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Saturday, May 30, 2009

Patch of Dirt.


Do you see the patch of dirt that is waiting for planting?
It is still in the same condition weeks after we had paid someone clear the brambles and till the soil.
Why the delay?
The water pump that provides water for irrigation quit working. In this part of the world it rains all the time, until it stops in June. Then, we are on our own. If we want the small seedlings to grow, we need to provide daily moisture until their roots can find water further down, the water table here is quite high.
Last fall we had a well pump installed to bring water from the ground, filter it, and then circulate it as needed in each part of this garden. Besides this area, my husband and his helper had cleared three other areas. In total, we now have four new areas to plant vegetables and fruit canes and bushes. The plan was perfect: a designated area for my new cherry trees and berry patches, an area for cut flowers, and an additional area for seasonal vegetables, one for summer veggies, one for fall/winter, and one for cover crops, rotating each season.
We stopped the planting and tried to fix the pump problem. Our contractor who had installed the device last year came to take a look. He too couldn't solve the problem. The solution was to either replace the pump, a new pump shouldn't have quit, or see if it was an electrical connection problem.
You guessed . The electrical company has appeared to search the ground for the connections. Then the contractor reappeared with a digger , up and down the hill, digging and discovering where the conduit had rotted and needed replacement. We're in this too deeply now to quit.
If we harvest anything this year, we'll have to bond these products in advance. We will enjoy every bite, knowing how much they cost to produce.
In addition, as I tended the roses, some little critter bit me and caused my arm to turn red overnight. So, I called my doctor, who is one hour away. The office tells me to go to the emergency room of the clinic because everyone is booked solid. I spent an entire afternoon at the clinic to have a doctor look at my red arm, prescribe an anti-inflammatory that I must take for six days which will case me all kinds of side effects , and stay out of the garden. Great. I couldn't even move my arm to drive.

39 comments:

Eddie Bluelights said...

Golly! These insects are really harmful sometimes - sorry about all the waiting to get medical advice - sounds a bit like our National Health Service. Glad to see you grow your own veg. I'm planting my runner beans this afternoon.
I hope the swelling goes down soon and you are more comfortable ~ Eddie

Carol Murdock said...

Good Gawd! What we go through to get fresh food huh?
Rosaria...
go to the drug store (a local not Walmart or walgreens) and ask for
" Wounded Warrior" All Natural Skin Ointment. It's made in North Carolina and is the best stuff for ANY bite you've ever seen! Even Spider bites. Heals fast, stops itching instantly! I would not be without it.
Here is the # 1-800-232-7713 in case you can't find it!

Shadow said...

oh, oh, oh. good luck!

Rosaria Williams said...

Eddie,
re the medical care: we are just getting into our discussion on National Health Care. Let's not discourage the conversion. I have all the insurance I need; but many have none; and they can't get any help at all.

Carol,
Thank you. I will write down the info. Thank you.

Shadow,
Luck and money to pay for the repairs. Funny how one little thing can complicate your whole life.

marc aurel said...

From a constant non-gardener, I am very impressed. All this effort for fresh food. Excellent

Anonymous said...

Don'tcha just LOVE living in the country? I think I'll be happy to get overflow veggies from gardening enthusiastic pals or stop at a roadside stand. Are you going to get to writers group Monday? I'd bring you some eggs....

Pyzahn said...

Oh my goodness. I'm surprised you have the energy to write. That was a sad story, a sad ordeal. I'm sending bright, positive energy your way.

I got bitten by a brown recluse and had to have the "rot" cut off my hand. I was lucky I didn't have a reaction to the toxins in the venom.

Wish I had known about "Wounded Warrior" ointment. I'm writing that down, too.

I look forward to hearing all is well and your garden is planted.

potsoc said...

I sympathise with your mosquito problem. My wife has the same. She needs an armour to go out in summer.
Good luck with your pump.
Waiting in Emergency clinics seems an universal problem not related to any particular health system and varies from town to town and, in multiple hospital and clinics town such as Longueuil or Montreal, or Toronto, from facility to facility.

angela recada said...

Dear Rosaria! I'm so sorry to hear about your bug bite! Those can be nasty. I hope you feel better soon.

I didn't realize how difficult it was to keep a garden in Oregon. It seems to us here in the Midwest that your growing conditions would be so much better than ours. Amother case of the grass looking greener on the other side of the fence, I guess.

About my other blog, I'd be absolutely delighted if you'd like to mention it in your blog! Just so you know, I'm still struggling with the direction of this blog. It could so easily become just a series of gloomy posts listing nothing but doom-filled information. I'm trying to find beauty in my own surroundings, and show a bit of hope whenever I can, to balance out all the bad news I read about the environment.

Thanks for your interest! It sometimes seems I'm spinning my wheels and no one notices or cares about these topics. But I care, so I keep plugging away at it!

Take good care of yourself,
Angela

Feisty Crone said...

Good luck with the garden, and I hope your arm gets better really soon. Yikes!

Frankofile said...

I admire your determination. It sounds like war out there in the veg patch.

Sniffles and Smiles said...

Oh, my! I certainly hope the inflammation goes down, and that it isn't terribly serious...do take care of yourself!!! We all love you so much we couldn't bear it if something bad came of the bite!!! Your garden is terrific!!! We are trying to do the same ...but I think you are an expert, judging by all that you are doing!!!! I am in awe of your green thumb as well as of your writing :-) ~Janine XO

Siobhán said...

Oh what a shame Rosaria.
Hope your arm is feeling better.

And when you get to eat the crop it'll taste all the better for the effort it took.

Eleonora Baldwin said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Eleonora Baldwin said...

Oh dear. As if your arms hadn't already suffered enough...

I hope you can diminish the redness and swelling, perhaps using something additional to the prescribed cure, like a natural ointemnt, or a homeopathic remedy of sorts... Like calendula?

You have the stamina of the Energizer bunny, girl. With a swollen arm, a bad temper for the red tape + the wait to obtain medical advice, and the garden to be tended, you still blog like a teenager. I admire you more each day, Rosaria.

Rest, stay out of the sun and begin planning a visit down south for July. I was serious when I said Nepenthe... :)

Natalie said...

How AWFUL!!! Geez, they will want to be good vegies won't they. Hope you feel better soon, Rosaria.xx♥

Anonymous said...

My husband loves to work in his garden and anything he needs just contributes to my healthy eating when it comes in.

Why not plant something that grows in cool wet weather while you wait for the pump to work. I would think you could also plant the trees. Can you carry buckets of water to them if they need water.

Better yet, I hope the pump is fixed by now.

Susan said...

Ouch! Sounds like serious bugs (or whatever). Roses grow great for you in Oregon don't they? My sister lives there and got me into planting roses just because hers are so nice.

Delwyn said...

Hi Rosaria,

and to your story a good Aussie (uncouth) response would be

"what a bugger"

Hope things get sorted out so you can get those plants in the ground.

Happy Days

Debbie said...

No good deed, or good garden, goes unpunished! What bad luck you are having. Hope the arm is better soon.

Rob-bear said...

Rosaria, it's a conspiracy to keep you from gardening this year. The pump, the workmen, the infectious arm-biter -- they're all on the same team!

You, however, are the kind of person who inevitably rises above these things. You will get that garden done, "inch by inch, row by row" (as Johnny Denver put it).

Best wishes in dealing with it all. Hope you end up with a great crop.

ceecee said...

You will certainly enjoy every bite - just as that bug did! Ouch!
Thank you so much for your visit and please do visit again. I will visit you too. I am always so happy to have educators in my life.
Catherine

Anonymous said...

Sounds like your summer is off to a "wonderful" start.

sallymandy said...

A shame about your arm. I certainly hope you recover soon. Your garden water pump sounds like a nightmare. I hope you get the problems resolved soon, because you sound like serious gardeners.

Thanks...SM

Unknown said...

Hey, if you can't find Wounded Warrior in Oregon let me know as I live in NC and it is good stuff.

We moved here 5 years ago and had some strange (to me) vine that is VERY difficult to kill. The folks around here thought it odd that my daughter and I were both allergic to this damn vine. And I mean we'd break out like crazy if it just grazed your skin! Anyway, the stuff works and after 5 years, I've almost gotten rid of the vines.

Also think you have a conspiracy on hand, and hope you can get it all cleared up soon.

xxx said...

Sorry to read that garden life isn't going according to plan.

take care
Ribbon

Reya Mellicker said...

It's easy for a non-gardening urban dweller such as myself to forget how hard it is to grow food.

Wow. Hope all problems are soon resolved. What a pain in the ass.

Rosaria Williams said...

Hi everyone,
Thank you for your comments and concerns. I have great news:
1. the meds really worked, and my swelling has disappeared;
2. the electrician, contractor and hubby solved the problem of the pump- the yard has been dug, the problem exposed, repaired, and water is flowing again;
3. this morning, I'm back down in the garden to attack my chores.

The weather man promised rain. Nothing will keep me from digging.

potsoc said...

Reminds me of your natiomal anthem: "And the flag was still there".

Helen said...

Oh, the extremes to which we must resort when it comes to fixing problems on the ground, under the ground and on our skins ....... May your garden grow well, Rosaria.

Kate said...

Ouch! YOu poor thing!
On the up side, if I left a piece of bare land for a few weeks, it would be covered in weeds again...

Mervat said...

What a terrible way to end your delay in planting and dissappointment regarding your pump. I hope you recover soon. Hoping things look up for you soon.
xxoo

Bogey said...

Baby sit the contractor and make sure they are using the proper material for buried conduit. They shouldn't be using anything that rots especially in a garden area! I wish I could help with the labour; I love getting mucked up. I hope your wound heals. You never know what critter lies in wait.

karen said...

oh my goodness! what a chapter of events.. you poor garden, bank balance and arm! I'm sure it can only get better from now on.. x

Polly said...

I hope you feel better by now!

Because that patch of dirt is clearly waiting :-)

Reasons said...

Take care of that arm. If it swells and doesn't go down completely when you've finished the medication don't ignore it, seek attention. If you feel flu-like symptoms, also call the doc. Don't mean to be alarmist - but I worry, you know...

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh, what bit bit you in the NW that would do this? I hope it wasn't the BROWN Recluse? Do you know for sure?

I have been so worried about being bitten by a spider since we learned of the BR and I spend so much time in the garden. (Mine is all flowers since I moved to my current house.)

Sorry to hear all the bad news about the pump! Darn! UGH, it is not easy to live off your own land! Even in a relatively safe part of the country for being outdoors with the critters.

Renee said...

Now did you have to get a tetanus shot. You won't appear rabid on the blog will you.

Madam can you send me your home mailing address, if you send it to my blog I will delete the comment but have the address.

Love Renee xoxoxo

Unknown said...

The view from the photo reminds me of "Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink."I think of the pilgrims and of pioneers as I garden...makes it much more admirable. I would have starved early on:>)
Good luck with the bug bite. Hope you recover very soon.