Tuesday, March 17, 2015

ANNA WISHES EVERYONE A HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone.  As we Amish have farming traditions like Elmer told you about plowing snow under there is St. Patrick's Day tradition.  Tradition is the first lettuce of the year should be planted on St. Patrick's Day. Rain, shine, or snow, some plant lettuce on St. Patrick's Day. If you plant the first lettuce of the year on St. Patrick's Day you will come up with the first lettuce and the best lettuce.

As Easter will be here soon, there is an Amish tradition that first potatoes should be planted on or just before Good Friday.   Again, it is believed that the best potatoes of the year will be those planted at that time.

Now, for real, is the time to start some of your garden plants inside your home.  If I were home, I would be starting some of my herbs in the green house.  What reminded me of this is that Sarah called and told me that some of the seeds had arrived in the mail.  Also, some of the small plants I ordered had arrived.  Did I want her to plant them for me?  I told her that would be nice if she wanted too,

John called a few days later saying that it looks like he will have to buy Sarah a greenhouse.  She really enjoys planting all the seeds and plants for me.  The plants that she thinks would get to cold in the greenhouse are in their house.  She wants to check the plants about every day.

I, too, enjoy planting vegetables, herbs and flowers.  There is just something about it.  If I am upset it has a calming effect.  To see those little seeds grow into plants, food  or beauty is something I enjoy.  It is nice to know that Sarah enjoys it too.

Most of the local stores that handling growing items, should have everything at the stores now.  You should be able to buy seeds, peat pellets, or peat pots and more.  When I start planting it also reminds me that spring is just around the corner.  After such a hard winter, we sometimes need to be reminded.

My personal feeling is that starting some of the herbs, vegetables and flowers inside gives them a head start on the outside garden.  Maybe makes them stronger before they go into the outside ground. In a way, I wish I were home now preparing my inside plants.

So, if you are thinking of starting a garden, now is the time.  If it is your first time, don't start big.  You can always add as the seasons go on.  If you have been planting gardens for years, then you should know how much you can handle.

Trust God's Wisdom,
Anna

16 comments:

Tom said...

Playing in the dirt is great therapy! I've been doing it all my life. Tom The Backroads Traveller

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the advice on planting, Anna. I know a lot of thought and planning needs to be done first, then a lot of conscientious work is needed to grow anything. Such a wonderful thing to see the earth "wake up" and watch many things growing.
Winter isn't letting go of us yet, but it will in time as God brings forth each new day.
Blessings, Carol

Anonymous said...

Good morning! You are certainly correct in that the season is pointing us to planting in our gardens now. I have started many of my seeds indoors this year and do enjoy watching the progress each day. With each plant that grows from a wee little seed, it reminds me of the miracles that are all around us if we just are open to see them! Wonderful and such a gift.
Thank you - Chris

New York State Of Mind said...

Good Morning Tom,
I play in the soil and I kill the plants. Wish I had the green thumb my Mom had.

Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Good Morning Carol,

Will see that Anna gets your message. This coming Friday is the first day of Spring. I don't know ow the weather will be though.

Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Good Morning Chris,
The Amish and Mennonite believe like you in watching a little seed being planted to food, vegetables or flowers. It's a gift from God.

Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Hi Folks,
I have all your questions ready to give Eli, Anna, Martha, Grandmother Olive and Jean. Anytime you have questions ask. Elmer didn't know what to talk about this week. So Bishop Eli saved the day. They all get at a time where they just can't think of anything to say for post. They need help and your questions give them subjects. So, please, anytime you have a question - ask.

Marilyn

littlemancat said...

Wonderful post, thank you Anna! I love that Sarah is so interested in growing plants - a nice bond with your new daughter-in-law, isn't it?
I have a question - and forgive me if it's been covered already- do Amish and Old Order Mennonites use banks? And do you have to finance loans for purchasing land? I know this is a nosy question, so feel free not to respond. I am curious because your buying/selling land and property seems to go smoothly and quickly. Thanks!
Mary

kymber said...

Marilyn - please tell all the men and women that we would like to hear more about what they do each week in regards to farming, planting and gardening. we have been gardening for almost 10 yrs...we started off slow back in the city, but since moving to our homestead (crappy little cottage in the middle of nowhere) we have increased our garden every year. we still have over a foot of snow on the ground so i plan to start brassicas indoors this week. we have several herbs that overwintered in the greenhouse and i saved 11 pepper plants in the house over winter. we will move the brassica seedlings to the greenhouse at the end of march, and plant onions, kale, chard, potatoes and peas as soon as the ground is workable. i will start tomatoes and peppers in the house and move those out to the greenhouse in may. they won't go in the ground until june. i will plant herbs that have grown into seedlings outside in mid-may. anyway, i am always interested in reading about what other people grow, any tips or tricks that they use - for example - i dig holes for tomatoe plants when they are ready to go in the ground and line the holes with good manure and powdered milk. then i soak the roots of my tomatoes in epsom salt water before planting them in the ground. also i plant borage around tomatoes as it keeps hornworms away). so any tips that anyone be it anna, jean or GrandMother Olive have, i would appreciate. i would also like to hear about the men's work and what they do during this season. thanks Marilyn.

your friend,
kymber

Anonymous said...

I have a question for Anna which is important to me. Several years ago I bought a small Rosemary plant from Lowe's and transplanted it into larger pots as it grew. It got quite large so I dug a hole and planted it by front porch. It thrived for years then died. I have tried for a long time to get new Rosemary plants to grow but they die. Did I just have "beginners luck"? Maybe the weather for a couple of years co-operated so it could get strong? I've heard they have a life span of about 6-7 years although I've heard of older Rosemary bushes. It;s one of my favorite herbs for baking chicken and flavoring breads and lots of other foods. Smells good too!
Thank you.
Carol in SC

Anonymous said...

Marilyn: Thank you for your blog and the work you and others put into it. You deserve lots of "attaboys" and "kuddos" for the work you do. You are appreciated.
Carol in SC

New York State Of Mind said...

Hi Mary,
It is great that Anna and Sarah have so much in common. Sarah wants to learn more of Anna's medicine, too.

I will see that they get your questions.

Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Hi Kymber,
I will see that that they get your message and requests. Sounds like you have a great garden.

Marilyn

New York State Of Mind said...

Hi Carol in SC,
I have the question ready for Anna. When you got a new Rosemary did you plant in the same place you plated the previous one? That might be something Anna would want to know.

Thank you for the compliments on the blog and what I do. I really appreciate it. I enjoy doing it.

Marilyn

Anonymous said...

Marilyn: No I didn't plant in the same place because they seem to die i their peat pots. I have a rose bush in the old place and it's doing well. I think the old Rosemary bush lived as long as it could.
Carol In SC

New York State Of Mind said...

Hi Carol,
Thank you for answering the questions. Anna has something for you in her Tuesday post. She doesn't have your name, but if you read it, you will know she's talking about you.

Marilyn