Are you trying to get your gardens planned for this year? But like me, you're not sure what to plant, because the past couple growing seasons haven't been great. Here is my take on that, for me anyhow. I, the past couple gardening seasons, to preserve heritage, did heirloom planting. However, being a Scorpio I hate to admit... without much success. Especially because I've always had good luck gardening.
I believe, my so-so gardens are in part of the so-so WNY's growing weather, but I also believe it has something to do with the heirlooms I was planting. Why? The heirloom seeds we purchase are not cultivated and 'raised' in this area. Thus they are not tolerant of our soils and unpredictable weather changes. Many of the heirloom varieties are from areas that are use to longer growing seasons, and looser soils, not our well known temperature fluctuations, shorter growing season and often the clay-loom soils of WNY. Thus, seeds less resistant to, diseases, cold, heat, damp, and dry. Not hardy to this area:)
So this year, and this might cause a few gasps, I'm going Hybrid again. Organic mind you, but hybrid. Hybrids are noted for being diseases resistant and weather change tolerant. After all hybrids are a mix of the best growing and weather tolerant plant lives of the plant world. The way my mind works, I think maybe hybrids do well in this area, because isn't WNY and the surrounding areas, historically a community of Hybrids? Because back in the depression era and before, dreams were to come to this area for work and proposer. Ultimately growing a population of hardy, 'weather' resistant people. So I say...yea for the hybrids...they are a mix of the best of the old and new, no matter what the situation, whether it be gardening, cooking, community or churches. When all thrown into the pot, makes the best and hardiest 'stew'.
But here's an idea that came to me, and I might try it. If you plant heirlooms because you like the idea you can save Heirloom seeds year and after year. Maybe its possible to get the seeds acclimated to growing here, by setting aside a piece of garden to plant a couple each of heirlooms you like, and if they don't do well, you can still save the seeds and try them again next year, in hopes they will become accustomed to this area and it's quirky growing patterns and eventually thrive and grow.
I find it ironic as I am sure many others do, that now...after...the fact with the nuclear disaster in Japan, we are hearing more about the countries who have nuclear plants and that governments and companies are searching ways of implementing better safeguards, so no other disasters like this can happen.
One thing I personally feel sad about beyond the sadness I feel for those of Japan, and I'm probably not alone, but its my lack of realization of the vast number of nuclear plants around the world. I just did not know.
Also living in the land of Oz that is called Colden, knowing full well we have a nuclear waste facility only 20 miles from here, I realized how I've accepted it was there and hardly ever think about it, expect when my husband takes his semi in there, and comes home with a radiation detector cord (minus the radiation tag) hanging around his neck and then, even though he and his truck have been scanned before he leaves, the wait for the letter to come in mail a few days later, stating he's not (hopefully) been exposed to radiation. I would say even Japan, though on a bigger scale, are so use to those nuclear plants being there, that the plants merely became part of the scenery too...
I do believe Japan is a country equipped to handle most earthquakes, and they were prepared, and they would have been OK, if it weren't for the Tsunami...BUT...and this is a big but...this shows, that no matter how prepared we are, how highly technological we are, how smart we think we are.... we still can not understand the forces of Mother Nature, and ultimately....We...are no match for Her.
Though we'd like to believe we are the superior race, we are not superior to Mother Nature, and as prepared as Japan was, Mother Nature showed the vulnerability of all us humans or really, life on earth. We, who live on Turtle Island, (what the Native Americans call Mother Earth) must understand that even a turtle with its hard shell has a vulnerable spot.
The way I see it, according to Mother Natures standards, a tsunami, is only a sneeze at what she is capable of, and us humans thinking we are so intelligent that we can outsmart Mother Nature is not a good or safe mind set.
It's time we listen to Mother Nature, and heed her warnings. If you look back, she's been warning us for a while, to clean up our room, and just like any Mother who tells her child many times to clean up their room and they do not, she goes in and does the job. And when 'She' does the job, many things are tossed, and this cleansing is painful. So yes its time to listen to Mother Nature and clean up our room and have respect for its space...and that space, our room...is the Earth we live on.
Be well
Laugh often
Love large
Dig in the dirt
Grow a garden
and may the sun light your way
Kellie
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Herbs & Things
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