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Quote of the Day: Unknown

August 1st, 2010

“The difference between a stumbling block and a stepping stone
is how you use them.”

~Unknown

I’ve mentioned before about the rocky soil we have here at Chiot’s Run. Whenever I have to plant something it takes a long time to dig a hole and fish out all the rocks.

I could let this be a stumbling block and never plant anything, it is a HUGE pain after all and it takes a LONG time to plant anything. Instead, I see it as a bonus and I use these rocks for rock walls and stepping stones throughout the garden. Instead of being a big problem, they’re a big asset! Not to mention it’s good for my back and my biceps!

Do you have any stumbling blocks that you’ve harnessed as a bonus in your garden?

14 Comments to “Quote of the Day: Unknown”
  1. […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by mark mile, Susy Morris. Susy Morris said: #Quote of the Day: Unknown http://goo.gl/fb/nuJU6 #stumblingblock […]

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  2. David Bentz on August 1, 2010 at 8:58 am

    You have a great site. I don’t have rocks in my area of the country but we have hard pan clay in the ground in certain places. I’ve been lucky to have fairly good soil in my yards. I do buy a load of compost as well as compost my own yard waste every year. Our town takes the city yard waste and composts it then sells it back to the public and landscapers. It’s great stuff and doesn’t cost much to fill my raised beds every year. My garden plants are aways super healthy. I think because of the three to four inches of compost they get every year.

    Have a great day.

    Reply to David Bentz's comment

  3. Amy on August 1, 2010 at 10:30 am

    I live in a 200 year old federal brick house with it’s own cemetery ……Many years ago(about 50 or so) the roof and a couple of feet of brick were blown off by a tornado…….Instead of cleaning up the brick the owners just left them there to be covered up by time and dirt……Every time I plant something I invariably hit these old brick mixed in with broken shards of crocks, pottery, dishes, glass, old iron work, flint etc……It is like a treasure hunt……The bricks I make into pathways along with the rocks I come upon…….and the other pieces I am making into a wall in my bathroom……I love finding all these old bits of history……I am always on the lookout for more things to plant so I can dig up more bits of my yard:)

    Reply to Amy's comment

    • Susy on August 2, 2010 at 6:57 am

      I uncover lots of glass but mostly from broken bottles from the previous owners, I also uncover some other interesting articles as well, pieces of metal, rubber, etc – not quite sure what they were doing here.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  4. Seren Dippity on August 1, 2010 at 11:20 am

    Right now my stumbling blocks are 105 degree high for the day, and a garden over run with grasshoppers and chiggers. I cannot, for the life of me figure out a positive spin on that.
    I’m staying inside and reorganizing my office and planning my fall garden.
    I love your rock walls and pathways. I purchased a few pavers for walkways but at $7 – 10 bucks apiece it adds up quickly. I garden in raised beds in order to avoid digging in our miserable clay, I can’t imagine fighting those rocks. I’d be whipped before I ever managed to consider planting.

    Reply to Seren Dippity's comment

    • Susy on August 2, 2010 at 6:55 am

      It’s definitely great exercise. I save money on pavers & wall material and a gym membership!

      Weather is a tough one, I don’t work a ton when it’s really hot, I get up early and try get some work done before it gets too hot. Perhaps some chickens would make quick work of those grasshoppers and chiggers!

      Reply to Susy's comment

  5. Kaytee on August 1, 2010 at 11:24 am

    This has inspired me! My soil is just like yours, VERY rocky. We’ve been throwing the rocks into the little patch of woods we have, but now I’m going to use them to create the edges of the new flower beds I’m going to make.

    Reply to Kaytee's comment

  6. Mike on August 1, 2010 at 11:54 am

    You are to be commended on having such a great attitude, a very desirable trait in a gardener. I love that you are using the rocks, it must be a lot of work but what beautiful walls and borders they make.

    Reply to Mike's comment

  7. MAYBELLINE on August 1, 2010 at 3:40 pm

    That quote rocks. Hahahaha!

    My backyard once had many variety of trees. Disease, age, insects, and the power company led to the removal of all but one. I was left with grotesque amounts of sunshine.

    Now I have a hugely productive vegetable garden complete with espalier fruit trees.

    Your rock walls are great. The rocks I unearth are river rocks (round like marbles),

    Reply to MAYBELLINE's comment

  8. Stephanie Suesan Smith on August 1, 2010 at 4:34 pm

    I wish we had rocks. We have black clay gumbo that is cement when it is dry and soup when wet. Can’t even use it for pottery — wrong kind of clay. It is nice you use your stones for fences, stepping stones, and such. They are pretty.

    Reply to Stephanie Suesan Smith's comment

  9. Kevin on August 1, 2010 at 5:47 pm

    I love your rocks, and wish I had that problem/asset. Our blessing here in Alberta is deep black dirt. But black dirt doesn’t make for sexy walls. Just sexy plants, I suppose.

    Reply to Kevin's comment

  10. Jane on August 2, 2010 at 1:11 pm

    Any suggestions for what to do with the smaller rocks? I’ve been collecting mine in a growing pile each year, and inspiration has not hit yet. I guess eventually I’ll have enough for a coarse gravel rock garden or something…

    Gorgeous stacking choices!

    Reply to Jane's comment

    • Susy on August 2, 2010 at 6:09 pm

      I use them as mulch around trees in areas where I don’t want weeds to grow. I also find them great to use piled up to prevent erosion.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  11. Jackie on August 3, 2010 at 2:27 pm

    I’m looking at the chicken poo (that gets on the patio and must be cleaned up by me) as the life-giving fertilizer that it really is!

    Reply to Jackie's comment

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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