Cover Crop Trials
I’m writing an article for a magazine about using cover crops in the small garden. In order to have great recommendations, I’m doing cover crop trials this winter to see which options offer the best cover in winter and the most weed free seed bed in spring. When I was out in the garden yesterday I noticed the only cover crop that was still lush and green was the crimson clover.
Of the other varieties I tried, most were killed by frost months ago and are already starting to break down. It looks like crimson clover is going to get high marks for soil protection throughout the winter. I also love that it provides a little extra green in the garden when most plants are brown.
Do you utilize cover crops in your garden? Which is your favorite to use over the winter?
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Friday Favorite: The Wood Stove
“Snow was falling and winter had come; the season of fire. Candles and hearth fire, that lovely, leaping paradox, that destruction contained but never tamed, held at a safe distance to warm and enchant, but always still, with that small sense of danger.”
Diana Gabaldon in A Breath of Snow and Ashes (Outlander)
As I read this passage I was sitting in front of the wood burner surrounded by cats. It was very early in the morning, the house was cold when I first woke up. After starting a fire and doing a few other things, I sat myself down with my back to the stove and started reading.
We just got a new wood stove. The old one wasn’t quite big enough to heat the entire house when it’s in the single digits outside. We have a wood fired furnace we use when it’s super cold, but we prefer using the wood stove instead. The stove was also old and starting to fall apart. More about this particular stove later, until then, I’ll be warming my toes in front of it.
Have you ever lived with wood heat?
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Crafting Winter Warmth
I’ve been needing a new winter hat, so I finally settled on a pattern and whipped on up. Crochet is such a wonderful creative outlet. I love that you can quickly make something useful and beautiful!
This is the ‘Divine’ hat (you can find the free pattern here on Ravelry). I used Manos del Uruguay wool yarn in’Spirulina’ color to match a cowl I made last winter. It was a quick and easy project, only taking an hour or so. I may be making these for gifts next Christmas!
What are you crafting this winter?
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Winter Activities for the Gardener
I appreciate living in a climate where I have 3-4 months of winter in which gardening outdoors is pretty much impossible without a greenhouse. While I spend a lot of time reading about gardening during the winter months, I still want to get my hands in the soil and nurture plants. What is a gardener to do? Attempt to start interesting plants from seed.
This year I have a few interesting things to try, most exciting is the Cedar of Lebanon seeds along with a large leafed magnolia. I also have seeds of various plums and sour cherries in the fridge getting their prescribed dose of cold weather before putting them up to see if I can nurture a few little trees for my orchard. I’ll keep you posted on my efforts, perhaps in 100 years there will be a Cedar of Lebanon to be enjoyed by those living here at the time.
What sorts of fun gardening things do you do in the winter?
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Napkin Ring Cord Keeper
I purchased two pineapple napkin ring holders over 15 years ago simply because I loved them. I don’t really use napkin rings and two isn’t enough if you’re having a party. They’re super cute and I’ve been trying to think of a place to use them. After cleaning out a drawer in the living room, I realized they’d make great cord keepers!
Low and behold, they’re PERFECT!!! The sturdy ring makes getting the cord in and out quick and easy, unlike the velcro cord keepers I’ve used in the past. Now, I might have to buy a few more for other cords I have knocking around the house. I love coming up with useful ideas for things I love and for finding a beautiful way to accomplish necessary things.
Have you come up with any great ideas recently?
