So, gardening has been going well. It is not an overwhelming task and doesn't take up much room. I do the gardening in 5 gallon buckets. This saves me from the problems of finding a dirt patch and making reasonable soil out of the dirt.
Reasonable soil is dirt + compost + some mulch. Add in some fertilizer and coffee grounds (used) to give nutrients and away you go. If you mix this up in a 15 gallon container you can fill your 5 gallon buckets from this and make more without trying to find another place to mix it. So, big bucket and smaller buckets.
Starting Seeds
I have discovered that starting seeds in between wet paper towels or paper napkins works well. Especially for squash and other large seed plants. It should take about 3 days with the paper being moist and warm. Once you see root or the seed is translucent and green, then plant it in a small cup, usually a pint sour cream container, using a good seed starter mix.
Once you have a few good leaves, then transplant to the bucket. Vines and tomatoes need a trellis or poles to provide support. Put the support pieces in the bucket at the same time.
Care
We have 2 water wells on the property. One is next to the house and the patio with the buckets is right there. This gives good clean water to work with that contains minerals to support the plants.
A bit more fertilizer, some sunlight, and watch them grow.
We have had tomatoes and cucumbers and zucchini for the salad. Squash is coming and should be ready by the time the cold gets here. I love roasted acorn squash with butter and brown sugar.
Education
Learning is a fundamental cornerstone of our society, not a right or privilege. Even primitive humans taught their children and neighbors how to do things and stuff. That is technical jargon for learning how to do something.
So, last week I read that the SAT and ACT testing standard for getting into college without a rich relative is being considered a has been. Some people are not meant to be in college. Some people can't get dressed or fix a meal.
Soon I will be 64 years old. I am still self teaching Amazon Cloud Services as my manager wants me at the tech front end driving the bus, so to speak. My point is that we need a way to separate the wheat from the chaff otherwise college will be filled up with want-to-be students and not real live intelligent humans who can be good students.
College is a business. They want all takers and somehow the money will get from your hand to their hand and you will get a diploma. Thus, the wall people have to climb over by testing. If you remove that barrier, you have a mega-source or buyers.
But, can you land the job? Isn't that what this is all about? Get better education and get that job? Or are you there to find yourself?
What to do with the weekend
People in Chicago have issues with guns and weekends provide an outlet. Chicago is suppose to be gun free. Go figure.
Rioting provides an outlet on the weekends. Burn a building or 2, loot a store. Must have the latest TV. I guess the payment plan is too much.
Parties without masks and other protection will eventually spike the virus. But work all week, party all weekend. 2 or 3 weeks later, who knows.
When winter gets really going and we are mostly inside dealing with flu and Covid, who knows what spring will be like. Sun, flowers, start the garden, go to the park? I hope so.
Stay away from crowds.
Fair winds and following seas
Chief
No comments:
Post a Comment