About the potager...

Good for for you Melissa, Too cold for me, my ground would not give a inch Just went out and took a survey of the new sprouts coming up. and took some pics.

Way too cold. Now they say snow this weekend. no I'm ready for spring. Little plants popping up. Tommorrow I have a delivery of witch hazels comming oh yea

I started a tread new babies for 2008
Want to join in.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/806197/

I have gone from Helga to the blueberry in willy wonka. I counted I had 7 layers on the top and 3 on the bottom then throw on my rain gear because I hate wet knees. I get down on the ground and have to grab something to pull my fat behind up. I wattle along and now my knee hurts because I walk funny with all these clothes. I have been spreading mulch and working in the nursery rearangeing plants. I figure I can wheelbarrow.

It was 25 degrees when I left home for work work this morning and 29 when I got home tonight. The day was cold but beautifully sunny; unfortunately, all I could do was look out the window and dream about what I would be doing if I weren't where I were ?!?!? At any rate, I think it's wholly unfair that the best days are wasted on the week and weekends are reserved for less than desirable weather days, such as those predicted for this weekend. How on earth are we supposed to accomplish anything? *SIGH* Maybe we could collectively think thoughts of sunshine and spring...(it's 27 right now)

Take a picture Heidi, we all should take a picture of ourselves in our winter garden gear! It would be great for laughs!

I just told DH I do not have the right grear for this cold, and I want to work outside. He says Okay. 'God love him'
Going shopping tomorrow, what do I need? MMMMM this could be fun, Maybe if I can find what I want. I'm pickie, warm boots is the main frame. I am very warm blooded but when feet get cold I'm done. I guess that has to go with age or from being Calif. bread.(wrong spelling)

Tills- A good pair of raingear is essential, it's great in the rain but it's also good when the ground is wet and/or cold. Make sure you get it big enough to fit over a heavy pair of jeans and a jacket. I like to wear socks that are a wool/cotton blend to keep my feet warm. I would suggest looking for boots at the feedstore or a sporting goods store (Sportsmens Warehouse) http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/store.cfm?storeNum=124. I think WalMart might have a good selection also. You want them to be waterproof but not so heavy that your legs feel like lead at the end of the day. Do you have a pair of the insulated gardening gloves? The Atlas Therma Fit are the best, you can usually get them at the feedstore. Here is a link so you can see what they look like they are the ones on the right hand side of the page http://www.palmflex.com/atlas.htm?utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=atlas%20gloves&utm_campaign=atlas&OVRAW=atlas%20gloves&OVKEY=atlas%20gloves&OVMTC=standard&OVADID=4089725511&OVKWID=10312139011 Also I like to have the "hot hands" heat packs to keep in my pockets, they also work good in the toes of your boots. Remember to layer! That is how I survive winter gardening! Have fun shopping! Rachel

Ditto on the atlas and the hot hands. I put a pair into the palm of my gloves. I like the atlas ones because they are waterproof on the palm and fingers, but they breathe. Nothing like sweating hands when the gloves don't breathe.
But my secret is long underwear. And it's made of wool, but isn't itchy. The best place to get really nice 'woolies' (as I call them) is www.sierratradingpost.com. I get the Medima brand from Germany because the wool is very fine and soft and doesn't itch at all. I swear by wool for warmth. http://www.sierratradingpost.com/d/237_Womens-Underwear-and-Baselayer.html. Yes, it's a little expensive but when I finally coughed up the money for one of their undershirts, I never went back to cotton. They are completely worth the price. I even sleep in them at night when it's really cold. REI also makes some really nice silk ones that are so soft you won't know you have them on. They are warm, but not as warm as the wool.
You also need to wear a warm hat. Most of your heat goes out through your head. So a warm hat is essential, plus it helps hold the headphones on so I can listen to my books on my MP3 player. DH got me a subscription to Audible.com for Christmas. That man is a gift.
Overalls are the best for me because of the pockets.

So the layers are, in order:
wool underwear and socks
cotton turtleneck to keep the neck warm
rose colored gardening overalls
rubber boots in a bumblebee pattern
large, thick loden green wool sweater that is like a tunic and has a hood
blue wool hat over the earphones (earbuds are too uncomfortable for me, plus the earphones keep the ears warm)
waterproof insulated gloves with handwarmers

I'm sweating in less than 10 minutes just standing around. If the sun is out, I will FIND something to do no matter how cold it is.

Sorry. no photo.

I knew I forgot to mention something in my last post. Yes Pixy the long underwear are the best. I have the silk ones and I love them. I just checked out the woolies and am thinking I might need a pair of those!

tills - did you get all that. boy are they organized. Me? I head for the airing cupboard, grab two t-shirts, corduroy trousers and socks and hope there are enough fleecies near the door to do the rest. My photo has been posted - so I suggest NOT taking my advice. Pix and Rach have you well sorted!

My one addition is Crocs kneepads - they are worth their weight (which I have to say is almost nothing!) Heidi - if you don't like wet knees, and yours sound a bit tender - try a pair. I'm really impressed. (They come in pink, too, but were sold out!)

Good shoes for wet/icky are Bogs. Several members of our K9 search and rescue group use them and swear by them. They are waterproof, warm, and support the feet. Not horribly spendy (I think you can pick up low tops for about $35). I personally NEVER get cold...DH thinks I'm a geothermonuclear power plant so my outside clothes are pretty limited. When we lived at 7000' in the snow I preferred the silk long johns ~ very thin so you can wear them under anything, soft against the booty and feels VERY nice, and warm...almost too warm for me. The key is layering...then as the day moves on and if it warms up, one can always peel off a layer or two and still be warm. Tills, I'm originally from Cal also, where are you from?

WOW
you guys got it down
Let see what do I need first? MMMM
the pocket book can only go so far each payday.
I have the Gloves. Check
Woolies. Get
Boots. Get (Outta where do they get the ones you said the K-9 ware?)
Going to check the other links
Thanks All

Not sure about the color combos Pixs I'm a earth tone type.

Did'nt get to go today, major melt down at home, thought we had a frozen pipe, found out we have a broken pipe. DH is trying to fix it, hard to find parts for this old mobile. Shopping will have to wait but I know what I want, thanks to you all.

Tills,
Did you and DH get the leak fixed?

No still working on it, finally found the right part. and now its dark outside and cold,
but he has a light we should have it back soon.
I stayed in and WS 14 jugs, went thru all the seeds I had and planted all the ones that didn't come up for me or that I had lost. A girls gotta try who knows might have more babies. at least I'm planting and playing in the dirt, its all over my computer room floor. have vacuum. And having fun LOL


This message was edited Jan 22, 2008 6:22 PM

Well no water tonight another part of the pipe broke, back to square one. no biggy been there done that. Almost time for nite nite, Work Work in AM.
Tills

Hi Tills I bought a pair of bogs and don't like them. They are water proof and comfortable but make my feet sweat. They you have icky wet feet. I got a great pair of pants at Henerys hardware in kingson. They were 23.00 work jeans (dickeys) they have sewed in double knees and a side pocket on the leg for a cell phone or prunners. I also got a pair of jeans at wall mart in the mens department with nice fleece on the inside for I think 19.00. All other clothes sorry to say I go to goodwill. We got 4 bags of clothes for 60.00. Mass sweat shirts turtle necks T-shirts. We trash everything so 3.00 for a sweat shirt is great. Thats more plants I can buy. I also get my rain gear at cenex in Poulsbo. It is like 23.00. Works great. My husbands is some fancy stuff works the same for probably 100.00. I also got a great pair of boots at sacks in feed in kingston, Thermal lined rubber boots. They also have half boots. I'm going to get another pair they didn't have my size last time I was in there. I am so cheap when it comes to clothes but I sure can spend it on plants.

The Goodwill is great for sweatshirts, tnecks and fleeces! Sometimes they even sell new garden gloves! It's always fun to see what you can find, it's like a treasure hunt!

DH was going to take me to Cenex They do have some good stuff, But water pipe broke its first.
I had a good pair of boots I just loved, leather fleece lined, but I gave them to my granddaughter cause she had to walk to the school bus stop one winter and I never got them back, and they where given to me. And yes I'm one that loves the Goodwill never know what you might find, but dont get the chance to go much anymore. And I am one when I buy new I hate to get them dirty LOL
Thanks for the input on the boots, I know I do not want rubber ones don't like them.

Speaking of frosty ground . . . I actually tripped over a frozen mole hill while I was out with the dogs this morning in the dark. Took me a minute to catch my balance and then figure out what it was.

Plus I have found some cool garden art. St vincent depauls has better furniture and such if your into trash to treasueres. My friend and I a few years ago bought all thes sterling silver bowls drilled holes in them and planted them with echverias and such. they looked great. I thing we paid 3-4 bucks for big bowls

I'm in to that kind of stuff

Sorry Katie, gotta watch for them frozen ground is not fun

Yeah, you should never downplay a trip to goodwill! I absolutely thrive on it! Especially for garden art. Have you seen my 'bad art' wall in the garden? It's the side of my workshop where I have a trellis for clematis (which have to be moved because they don't get enought sun there.) I have a small collection of 'artwork' that I get at places like GoodWill when something about it strikes my fancy. It has to be painted or drawn by hand and has to be a sincere effort. Then it has to 'speak' to me in some way. I got the one with the elephant in it after a sleepless night worrying that someone else would buy it. I saw it at the Goodwill and didn't get it. Then regretted it immediately upon getting home. I went back the next day. I don't even know why I like it, but it says 'childhood innocence' to me.

My bumble bee boots are a goodwill find. They still had the Nordstrom tag on them. I paid 5$. That's my kind of money. I get all my overalls there, too. But I have yet to find good woolies at Goodwill.

I'll second Pixy's Sierra Trading Post recommendation. I've gotten some nice things at really good prices through them.

I'm currently avoiding the local Goodwill. We've been clearing out lots of things and as happy as I am to no longer have certain items, I do NOT want to find them on a shelf for 25c ;)

Pix,
I do love your elephant. And I am still jealous that you found that fabulous pink floral smock at the Goodwill, I'm holding out hope that I might find one of it's cousins there one day!

Heidi,
I am all about "garden art" most of my treasures have come from Goodwill, St. Vinnies, garage/rummage sales, and my parents barn! I have a thing for pretty bowling balls too, I have them "hidden" all over my yard. I am still looking for; hot pink, bright green, yellow and bright red. I have bright blue, purple, silver and copper already. For the past 6 months or so Goodwill has upped the price on them, they want $6! It used to be $2 or $3. Fortunately they haven't had the colors I'm looking for so I haven't had to cough up the big bucks yet! I also look for neat bottles and unique teacups for my "tea and bottle trees."

It gets really annoying that Goodwill charges so much for stuff. Sometimes I think they forget that all of this was donated to them! and that they are a 'thrift' store, not an antique or collectible store. I'll keep an eye open for those colors for you.

Thanks! Yes, they seem to have changed thier mentality on many of the things that are "donated" to them.

An alternative for you all considering cardboard is newspaper. It takes about 6 layers of newspaper to be sure it's effective.
We did a big bed like this a few years ago over existing sod. Didn't dig it up, just mowed it then put down 6 layers of newspaper, wet it, and covered with 6" of Cedar Grove pure compost (not topsoil).
Planted immediately. Best beds we've ever had. Every plant we put in that bed just skyrocketed that year.
I think the newspaper will conform the ground a little better and keep moisture against the weeds below better so they'll rot faster. Plus it is less likely to poke a corner up in the air. :^)
- Tom

Rachierrabbit have you seen the mosic section here inDG where they mosaic bowling balls it is very cool. One lady on the thread goes straight to the bowling alley and asks if they have any old balls. You might get a better selection. I'll keep my eyes open for the hot pink one.

grrnthumb, you are right. Newspaper works well, too. The cardboard has to be completely soaked but it does take longer to rot. That might be good or bad, depending on what you want.

Thanks Tom. Cardboard is easier for me to come by than newspaper as I am part of three household who have recently moved. I do, however, have access to much shredded paper as I work for an orthopedic surgeon and we shred about 500 acres of trees per day in patient records! No one I know (nor we) subscribe to any newspapers, so it is a little less easily obtained. I am in no hurry to plant in the Quarter Acre Wood (the area of primary concern), so I think cardboard will be suitable.

gthumb - excellent idea - right now I am working through a pile of cardboard, but now I can go even further - husband will be thrilled (I'm grinning!) Outta - 500 ACRES! shredded paper is a great addition to the compost pile, mixed with wet material (kitchen waste, lawn cuttings) it can really help keep the pile from getting to claggy and slowing down. In the area where you are going to smother the bramble/nettles, it might be a good place to use some of the shredded under the cardboard since it is going to sit for a while (don't put it on top, it blows everywhere!)

"claggy" - I like that one. Can you give me some other uses of the word?

Laurie, excellent idea! I had forgotten that shredded paper could be added to the compost pile. thanks for that reminder.

My thinking after a long day at work.

And scroll down to Matthew Fort's comment on Christmas pudding:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,,1662612,00.html

Hope that clarifies (the opposite of claggy!) katie59 (grinning)

What a great article. In addition to having a couple of good recipes, I heartily enjoyed the reference to "whizzing" (it often means rushing by quickly or relieving onself in the U.S.) and my favorite, pulling the "manky" leaves off the brussels sprouts. Some really great words that I'll have to incorporate into my new vocabulary. And, yes, I got to the claggy pudding, though I confess that I do like my pudding kind of claggy. I guess there's a fine line to walk there.

Thanks, Laurie, for introducing us to the finer points of the tongue of the "motherland".

Anytime Katie, if you are feeling like you need a few new words, just let me know. I'm your gal!

New words, yes. Not so sure about the brussels sprouts. Hope your trip home was good.

Ohhh, sprouts are yummy - lightly cooked in olive oil with pancetta and diced onion - served with wild rice and porcini mushroom - you will never turn them away again!

Two of my favourite right now:

splanchnic: visceral, intuitive rather than intellectual

coenesthenia: the mass of undifferentiated sensation that make one aware of the body and its condition

two extremely good, and useful words, and definately related to gardening. Yes.