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Well here it is. The stack I have been meaning to read. The pile I couldn't wait for winter to be able to dive into. The current bane of my existence. What I mean to say is that I almost always look forward to winter because I am generally burnt out from gardening around the clock all summer. This winter was no exception. I have a confession to make. I haven't started most of them yet. A couple I have read and had planned to re-read, like the miniature donkey book, Beekeeping for Dummies and Square Foot Gardening. It never hurts to brush up on your knowledge, right? Except I haven't yet and spring is closing in on me. I mean really, it's Groundhog Day already and I haven't even started. (For those of you that don't already know, I love Groundhog Day. Not sure why but always have. )
I am starting to panic a little and I haven't ordered my seeds yet. I haven't even looked through and dogeared every page in 30 seed catalogs. What on earth is wrong with me? Maybe I am sick. Ooh, maybe I have Malaria. This really isn't normal for me and it truly baffles me a little. OK, a lot but who's keeping track. I do get over to peruse blogs I love (you all know who you are) but I can't even seem to muster the energy to leave comments which up until recently was something I got out of bed an hour earlier to do.
It's been a slow winter. By that I mean to say I wouldn't have read all those books this winter either. Not that I wouldn't have wanted to, just that it wouldn't have gotten done. But here's a ray of hope for you: today I pruned the grapes and planted the first round of seeds for the greenhouse. Third gear happens!
ReplyDeleteThat a girl. My wife has tomatoes sprouts 2 inches tall in her window here on the gulf coast. We've had an abnormally cold winter here and everything is brown. Happy seeding!
ReplyDeleteGet out of the winter blues......there's so much to prepare for and it's fun!!
ReplyDeleteJust reading your blog this past summer wore me out! I think you probably deserved a nice long break. I'll try and post my seed list in the next couple days.
ReplyDeleteThat is quite a pile of how to's! I just have two --both for my new camera and I feel overwhelmed at times.
ReplyDeleteGood for you!
I am behind on my winter reading as well, but I know why. This is my first winter blogging and reading other gardeners blogs. The time I used to spend reading, I now find myself on the computer instead, (just checking my e-mails), lol. Now, I seem to only read when we go to the country, no internet there!
ReplyDeleteGreat stack of books! I've read through Preserving Summer's Bounty. Pretty good. I'd like to get my hands on that backyard berry one, too.
ReplyDeleteHey - do you have any recommendations for reputable seed companies with heritage varieties? I need to get a start on my seed ordering.
You deserved a little break from all this.... you seriously work hard....I can't believe the stuff you accomplish in a year! You'll get back in your groove soon....
ReplyDeleteI think it's normal to get a little burned out now and then with all the gardening. You are so busy with it all spring and summer, maybe your brain just needed to think about something else. I'm sure once signs of spring arrive you'll be right back into it like usual.
ReplyDeleteOooh, some delicious looking books in that pile! You might want to add michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma and Eliot Coleman's The Winter Harvest Handbook. I got them both at the library and loved the Coleman book so much I went out and bought it. Following his advice I am eating greens from my unheated canadian greenhouse all winter! I have found if you never really stop gardening you dont have to shift gears to get back into it.
ReplyDeleteThat's a lot of books! I like how there's a book just on the miniature donkey. The good news is that I bet most of these books can be skim-now, read-as-you-need books. I read both Stella Otto books and reviewed them for our local gardening publication Washington Gardener. I thought they were great sources of info. It's worth it to read about the pruning cycle.
ReplyDeleteHi Heather! Now, when you made a promise to the whole blogosphere, you need to start ordering seeds. We are watching!
ReplyDeleteOkay Heather. We're going to hold you to it! Not really. I would be a hypocrite if I nudged and judged you. What you describe is NOT you, well, it's you but it's me too. My garden is a train wreck. However I know that once I get going, the momentum will build and then I'll be so obsessed, nothing else will matter. So, go easy on yourself and as my hubby says, "In a hundred years none of this will matter anyway."
ReplyDeleteThat's a HUGE stack, Heather. I have a feeling we in the north make all kinds of resolutions for winter projects.......how many of them are kept is the question. I suspect not many. Kim and I would be among that group.
ReplyDeleteWhen you start talking to yourself, I'd be worried...lol, Heather! But I totally get your mindset of late...call it the winter doldrums...that's why I'm up TWO hours earlier today visiting!
ReplyDeleteMy reading stack is half yours but it's two years in waiting! First thing first, order your seeds ;)
Stay warm!
Lynn
Oh yeah. have a similar stack. Dive into it as moved. Avoid guilt for the others. There's time, if not this year, next year. Maybe you'll pick one up later in the season. Or not. I know I often buy books years before I read them. And sometimes I never do. It seems that just having them around is enough. Or maybe the information somehow leaks out and into me through osmosis.
ReplyDeleteWhatever the reasons, don't fret, little lady. And if you want a break, take it. I think sometimes we are so hooked into the societal 'go go go' energy all the time, we start thinking -- even those of us who live among plants and other alive, growing beings -- there is only an 'on' cycle. We give lip service to 'take the winter off for research' but we don't let ourselves just .... take the winter off.
Think of the tides and the waves at the seashore. Every wave that crests and comes up onto the land must then flow back out. There is also the moment between in and out, when the water seems still or just swirls in a circle, before changing direction and rejoining the greater sea.
I think most of us try to be the incoming wave all the time, and when our inner spirit wants a moment to swirl meditatively, or maybe take some time to be in outfall, we think there's something wrong with us.
Enjoy the still-winter weather. Let the days lengthen gradually and know there is time to do everything that needs to be done. Watch the donkey boys. Fondle the seed catalogs. Read the blogs. Drink tea and dream a bit longer.
Lovely blog.... and I totally love your blog header... I'm adding you to our blog list so I can come visit often... ;)
ReplyDeletecielo
Well, it's Saturday morning. Are you done yet? LOL
ReplyDeleteYou worked your arse off last year. I've always admired your endless energy, but it's good to know that you get tired too. Rest up a bit longer if that's what you need to do.
Hi Heather, the lack of visiting has been my problem, and I'm sorry I haven't been over to see you in ages! Now I feel a little better, though, after reading what you've been feeling! All those books look good but at the same time 'overwhelming' when you look at them all at once. Just pick one and don't worry about getting through the rest of them. Pick a seed catalog (just 1) and go for it. Maybe you'll get so into it you will get back to your 'old self'! Maybe you just need the break...the time to 'lurk', etc. so try not to feel badly. Today we're in the midst of a monster snowstorm, so I'm using it to catch up. Can't wait until we're all able to get out planting and digging again. I'll be looking forward to reading about your garden again. It's been a while since I've seen what you've been doing with it!
ReplyDeleteI must get a copy of Raising Chickens for Dummies. We just got three hens and I am loving them.
ReplyDeleteI will love to read Square foot gardening. I wonder spring has not arrived over there yet.
ReplyDeleteHi, Heather. Just stopping by after visiting Garden of Eat'n... My current garden fave is Veg. Bible. I'm hoping to have chickens in a few months and Raising Chickens for Dummies travels from room to room with me... good online gardening source in case you haven't seen it: http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/ a good SFG section here... Looking forward to going through your archives!
ReplyDeleteHi, Heather, I have similar problems ... I never accomplish all my goals in the winter. And I have not visited other blogs as often as I would have liked. Once spring really arrives, we wont worry about many of the tasks not done. Can't wait! Pam
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, about falling behind on my preping for spring stuff. It seems that a lot of other thing have taken up my time this winter. But some how I did get my new chickies ordered and bought all my garden seeds. I know you will be able to pull it all together before spring.
ReplyDeleteKelly
I'm just at the start of my gardening this year. And I'm a bit afraid. Second time I will have grown any veggies. First time up here.
ReplyDeleteYou read a lot!
ReplyDeleteHave a nice week :)
I found your blog today. It's really lovely. I will cetainly enjoy reading it from now on. I'm a frustrated homesteader in the city, and while I can garden a little, I can't actually farm or have farm animals. So I really enjoy reading homesteading/farming blogs. Thanks very much, and I look foreward to reading your posts in the coming months.
ReplyDeleteEleano
Enjoy spring :)
ReplyDeleteWhich were your favourites?? Which do you recommend? Can't wait to add to my own pile! Thank you
ReplyDeleteSpring has sprung, the grass has riz, I wonder where that blue bird is....been thinking about you and yours....hope winter was good to you and you got through your reading list. I've been reading your blog since spring 09 and have learned alot from you and I just wanted to say Thank You for your ideas and insights into all you do....Enjoy the warm sunshine and the cool touch of spring soil.
ReplyDeleteAgain Thanks and all the best
Hi Heather: I know its been a tough winter, wondering why no posts since Feb. ? I know you burned your brain out reading all those books.
ReplyDeleteHave a Great day,
John
Fast food nation is one of my faves. I seldom eat beef anymore after that read.
ReplyDelete