Our Getaway Place
Garden Planning
I think I have gone on record here as saying that I’m seeking assistance or any good ideas to improve my gardening “success”. So, with that in mind I thought I would share a few images from our “Getaway” place in Fries, VA - just off the New River, which mind you is actually one of the “oldest” rivers on the planet.
The first image shows that our getaway place is in a small town near the river and in the forested hills. The second two images show gardening areas that have been in place or which I have expanded out and I have more work to do in this regard over the next few weeks.
So, I’ll present the images below followed by my initial plans on where I intend on planting specific crops.
So, my wife and I acquired these two mill homes adjacent about three years ago, near the river, and in a small town in the hills - something we had always dreamed we would do. To think that the cost of this property was less than what some folks spend on a fancy automobile/truck and really like 1/5 the cost of a place on the coast looking over the ocean, just goes to tell you how “depressed” the real-estate was in the sad little town built well circa 1902 when a “state-of-the-art” mill was constructed by the river.
Needless to say, the mill is long gone (shutdown in 1989 I think) and the values of the finely well-built mill homes (there is a history there as well that I’d like to share later) and associated property were as I’ve said….“depressed”. So, I feel “blessed” to have come upon these places in a manner I could write a book about, and the one home in particular has been a source of solace to me as I pulled out the carpets, removed mastic and staples, chipped off the plaster on the fireplaces, and worked hard to restore the home to be more like it was when it was originally built. Tis an ongoing effort, but it is good to work with your own hands and some of that work was very physically demanding and I screamed a bit at certain times when I had to push hard on old mastic or get the plaster off the fine brick. I’m proud though that I did all that work (with some help from a friend in the beginning) without any serious injury or accident.
Presently, I have 3 main garden plots; the one with some white fencing, the sloped one above that, and a third one between the houses. I’m working on a 4th one that will extend out from the back of one of the houses.
I haven’t decided for sure what I’m gonna plant where and I need to expand these gardens a bit and also may need to make some adjustments to the soil (especially for the one between the houses which has been in service for several years now). I’m thinking tomatoes and cucumbers in the first one mentioned, peppers in the second, beets, onion, lettuce possibly in the one between the homes, okra, squash, and maybe a few other things on the 4th one I’m just now mixing the dirt and expanding out. The beauty in a way, lucky for my ambitions I suppose, is so far the soil here seems most fertile and I really haven’t had to do anything significant to it to adjust pH, add fertilizer, or whatever - the soil was just waiting for some plants I reckon, but I know that won’t last forever and I need to learn more about proper soil management.
So, that is it for this update - it might be awhile before I post another, but let me also share that more of the ghost peppers have sprung! I’m truly looking forward to the 2023 Gardening Season at our getaway place and learning together with others who also have garden ambitions.
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Warm regards to all readers.
Ken
So get this and know this....as a "Substack" author I am privilidged with information regarding those checking out the place, those who have "opened it" and other information.
So, there is no denying information is flowing globally these days, but there is also no denying that one local garden lends itself to certain crops and another local garden probably more suited for other crops.
But in a way, that is the beauty of it. We can communicate now globally, no denying that, and it is a Sign of the Times and a good thing mainly, but it is a powerful force that can be wielded poorly in my humble opinion.
The demeaner I take these days is I just assume pretty much everything I say, and maybe do, and where I go, and how I behave - I assume it is all being recorded, watched, observed, whatever.....probably, most likely it is not, but it could be, so I take that stance. For me, it makes no difference in how I act. Onetime, I told a new friend where I used to be employed and I've told others since then; I said: Sometimes for the hell of it, I blurt out some bat crazy shit just to see if somebody who ought not be is listening in.....that is sort of a contingency of one who has been through the ringer and deep in the rabbit hole - metaphorically speaking and whatnot.
When I was there, deep down and contained, most of the rabbits down there were fine company, some were annoying, and a few were to be avoided, but none of them messed with me without me responding. I'm still alive, so that is that. Plus, just to be honest, I wouldn't trade it in for anything because if not that time, then I wouldn't be typing this nor would we have our "getaway" place. So, Some rabbits are mean, but most are not. Consider "Petie" the bunny on an earlier article if you want to know more....(ha, ha).
Regardless, I ramble, I admit it, but I would really appreciate anybody posting their thoughts here cause I don't enjoy talking to myself that much, but I do enjoy talking to myself sometimes especially when our dog Evie is keeping me company.
Today is a beautiful day by the river in our getaway place and I'm ready for some human company.
This weekend I am mentally preparing myself for some serious digging of dirt and the best part is I'm really looking forward to being outside and getting some exercise.
(Edit: I've finished digging up the dirt behind the one home "greyish" in nature with the cinder block foundation in the forefront of the 3rd picture and it was good work, my muscles are a bit sore today, but in a good way - I still have some more garden expansion to finish, but the soil here is just so soft even an older fella can do it).
So, I thought there was something else I was going to say, but I've been rambling on this post more than I probably ought and maybe more than would be advised, but whatever, I put it out there how I feel, where I am, what I am trying to accomplish, and my ambitions.
You can't blame a fella for that can ya?
If you do, it is on you and not on me.
Ken