Tag Archives: gardening

My Other Hobby – Volunteering

Posted on December 14, 2011 by AnnieRie

I haven’t written about what consumes my fall and spring days. Volunteering as a naturalist at a local non-profit, where I lead preschoolers and grades one and two through a 232 acre preserved farm, bequeathed by two sisters who taught in Howard County. Their charge to the Conservancy was simple. Connect children to nature.

I love it there. Imagine a location with minimal impact from urban life. Beehives where some of my honey originates. A local apiary sells it and half the money comes back to the Conservancy.

Chickens, goats, and a barred owl — all there for the children to learn from. A couple of streams that feed the Patapsco River.

Community gardens that inspire me. Talented giving people who volunteer there. A great staff. Programs for families.

What more could you ask for, when looking for something satisfying to do in retirement?

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Planning for Next Year

Posted on November 8, 2011 by AnnieRie

After a successful growing season for my heirloom tomatoes, I have been perusing the seed websites looking for my next heirloom tomato seeds to purchase.

Last year I started in February with Mortgage Lifter and Big Rainbow seeds planted and nurtured under grow lights in my laundry room. Hopefully, we will have finished the garage clean out and will have an area ready for propagating.

My tomatoes did well for a while, then the rains came and they became waterlogged and not as tasty. I didn’t do well at the county fair, but did get a few beautiful tomatoes.

At 1 1/2 pounds, it would not have won a ribbon for largest tomato, and besides, it tasted too good so I was glad I didn’t enter it at the fair.

I am going to have to get very exotic tomatoes for next year, as the competition went from 10 heirloom entries in 2010 to 29 entries this past year. The winner this year was called hillbilly, one I never heard of.

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