tunafish

love it. we treat our garden data like (and often coupled with) weather data. it's really helpful to know what you did and when, and what the circumstances were around. Not that this falls under your purview, but if you ever wanted to do a "QA" of the observation site in the fall, I'd love to show ya what we have going on over here turning grass into plantable land. The wife is a certified master gardner through UMaine so things get pretty serious in the growing season. Ha, no doubt. TBlizz certainly can. I think we probably could, at least in the coastal part of the county. We've never tried, though, carrots always take the place of garlic.

You've got plenty of time for two rotations, too. Ours don't go in until July when we harvest the garlic.

Probably, but it's OK. It'll become obvious by the time the tops are 2" tall which ones are struggling the most. Watch for those 3 or 4 weakest and pull them first. Then again when they reach 4" tall.

You'll want to pull the smallest ones when the tops reach 3" or so tall.

Not warm enough up here, and even if it was, takes years to establish and have an impact.

This may come to you as a shock, but... Nematodes now and again in late August Although, with this dry stretch coming up the only day you'd have to apply is tomorrow, so you may be able to use them unless you plan on watering the area in the evening when you apply them, and then again the next morning AND evening to ensure the soil stays moist enough for them to do their thing.

I would assume so, but I wasn't going there when it wasn't blocked. They do have signs up about invasive fish, interestingly enough. On the note of invasive plants...The stream I fish for stocked brookies in (Pleasant River, Windham) seems to have them now. This is the first time I've ever noticed some type of green plant (not algae) growing on many of the rocks in the stream in my 10 years fishing there. It's curious because the stream isn't downstream from any lakes as far as I can tell.

@PowderBeard Welcome (or soon to be) to the area! It's a bit further south than where you're at, but Highland Lake on the Westbrook/Windham/Falmouth line is a goldmine for small and largemouth. The only motor boats on there are from waterfront properties. The only public boat launch is on the south side of the pond, but even then it's blocked so you have to carry in your non-motorized vessel. I'm out there in my canoe a bunch in the summer as it's the closest freshwater spot to me, be happy to take you out when you're settled in.

Sounds like you have a lot going on, amazing. And I'm right there with you on the quoted part. I don't mean to dump on others either. I think there's a misconception out there that having a functional/sustainable yard is way more work than maintaining a lawn. It's really not, especially for properties <1 acre. The amount of time and money sunk into lawn care is equitable to creating what we're aiming for, and you actually get something (food) out of it.

it's not for everyone, for sure. The whole concept requires planning, and initial work to create the gardens. It's cheap(er) because you're using materials you have on hand (compost, cardboard), and once the gardens are going it's little maintenance. The lasagna method is super effective at moisture retention, which helps, and we're selective about what we plant and where to minimize maintenance an maximize plant health. We have four 55 gallon rain barrels, and for areas that require more frequent watering we're attaching either drip lines or just attach a hose, open the spigot, and let them gravity feed (they're up on risers).

I know you're joking but that actually is the long term goal. Maybe not 100% of the lawn but hopefully 75% of it. Each year we reduce the size of the lawn via lasagna gardening and woodchip (free from the city) paths. After a winter to "cook down", the space is ready to plant flowers, food, trees - whatever. Way less maintenance than a lawn and actually produces food for us and the bees.

I think I'm going to give this a shot. No Mow May. Grass up here isn't at mowing length yet, anyways, and dandelions and creeping Charlie are just starting to bloom. https://beecityusa.org/no-mow-may/ Side benefit: It'll drive the monochrome-striving, always-fertilizing, over-watering neighbors nuts too.

your kids eat worms, too? I thought mine might be the only ones...

I ended up treating in the spring and fall, but essentially two different areas of the lawn. I didn't have chickens at the time, but I'm with you...I don't think I would have treated anywhere near their run (we don't let them free range in the actual yard, anyways, but still...) The optimal time is definitely in the late summer. I did do one spring application and it seemed to stop the damage area. I have an area on the far edge of my property I'm watching right now, the only area I've never treated. I'd like to hit it before they hatch and lay more in the areas I've already treated, so I'm waiting for the right conditions. I need the soil temp to be above 44F and for it to be a nice cloudy wet day (like today). Might get the temp high enough next week, we'll see.

Nematodes, my man. Haven't found a grub since treating 2 years ago. They will be more effective and environmentally safe than any chemical.

Right on time for me, 3/31 was the first observed peeper this year. For 3 of the last 5 years, peepers have first sang on March 31, with 4/5/20 & 3/24/21 being the other two years.

There's been rumors of war and wars that have beenThe meaning of life has been lost with the windAnd there's some people thinkin' that the end is close by'Stead of learnin' to live, they are learnin' to dieLet me die in my footsteps before I go down under the ground go out and live, ya weenies.

just bought $1000 worth of TP let's do this baby

As depicted, the goods don't make it to MBY. Outliers at this point, but curious regardless.

LBSW for us up here. OUCH.

Appreciate it. Worth watching up this way for sure.

not creepy at all

what are the synoptic features that pushed the Euro south?

Gonna have a hard time meeting some of these snow map totals that fail to take that strong late Feb sun angle into consideration, ya know? Take 'em down, it's nape season now!

That's why I only ask my kids to phone in reports for "Trace" measurements and depth readings of "0". Gotta keep expectations low as long as possible.