I drove to the post office to mail seeds this morning after chores, figuring I’d make a trip to the 25-mile-away town of Virginia afterward, to do a little shopping. Nothing major, you understand, just more cough medicine for Will as his cough, unlike mine, is tight and he needs something to loosen it up. But as I left the post office, not only was it barely zero out with wind, but it was snowing like crazy.
Hmmm, maybe not going for a drive today! The visibility was poor and you always think what would happen on snow-covered roads, if the car broke down, etc. Nope, I went to our local market and came right home. I’d rather pay a bit more than chance trouble to save a buck. We say one degree above zero, briefly, today and it’s been in the thirties below for days now. Yep, winter’s here for sure! I keep thinking warm — you know, green grass, planting asparagus roots, soaking in the lake. It does help, knowing it’s only a couple more months away. Kind of…
I’ve been reading Laura Ingalls Wilder’s book, The Long Winter, for probably the hundredth time. It seems to somehow get me going, whether it’s canning time in the fall or during a tough spell of winter. You know, you think you have it tough, with a nice warm house, plenty of food and firewood, not freezing in an uninsulated building with only twisted hay for fuel and barely enough food to survive. It makes me feel like a sissy! Ha ha!
I’m planning to order 50 three-year-old asparagus roots to plant this spring (see I told you I was thinking warm!). They’ll be easy to plant, using Will’s “middle buster” plow to make a long furrow parallel to the north fence in the Wolf Garden. As we won’t have to plant as many different varieties of tomatoes this year, due to us going to transfer the seed business, we’ll have more room for other stuff. One of our asparagus beds is twenty years old and the grass has about taken it over. So, it’s time for a new one as we really love our asparagus! We had previously always ordered from Nourse Farms. But when I went to their website, I was stunned to find Johnny’s logo. And no three-year-old asparagus roots! Oh oh, another company has bitten the dust! Fortunately, I did find another company offering them so onward with the plans. I wanted 3-year-old roots as they can be harvested from on the first year after planting, unlike the more commonly sold roots, which are only a year old and you must wait a year to very lightly harvest for a short time, then a bit heavier harvest the next year. Hey, I’ll be 80 this year and figure I’d better harvest as soon as I can, just in case… — Jackie
Jackie, when are you turning 80? I think Backwoods Home and Self-reliance need to do an article on you! Seriously!! I know something about you having read articles and your book Starting Over. I’ve read it a couple of times. Not obsessing over you, but looking for your approach and solutions to various situations. It also keeps me moving when yet another health problem rears it’s nasty head. Now it’s my heart. It’s got a small dead spot so I need to make some more changes to things. Good thing is it needs to be watched and monitored.
Funny thing, was getting a student doctor in with the nurse, PA and the doctor and my husband and I with our walkers crammed into the small exam room all at once. Looked like a weird dance. I’ll be ordering seeds though I’m not gardening this year. I’m putting them in plastic jars and wrapping tape around the top to seal them. You think plastic jars will be okay? I’m adding oxygen absorbers to seeds.
Glad you got snow and winter. Here it has been a very warm winter and not much snow. We need the cold to cut down on some insects and the snow to reduce the forest fires and keep the fields watered. Pray for snow is a common sign here in SE Idaho. It also hasn’t been very cold. Winter usually has spells of 5 to 20 below zero. None of that so far. The South, who isn’t used to it or ready for it got walloped instead. I’ve family down there and they were cold. Power went out on some but they had fireplaces they fired up. My brother has an above ground pool and said it froze solid.
Anyway, I’m hoping you and Will get over your coughs soon. And who did you get your asparagus from? Bye 👋
+ Ah, in addition to Will and Jackie, you and your husband are now added to our list of admirable role models for ‘keeping on keeping on.’ God reward you for a positive attitude. (My husband will be 81 in a few months; I’m 77. Our joke is that our ‘active’ social life revolves almost solely around doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists. Both of us have health challenges, but try to keep in shape and adapt where necessary to continue gardening, canning, upkeep of our country property. We are blessed.)
Glass jars are great for storage. (Plastic ‘jars’ have microscopic holes which very, very gradually allow moisture to permeate.)
I checked Nourse also and got Johnny seeds! Where did you get the 3 year old asparagus roots?
In the Southern Illinois area we got 25.1 inches of snow the 25-26 of January, we was in just a section where it snowed heavy.
Be glad when it turns warm! More bitter cold coming in for the weekend -10° with the wind chill.
Take care
Belinda
Jackie, thanks so much for your blog. I don’t even take BHM anymore; it’s still a great one. And they email your blog to me every time anyway! Like I have said, it’s like getting mail from a good friend!
Winter definitely has arrived,Everywhere.1 degree what a warm up! Asparagus is hard to find in too many places. Been adding some every year for several years.Received my seed order from you yesterday!!!. Can’t wait to get started- once spring arrives! Poor Will, coughing is tiring. Every one stay warm and healthy
Here in Oklahoma I am on day 6 of no water-the rural water system is down. I keep 20-25 gallon jugs of water in the tool shed. This happens not only in winter weather for me. I bring several in before a storm just in case and glad I did again this winter. I have a well for water up by the garden and a young neighbor fills them up for me when I have emptied some and the weather is bad. I am 80, a widow and I too am not happy about the physical restrictions that time puts on us as we age, but it could be a lot worse. My wood stove keeps me warm and my wood rack is right out the back door. I can what I can get ahold of. Haven’t been to the grocery store in a week and still don’t need anything from there. Put 4 trays of apples in the dehydrator yesterday. God is faithful. Take care everyone.
We have had very little snow this year and making records for low snow. Record breaking temp and ice back home in NC.
You were talking about pesticides being spread on grain just as it is harvested by Monsanto. I ordered Einkorn flour. Takes a little getting used to because it is different than flour bought in store. My son and daughter are also making bread and taste lots better than the bought bread at store.
We always try to keep a little cold meds on hand in winter. Do not like to venture out when sick. Hope you and Will get to feeling better. You are right behind me in age, sucks getting old and having to give up things that we enjoy.
Oh my! I don’t know how that happened. I’ll get one right off today. Yeah, I was shocked when I found out Nourse was not Nourse anymore. I, too, had bought from them for years, especially 3 year old asparagus roots. We are both starting to feel better.
Hurry up spring! Here in Paradise, Ca very cold and days without solar makes electricity heat more costly. But I feel for you guys in that cold!!!
I’m sure waiting for at least some sign that spring will come this year! Today, at least the sun is out. Days that are cloudy mean we have to run the generator, sooner or later.
My mother-in-law, and sister-in-law lived in Paradise. Mom moved away in 2009, but sister was burned out by the big fire. I miss them, I miss visiting in Paradise. It was wonderful.
We had one day of 22 below-actual temperature with the wind chill making it minus 47. Outside chores are a bit frosty/hah. The chickens quit laying. Funny, I ordered 30 asparagus roots however 1 year roots. The wood pile shrinks fast with this weather. Fortunately I have enough wood and the house is pleasantly warm. Our southern neighbors are struggling-no electricity would be a terrible situation for them. Today I’m doing a seed inventory and planning ahead. It seems there is always more than enough to do. Each night is busy with grandchildren sports and bleachers-ugh. We do love watching them grow and mature. I’m always amazed how the cold doesn’t seem to affect the cattle-except they eat more.
Boy, do those cows ever eat more when it’s cold. You can tell the temperature by whether or not they’re standing with their heads in a round bale, munching away or laying in the scrap hay, chewing their cuds.
I feel sorry for those folks in Tennessee and other places impacted by this nasty storm. We were very lucky; no ice! Yep, it’s been cold but you can always throw another stick of wood on the fire.
This spring I plan on a) stopping better half from planting any crowns until I see barren area(s) in the patch and b) buying 3 year old crowns also. Better half tends to be impatient (asparagus, taters) so I have to tactfully and gently deal with it.
And yes, worth a little more to not drive so far – regardless of weather. Penny wise and pound foolish as the saying goes.
I don’t mind driving a little ways IF I can save money doing so. But when the weather’s bad, I opt for safety and paying a bit more. Lots of cars ended up in the ditch yesterday!
What?? I just checked the Nourse website too! I’m really surprised. And kinda disappointed!! We always have ordered from them. I feel like the last few catalogues I got had fewer varieties but I never saw any indication they’d be changing hands, or “partnering”…
Jackie, can you please put me on your mailing list? I have not received your last catalogue yet and I don’t want to miss the last one.
I hope you guys are staying toasty warm and that Will is feeling better!!! Mia
Hi Jackie,
Love your column! Where did you order your 3 year old asparagus roots from?
Thanks from a fellow Minnesotan!
Pam