1979So. Vermont Notes… a small farm-garden diary-continued- |
|
| back to Jan. to April | on to Sept. to December |
|
May 1 *M. put in Johnny Jump-ups *wood cut up back & brought down *first asparagus *peas look spotty 2 *wood work up back; wood brought down *planted Trillium on hill (from stream bank) 3 *rained at dusk *put wood in barn: filled third row in bay *planted mums; also cauliflower plants and spinach and lettuce seed *put in cantaloupe seedlings, first and second seed planting, in garden under plastic 4 *50° -60° *Benji to Vets; came back with leg in cast for 3 weeks *planted cabbage seedlings in garden *lime & fertilizer on lawn *fertilized blueberries: one handful of aluminum sulphate per plant in garden 5 *50° last night; cool, clear, windy *painted patio furniture *park furniture uncovered 6 *cool, sunny and overcast *painted porch railing, first coat *napped, rested, day of nothing 7 *warm: 70° *cut grass, all day, around house and across road *new tires for VW *watered peas after dinner 8 *warmer today: 80° plus *gasoline at 90.9 [¢] per gallon *wood work up back; finished painting porch railing 9 *record hot: 90° plus, humid; still no rain *cut a lot of asparagus *watered peas 10 *hot and humid *picked out first rhubarb *tried frozen (uncooked) asparagus--good *worked up back until saw broke; fixed garage and milkhouse doors 11 *cooler today: 75-80° *picked all available asparagus before breakfast; froze 3 packages *worked up back today *picked up olive trees *C. back from school for the summer 12 *cooler today, overcast, 70° or so, drizzle at night *planted olive trees on hill *new delphinium *M. put chives in garden, spearmint on back hill 13 *rainy, 60° plus *defrosted freezer *last berry pie from 1978 14 some drizzle *wood from up back *A. came to finish job [vinyl siding] 15 65-75°, sunny *bulkhead finished *new dining room door finished *vinyl finished: busy day--A. left at 7:15p.m. *planted tomatoes, beans, carrots, beets, brussels sprouts in garden *forester measured test-plant trees *primulas put in 16 *70° day, beautiful *asparagus for dinner *cut grass around house & across road, all day 17 40° last night *6 qts. of rhubarb in freezer *last asparagus-?-for dinner tonight *thinned up back in A.M., brought wood down in P.M. *cleaned garage *brussels sprouts (bought seedlings) look weak *leaves on all but 4 or 5 raspberries 18 *40° last night, overcast all day *wood up back *cultivated & fertilized peas and asparagus (16-0-0 and 5-10-5 asp.) *cut last asparagus for dinner *planted marigolds between grapes *planted 4 peach trees (bare root) in walnut grove (used 2 plant tabs each) *b. sprouts better today 19 misty, rainy, 50-65° *painted new dining room door *planted remaining cabbages from cold frame *nap day 20 *misty, rainy *finished painting d.r. door *that's all 21 misty in a.m., clearing in p.m., 60-70° *cut grass in upper mowing for first time this year: very heavy 22 *sunny, 70°, beautiful, 45-50° last night *used lawn mower in upper mowing to cut around Xmas trees: 3 hours and then exhaustion 23 *planted rest of garden this morning: 8:30a.m. to 1 p.m. *rain started at 1:30p.m. and continued rest of afternoon *ordered new refrigerator today; delivery tomorrow p.m. *started painting bulkhead door; stopped by rain 24 *2-plus inches of rain today *cut wood in barn; bay needs 3/4 of 1 row to be full *got refrigerator in the afternoon 25 *rain, all day; at 4p.m. dumped rain gauge at 5" (full) since Wednesday noon [today is Friday] *arranged to purchase stove for dining room fireplace *put back panel, etc., around new refrigerator *Benji to vets to have cast off; staying overnight because of infection 26 *rain ending *washed windows downstairs inside and out *put up hangers for outside plants *a long day 27 *cut grass around house, across road & walnut grove, 7:30a.m. to 3p.m.; at 3p.m.: rain again 28 *overcast, windy day, 60-65° sprinkles at 5p.m., rain tonight *a day of chores: greased, etc., tractor; cut wood for syrup; changed washers in kitchen; washed clothes 29 *overcast, rainy; 50° plus; it has been in the 40's at night and high 50's for about a week *finished windows upstairs in p.m. *cleaned syrup pans, etc., and rebuilt fireplace grill 30 *thunderstorm at about 5p.m., drizzly & fog all day *to BT in a.m to check berry crop (opinion ?) *bought some cauliflower to replace ones that were eaten by worms *went to check W.C. auction 31 *sunny, warmer *went to W.C. auction for an hour or so *vacuumed house; generally cleaned things up; didn't really accomplish much *blooms appearing on peas *to church at 7:30 to hear about plans for re-doing the church -----Back to Top----- June 1 *temp. 80° plus *cut grass on house side of road *Benji to Vets, bandage removed, appears cured 2 *overcast, muggy, 70-75° *Windham auction cancelled *cut grass across road in p.m. *checked garden: beans up; squash, cucumbers, etc. starting 3 *overcast, 80°, muggy *dusted tomatoes & fertilized raspberries *E. and S. arrived in p.m. 4 *overcast, 70-80°, very buggy *E. and S. left after breakfast *cut grass in open field up back *called to set up for cleaning the oil burner for next winter 5 *sunny and warm, but turning cold, 45° tonight *cut dead elms in field; logs into basement 6 *sunny, warm, thunderstorm in p.m.; down to 40° tonight *worked up in woods in a.m.; brought some wood down in p.m. 7 *worked in woods in a.m. *in p.m. replanted pole beans, cucumbers, snap beans, beets and chard 8 *Benji to vets, check up *up in woods in a.m. *brought first logs to landing at end of Jeep Road *called people for cleaning chimney 9 *overcast, 75-80°, muggy *hour or so in woods up back *cut and stacked wood in the barn, filling a bay with 5 (?) cords 10 *warm, muggy, overcast: 75-80° *cut grass today for 6 hours or so, around the house and barn 11 *overcast, muggy, buggy, warm; rain at 5 p.m., a gentle, good "farmer rain" *started in woods up back *chimney cleaners came *tractor to B.'s to repair oil leak *gasoline at 90¢ per gal. for regular 12 *cool last night, 50° or so; snowy and rainy; predicted for 30s° tonight *shopping in a.m. *brought down wood in p.m. 13 *close to freezing last night; frost below garden *transplanted cabbage & cauliflower *fertilized large tomatoes *planted again carrots, new row of beans, chard & radishes *picked spinach, leaf lettuce, radishes & endive *grapes look great: lots of bunches started *pods on peas 14 *40° last night; today is beautiful--clear skies, low 80s°, breezy *garden looks good *blueberries in abundance on BT *worked in woods in a.m.; brought wood down in p.m. 15 *warm & humid *worked in woods in a.m. *to town for haircut in p.m. 16 *hot and humid 17 *N. has first child at 4:30 a.m., in Louisiana; phone call comes finally, everything fine 18 *hot & muggy in a.m.; cloudy, threatening in p.m., no rain *worked in woods in a.m. *pea pods filling *oil burner people came at 4 p.m., didn't finish 19 *sunny & cool today; beautiful but no rain *oil burner people finish in a.m. *in woods in morning *brought down wood in p.m. *strawberries from garden 20 *cool last night, warm today, 70-75° *in woods in a.m. *put wood stove in dining room in p.m. *picked peas but not many ripe *badminton in evening for first time 21 *cool last night, 75-80° today; last few days have been beautiful but dry *in woods in a.m. *piano tuned; new hot water heater *fixed tractor returned in p.m. *garden looks good, but things too dry to do much 22 *good day, 75° or so, humid in afternoon *worked in woods in a.m. *covered blueberries in back of house 23 *beautiful day, 70° or so *cut grass around home and across road 24 *repeat of yesterday, 40° tonight *cut grass in upper mowing *got Samantha [German shepherd, to be companion for Benji] in p.m. 25 *repeat of Sat. & Sun. in weather; we need rain *got wood up back; made road below hill *M. returned home from Louisiana 26 *40° last night; 75° today, clear, bright, beautiful, dry *picked first peas today: got 6 1/2 qts. from first double row 27 *beauty of a day: 70-75°, 50° last night; still no rain, ground is all dust *got wood up back *put row of logs around walnut grove fence *put old doghouse in walnut grove *put up badminton net again 28 *75° and humid; rain finally in p.m., with thunderstorm and 1/4 inch of wet *worked in woods today *M & C to Manchester VT today 29 *warm, 75-80°, semi-humid, buggy *worked in woods until chainsaw busted *went to B.T. in p.m. *C. got first blueberries and raspberries 30 *rained, 60-75° *picked peas -----Back to Top----- July 1 *rainy *worked up back, got soaked by rain in p.m. 2 *warm & humid *worked in woods; chain saw broke down twice! 3 *cooling temperature *Benji to vets to have pin in leg removed *picked peas *cultivated garden all morning, except beans: things look good *fertilized raspberries *C. picked first berries (wild blueberries & raspberries) for pie 4 *45° last night and 70°-plus today, low forties expected tonight *picked last peas; took down pea fences in asparagus bed; weeded edge of bed *hilled beans & fertilized pole beans *first japanese beetles; put up traps *to B.T. for supper but too cold & windy to stay [to watch] for fireworks 5 *cold last night: 40°, 70° today *finished clearing asparagus bed *worked in back in p.m. *picked & ate first cauliflower 6 *40° again last night; 60° or so today, bright and clear *worked in woods; more chainsaw problems 7 *45° last night; beautiful today--75° *in the woods today *sprayed grapes & apples for japanese beetles this p.m. 8 *55° last night; warm & clear today, 80° *started trimming [pruning] Xmas trees *C. got 4 qts. of black raspberries by the upper stream 9 *warm & humid: 60° last night and 85° today *in woods in a.m.; more Xmas tree trimming in p.m. 10 *warm & humid: 60° last night *up in the woods today *CVPS picked up their water heater today 11 *warm & humid; 60° last night *cut grass today, until the tractor broke *first head lettuce & broccoli 12 *hot & humid *to dentist at 10 *whipped grass from trees across road *tractor back, finished cutting grass *cauliflower for freezing & for dinner *pick blueberries (C. picked enough for a pie this afternoon) *need rain 13 *very muggy *Benji to vets to have final stitches removed *cut grass up back; cut out new area near woods 14 *very muggy *froze first chard, beets, white onions *finished section in woods by upper road *sprayed raspberries for jap. beetles *picked black raspberries: 1 1/2 qts. *finished trimming Xmas trees *to Manchester in evening for concert 15 *misty & rainy & muggy today *moved doghouse from walnut grove to side lawn 16 *very muggy, overcast; rain in afternoon: 1 inch plus *dentist this a.m. *picked last (?) Of black raspberries by stream 17 *2-plus more inches of rain last night *to Maine for visit 18 *good Maine trip 19 *caught mackerel & pollock on Harbor Island trip 20 *clear & warm today, not too humid *returned *picked first red tomatoes *C. Picked first beans *grass needs cutting *cauliflower, beans, broccoli, beets ready for freezing *first red cabbage ready 21 *hot & humid; thunderstorm in town in p.m., but no rain here *cut grass all day 22 *hot & humid, hazy sunshine *worked in garden in a.m.; pulled out spinach *fertilized, sprayed & cultivated raspberries *froze white onions (all), chives, beets, cauliflower, broccoli *first carrots *picked beans for freezing *lunch on B.T.; first black caps [blackberries] picked 23 *hot and humid *cleaned up barn *ordered another freezer *sprayed for jap. Beetles *first tomatoes 24 *hot and humid *worked in woods *first black cap pie 25 *hot and humid *worked in woods, broke chain saw; bought new one *2nd tomatoes, second picking of beans *head lettuce is rotting 26 *hot & humid, rain at 5:15p: 1 inch-plus, cooled things a bit *worked in woods *kindling arrived *tied up tomatoes; they needed the rain 27 *warm & humid; rain at tea time *weeded asparagus garden again *cut down bush by garage door *freezer came at noon *picked black caps in p.m.: 13 pints *picked cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage & peppers from garden 28 *hot and humid *picked beans 29 *hot and humid *cut grass all day 30 *still hot & humid *worked in woods up back, got tangled in grape vines; not much progress *picked berries (black caps) in afternoon 31 *still hot and humid *worked in woods *picked black caps after dinner -----Back to Top----- August 1 *very hot & humid, miserable day *grandparents arrived: went to pick them up at 7:30 a.m., but then schedule changed to arrive at 5:30p.m.; so went home & then returned to airport 2 *hot & humid, drizzly, miserable *cut grass in upper mowing *changed oil, etc. in tractor 3 *warm, but not so humid *worked in woods in morning: finished project A for this year *grandparents & M. picked lots of beans this p.m. *first brussels sprouts; several tomatoes *climbed B.T. in p.m. *went to concert in evening (Marlboro) 4 *hot and humid still *worked in woods 5 *hot and humid *cut grass today *picked about 4 qts. of black caps 6 *warm, not humid, very pleasant *worked in woods *picked 12 lbs. of tomatoes; 7 boxes (1 1/2 pt-size) cauliflower; 2 boxes (1 1/2 pt) broccoli; 4 boxes (1/2 pt) beets; chard--5 qts.; first brussels sprouts frozen 7 *warm, not too humid *worked in woods 8 *worked in woods; brought down final wood for barn (I hope) *picked record 15 lbs. of tomatoes; got some good cantaloupes *M. & folks took trip to NH, with lunch in Keene 9 *70°-75°, not humid, crystal clear, beautiful day *bought corn, 4 dozen at $1.09 per dozen *M. made first tomato juice *split logs, cut at stove length and put in barn 10 *rain today; not predicted, of course *started stacking wood for barn 11 *overcast, cool *Benji feeling a bit poorly *M. put up cucumber pickles *more wood for barn *E.'s for cocktails 12 *rain: slow, regular, all day; 50° or so *no activity 13 *60°-70°, clear & bright in p.m. *finished cutting wood stacked by barn *picked several more cantaloupes 14 *rain, drizzle, cool; 55°-65° *stacked wood in barn *got Jeep back with choke fixed 15 *cool, windy; 55°-65° *cut and stacked in basement the dead elm trees at end of upper mowing *picked cabbage for sauerkraut & cauliflower for freezing *some tomatoes ripening 16 *bright, clear, breezy, beautiful; 50° last night and 70°-75° today *cut grass all day 17 *45° last night *M. & folks to Boston on bus *cut grass in between trees across road; all morning with the lawn mower, hand clippers in p.m. *picked apples from trees by house; birds had been eating them 18 *cold and rainy 19 *drizzle all day *no action 20 *clearing today, muggy *picked last cantaloupes before they were ripe as vines had died *grandparents left this morning for St. Louis 21 *sunny day, 75°; humid in p.m. *weeded asparagus & grapes 22 *sunny day, 70°-75° weeded, rototilled, etc., in garden across road *picked about a bushel of tomatoes across road & picked shallots *ordered weed-eater 23 *overcast, muggy, 75°-80° *weeded, rototilled in garden below house *pulled out beans & radishes, except pole beans 24 *warm, muggy, drizzly *started clearing out blueberry patch below Little B.T. *took down 2 dead trees in upper mowing & cleared out snowshoe trail in woods *M. picked chard, beets, tomatoes 25 *rain off and on all day; warm & very humid *cut grass across road *picked tomatoes 26 * sunny, warm, less humid *cut grass around house *picked high-bush blackberries *put away japanese beetle traps 27 *warm, overcast, muggy; thunderstorm in p.m. *plastic on wood piles *replace window in tool room in barn 28 *pleasant morning, 65°-75°; muggy in p.m. *started on trimming pine trees below Little B.T.; cut down gray birch, etc. *got new weed-eater 29 *rain and muggy *shopping expedition today 30 *hot, muggy, showery *started trimming around trees in upper mowing; 5 hours--8 long rows only 31 *beautiful day, 75°-85°, cloudless, not humid *trimmed until trimmer broke; started cutting with tractor on to Sept. to December back to Jan. to April |
|
Back to Small Farm-Garden Diary Start
Page design copyright © 2002-2006 c. stockbridge. All rights reserved.
Diary © f. stockbridge 1979. All rights reserved.
Page last modified March 30, 2006.