Officially a Herd

Like lots of areas around the country is has been dry here.

The lack of rain got me thinking more about rain water collection.

Then I found these on Craigs list...

Oh yea..

275 gallon intermediate bulk container totes

USDA FOOD grade plastic that previously held GLUCOSE SYRUP

(thats a lot of glucose syrup).

We snagged one.

After doing some research we were able to decrease the 4 inch opening on the mouth of the container (fitting ordered off internet plus plumbing supplies from Lowe's) down to garden hose size.

Right now we have the gutters from the garage hooked up.

Thankfully we did get a little bit of rain and it worked like a charm!

After we got it home the neighbors came over..

They wanted two..

I thought ~ why not?

So we got anther one.

Now we have a herd of water buffalo!

They sit behind the garage and are up higher than the garden.  Gravity feed has been working well to get the water to where we need it.

Little word of caution: 

Sometimes IBCs are used to contain chemicals/solvents.

If you are like me, I only wanted ones that didn't have chemicals in them before.

I had to stand on a ladder and SCRUB the syrup out of the second one.

The ants were VERY happy!

I am too!

Up with the sun and out to the garden

before the heat of the day

comes over the trees.

Favorite coffee mug waits on the bistro table

while I hang out the wash.

The garden is waking. 

Plants thankful for the rain a few nights ago..

Me too.

Picking while the birds sing...

....as the moon slips away from the blueberry patch.

Woods steaming as the sun creeps up.

Happy under my wide brim hat,

picking berries,

sipping coffee,

hoping you are all finding ways to stay 

cool and enjoy the day!

Baking

The weather turned warm quick this spring.

Hot and sunny.

I had started my usual seedling under the grow light but instead of cramming them into the cold frame, we moved most of them to the greenhouse.

Then it got just too plain hot.

I couldn't figure out why some of the seeds wouldn't start in the greenhouse.

Next stop: thermometer.

It was only 120 degrees Fahrenheit in there during the day!

I lowered the shelving.  

Moved some seed trays back to the basement and left the tomato and squashes in the sauna.  

They faired great and are now going strong in the garden.

It will be interesting to see if I can extend the growing season a little bit this fall.  I really can't wait to start plants next spring.  Hoping to get a jump on things a little earlier.

We put down a little pea gravel patio in front.  It is my favorite place to have coffee in the morning with the birds until the sun comes over the trees.  Great place to start trays of lettuce and spinach..

More on that later..

The current temperature in the greenhouse is 132 degrees Fahrenheit.

Might be time to consider some shade cloth?

Or frying some eggs..