Poltergoose. And it Begins

 

It is a time for indoor activities. The last week was that raw, unendurable, dangerous cold that we usually get for a week or so in January. Not unexpected, but not at all pleasant.

The wood burning stove could not quite keep up. The security camera out back caught a poltergoose, repeatedly, that must have been lurking in our furnace. 

The cold should break today. Though, as I sit here next to the fire, I can hear an absolutely howling wind blasting around us. Oh well. That's winter for you. It will make summer that much more sweet.

This means that it is time to start purchasing seeds. 

It's important to beat the rush. So yesterday I ordered up a packet of mixed salad greens, a packet of herb seeds, and some of the garden basics that we know we want: marigolds, tomatoes, Detroit red beats, acorn squash, snow peas, banana peppers, small stoplight peppers. I won't make the mistake of two years ago and start them too early. Nor will I make last year's (somewhat forced) mistake of planting too late. No, this year will be the goldilocks year. Hopefully to good effect. 

One issue that raises its head is that there aren't that many standard Minnesota vegetables that we actually like to eat. Cucumbers. Pleh. Radishes. Yuck. We needed about half the zucchini we planted last year. Beans? Meh. Carrots? Just don't tend to get eaten. 

Some of the plants we'd really like have proven difficult to grow. Cilantro seems to be a tough one. We'll need to make a concerted effort this year. I'd like to find a spicy pepper that isn't too hot to eat. 

With this in mind, it is vitally important to plant only the things we are going to eat. The garden's new design will put a solid 32 sq. ft. squarely in full sun rather than partial shade with tree root infiltration. I'm thinking of giving over just one more 8x4 bed to the raspberries, and starting that same bed with more strawberries. to produce in summer '25. I had thought of doing two, but I think one more will be sufficient this year.

The beds under the deck have proven to be too shady to produce properly, so I think we're going to give them over to hostas & day lilies. Tough perennials. Pretty, but low maintenance. 

I'm hoping that the hillside that gets blasted with sun in the later summer will produce the black eyed Susans that I seeded last fall. I'd also very much like to plant some native grasses to provide some interest. 

There's still a notable infestation of creeping Charlie. 

These are the challenges that it is kind of fun to noodle over.

But that gets into some of the other economically un-fun issues that we have. The expensive issues. The sinking back patio that threatens to pool water against the house. The sunken sidewalk in the front that pools in the rain and ice. The driveway that needs to be replaced. 

Much to do. Much to think about.