Bind Weed, Red Clay & New Garden Boxes

Last year we we couldn't keep up with the persistence of bind weed in the garden. It is by far the most vigorous plant I have ever come in contact with. Bind weed pushes through the ground on great white spaghetti like roots that grow 20 feet into the soil. Bind weed twirls gracefully up the fences, forks out over the lawn with perfect balance and come up to grab the delicate stems of your fresh produce. You can hoe it and put the remains in your bucket and next day it will be back.





Bind Weed August 1, 2010

 

 Bind weed is so beautiful in late July and August. Her deep green leaves and burgundy blush on the cream tipped buds mesmerizes me. The bud opens to the sun as white as a wedding gown. When we moved in, the lawn was blanketed with the white flowers of bind weed and I was taken by it's beauty. It wasn't until it took over my garden that I began looking for solutions. Garden boxes is one of them. Garden boxes with a heavy duty layer of weed cloth on the bottom on top of the lawn. Paul had mentioned building wooden garden boxes for the spring growing season but I had no idea they would be so spacious and beautiful. I am a lucky wife to have such a talented and willing husband. Here is how he made 3 - 3'x7'x24" high garden boxes. Cost was $200.



Shopping list

200 coated outdoor screws 31/2" long
water based waterproof cedar stain
12 - 2"x12"x10'long lumber
3 - 2'x4"x8' cut into 22" pieces for inside corners
36 ' of weed cloth we used a natural cloth made out of corn.

Tools Needed:

skill saw
screw driver gun
staple gun
carpenter's pencil
tape measure
framing square
paint brush
2 saw horses
and 2 extra boards for a work surface.







  Line up the boards onto a few extra pieces of lumber to keep the boxes off the ground and level.

It was snowing outside and we did all of this under the carport. We listened to country music and the work went really fast.  Below Paul is putting in the screws to hold the box together.

 
 

The garden box is 24" high so we make 6 - 12" layers then paint on the stain.

 

 

These 2 saw horses came in handy. Notice the 2x4's lying under the saw horse. The next day the sun was out and the stain had dried. We carried the separate layers out to the garden and decided where to put them. Once we figured out where they would go, we attached the 2 layers together with 2x4's by screwing the 2x4's on the inside corners. We turned the boxes over and attached the weed cloth to the bottoms with the staple gun.

Next the trailer got hitched to the white Ford truck and Paul went off to town to buy some clean dirt. The boxes were filled one by one, load after load with the finest richest dirt I had seen since moving from Southern California. The red clay here in Utah is beautiful to look at but the hard pan is difficult to sink a shovel into. When it is dry it is hard as a rock and when it is wet you can sink to your ankles in the orange red mud. Growing delicate vegetables and flowers is difficult in the heavy red clods of plowed up earth. Big Sage, Rabbit Bush, Juniper and oh yes, Bind Weed do well. This black gold promised success with this year's vegetable and flower crop. We of course put in a bottom layer of llama manure then filled it with the new soil.

Below are my beautiful garden boxes filled to the brim with lovely rich soil. Paul is already plowing the cow manure into the cornfield. But that is another story.

March Comes In Like a Lion

  Yesterday the wild wind blew and her high speed gales kept us inside most of the day. The house creaked and groaned. I am so glad the llamas have a nice shelter from the wind and cold. Paul built it before we moved them up to Utah. The chickens paced and cackled inside their spacious luxurious coop behind flapping shade panels and rumbling  panels of tin roofing. In the afternoon we put on our coats and boots to feed our animals. The hay tarps had blown clean off . Paul and I worked together to fasten them down as they whipped to and fro around us. After feeding, we reached the new back door that Paul had installed in the back of the house. He put in a temporary ramp leading up to the threshold. 


The sound of the wind and the ramp up to the door reminded me of Dorthy's scene on the Wizard of Oz where she stamps her foot wildly on the basement door in the tornado scene. The Great Wind of the Vernal Equinox and the night of the Greatest of Moons filled me with excitement.I could not resist stamping my foot on the ramp like Dorothy did on the basement door. "Auntie Em! Uncle Henry!" I screamed, stamping on the wood as the winds carried my words into the next county.


Paul, not being a fan of the Wizard of Oz had no idea what I was doing. I just smiled sweetly at him and together we walked up the ramp to enter the house. The wind followed after us, blowing curtains and papers all over the room.

 That I night I went to bed early to read. I just love this book Happy for No Reason by Marci Shimoff.
It is nice to read something pleasant before turning in. I could hear the different patterns of wind as her mighty force barreled through the rugged ranges, whistled through the big old apple tree and slammed against the bedroom wall.

Paul came and asked me to look at a Bluegrass Band called Cherryholmes that was performing on TV. I thought about it for a moment. He had that certain wanting look on his face so I knew it would be worth getting out of our nice warm bed to take a look. I stood by the TV in the corner of the room and listened to the lively mountain song. I enjoyed them so much I sat down. They were a family who formed a  Bluegrass band named Cherryholmes. The father had a long grey beard nicely buffed arms and tattooed. He held a base fiddle to the front of his body as his daughters and sons played fiddles, mandolins and guitars. The mother yodeled clear and they all joined in a precision River Dance. We sat there watching the show, while the wind wrapped around the walls of our house and blew open the vent flaps on the roof.

Cherryholmes Bluegrass Band.
Check them out on amazon.com
click on the image.

Moments later we heard an unfamiliar whirr that seemed to circle the house. It was over and around our home like hovering helicopters and idling tractors. When the noisy wave was over Paul got out his flashlight and investigated outdoors. The dry brittle bones of my Aspen trellis had cracked clean above the ground. Paul laid the skeleton down to rest in the yard.

I had envisioned Clematis or Morning Glory climbing up it's silver limbs and gracefully trailing down to earth, but in two years I had only a 5 inch high growth of either climber. Not to worry. The Great Wind has made room for our young Elm trees to stretch and grow.

The long green garden bench was blown 20 feet across the yard and crashed into the front fence. The lid of the trash can was wide open. Other than that everything else was right where we left it. In the crowded city where we lived, in California, there would have been enormous devastation in winds like this. The trees in the city are blocked from the wind and the limbs are weak from lack of exercise. The limbs of big oaks and Sycamores snap and crash on top of cars and roofs. Here in the country, the trees have muscle. They feel the force of winds and sway with it from early on in their long lives. The wind is good and March is full of wind here. Nature's ways are magic, unexpected and to be respected. The March winds stimulates root growth and strengthens the limbs, nuzzling, licking and pulling the trunk and branches like a mother lion ensuring life to her new cub. Whew* She takes all the stuffing out of me and keeps our spring wanting bodies still and waiting as if not to disturb her most glorious work. I recede indoors with appreciation of Her coming attraction. I begin tending to my own creations indoors, planting seeds and planning my summer gardens while sipping my delicate and fragrant cup of green tea. Life is good.

We slept on the wings of whirling waves and flapping folds of long brisk winds under the close watch of mother moon. Full and bright she shined on the night of the Vernal Equinox and The Great Wind and the Greatest of All Moons. It is morning now and the small flakes of snow have begun swirling, floating, winding their way to earth like white rose petals. We are home bound yet another day. This day is  perfect for a homemade stew and a big red bowl of colorful Amish popcorn while episodes of Northern Exposure. ♥ Life is good.

Oh Beautiful Moon of March



March Moon 20011



Oh Beautiful Moon shine bright tonight

beam your Illumined Light



March Moon Veiled 2011

There is a woven veil of dew and earth across your face

But I see your glorious beams shine through.



March Moon Crown 2011



Oh Beautiful Moon! Your golden crown is present

Stately, Knowing, Feminine and Whole

 Gracefully, Sojourn, Ethereal Flight

Across the night and morning sky. 

Deborah Moen

Paul had just put in a new door in the back of the house. It was finished and quite lovely affording us privacy into the back yards and pastures. Last night, I found such delight opening the new white door and feeling the rush of howling March winds sweep through me and into the room. The back yard invited me in and I tippy toed out onto the grass in my stocking feet. I carefully made my way across the yard accompanied by only the wind and moonlight. The coop was quiet and dark and the llamas were bathing in the glow of the beautiful full moon.

I will be planting by the moon today. A perfect time to get my seeds started indoors. Heirloom Tomatoes (Aunt Ruby's German Green,Black Russian, Dutchman and Golden Sunburst.) I have this wonderful dream of Strawflowers, Everlasting heads of creative beauty. Zinnia, Larkspur, Cosmos and Bachelor Buttons will be born today and soon be standing tall against my Wild Sunflowers and Marigolds. Paul has scattered cow manure over the llama manure and worked it into the soil. He is planting a Wildflower Garden. Soon the wooden boxes will be built for my single gardens between the young fruit trees. Corn will grow in the east garden and Squash Buttercup and Summer Squash, Watermelon and Pumpkins. I delight in all of this and it fills my head with visions of color and design. I am inspired beyond measure and about to crawl out of my skin with joy!

See post on Creating New Garden Boxes

Time For Dog Obedience School



This is Kollie now 6 months old.



Kollie is a teenage bombshell, full of independence, lot's of bursting energy and smart too! I was crushed one day when my obedient little puppy refused to come to me. "Kollie?" I repeated. No response except for a little come hither look in her eye and off she went in the other direction. All those hours of training and treats have gone to the wayside. She and I are at a crossroads and I am the one who needs training! Walker our 2 year old Australian Shepherd needs experience socializing with other dogs and training so we signed him up first.  Our human family members and Walker signed  up for obedience classes at the Hitchin Post in Enoch,  just up the road from us.

 We were to leave our dogs at home for the first class. It is basically the humans that need training in communicating with their dogs. We were greeted at the door by a very large German Shepherd named Gunner. He was so gentle and well behaved. A beautiful and calm Siamese cat followed behind him and brushed past my pant leg. The wood floor was clear and open. The atmosphere was friendly and inviting. I could hear Ceasar Milan and my eyes caught his video playing on the monitor screen in a corner of the room. There where a few chairs lined up against the walls for us humans to sit while Pam gave her educational presentation on dog training.  My grandson and I sat down on the folding green chairs, while Paul went up and signed in for the course. Ceasar's heart warming and encouraging miracles gave me a spark of hope.  I was thinking of my little Kollie and our 2 other dogs and each family member and how we could achieve a harmonious way of life together. There were quite a few people there with various challenges and questions. Pam Williams, our trainer, explained to us that dogs are programmed just like wolves and our pets were not furry little humans. I felt my head sink as my visions of Kollie as my little baby dissolved. Though I could still love her as my companion and play with her it was also my responsibility to learn how to communicate in a way she could understand and educate her on the house rules. As Pam spoke and demonstrated with her own dogs, I was beginning to understand my dogs behavior better, I was beginning to see a miracle forming for our whole human and fur family!

 Our homework was to spend at least 15 minutes with our dogs heeling on a leash then having them sit down by our left side. Pam says we give verbal commands because we are human and need it but dogs can sense how you feel, what you want them to do and when to do it just by looking at you. Your expressions, your movements your posture all tell the story of who you are and what you can accomplish.We were also to grade the food we feed them also. This was a shocker. She told us to check the ingredients and change their diets. There is information on the internet about this grading system. I would check it out because in the 60 years dog food has been in business dogs are getting more diseases and ailments than they did before. If your dog is losing hair, scratching, has skin irritations, hip dyplasia or tumors, the diet is a good thing to check into.  Most vetenarians do not study nutrition. We love them and what they do for our pets but do your own research. It will save your dogs life and save on vet bills.

Here is the link for Grading Your Dog Food   .http://www.elkcountryanimalshelter.org/GradeDOG%20FOOD.html      Changing our dog food  has increased the shine on our dog's coats and their bowels are now firm. We also removed the ritual of dog bones after they ate because we found wheat made their bowels loose. Because the food is so satisfying they do not even look for their treat. Pam says we can give them a small slice of meat for training or treats. We also give a chunk of Taste of the Wild dry dog food. They love it and it is very good for them.



On the way home from our first dog obedience class, we formed our own alliance and agreed per Pam's instructions, to balance and center ourselves  before we walked into the house. This is one of the most important practices we can do as human beings for ourselves and for our pets. It felt good to be on the same page! Paul told us he was reminded of the training he did with his ultra cool dog Blizzard, a Great Pyrenees. He admitted he had forgotten many of the things he had learned when Blizzard walked the earth. This class was opening our eyes and our hearts. It is a lifelong process of practice and repetition

The truck pulled in the gravel driveway and we all exchanged confident smiles. We were ready and armed with knowledge. The door opened and our "energy" met with their "energy". Three sets of eyes looked up in awe at our balance and confidence. Little Miss Kollie hopped up to greet me and I told her firmly "Off".  It took only seconds for her to know that hopping up on my leg was not acceptable. We all made our way through the kitchen. It was quiet and still. They were reading us. I felt this thrill of accomplishment beam through my chest and I quickly took a deep breath to balance myself. Bedtime was equally as calm and quiet. We had become Leaders of the Pack and I felt respected and accomplished.

Read about when Kollie was a puppy just click on this link:
http://littleutahfarm.blogspot.com/2011/01/little-kollie-moen-border-collie.html


We will be taking Wind Walker to the first session and then we will take Kollie to the next session. We will use what we learn with all our dogs. But it is important to have Kollie and Walker each take a class for socialization and obedience training. The exposure and practice for our family is also valuable.


Contact information for Dog Obedience Training The Hitch'n Post Dog Training Center
 Pam Williams Trainer
The Hitch'n Post also carries some Pet supplies,and does Pet Grooming and Boarding

4200 N Wagon Wheel Dr

Cedar City, UT 84720
(435) 586-7530
Enoch, UT