Morning Arrival
Today I got to the gardens after 8:30am and it was already in the 80’s. I thought I could get the 3 things done—watering, boxing and harvesting.
Learning Plot and Breakfast
We stopped at the Learning Plot first so my grandson could be in the shade to finished his breakfast. I told him I wouldn’t be long and a few minutes later he was ready to help.
I put him to watering while I moved the A-frame and posts to the truck so I can use it in my 2nd raised bed for pole beans. The Chinese long beans did well in the other one, which I am going remove and replant as they played out. I am not sure I have enough Chinese beans to replant it. I do know I have plenty of pole beans if I don’t.
Watering Instructions
The watering instructions were simple:
Big plants like tomatoes get a minute on a steady stream.
Small plants like basil, peppers and eggplants get 45 seconds.
For the mounds we switched to shower mode and did each mound for 20 seconds or longer if they germinated.
He took out his phone and set the timer and was working steadily.
I am not sure why I am having poor germination, but tomorrow I am going to use different seed packets. I have been struggling since the first batch I planted before my trip. So—could it be a bad seed from the Do It Center?
Checking My Plots
We finished there and went to my plots where I had my grandson start watering while I checked the transplants.
I had another Big Beef regular die and this time it was in the Back 40. Yesterday I saw it starting to droop and today it wasn’t any better after giving a good drink of water. I was going to put a collar on, but this one had almost the same problem right at the soil line — not completely eaten, but starting to look rotten or mushy.
I have another one in the PP with a collar on that I put on yesterday and watered, and I put a fabric screen around it to shade it. I really don’t think it will make it, as the cutworm probably chewed it enough even though I couldn’t see the bite marks or chunks taken out. It is funny they are all Big Beef regular that were attacked.
Heat and Early Wrap-Up
My grandson got too hot as he is not used to this garden work with no shade. So, I changed what I had planned as I too was sweating bullets by this time, when normally I would be heading home.
I finished the watering and quickly picked yellow squash and okra and we headed home for lunch.
Lunch and Expanding His Foods
He has spent a few nights with me, and we have been working on expanding his foods at home with the family and also helping him bring a better variety for his school lunches. Bringing his lunch is what he has been saying he wants to do, especially since when I have asked him what he ate at school, sometimes it was just graham crackers and milk. The other day, to help make this happen, I bought Bentgo Pop lunch containers. Maybe he can do both if he looks at the school lunch calendar each week and chooses which days he wants to pack his lunch, depending on what they are serving.
The other day I took him to Aldi and he picked out assorted pork loin chops, and we also bought dill pickle and ranch potato chips, jalapeño potato chips, some freshly cut mango, bologna, and honey ham.
Today he made a sandwich on a hamburger bun, sort of like a mini sub sandwich, with mayo, a little yellow mustard, lettuce, provolone cheese, my homemade dill pickles, and the thinly sliced turkey that was already opened. For sides he had mango slices, strawberries, and his dill pickle and ranch flavored potato chips. He ate it all.
I noticed when he is actively involved and helping in cooking, he eats and enjoys the food. Just like with cooking the pork chops — he ate two pork chops.
Growing Together
Even though the day didn’t go as planned, we still got a lot done, and I’m happy he wanted to come with me. He learned quickly that gardening in the heat is no fun, and I mentioned that this is why I get here at dawn before it gets hot. I know I won’t be able to get him out of bed that early, but once the weather cools down he may come more often. Just like with working on eating new foods, it’s the same with veggies from the garden. Maybe if he helps harvest and we have a recipe ready that he wants to try, it might be a win‑win situation.