Micro-scale farmer with a dell
@ronaldajones61.bsky.social
Retired teacher, horticulturalist. Interests: life-long learning, organic farming, permaculture, long distance backpacking, camping, domestic travel, reading mysteries, baking, eating. Creating my little heaven on a century-and-a-half-old 2 acre farmstead.
Planted 54 #raspberry bushes (ten different varieties!) today! Thanks to a generous overpack from Michigan grower #Hartmannsplantcompany I need to create more bed to plant 15 more!
May 13, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Planted 54 #raspberry bushes (ten different varieties!) today! Thanks to a generous overpack from Michigan grower #Hartmannsplantcompany I need to create more bed to plant 15 more!
The newly planted young apple trees are leafing out now, with the peaches somewhat reluctantly following along, while the cherries are far ahead. My raspberry plants have arrived and will get planted today or tomorrow. It looks to be an absolutely gorgeous weekend in mid-Michigan.
May 9, 2025 at 2:56 PM
The newly planted young apple trees are leafing out now, with the peaches somewhat reluctantly following along, while the cherries are far ahead. My raspberry plants have arrived and will get planted today or tomorrow. It looks to be an absolutely gorgeous weekend in mid-Michigan.
Today we planted 13 apple trees. Still much to do to clean up the beds and protect them from those wascally wabbits. I expect my raspberries to arrive any day now, and I’m not ready to plant those yet. And my vegetable garden isn’t ready for planting peas either. Always work to do on the microfarm!
April 24, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Today we planted 13 apple trees. Still much to do to clean up the beds and protect them from those wascally wabbits. I expect my raspberries to arrive any day now, and I’m not ready to plant those yet. And my vegetable garden isn’t ready for planting peas either. Always work to do on the microfarm!
We have spent significant time & energy over the past several days to plant more than 90 8’ T-posts and hang more than 900’ of tenax fencing so that I can plant my two dozen fruit saplings and believe, perhaps naively, that they might not become instant deer dinner at dawn. Tomorrow is planting day.
April 23, 2025 at 3:59 AM
We have spent significant time & energy over the past several days to plant more than 90 8’ T-posts and hang more than 900’ of tenax fencing so that I can plant my two dozen fruit saplings and believe, perhaps naively, that they might not become instant deer dinner at dawn. Tomorrow is planting day.
I planted about a dozen sweet peas along the east side of the garage barn. I have another dozen, but I’ll wait until after these are eaten before I plant those.
April 18, 2025 at 10:23 PM
I planted about a dozen sweet peas along the east side of the garage barn. I have another dozen, but I’ll wait until after these are eaten before I plant those.
It has taken awhile, but finally my bed of Rijnveld’s Early Sensation narcissi have reached peak bloom. @gretaknits #narcissi #daffodils #bloomscrolling #puremichigan #springbulbs #spring
April 18, 2025 at 10:02 PM
It has taken awhile, but finally my bed of Rijnveld’s Early Sensation narcissi have reached peak bloom. @gretaknits #narcissi #daffodils #bloomscrolling #puremichigan #springbulbs #spring
This worker bee wandered around the outside of the cup of this Rijnveld’s Early Sensation narcissus for several minutes before discovering that the good stuff is inside the flower. But he finally figured it out. #narcissus #daffodil #puremichigan #flowercloseup #bloomscrolling #busybee #bee #bees
April 13, 2025 at 12:05 AM
This worker bee wandered around the outside of the cup of this Rijnveld’s Early Sensation narcissus for several minutes before discovering that the good stuff is inside the flower. But he finally figured it out. #narcissus #daffodil #puremichigan #flowercloseup #bloomscrolling #busybee #bee #bees
Yes, that’s snow in the background this morning. #daffodils #narcissi #spring #springbulbs #puremichigan #bloomscrolling
April 10, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Yes, that’s snow in the background this morning. #daffodils #narcissi #spring #springbulbs #puremichigan #bloomscrolling
April 4, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Daffodils in Mid-Michigan!
These aren’t at my farm, they’re at my Mom’s in town much further south (about ten miles, lol). Mine are two or three days behind. #narcissi #bloomscrolling #springbulbs
These aren’t at my farm, they’re at my Mom’s in town much further south (about ten miles, lol). Mine are two or three days behind. #narcissi #bloomscrolling #springbulbs
March 22, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Daffodils in Mid-Michigan!
These aren’t at my farm, they’re at my Mom’s in town much further south (about ten miles, lol). Mine are two or three days behind. #narcissi #bloomscrolling #springbulbs
These aren’t at my farm, they’re at my Mom’s in town much further south (about ten miles, lol). Mine are two or three days behind. #narcissi #bloomscrolling #springbulbs
The daffodil watch continues. Some are showing buds but no color. We’re expecting snow tomorrow and then much cooler for the next week which will slow them.
March 19, 2025 at 1:15 PM
The daffodil watch continues. Some are showing buds but no color. We’re expecting snow tomorrow and then much cooler for the next week which will slow them.
Spring! Rock garden iris by my front steps!
March 17, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Spring! Rock garden iris by my front steps!
Yesterday I planted seeds outside in Michigan. I don’t recall ever before planting outside in mid-March. I sowed bachelor’s buttons, larkspur, and sweet peas in my new border on the east side of my garage.
I know there are other seeds I could plant that tolerate or benefit from the cold.
I know there are other seeds I could plant that tolerate or benefit from the cold.
March 16, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Yesterday I planted seeds outside in Michigan. I don’t recall ever before planting outside in mid-March. I sowed bachelor’s buttons, larkspur, and sweet peas in my new border on the east side of my garage.
I know there are other seeds I could plant that tolerate or benefit from the cold.
I know there are other seeds I could plant that tolerate or benefit from the cold.
First juicy pie, blueberry, out of the oven. Second, apple, apple, about to go in.
Happy Pi Day!
Happy Pi Day!
March 14, 2025 at 9:40 PM
First juicy pie, blueberry, out of the oven. Second, apple, apple, about to go in.
Happy Pi Day!
Happy Pi Day!
Today’s garden progress: I started digging a new border on the east side of my garage barn. Within the next few days I’ll plant seeds for larkspur, bachelor’s buttons, and sweet peas. Then later I may add fragrant flowers like stocks, dianthus, nicotiana, freesia, moon flower, and sweet alyssum.
March 14, 2025 at 3:07 AM
Today’s garden progress: I started digging a new border on the east side of my garage barn. Within the next few days I’ll plant seeds for larkspur, bachelor’s buttons, and sweet peas. Then later I may add fragrant flowers like stocks, dianthus, nicotiana, freesia, moon flower, and sweet alyssum.
I ordered about 50 different packets of flower seeds today from Pinetree Garden Seeds and Kitchen Garden Seeds to add to the two dozen I’d already bought at local retailers. I’ll have a wonderful cutting garden this summer even though usually I am content to enjoy the flowers uncut.
March 13, 2025 at 3:13 AM
I ordered about 50 different packets of flower seeds today from Pinetree Garden Seeds and Kitchen Garden Seeds to add to the two dozen I’d already bought at local retailers. I’ll have a wonderful cutting garden this summer even though usually I am content to enjoy the flowers uncut.
Also, baby tomatoes!
March 12, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Also, baby tomatoes!
Daffodils are coming along nicely, including the ones up against the house foundation where I removed a foot of leaf mulch today.
March 12, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Daffodils are coming along nicely, including the ones up against the house foundation where I removed a foot of leaf mulch today.
Today’s garden-related accomplishments: started sweet pea, carnation, and foxglove seeds, put lupine and delphinium seeds in the fridge for a week or so of cold moist stratification, and columbine seeds for cold dry stratification. Like the tomatoes from a week ago, just got to do some growing!
March 7, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Today’s garden-related accomplishments: started sweet pea, carnation, and foxglove seeds, put lupine and delphinium seeds in the fridge for a week or so of cold moist stratification, and columbine seeds for cold dry stratification. Like the tomatoes from a week ago, just got to do some growing!
I raked the leaves off my daffodil bed this afternoon and look what I found! Spring!
March 3, 2025 at 8:44 PM
I raked the leaves off my daffodil bed this afternoon and look what I found! Spring!
My rather pathetic basement seed-starting set-up, with an old card table, a single heat mat, and some old jiffy strips. Started some mixed bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and jalapeños.
I don’t even care if these make it to the garden, at least I’m doing something spring-like and garden oriented.
I don’t even care if these make it to the garden, at least I’m doing something spring-like and garden oriented.
March 2, 2025 at 8:25 PM
My rather pathetic basement seed-starting set-up, with an old card table, a single heat mat, and some old jiffy strips. Started some mixed bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and jalapeños.
I don’t even care if these make it to the garden, at least I’m doing something spring-like and garden oriented.
I don’t even care if these make it to the garden, at least I’m doing something spring-like and garden oriented.
Finally, signs of Spring in the middle of the Mitten! These are Narcissus ‘Rijnveld’s Early Sensation’, just about the earliest daffodil available, earlier by a week for me than others touted as the earliest like ‘February Gold’. They only last about five years, though, without heavy fertilization.
February 24, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Finally, signs of Spring in the middle of the Mitten! These are Narcissus ‘Rijnveld’s Early Sensation’, just about the earliest daffodil available, earlier by a week for me than others touted as the earliest like ‘February Gold’. They only last about five years, though, without heavy fertilization.
Yesterday was a good day for me personally, the rest of the country not so much.
I received both of my seed orders in the mail!
I had a good discussion with my doctor about last week’s procedure, the upshot being I’m fine and don’t have to do anything but have a follow up scan in six months.
I received both of my seed orders in the mail!
I had a good discussion with my doctor about last week’s procedure, the upshot being I’m fine and don’t have to do anything but have a follow up scan in six months.
February 19, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Yesterday was a good day for me personally, the rest of the country not so much.
I received both of my seed orders in the mail!
I had a good discussion with my doctor about last week’s procedure, the upshot being I’m fine and don’t have to do anything but have a follow up scan in six months.
I received both of my seed orders in the mail!
I had a good discussion with my doctor about last week’s procedure, the upshot being I’m fine and don’t have to do anything but have a follow up scan in six months.
I actually accomplished one of my garden tasks this week WHEN I intended. My goal was to get my vegetable seeds ordered before the middle of February, before the cultivars I really wanted were all gone.
As I’ve done the past several years I ordered from Johnny’s and Jung and bought some at Meijer.
As I’ve done the past several years I ordered from Johnny’s and Jung and bought some at Meijer.
February 16, 2025 at 4:24 PM
I actually accomplished one of my garden tasks this week WHEN I intended. My goal was to get my vegetable seeds ordered before the middle of February, before the cultivars I really wanted were all gone.
As I’ve done the past several years I ordered from Johnny’s and Jung and bought some at Meijer.
As I’ve done the past several years I ordered from Johnny’s and Jung and bought some at Meijer.