of honey...don't remember the exact figure.
Always enjoy your blog!
C~

Misty said...

I just wanted to say that I have really been enjoying your blog! We are in the process of planting all of our gardens too. I am looking forward to hearing how your beekeeping goes! Were interested in doing that as well.

Blessings,
Misty