Far From Perfect

Six yards of beautiful dirt was delivered to my home yesterday. The dirt came from a place where they dredged a pond and is a nice mix of peat, topsoil and loon shit. When we ordered it we had some choices one of which was topsoil off an alfalfa field. I wouldn't even consider that one because of all the chemicals I was sure they have used on that field. I didn't want that stuff in my garden.

After a nice paddle on the Turtle River my sister came over to help me shovel the dirt into my raised beds. She's putting in sweat equity in exchange for fresh produce. Two of my newer beds are filled with grass. I couldn't even dig it out it was so thick. So, I walked into the garage, grabbed the Round Up and headed to the offending beds. I pumped air into the sprayer and pressed the nozzle. Nothing. I pumped some more. Nothing. On my third round of pumping I realized what I was about to do. I stood up, looked at my sister and said, "Well, I guess this is the Universe speaking to me."

I wasn't even thinking of the implications or what a hypocrite I was when I grabbed the Round Up. I was just looking for an easy way out of the weeds. Convenience at the expense of...health? Bees? I wasn't even thinking about how I rail against Monsanto or Cargill or Bayer. I just wanted to get the weeds gone.

In the end I found that we had some weed block fabric which we put down and shoveled dirt on top of. The Round Up is back in the garage next to the Seven Dust and another insect killer I bought last year for the Japanese Beetle infestation I had. I'm not sure what to do with my poison collection for now. I do know that I will not be using them this year or ever again. Next year I'm planning on a hive or two of bees for my property. I can't be using stuff I know will harm them.  I'm already concerned about the lack of pollinators for  this years garden.

I assume the Japanese beetles will be back as will the cut worms, potato beetles, slugs and other insects. My garden will be far from perfect this year. I will probably not get all the weeds out, especially the grass in the new beds but I will, at least, not be running more chemicals into the ground and doing in my beneficial bugs. And the bees....my garden will be a safe haven for bees. That will help me sleep better at night.

Peace,
Karen
(who is far from perfect)