Robin282's Garden

Nice to see “you are on the map” and beginning to make nice progress in your veggie garden!!

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

Thanks GradmaT!
I just now planted golden podded peas for use as snow peas.
Robin

-- Robin282, Zone 7, SE Coast of MA, USA

Okay Robin … can you explain what you mean to this “ol’ girl” ... I’m a “flower” gardener, so all this vegetable gardening talk, while fascinating; tends to be over my head. BUT, I love learning about it . Thank you!!! :-)

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

When I was 8, the old man who lived behind us saw me over the fence one day, and handed me some seeds he had been planting. He told me to take them, and plant them, and he instructed me. When my grandfather came to visit, he would work with me too. People would see me wheeling horse manure up the road for my garden—just a little kid! One neighbor stopped me, and hired me to wheel some manure his way. He also taught me, and introduced me to the magazine Organic Gardening. I had the child’s wonderment about every part of it. I love the little fruits forming especially. I used to sometimes look in the ground to see if the peas were sprouting—I couldn’t wait!

For the longest time, I only grew vegetables. Then when I was a teen we bought a few 6 packs of pansies, and that was the extent of my flower work. When I bought a house at 22, I was happy to have room to really garden again. A friend from around the corner was a flower grower. We ended up swapping info: I taught her about veggie growing, and she taught me about growing flowers from seed—annuals & perennials. I then moved into fruits and herbs.

Saying I am a veggie gardener first speaks of my history with growing things. Ultimately, my first love is the veggie growing too. Some plants are quite ornamental, and they provide wonderful food. I like the dual purpose nature of that. I do love the rest of it very well: flowers, herbs, edibles.
Robin

-- Robin282, Zone 7, SE Coast of MA, USA

Thanks Robin, I truly enjoyed your story and now understand how your love of gardening was “born”. My love of flower gardening was given to me by my Grandfather. However, I never quite made it over to vegetables. Guess that is why I ask a lot of questions now. Figure you are never too old to learn something new!! Hope you didn’t mind me “pickin’ at your brain” a bit …

Smiled at your comment, “I used to sometimes look into the ground to see if the peas were sprouting—I couldn’t wait”. LOL!! Heck, I still do that; the wonderment and excitement of watching that new plant spring to life still brings me much pleasure, even after all these years!

I look forward to learning from you as you share your gardening knowledge and just some good ol’ chatting as well. Glad you found us and have joined our forum!!

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

From one Robin to another, welcome :)

-- GardenMentor, Seattle, WA (zone 8/9), www.gardenmentors.com & www.gardenhelp.org

childhoods are much like gardening.

it is where seeds are started.

they can blossum into something truly wonderful.

-- Central northish Ontario

sorry

welcome Robin282

-- Central northish Ontario

Hi Robin,
Welcome to GT! :-)
Loved your story!
Hope you have more in stock to share with us!!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

Thank you! I hope to be writing more for sure. One of my fondest memories is of picking wild blueberries & raspberries when I was about the same age. I’ll be sure to write that ine too.
Robin

-- Robin282, Zone 7, SE Coast of MA, USA

I don’t really know where to post this on here but I haven’t figured the blog area out yet
...
I am going to re-post here something I wrote about on another forum. Last week, it was an idea; this week, it is a reality! I believe this is what I want to do with my professional life. If anyone knows of someone in need, please let me know. No one has to do anything, I just wanted to post this here.

POST ON OTHER SITE

I am developing a plan to procure seeds in quantity for people/communities/villages in need. I plant to start with the Appalachian Seed Project here in the USA. Then, I hope to make contacts outside the USA through the Heifer Project initially.

Gardeners are generous folks, and I am sure there will be plenty who wish to help. We can collect quantities of seed in a central location, write up growing instructions, and fill packs and send them out. That is an extremely over-simplified version of what I’d like to do, but basically, that is it.

I want to keep it as simple as possible. I could even get the Girl Scouts to fill packs for charity so to speak. I know there are ways of doing it, and I do not expect to save the world, just help some folks who need it. I am not in a position to be philanthropic and send money, but I do not believe that prevents me from helping in some way. Surely, I can save seed from all my pumpkins instead of just one or two for example.

My first tasks will be to come up with a name, sign up some gardeners, write growing instructions, make contacts and then move on to the practical aspects of making it happen.

I will keep it to vegetables first. If we are limited, it will be the most nutritious veggies first, then a wider variety of veggies moving into herb seeds possibly. The idea is to feed people.

I will have to check into the logistics of such a thing as sending bulk seeds to another country, but I am sure we can figure it out. Good veggies do not tend to be invasive! I have also received seeds from other countries. I’ll look into that.

At this planning stage I am open to suggestions and so forth. Keeping it simple is paramount; people tend not to volunteer for things that are too complicated.

THINGS HAVE ALREADY BEGUN!

I have already started getting requests and mailing them out.

I am happy to receive private e-mails for this project. No one is required to put personal information here. Some do not mind, but for those who do not wish to post their hardship story, just e-mail me privately.

E-Mail me at Robin282mt@verizon.net

Please put “Need for Seed” in the subject line.

PLEASE** tell me how many people this is for! I would hate to send a family of 5 or 6 seeds for an individual’s garden.

Let me know if you are donating or would like to be a recipient.

Although I do not know what seeds I have available at any given time, please give me information such as NO turnips or whatever. Some people just don’t like some vegetables, and it would be better to save those for someone else.

If you are crazy about something not as common, say okra, please note that too. I do not mind someone saying green beans are a favorite that info will help me, and I can give more beans to that person.

I cannot fill orders as I am not a seed company. I will be saving as much as I can from my plants each year to supply this project. I will of course be growing my favorites, but I may get something you like from someone else.

Right now, I am paying for postage myself, but if this project gets huge (as I hope it does), I will not be able to front the postage and will attempt to sell my extra plants to cover it. If the project becomes really huge, I will go for non-profit status. If anyone has any suggestions for me on this please e-mail me.

A little personal information for my motivation: I was a single mom (I preferred to say “Independent Parent”) for 12 years. It was tough, but I survived and climbed out of the hole by myself. There were times that I wondered if I would have lights, phone, or food. I did everything I could to make ends meet. I couldn’t leave my babies, so I landscaped and took them with me. I also baked homemade bread and sold it. Doing things to help myself allowed me to keep my dignity. At the same time, I needed help too. So, I wish to give a little help and let people keep their dignity.

That said, any hardship qualifies a person to receive these seeds. A fixed income such as Social Security, single moms on aid, working people who cannot cover everything because gasoline has eaten up their food budget, fire victims, people from impoverished areas with little outside work available, people who are temporarily out of work (more time to garden!), people who do not have a hardship who would like to help other who are by requesting seed to give to the person or by growing the veggies and giving the produce to neighbors in need. Believe me, I understand hardship, and I know I have not even scratched the surface of what types of hardships people have. Just let me know in the e-mail briefly why you ask for the help. When I go for non-profit status, I believe I will need to document some of this. You do not have to share every detail—”unemployed” will do; it is up to you what you share.

I am grateful to all of you who have pledged to donate. We all appreciate your generosity.

I am also grateful to those who have made requests; this has provided us the opportunity to help, and give back.

With the seed I send, it may not be this year’s seed. However, tomato seeds are viable for 5 years or more, so they would still sprout. If I think something has lost 20% or so of its viability, I will add extra seed to make sure folks get enough to eat.

Once this project gets going, I will have mostly “this year’s” seed.

My main reason for this is food. I want people to be able to eat fresh, nutritious produce and feel the satisfaction of providing for themselves. All “care packages” will include a variety of vegetables to give someone a seasons worth of food. IMPORTANT!: Be sure to remember to inform me how many people you will be feeding. I am currently lining up a “care package” for a shelter that will require much more seed.

I will try to add herbs as well to the care packages. My herb garden is just starting, so I cannot guarantee this right now. In the future, I will add herbs to every care package.

If there are flower seeds available, I will throw those in for cheer. Nobody needs cheer more than someone in a hardship situation.

I am propositioning seed companies too. Frankly, I do not believe this will work until I have my non-profit status, but… I am requesting last year’s seed from seed companies. I spoke with one already that says they burn all their old seed because they cannot sell it. I said to them that donating is not selling, how about that? They liked the idea, so I have to write something up. I still think the non-profit status will be the key to open those doors. Then the companies can write it off as a charitable donation. Anyone who knows the ins and outs of this, please e-mail.

Finally, after all this blabbering, I will list my requirements for the request e-mail below. This will save time, and help to keep me more organized. I have a head injury, and if I am getting dozens of e-mails and 2 people are named Beth, or something, I will get confused. This is my private e-mail, and there will be no sharing of info in any way. When I go for non-profit (unless the govt. makes it harder for me to share with people, then I won’t), I may need info on the hardships situations of people who receive seed. In this case, I will still protect the identity of the person, but will request (beforehand) if I can use your story without your name. I do believe that is a long way off yet.

For the folks who donate, I would like to start a “Garden Angel” reward within the program. Right now, this is strictly in the idea phase. I will either make out certificates, or possibly have little gifts or something like that. I will happy to receive ideas in this area too. I have a website, so I will be adding pages there for this project. That way, people can see where their help is going. I would also love people to post stories and such their. Maybe someone has a community garden where they give the produce to those in need; they could post about that.

OK, enough. I think that covers everything. If anyone has a question, please e-mail me!
Thanks & Blessing to all of you!

1. E-Mail me at Robin282mt@verison.net
2. Subject lie should read “Need for Seed”
3. Inform whether you are donating or requesting.
4. If donating, I will send my address right out.
5. Donations should be sent to Need for Seed c/o me etc.
6. If receiving, how many people is the request for?
7. Recipients: list likes and dislikes as a guide
8. All should include any pertinent information possible
a. Garden Forum name & page
b. E-mail addresses, info on e-mail filters so that I
can e-mail you back.
c. YOUR ADDRESS: in the first e-mail please, this will
help me keep things straight. If I have a few people with the same name, I can make out the bubble mailers right away and have the “likes & dislike” on a paper inside. Then I won’t have to keep going through the e-mails to check. I do this because my short-term memory is not that good.

Keep in mind that most people have a name, a different name on their e-mail, and yet another for their forum, all different! Please let me know this so I can keep it straight.

A thousand thank you-s to all!
Robin

-- Robin282, Zone 7, SE Coast of MA, USA

Robin.. this is magnificent – not just the idea but the courage or clarity to take the steps to make it happen.
Your life challenges seem to have developed a strength within you that is now (or has always) made a difference!
Bless you.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Hi Robin,

This is a great idea, here is a site doing something similar, maybe you could join forces or just get some information on how they are doing it although it seems you have a great plan all o your own.

Kokopelli Seed Foundation

-- Xploreorganics, 5b Canada, LFD 06-20

Thanks for the good words!

Yesterday, I planted more purple-podded peas, snap peas, lettuce mix. The day before I planted carrots. I am so happy that March has been like this! I do have the beds covered just in case it get really cold.
Robin

-- Robin282, Zone 7, SE Coast of MA, USA

Returned for Vermont on Sunday. It was 14F when we left, and there was about 4 ft. of snow! Back home, it is in the 40s, and no snow at all. It was a nice visit, but i am glad I do not have to wait another month for the snow to be gone, and then a couple of weeks for the ground to be workable!

I hope to plant some more veggies today!
Robin

-- Robin282, Zone 7, SE Coast of MA, USA

we were supposed to start getting “warm” weather on Friday but now Friday is -2C and we don’t get the + until Saturday… so they say

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Geez we have a wintery mix coming today (or say they say) ... snow than rain. (Nothing yet, maybe they are wrong!!) Only saving grace is the temperatures are supposed to eventually get into the 40(F). Wind is howling at the moment … I long for some consistent, warm weather …

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

I have set up a Yahoo! group for my project Need4Seed at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Need4Seed/

Please feel free to join.
Robin

-- Robin282, Zone 7, SE Coast of MA, USA

My peas are up! So are the Radishes. I am still waiting on the carrots & lettuce. I bought some onion sets to plant. I started some from seed, but some of them got damping off. I was really depressed because some were the Welsh onion seed I got from Wales. Boo-Hoo!
Robin

-- Robin282, Zone 7, SE Coast of MA, USA

I planted Parsnips today! 4-13

-- Robin282, Zone 7, SE Coast of MA, USA

your garden is coming along beautifully!

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

A couple of days before, I planted more experimental (too early to plant) string beans. We have also put in red onion. My 11 y.o. daughter has been helpful.

-- Robin282, Zone 7, SE Coast of MA, USA

I planted garlic, turnip, and radishes today! Yesterday, I planted Asparagus.

-- Robin282, Zone 7, SE Coast of MA, USA

Just planted my first small batch of potatoes!

-- Robin282, Zone 7, SE Coast of MA, USA

I’d say you are on a “roll” ... sounds like it is gonna be a really nice garden.

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

Well, let’s see, I planted Bott’s Strain Giant Sunflowers today. I do not believe the heads are huge, just the plants. If anyone is interested in seed when it is produced, PLMK or keep me in mind.

The other day, I planted more potatoes (Rose Finn Apple).

Unfortunately, I have been more on yard cleaning duty (demolition pile from new roof after a tree fell on it), than gardening. Boo-Hoo!

Not today!

I have taken out all of my started plants, and most of my houseplants, for some hardening off. Fortunately, it is going to be about 72 today and tomorrow, with temps in the low 50’s tonight. SOOOOOoooo, I do NOT have to bring the plants back in tonight! Thank goodness because there are so many.

I hope to get the rest of my potatoes in today & tomorrow. Next on the plant list is spinach (for Mom, I don’t care for it), beets, more radishes (purple ones!), more lettuce, onions, ther rest of the asparagus that came in the mail, and possible flax.

Happy Gardening!
Robin

-- Robin282, Zone 7, SE Coast of MA, USA

Well, I haven’t posted in a bit, been outside. I’d like to say it was all gardening, but it wasn’t. We had a tree fall on our house before, and I have been cleaning up the enormous debris pile out back. I have had to separate it as well, in order to dispose of it. The job was very demanding, but I am nearly done. I just have to rake up the tiny stuff, move a few more boards out front, and then DH has to take it all away. I recycled what I could.

As for my garden, it is going well. My DH has been surprisngly willing to flip over grass to start new beds! It started off as a Mother’s Day thing, and he has done more. Ultimately, the only lawn I’ll have is under the clothes line, and in the field.

I have posted before about some of the things I have planted, but I have put in much more. This year, I am trying to grow food for our chickens. It has gotten outrageous, and prices on corn & feed has virtually doubled. I have started a corn area at one end of the field, and I planted it as a corn maze for the kids. I have also planted other grains: oat, wheat, flax, spelt, buckwheat, and quinoa. I plan to plant amaranth and safflower. We have harvested our first round of radishes, so I will be planting more; the second batch is ripening. I have put in lots of potatoes, Yukon Gold, red Pontiac, white, All Blue and Rose Finn.

The experimental string beans (purple) are OK, about 1/2 made it. I am trying to select for cold tolerance. I also planted Top Crop (green), a wax bean (yellow), and more green ones. I am also going to plant hyacinth beans, shelling beans, and some pole beans. I planted those spotted dragon ones too. I got some roam beans in, and I will be planting another (one is green, the other yellow). I will make some pole bean Tee Pees and the kids can sit in there too. Can you tell I love beans?

The parsnips I planted never came up (old possibly). I plan to replant. One would think that my peas wold be ready to harvest, but the birds ate the leaves. It is the only early spring green they have, so I do not mind. It doesn’t kill the plants. They just keep coming back. I have put in yellow onions (sets) in addition to the red (sets). My guinea fowl are actually bothering my plants. They scratch and pick at them. I read a book that says they don’t bother the garden, but they are. I guess that’s what happens when you’re raised by a chicken!

I also started some Italian onions right from seed. I planted them in the gutters that came off the house. They are small onions and they should do well in that space. One is a small white (like a pickling) round, and the other is a torpedo shaped red.

Although it is kind of late, I am still sticking in little potatoes here & there. One patch of peas was rather sparse in what made it through the cold and such, so I put potatoes in there. The peas will flower soon, and will be out of the way before the potatoes really get going.

I have been planting my tomato, pepper, and eggplant that I started indoors. I have so many, and I want to save seed, so little garden patches are going in here and there so that there is some distance between. I have been harvesting leaf lettuce for salads. I had many volunteers there. My celery is doing very well.

I am also trying peanuts and black sesame seed this year. We’ll see how that goes. I have never planted them before. I like to plants something new or a “challenge” plant every year. The challenge is usually with something that shouldn’t grow here usually, or something that is considered difficult to keep.

My perennial veggies are doing well: asparagus, rhubarb, shallots.

Let’s see… I planted gourd seeds in cups yesterday. They will be in there until I get the bed ready. I had a flowering plant swap with a neighbor this morning. I got an order from Raintree Nursery & am trying to get all that in too. I bought all edible plants, mostly small fruit & berries.

I think that covers what I have put in. I am still planting flowers and other plants that go in the flower garden. I saw a Yellow Swallowtail yesterday! I have seen little lavender butterflies too (I don’t know the name, I tried to look it up, but found nothing).

Well, I have to get outside!
Robin

-- Robin282, Zone 7, SE Coast of MA, USA

You sure have done a lot!
We are getting chickens for the first time this year! Hope they are better behaved but if they are not we will just have to handle it!

Amazing what a few zone difference can do: I am shocked at all that you are growing that would not grow here!

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

”I have seen little lavender butterflies too (I don’t know the name, I tried to look it up, but found nothing).”

Here you go, Robin.
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/

How I IDed the Luna Moth in this area, though, had to do it by state wide.. Some times the county wide narrows it down TOO much.. But it’s easier to start there.

And for birds?
http://www.whatbird.com

-- Planting Daylilies in Kentucky, zone 6b

Just blown away with the amount of planting you are doing … wow, busy, busy lady!! :-)

Sorry to hear about the tree falling on your home. Hope there was not extensive damage. Glad to hear everyone is okay and that life is getting back to normal.

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

my goodness you’ve been busy!! Looks like a busy summer ahead of you as well.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Can you believe another enormous tree fell in our yard? Thank the heavens it wasn’t on the house again!
Robin

-- Robin282, Zone 7, SE Coast of MA, USA

Sorry it fell: lots of work again!
And happy everybody is safe and well as well as the house!
: -)

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

:(
glad all is safe!

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Oh heavens Robin … was it a storm, or just old, tired trees?? Sure glad you, your family and house are all fine!!! But, oh my … what a mess. Feel bad for you … :-(

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

I was so depressed after the tree fell. I was sad about the tree, but we just hauled nearly the last of the debris pile from the roof & last tree that fell! I was diverted from gardening by that pile, and I was looking forward to not doing it anymore, and spending time in the garden. Boo-Hoo.

I feel better today because (since the tree is only on the ground) I have decided to ignore it for a week. There. Knowing me, I’ll only last a day or two.

When the last tree fell on the house, the kids and I were in it. It was a horrible crashing of thuds. Frankly, it was like a small earthquake. This time, I heard metal (like someone tripping over an aluminum trash can), so i thought it was an animal. When my son went out to care for the chickens he came and and told me to look out the window.

Well, it does now give me the space to plant some of those things I ordered from Raintree Nursery!

Off I go to outside!

Yippee!
Robin

-- Robin282, Zone 7, SE Coast of MA, USA

sounds like you must have re-lived the time you were inside!! Must have been scary the first time AND this time, even though the house was not hit.
I’m glad you are feeling better!

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Thanks.

You know, I really like you guys. I would have to say this is my favorite garden forum. I am on 5, but go to this one the most. I feel welcome, and all of you folks seem so genuine. I am happy to be here.

Thanks for th warmth & caring,
Robin

-- Robin282, Zone 7, SE Coast of MA, USA

Well we are glad you are here too. And I am with you … leave it alone this week cuz it sure ain’t going anywhere. Just take care of your health Robin … little at a time … :-)

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

And glad you and your family is fine!
I like the idea of building a new bed where the tree was: very positive thinking!!
In the mean time, just walk right by it and go and enjoy what you REALLY want to do!!
: – D

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

As long as it’s not in the way, ignore it until you FEEL like dealing with it!

-- the day you quit learning is the day you quit living.

Still ignoring the tree…

-- Robin282, Zone 7, SE Coast of MA, USA

Hahaha!!! Hey, it aint’ going anywhere. Enjoy your summer, I say!!! :-)

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

haha is it growing on you? (emotionally) and is it growing on you? (physically)
:)

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Actually, my daughter has been picking a few cherries. Just the dead hardwood part of the tree broke. The roots are still in the ground, and the tree is still alive—no wilted leaves or anything. We never got any cherries before because any that were actually edible were so high up.

-- Robin282, Zone 7, SE Coast of MA, USA

Now see, it just volunteered for your pantry. Lol.

-- the day you quit learning is the day you quit living.

Judie sent me some cloudberry plants. The one that had hairy roots is doing ok! The others, I cannot tell yet. I put them in a put in a place that does not get full sun all day. it does for part of the day. I have kept it moist. Well, today (very cloudy, dark, and misty) I planted them out. Please pray/good thoughts/etc. for my little cloudberries. I have searched for these for 3 years! I am so happy to have them. The one that has one leaf on it has improved since it got here, so I have hope. These things are not easy to get! A nice man from Alaska sent me seed. I am going to try several methods to get them going, but I have already tried twice before on seeds I got from a woman in Norway, no luck.

I believe my yard has great conditions for this plant, and I continue to hope I can get a little patch going. One thing, if that 1 plant lives—and no others—it may be male, since male and female flowers occur on separate plants. Anyway, Judie said she’d try again for me. She is so great.

Well, if anyone lives near cloudberries, and advice or maybe a trade would be fantastic.
Thanks!
Robin

-- Robin282, Zone 7, SE Coast of MA, USA

Keeping my fingers crossed for your Cloudberries…and remember to remind me the second week of August to get you a few more as I will be able to tell males from females then. Perhaps I can also send you some fresh berries for you to extract the seeds as I have read recently that the seeds should not dry out and should be planted immediately after fruiting. You will also be alble to experience the ummm…unique smell and taste of the berries as well, if I send you some.

-- Xploreorganics, 5b Canada, LFD 06-20

Yay!

...and some crowberries too? ;-)

-- Robin282, Zone 7, SE Coast of MA, USA

Time to put in the fall veggies!
I am going to plant things for Thanksgiving dinner: turnip & parsnip (things I do not eat).
The others are for the whole family’s eating: beets, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, Kale, etc.
Something for me: lots of lettuce & carrots!

I have much to do, and I have to get out there and get started!
Have a great day!
Robin

-- Robin282, Zone 7, SE Coast of MA, USA

Well, not exactly a garden topic, but…

Making jam has gone very well for me this year. I made raspberry (red & black mixed), strawberry, blackberry, aronia, and I am currently making rose-hip.

I have been wanting to make Beach Plum Jelly. Having originally come from Cape Cod (“The Cape”), I heard of the jelly off and on throughout my life. On the Cape, it is traditional. With all my jam successes this year, I wanted to make this especially. I scoured the internet. I no longer live on The Cape, but I am not far, and still in a coastal area. I figured, if I cannot find anything around here, I would go “down Cape” to the farther out parts to look for the plums (Prunus maritima). I was at my Mom’s, and we went to walk on the canal (Cape Cod Canal). We looked around for the plums, to no avail. My Mom is not even into that sort of thing, but she was willing to go down Cape next week to help me look. On one of the web pages I browsed, they had a picture of a woman with a basket of the fruit, and it read “Westport” under the picture. Westport is the next town, and where Horseneck Beach is. I decided to have a look this afternoon. If I was unsuccessful, I would go Down Cape with Mom. I decided to stop at a few places along the general Horseneck area. I chose an area I remembered looked like the lower Cape terrain. DH drove me there, and the parking area was open. We parked at the edge of the lot near the greenery. I got out, took a few steps, looked down, and saw some leaves that resembled the pictures I studied, but I was not sure. I decided to lift the branch for a better look, and lo! there they were hanging below the leaves. I was so thrilled!

I love to learn, and pursue newly learned things. The mystery, and the scavenger hunt aspect of the search only made it more fun! I got a zipper baggie full. I am going to go back over the next couple of weeks. Finding the plums so quickly surprised me. People who use them would never tell locations. I have even read of family members not divulging locations to other family members!

One drawback in the picking: poison ivy. :-( A great deal of it is extant amongst the plums and bayberry. I’ll take the risk. I will collect as much as I can. I hope to make many jams/jellies to give at Thanksgiving and Christmas this year.

As development of the shoreline has continued to increase, many plum thickets have been replaced by large houses. They are beginning to call the collection and jam-making of the Beach Plums a dying art. People pay top dollar for the jars that are available.

I hope to acquire some bushes. Cornell is doing a lot of work with these plants, and a local nursery may carry them. I found a very small broken one in the walkway between dunes, and I rescued it. All the branches, save one, were gone.

In any case, if anyone is interested, I will have a decent number of pits available for seed-swapping!
Robin

-- Robin282, Zone 7, SE Coast of MA, USA

Yesterday, I planted Rose Finn Apple potatoes. I read an article in Organic Gardening (an old one) about fall planting potatoes. Also, I missed a couple last year that over-wintered, and did well, so…

I hope they make it in good health. I am trying to do more in the Fall than I usually do to save myself some work in the Spring.

I plan to plant more potatoes, and some berry bush seeds that need a Winter before sprouting.
Robin

-- Robin282, Zone 7, SE Coast of MA, USA

Hi Robin282,

Did you rid yourself of the poison ivy? We had a massive dose of it when we first moved here. It has taken 4 years of topical spraying, but I think we have mastered it. Next year will tell for sure.

Great to see that you are preserving your “found fruits”. Good for you.

I never heard of Rose Finn Apple potatoes. What are they like? Can you give us a comparison? ... especially if we don’t have to plant them in the spring. I could very well be interested.

-- jroot