Planting the Corn

 

The garden is planted. The last bed went in this afternoon—and it might have been the worst of the season. It is the edge of chicken run, so it has a six foot high fence attached to the side. And I planted the corn, which requires extra protection. The afternoon went like this:

1.       Turn over the bed, pull out all of the apple mint that has crept in, and break up the clumps. The ground is still remarkably wet. Have a long conversation with the chickens on the other side of the fence about all of the worms in the bed. Toss a few their way.

2.       Consider the soaker hose. Someone cut the hose in half last fall during an energetic session with the loppers and the sunflower stalks that once ran along the back fence. Of course we did not fix it then—or any other time in the last six months.  Find the last ½ inch hose repair kit, the screwdriver in the basement, and commence repairs. Brush off ants which have decided that the hose is an excellent nesting spot. Lots of ants. So many ants. Lay the repaired hose down. Brush off the last of the ants (I hope).

3.       Consider being done for the day. Decide that, really, the corn is not getting any younger in the six packs that it sprouted in and it can’t wait until Thursday. And the birds might find it….

4.       Find the pole bean and sunflower seeds. Hunt for the digging fork and fail. Bring out the fertilizer and spread it for the beans. Use your hands to work it into the soil. Long reaches and balances. Awkward.

5.       Long reach across the four foot bed because the beans go against the fence as a trellis. So awkward. Consider taking the fence down, but remember that you are alone and there is no one else to chase the chickens out of the garden beds when they make a run for it.  Continue the long reach. Beans planted. Sunflowers tucked in.

6.       Bring the corn over to be planted. Lay down three rows of fertilizer and plant. Try and keep the lines straight. Fail. Pat the corn into place.

7.       Because birds love to swoop down and dig up the corn, find five hoops and the really big piece of plastic in the shed. Cover the bed. Wrestle the clamps into place through the chicken fence. Catch a chicken making a run through the gate.

8.  

     Once the hoops are up, consider the rabbit fence. Might as well. Unroll the two foot wire fence that surrounds every bed in the garden, staple it in place. It just fits.

9.       Step back and consider the project completed.