See, I had last heard the rain wasn't supposed to hit till Tuesday - then, Sunday night as I retired, it was supposed to come at midnight – it was too late and I was too worn out to go back out and do it.  I had messed with the irrigation system all day long and never heard the update - and it didn't really "feel" like rain yet.  So much for my built in weather predictor this weekend.  Way off! 

That seems to be the theme around here right now.  We have all but a few rows ready to plant in and the irrigation system isn't here yet.  I have seedlings crying to be planted - but, without water, they'd really be crying in the ground.  We're too far away from city water - and we don't want to use that anyway - so, we have squash growing up in 2 inch plug cells!  I even saw a few buds today on the plants - geez. 

But, the good news is that we did get the rest of the hot wire fencing up, all but a few rows ready and soil amendments down.  We are expecting some rain early next week, which is good - just in time for the irrigation system to be ready I'm sure  but what can you do?

chickens and ducks?  Apparently so.  I just spent the last 2 hours trying to defend "free range" chickens' and wild ducks' rights not to be penned up.  It appears some of my neighbors have taken issue with a few that wander outside of my fence - and on past my next door neighbor's fence-line - onto the apartment complex's side.  My next door neighbor swears he didn't complain about them - just the ducks a little bit because 4 were on his front porch today and had pooped on it.  But I think they realize that the chickens actually help keep their horse barns clean of manure, too, and he says he has no problem with them.  But what about other birds like robins, bats, purple martins, etc.?  Do we have to catch and pen them, too because they leave behind some poop on our cars?  I realize the Animal Control officer was just following orders and gave me the opportunity to bring them home.  But people, he has bigger problems than some harmless chickens and ducks.  How soon we forget the recent slaughter over here. 

....when you need it!  Just for the record, yes Jenice WAS indeed out ankle deep in the compost pile Sunday.  Give her credit as she is not well known for digging the hot Texas summer sun, but she was a trooper!  This isnt' the first time I've seen that girl sweat, either!

I had called off a workday on the farm for the working share members because some of the prognosticators of the weather swore it was going to rain like crazy all weekend - sometimes I really shouldn't pay any attention to them you know?  It didn't feel like rain, but that hurricane was out there and I had no idea how it would mess with our weather, so I yielded to the wisdom of the meteoroligists and figured I'd sit in the house planning crops all weekend by myself rather than have a bunch of volunteers and CSA members slopping around in the mud. 

Well, so much for that forecast - so, at the last minute I rented a Kubota from our friends in Mesquite at Dal-Tex and hauled it home to move compost around.  I sent out a plea for help to members, to little avail, but alas, Jenice thinking she'd find a great "KODAK" moment of girl tractor driver, found herself in one instead!  ha ha.... Lucky for her I didn't have my camera handy. 

Well, I did get about 8 trailers full of compost spread, help showed up Monday thankfully, but there is more to go.  It takes a lot of compost to improve soil.  And yes, Jenice, we recycle a lot of formerly living things - that is what compost is!  Dust to dust....

I'm pretty pooped today - but it was great to get in such a good workout, too.  Better than a day in the gym and lots more productive!  Anyone want to join the Eden's Garden weight loss program?  Give me a call! 

Read Jenice's account of her day on the farm at her blog http://www.neighborsgo.com/index.php?page_id=1000&site_page_id=301&&sblog_id=323&post_id=11614

Till next time - Eat Your Food - Naturally!

Marie 

It is RAIN!  Wow - did we need it and could we still use some more for sure!  It is amazing how much good a little bit does.  Everything just heaves a sigh of relief - except perhaps for my friend Slick here in the photo.  I think he was a bit miffed that his morning routine trip to the cat's bowl was interrupted by a downpour.  Oh well, he'll get over it.  At least I didn't come home to 4 panting cats today - poor things!  The past few 100 degree days nearly did them in!  They have sought as much shade as they can, and drank more water than a camel but unlike a dog, they don't seem to appreciate it when you try to hose them down to cool them off.