Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 65
singing in the garden
I borrowed a book from the library about composting
and read about how to layer the green and brown stuff,
sprinkling either a high protein dog chow or a little fertilizer on each layer before adding the next. When it was
four feet tall, I was supposed to tamp the middle into a
slight depression and then wet the pile until it was damp.
Then I was supposed to cover it and water it when it was
dry. Notice that I've written those last two sentences in
what I call the "coulda, shoulda, woulda" verb tense.
Even though I bought a soil thermometer so I could gloat
when the inner temperatures rose to the bacteria killing
levels, the pile never even ran a fever.
If you are an astute reader, you've already guessed
why. I couldn't find something to cover the pile with, I
forgot to check to see if it was damp after the first week,
the hose wouldn't reach the pile for watering: those are
my excuses. The truth is, I'm a lazy gardener, and my
compost pile was a sad testament to that fact.
But, nature is kind. The pile didn't get hot, but by the
next spring, it had created dirt. Glorious, rich, crumbly,
looks-like-chocolate cake dirt. Last May, when I created
my first ever raised bed, I dug in two wheelbarrow loads
of the stuff. That bed flourished and my cucumbers,
Travel Directory
NORTH CAROLINA
planted in late May, bore until the middle of July. The
turnips grew through the winter, the peppers fell over under the weight of their fruit, and the lettuce fairly glowed
with vigor.
After another winter, my second pile of compost is
ready to be worked into the garden. Raised bed number
two is under construction and I will devote it to flowers.
By August I hope to have flowers as glorious as the ones
hanging in various frames around my house. The
ones my mother painted. I'm looking forward
to a day when she will arrive with brush
in hand and memorialize the flowers
in my garden: beautiful because
they were fed a steady diet of
what most people would have
thrown away. ī
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madisonva.com
May/June 2017 65
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Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017
Features
Romance, Reunions and Family Fun for Summer
Mountain Summer: A Photo Essay
When Asheville Took over the 1970sā Paper Dress Fad
Bateaux along the James River
On the Appalachian Trail, the Easy Way
BBQ!
Departments
Letters / Worth a Click
Contributors
From the Editor
Mill Creek Stories
Creature Feature
Mountain Report
The Good Walk
Country Roads
Singing in the Garden
Festivals & Events
Guest Column
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - Intro
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - Cover2
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 3
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 4
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 5
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - Letters / Worth a Click
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - Contributors
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 8
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 9
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - From the Editor
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 11
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - Mill Creek Stories
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 13
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 14
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 15
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - Creature Feature
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 17
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 18
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 19
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - Mountain Report
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 21
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - The Good Walk
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 23
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - Country Roads
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 25
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 26
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 27
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - Romance, Reunions and Family Fun for Summer
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 29
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 30
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 31
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 32
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 33
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 34
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 35
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - Mountain Summer: A Photo Essay
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 37
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 38
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 39
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - When Asheville Took over the 1970sā Paper Dress Fad
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 41
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 42
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 43
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - Bateaux along the James River
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 45
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - On the Appalachian Trail, the Easy Way
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 47
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 48
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 49
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 50
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 51
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 52
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 53
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - BBQ!
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 55
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 56
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 57
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - Singing in the Garden
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - Festivals & Events
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 60
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 61
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 62
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 63
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 64
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - 65
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - Guest Column
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - Cover3
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2017 - Cover4
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