If you analyze a molecule of chlorophyll itself, what you get is one hundred thirty-six atoms of hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen arranged in an exact and complex relationship around a central ring. At the ring’s center is a single atom of magnesium. Now: If you remove the atom of magnesium and in its exact place put an atom of iron, you get a molecule of hemoglobin. The iron combines with all the other atoms to make red blood. (Annie Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek)
Chlorophyll and our blood, only one atom’s difference. That has got to be one of the most amazing things ever.
Bookman unfortunately had to work all weekend so there was no coop building. But, there was plenty of work in the garden. Finally, finally, I got all the winter mulch out of all the garden beds, cut back all of last year’s perennial stems and grasses. I have a new favorite garden tool: a sod sickle. Where has this tool been all my life? It is designed for cutting grass. I have lots of prairie grass and this baby made short work of cutting it back. For years I have used clippers and ended up with a very sore hand afterwards from the constant cutting motion. With the sickle I grab a bunch of grass in one hand and slice through the stems with the other. Where a big bunch of little bluestem might take me a few minutes to snip back, I can cut it back with the sickle in seconds. I was so happy I almost cried with joy, especially now after all that work, my hands are not sore.I have some new clippers too. These are for cutting small stems and work on most perennials. For over a decade I have had a lovely pair of Fiskars with a bright orange handle. Last fall the spring sprung out and disappeared into a garden bed. Bookman and I looked and looked but it is like a needle in a haystack to find a tiny dark gray spring in mulch and dirt. So a new pair was in order. I could not find any Fiskars but the new pair works great and I like them and I hope they last a good long time.
However, when the design team for these clippers were sitting around the conference table whoever had
the bright idea of making the handle brown should be fired. As they were discussing handle color and tossing out orange or blue or yellow, why did someone say, how about brown? It’s a nice garden color, natural, won’t clash with anything. And because they don’t clash with anything they are easy to lose amidst the garden detritus. So while the clippers themselves might last a very long time, the likelihood of them disappearing like the spring on my Fiskars is high.This morning before Bookman went off to work we had some time to begin preparing the vegetable beds. We were going to plant the potatoes except I forgot that after you cut them they need to dry for 24 hours before planting. This is the second year we are growing potatoes. Last year we grew Irish Cobbler. They were so good we are growing them again. This year we are also growing a purple potato called Adirondack Blue. We’ll plant them tomorrow evening after dinner. At least the bed is prepared for them so that’s something!
We also got a good way through prepping the main vegetable bed for planting and after Bookman left for work I finished it off. Tomorrow evening when we plant potatoes we will also be planting peas. Lots and lots of peas. And possibly a few other seeds. We’ll see how fast the potatoes and peas go.The Dashwoods are just over four weeks old. They have mostly feathers now and very little fluff. Occasionally they almost cluck but it is still mostly peeping. Marianne is an Ameraucana and that breed tends to have a neck ruff that looks kind of like a Victorian gentleman’s whiskers. The ruff has begun to emerge. As I was looking them over this afternoon I noticed a red bump on Mrs. Dashwood’s head and had a moment of panic thinking someone had scratched her but then I realized her comb is growing!
This week I gave them another broccoli floret and they did not run away screaming like they did the first time. Mrs. Dashwood strode right up and gave it a mighty peck. Then they all started tearing at it a bit and quickly lost interested. I left it in their feeder and it was gone the next morning so it was devoured at some point during the night.
I also gave them some carrot. I cut it up in small chick bite-size pieces and held the little pile in my hand for them to eat. They weren’t sure what it was but they were not afraid of the little pieces. Margaret was the only one to really get excited by it. She seemed to like it quite a lot but then she also really likes my thumb. During the carrot feeding, after trying a few pieces Mrs. Dashwood decided it was much more interesting to stand on my hand while Margaret tried to eat carrot pieces from between her toes. Gradually Mrs. D moved up my hand until she was standing on my wrist and kept looking up like she was trying to figure out if she could climb up my arm. Thank goodness Margaret pecking her toes distracted her!
Here is today’s dose of Dashwoods. I had just given them some dandelion and sorrel so they are all worked up. When they get excited Marianne starts jumping at everyone, especially Elinor. Mrs. Dashwood is the black one with the white specks in her feathers. Elinor is the dark red/brown one. Margaret is the solid black one. Marianne is the white/tan speckled one. I am not sure what color to call her anymore. She no longer has her chipmunk stripes and her color changes every few days. It will be interesting to see what she looks like when she is done.
Next weekend Bookman and I both have three days off. The big plant sale is Friday. We plan on finishing the coop. I hope the weather cooperates!
I can’t believe how much they’ve grown! So what kind of plants are you looking to get at the plant sale? We missed our Spring plant sale at the Wildflower center but we’ll go in the fall and pick up some stuff. Hope the weather cooperates for all the gardening adventures!
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Iliana, it’s crazy how fast they grow! We are getting a cherry tree, a bunch of plants for the chicken coop green roof, some shade plants, and a few other random things. Too bad you missed the spring plant sale. Hopefully you’ll get lots of great ones in the fall 🙂
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Whenever I read your gardening updates I get so jealous. We have quite a big plot where we live now but I have no idea where to start wih it and whenever I try I get disheartened by my ignorance. Any advice for beginners?
I love the Dashwood updates. 🙂 Can’t wait to see the coop. I’d love to keep some chickens, but I fear that our dog Juno would find them a bit too stimulating…
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Victoria, start small in an area close to the house or that you pass by frequently. Plant flowers you love or a few favorite vegetables and herbs or go crazy and mix the flowers and vegetables and herbs together. If that sounds like too much, begin with a few containers. You can even grow tomatoes in a big container 🙂
An energetic dog might be rather hard on the chickens. But you could always build the chickens a big run that Juno can’t get into.
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They are growing in strides! Love the tales of the Dashwoods vs Broccoli!
It’s wonderful that you can grow potatoes in your garden! I’ve only ever eaten violet potatoes that were from France but loved the flavor. I’ve been thinking of trying to grow some in a big pot on the balcony, it appears to work for some. Also got a snack cucumber plant which is supposedly difficult to destroy if I keep to instructions…we’ll see.
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Bina, it is amazing how fast they are growing. We have to be selective about what kind of potatoes we grow, they have to be smaller, shorter season ones because the end of the growing season is too unreliable for the big ones like russets. But that’s ok because it is more interesting to grow varieties that aren’t sold in the store anyway 🙂 I have heard that potatoes are really easy to grow in a big pot. Good luck with your cucumber!
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Trust Marianne for being a show-off! And what is she doing picking on poor Elinor! She had Elinor hiding in the corner. She needs to learn some lessons I think!
Lovely post Stefanie. I’ve never heard of a “sod sickle”. I must check out our nursery shops.
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What a quotation by Anne Dillard! Great action from the Dashwoods!
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Ian, isn’t the Dillard quote great? I will never think of blood or chlorophyll the same way again. I hope to soon be able to traumatize the Dashwoods by moving them outdoors. Once they get over the shock, they will love all the space and sunshine.
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Lets face it: who needs Kardashians when you’ve got those Dashwoods!
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whisperinggums, sometimes the chickens exhibit traits so close to their namesakes it is kind of scary! I can just imagine Marianne lecturing Elinor in the corner about how cold and unfeeling she is. I, however, do not need a Mr. Willoughby to teach Marianne a lesson! If you have bunch grass in your garden you need to cut back a sod sickle is just the thing!
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Haha, Stefanie you don’t need a Mr Willoghby, you’re right. But I’m sure Marianne would. Just like me. I don’t need a sod sickle but I want one so I can go around asking people to come see my sod sickle…!
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Ha! Yup, big difference between need and want isn’t there? 🙂
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They are a feisty bunch of chicks! It’s fascinating to see how they grow and interact.
As you know, we live in the city and have no garden. My niece and her husband have a weekend farm in Bucks County, about 1 1/2 hours from us. We were there the other day and had a great time thinning their radishes and weeding a brick path. Have gardeners will travel? .Okay, Jack couldn’t walk the next day after kneeling to thin and weed! Keep sending those videos, photos, and descriptions of your gardening. I think we’ll have to garden by proxy
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Joan, feisty is a good word for them! At first I was going to choose some docile breeds but went for the more active ones instead because I want them to be curious and willing to explore the garden and eat some bugs without me hand feeding them. They are feistier than I expected but that’s ok! They are great fun. How nice you have a farm to go to when you need a gardening fix! It’s a bit of a trek but if you make a day of it totally worth it.
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I love that Dillard quote – kind of mind-blowing.
Also, I’ve never heard of a sod sickle, but it sounds like a marvelously useful tool! I’m glad to know it exists!
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Laila, pretty amazing I thought! The sod sickle is my new best friend in the garden 🙂
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