March 2015 – Never Enough Dirt

Pecan, what is it good for?

By BrianT
on Mar 18, 2015
in Featured Post

As it turns out, pecan trees make great gardening material. It is a hard wood; meaning that it is rigid, strong, and will not rot quickly. On the slope are the stumps of pecan trees that once towered. On an established tree, it takes more than cutting it down to remove it. Luckily, that is the case with these trees. The growth from the stumps make for nice foliage. However, when the foliage becomes too dense and too tall, they can be harvested for use in the garden or fire starting.

Pecan wood. Sorted out the straight ones for staking, the not so straight for kindling, and the long ones for other uses.

March 8th, 2015: Working for more dirt

By BrianT
on Mar 09, 2015
in Featured Post, Fruit

Keeping the pecan under control. (Photo from earlier in the year when just one cut was made.)

The pecan that live on the slope grow quickly. It has been about three years since the slope has been trimmed back. With the help of my brother, John, we spent half the day clearing just one part of the slope back. Cutting is quick to do. Cleaning up is not so quick. The work lies in breaking down the vegetation once it has been cut.

Once broken down, most of the vegetation is reused. The leaves were mulched and will be composted. The wood from the pecan will be used as stakes, fire wood, and terracing material. Continue Reading

Gwen needs a new stake

By BrianT
on Mar 09, 2015
in Avocado, Fruit

Last summer, I duct taped another section of bamboo to support the Gwen avocado’s new height. The tree is growing steadily and is need of a new stake after the bamboo stake gave way.

Gwen avocado(Persea americana) — Gwen avocado (Persea americana)

Toilet paper rolls as starter containers

By BrianT
on Mar 02, 2015
in Featured Post

The cost of gardening can add up pretty quickly. When the costs go up, it can take away from one of the experiences of gardening; which is to save money by growing one’s own crop. One way to save on costs on is to re-purpose containers that you would otherwise toss in the trash as seed starting pots.

Toilet paper roller seed starting container — Toilet paper roll seed starting container

In the garden, March 2nd, 2015

By BrianT
on Mar 02, 2015
in Uncategorized

Forest Pansy Redbud(Cercis canadensis) — Forest Pansy Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

Elephant garlic (left) Chesnok Red garlic (right)

The Chesnok garlic are extremely happy and doing quite well. The matte green leaves invoke memories of drawing and coloring plants and leaves with Crayloa Green. It is a color I would later discover to not be representive of real foilage. Real foilage tends to be a brighter and glossy green.