Homestead mailing list

[Clansgian AT wmconnect.com]

In a message dated 4/5/2005 3:14:43 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
genegerue AT ruralize.com writes:


> Yes, some Zarkers do that, also. But cool-weather crops such as lettuce, 
> spinach, chard and broccoli are not much in favor. The garden patch is 
> mostly long rows of sweet corn, potatoes, beans and the like, 

That's pretty much the practice here too.  A neighbor who grew a couple rows 
of magnificient cabbages each year was quite taken aback by the notion of 
growing brocoli or cauliflower.



>  Though I am not sure 
> how to compare their tractor plowing, tilling and cultivating with my hand 
> work.
> 
> 

On the way to the horse stable for another load of manure, I passed a fellow 
with a monstrous tiller tilling up a plot that looked to be 20' x 30'.  If 
one 
uses a tiller (or tractor) one gets one result, if one uses other methods, 
one gets a different result.  We 'hand work' folk aren't running breathlessly 
in 
the furrow behind a tractor trying to keep up with them.  The very most 
amusing exchange I've had with neighbor gardeners, and it's happened with at 
least 
four different people goes like this:

"Planted them cabbages too close, didn't you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Heh, heh, planted 'em too close.  No room to how between them."
"They're planted that way on purpose.  When the leaves get large enough to 
touch the next plant, it shades out the weeds."
"Oh.  Well, I couldn't do that."
"Why not?"
"Couldn't hoe between them."
"But if there are no weeds, you don't have to hoe."
"No weeds, no, sure don't see any.  Don't that beat all.  But I still 
couldn't do it."
"Why not?"
"No room in between the plants to hoe the weeds."

James