Our rain barrel was sitting on level ground. With the spigot close to the base, it was difficult to maneuver and since the water flow is directed by gravity, setting on the ground was not ideal. Joe Wright built a stand to lift the rain barrel off from the ground. See the photos for step by step instructions to make a rain barrel stand. We have a 50 gallon rain barrel so the … [Read more...] about Giving our rain barrel a lift

Here is a cardinal in the large tulip poplar outside my window yesterday. He is wondering when the wind will let up and nice weather take hold. We are also waiting for a nice windless day to put up the end walls and plastic on the high tunnel! … [Read more...] about Waiting for spring

Bob Schultheis, Engineering Specialist at the University Extension office in Marshfield, came up with a clever idea. His bucket irrigation method is to drill a 5/64"  hole near the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket and then fill with water to irrigate. The water will be delivered at a rate of 2 gallons per hours - plenty of time to soak into the soil rather than run off the top. If … [Read more...] about Bob’s bucket irrigation

All of our fruit crops escaped spring freeze injury this year - even the apricots!! We have two trees in the horticulture garden. We picked Sungold today - a bit late but then - we never expect to have them. The trees have been in the ground about 8 years and this is the first time they bore a crop. We only expect to have apricots once every 10 years here at Mountain Grove … [Read more...] about Apricots!!!