The Worms Arrive

This afternoon our package arrived from the Kingston Worm Farm: a pound of red worms in about a cubic foot of worm castings. The little worm guys are now snuggled into the main garden area. Angel & I hope that they thrive and tend the soil.

Eventually, we want to raise our own red wrigglers in worm bins I've built for the unheated portion of the basement, but I need to get the basement organized so that the worms have an undisturbed environment in which to do their worm thing. Maybe tomorrow (sigh).

Angel has potatoes in the main garden. She's also got seedlings sprouting in the heated, daylighted portion of the basement. Chard, kale, a couple of varieties of tomatoes, salad greens of various types, some chilies, several other things too. In the next couple of weeks I need to get some kind of netting over the main garden. Our neighbors tell us that without protection, the marauding crows will completely destroy the garden.

I am also thinking about electric fencing to keep the raccoons at bay. The main garden fences should keep the deer out.

Then there is the slug problem... I'm thinking of stringing some bare copper wire around the perimeter of the garden, but that might be too expensive.

We have about reached the conclusion that we'd like to fence the entire property in deer fencing. We have about 0.6 of an acre here, much of it south facing. Some of it could be terraced. We could have a small orchard, lots more vegetables (eventually), and perhaps another outbuilding for a separate shop. Alas, this is all beyond our financial means at this time. Had the Amigo been able to stay employed for just two more years, much would be different, but we pays for our tickets and takes our turns.

Oh, then there is rain catchment. And some solar hot water for under the (gravel) floor of the greenhouse. And some French drain work in the little setback area just to the north of the house. All these things can keep one awake at night if one dwells upon them... and one certainly did last night (yawn). Apart from the heavy excavation work and all the time I spend trying to find a job, I could do many of these things myself. I would in fact enjoy doing them.

I have read that with intensive (but sustainable) "urban gardening" practices, a family of four can just about live on a quarter acre. Even with our house and garage built, we've got quite a bit more than that left on this property.