Uncooperative Worms

The worms arrived the other day. Left in the snow in their protective box, outside my porch. I opened the box and there they were in their little bag. One whole pound of worms. It didn't look like much until I opened the bag. Then I realized the bag was SOLID worms. I split them in half and put each half into a bucket. I was so proud!

The next day I lifted up one of the buckets and a whole bunch of worms were cuddled on the lid I kept under the bucket. The other bucket had no escaped worms. So I put the run aways back into their own bucket.

This continued. One bucket fine, the other full of restless, adventurous worms. I began to dump the escapees into the second bucket. But that's not good because now I am going to get crowded worms. So I went back to the restaurant and obtained 2 more buckets. Today I am going to transfer the contents of the bad bucket into a new one.

It is never easy, is it?

I bought the Square Foot Gardener book yesterday and have been reading it. Very interesting reading. Gives me more info on how to set up my yard this spring.

I also did a Sunday style walk through of Menard's and checked out the wood for my raised beds. Using 2x10x8, they will cost me around $40. each. But if I use 2x4x8's the cost goes down to around $25. Much better. Plus, maybe I can scrounge some wood from here or there. The book talks about getting wood from construction sites. But here in Michigan, those are few and far between. I do know a couple of fixer upper guys, so maybe they have some scraps hanging around. I also heard that we now have a Habitat For humanity store just down the road from me, so I am going there as well.

I worry about my neighbors a little. We are in a neighborhood, here, all fenced in. But privacy? We ain't got any. There is a neighbor behind me and on both sides. And they all are major yard neatnics. Next to me is the wonderful flower gardener. People from all over this area talk about her yard. On the other side of me is another wonderful woman who has grass. But it is always trimmed and fertilized and just looks neat. Then behind me is a family who never have child toys laying around. They are like a cross between both of my side neighbors. Their yard is perfect with a nice touch of flowers. So I am in between them.

I have put in lots of flowers, a small fountain and my pergola. I love my pergola. In fact, back when I was married, I used to cater parties for my husband in his rather large party barn. I told him that if I did this, I would like a pergola. After about 5 years of doing his parties (3-4 a year) I told him no pergola, no parties. So he built me a pergola. Part of my divorce demands, were that he take down the pergola and build it at my new place. Well, he dismantled it, but then stacked the wood in my front yard. So my nephew put it together for me. It measured 10' by 16 foot long. I put a stone patio under it and in front of it I built a huge 5x16 sandbox. When my grand kids get older, maybe I will plant potatoes there! or just add onto my patio.

My hydroponic lettuce is really taking off. Some of my spinach is sprouting, so I transferred them to the hydro unit. I try not to go down there and stare at them every day. If I go every couple of days, then I see how much they are growing. I want to start some more vegetables soon so that I keep a crop coming. I just may have to start another hydro unit!