So….we have this gap in action right now.  I’ve thought about this before.  I thought I could possibly be on it enough to avoid this kind of delay.  But obviously, I’m not that organized.  SHIT.  How do I avoid this? (I’m sending that up to the heavens and out into cyber space).  My lettuce petered out, I have bell peppers on the plant, just not ready, basil that’s almost ready to cut, my pole beans and cucumbers are still deciding wether or not they want to join the party, so ho-hum, and my squash are also trying to make that same decision.  So what’s the answer?  Where did I flub?  Somebody do some research for me. 

I was thrown into Paul’s world yesterday.  Since the inception of this endeavor, Paul has been responsible for most of the heavy lifting and moving.  He has built all of the rows, moved all of the mulch, compost and dirt.  He had a full truck load of mulch in the back of his truck for about a week and a half, and it was up to us to finally take the initiative and move it.  So, I was in the back of the truck with a pitch fork moving mulch, then taking it to a row and dumping it.  Not for the weak of heart.  It was hard work, and we accomplished it.  

Sorry, anyone who wanted to get lettuce from us this week, and possibly next.  We are sold out.  Our lettuce is toast (if that makes any sense).  This past week we sold in the 40-something pound range, so right now we are praying that we have the ten pounds for Old Soul Organics.  We were just out there grasping at remnants.  Pieces of our lettuce’s former glory.  I know I said that the lettuce might make it another four weeks, but right now I’m starting to doubt that.   

http://www.one.org/hungercrisis/?rc=hcad1&gclid=CJ3B0IWG15MCFQyxGgodGijBZg

Plant a victory garden for yourself.  It’s not too late.

Everyone, my lavender didn’t make it.  It lost its will to live.  I’m sad by this.  When we were first talking about gardening, the first thing out of my mouth was “I want to grow lavender”.  I envisioned long rows of it, with plants that were 6 ft. tall.  Bees, and butterflies frolicking.  The smell, the bunches of it that I wanted to sell at the market.  Alas it wasn’t to be this year.  I hope this doesn’t bust you up inside as it did I.  We can all get through this together.

Paul stumbled on to a video of these people on you tube maybe a year or so ago.  I tried to post the link to that video, but it wouldn’t post.  Could also be user error.  However, you should watch their you tube video.  Just query “Urban Homestead”.  It’s the very first video.  I hope inspires a few of you.  Also, here’s a link that decided to paste, of their web site.  Enjoy.

http://www.pathtofreedom.com/

I hope everyone is enjoying the sun, hot dogs, and cheap beer.  Last night and this morning Paul, our neighbor Doris, and I cleaned picked and cleaned some greens.  After the weigh in this afternoon we are sitting on 14 pounds.  Thank you Doris for your help.  What a difference just one extra set of hands and eyes make.  We are to deliver 29 pounds of lettuce for this coming up week.  So tonight, needless to say we will be picking some more.  In my opinion, I think our lettuce has hit its zenith and is now on the decline.  The stems are getting longer and more hardy.  To my glee and satisfaction if it were the case.  I don’t know though and only time will tell.  I would like to stretch it out for a few more weeks, possibly 4 more weeks until our bell peppers are around.  We have some pepper plants that have set fruits.  That’s going to be exciting when those start growing out of control.  I haven’t bought a bell pepper since last summer, and I don’t intend to.  Paul and I need to start thinking about mulch options.  Our tomato plants, and basil plants are going to need a mulch over the top to conserve the soil moisture.  Right now the heat is on in northwest Arkansas.  All spring up until this point has been nice and mild and then BAM, it’s 90 degrees.  

Paul says that he doesn’t feel the same way about the lettuce that I do.  He’s not keeping it real.  To each his own.  He can feel however he wants though, it’s not his blog.