Actually, I might be able to keep a crew of ten going. For at least a couple of weeks.
Anyone who has a small homestead and a large garden knows how very much there is to be done outside at this time of year.
I've already mentioned we're working on building, filling and planting out landscaping berm boxes up against the south side of the house.
Praise be, our daughter is helping us with that project two days a week. (The girl can't seem to stand having any time off. That's a total fib, but it's to our great advantage and appreciation that she has consented to give us this time.)
Although I wanted to get all the trim on our house painted last year, it simply didn't happen. Yesterday I finally started on the first window which is directly above where the plantings will go in the first berm box. (Seemed like a good place to start.) Got the first coat on but, drat and darn, it's gonna take a second coat to get good coverage. I knew that but chose to pretend one coat would do it. Silly me.
It would be lovely if I had my shell peas and potatoes planted by now, but due to one (or three) repair problems with the Gravely garden tractor Papa Pea uses to prep the soil for me, the only sign of this happening soon is the row marking stakes I got up yesterday.
We've been calling this the "new" gardening area for a couple/few years now, but haven't rushed into doing any of the perennial planting there yet. Plans are for a new raspberry patch, new blueberry patch, new strawberry patch and it seems Papa Pea would like to see about six or seven other things go in there, too. So far, we've concentrated on improving the soil, keeping it free of weeds and endlessly picking up rocks. We've now ascertained the 20' x 53' area is adaptable to growing rocks very successfully.
Rain is predicted for this afternoon and the next couple of days so I'd better get out and get that second coat of paint on those windows right quick this morning. Or maybe I should plant the potatoes. Or the peas. Or the other 20+ raised beds that are still empty.
So where is that crew of my workers to help? I'd even have the cook serve them a delicious lunch. Oh, wait. That's right. The cook hasn't shown up yet either.