Healthy Garlic, Worm Compost (and fishing plans)

-->

Spring continues to unfold in northwestern Pennsylvania and late last week many of the wild apple trees bloomed. On the way through the woods to dig some leeks, I saw the young, wild crab apple tree in bloom. Many other colorful spring flowers are still blooming including the yellow swamp marigolds, trillum, and violets.
Luckily, last weeks frost didn't settle in although the temp was 36 degrees early one morning.
The upcoming week looks like we'll enjoy somewhat drier and cooler conditions after rain on Monday.
Planted some red romaine lettuce in a raised bed on May 14 so the upcoming week will help germination. Potatoes, peas and red onion are next on the list.

GARLIC

The garlic is growing very well this spring. There are two basic species of garlic, hardneck and softneck. Here hardneck garlic is planted every year, a variety given by an Italian immigrant. It has a lot of flavor with a tinge of heat.

 It laughs at cold weather and late spring snow.

 It will scape next month. The white bulbil on the twisting stem holds many tiny garlic bulbs which can be planted months later in October. Or they make and add a lot of flavor to many dishes now.

The healthy garlic is ready to have in August when about 70% of the stems and leaves have turned brown. It is best to save the larger cloves to replant in October and use the smaller cloves for cooking or canning.

Garlic is readily available from many online, reputable seed companies or many times it can be found at farmer's markets and neighbors. Beware of eating or planting supermarket garlic. China exports a lot of garlic to the US. Last year some 138 million pounds of garlic from China was sent to the USA. In many cases, the garlic is not planted in the best of conditions in China and harmful chemicals can be used.

California, the Garlic Capital of the World,  also grows and ships plenty of garlic, usually the softneck variety.

Here’s how to spot a California-grown bulb:

•  American garlic has some of the roots left on the bottom.
• American garlic is heavier  than imported garlic.
• American garlic is much more  flavorful.

For more information, Grow Garlic. Be safe and plant it at home. It's easier than growing potatoes and can even be grown in pots.

The Worms and Compost, well, and some fishing plans.

We got an old refrigerator and an old freezer and all winter have been making plans to turn them into a worm farm. Household garbage is turned into compost by the worms and there's always a handy supply of bait available for fishing.

Step one was to take ot the shelving and tubes with freon gas so we would have a clean empty box. The holes were drilled in the bottom for drainage and ventilation holes in the side. We divided the worm box into two sections; one for the garbage and the other for worm bedding using peat moss, saw dust, dried grass and spring clean-up leaves. Both boxes will go in the small woods in the background where there is plenty of shade. That should be the fun part, both are heavy. Once in place, it will be time to order the red wrigglers  for one box and the wax worms for the second one.

In Case You Missed:

Canadohta Summer

Leo and Anto

Canadohta Radio

HoneyBees

It was a month ago today that the bees arrived. The hive is fascinating to watch and they seem to be increasing and doing well. They do enjoy their sugar water! But with the onset of spring, I've noticed the bees on the apple blossoms and other flowering plants.
The bees in many locations didn't survive this past winter and I'll be checking about the bee situation here locally next week. For more information on the losses the past winter,  Honeybee Deaths.

And Just for the Heck of IT

Eating honey can help you smarter! It is the only food to contain ‘pinocembrin’ that is an antioxidant that improves brain function.

and did you know

 Worms can live for up to 15 years, and they have been on this earth for 120 million years

Comments can be sent to spinksgreg@gmail.com