Carlton Barrus's Page

We had a fresh salad for dinner last night. It was delicious. What made it even better is that we produced the lettuce in our garden.  Last fall was so pleasant that I thought I would just plant some seeds in my plastic covered grow box and then see what happens.  I planted Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce. 

Well, they came right up and within a week were about 1 inch tall.  Then it started getting cold, but the temperatures this year were well above average.  This season's winter low was…

The warmer gardening season is almost upon us!  The seed catalogs have all arrived and the plan has been established.  I've made every effort to purchase open pollinated varieties so that I can save seeds.  I started saving seeds last year in earnest.  I would someday like to reach a very seft sustaining level of seed production.  The miracles of the seed are many - not only can you eat the fruit that surrounds the seed, but the one tiny seed has multiplied into many, allowing you to eat the…

My favorite time of the year is when I see that first vegetable sprout poking its leaves out of the dirt.  Watching the wonder of plant growth has been a favorite activity of mine since childhood.  We come from a long line of gardeners - not because it is such a pleasant thing to do, but because that is just the way we lived.  I might add that we lived very well indeed.

I'm relearning how to garden.  I do a bit better each year, trying new techniques and ideas from neighbors and…

I look forward to many things:  Sunday church, Monday Family Night, Tuesday evening outside working, Wednesday church, Thursday evening outside working, Friday with my wife and family, and Saturday - all day - working outside.  We spend out time maintaining out house and property, keeping the lawn mowed and beautifying in general.

We're in the middle of some pretty exciting weather.  Fortunately the power has stayed on.  Yet, it doesn't hurt to get a bit prepared.  We have oil lamps…