Gate Installation

Final construction of the gate took place at Don & Leigh's house. Emmet, Clare and Sophia helped with driving screws.

The gate was made with 100% used lumber. Posts leftover from some park project. The door was from Bob's scrap pile. The hardware was new, but local and organic.

I assembled it all in my garage and put a 2x4 across the bottom which was buried and a stabilizing piece across the top for transport - see the first picture.

It was a beautiful night for gate raising and with 6 people and 3 generations to dig, it went quickly.

Looking More Like a Garden

A late afternoon walk and this photo. Things are looking great. More greenery all the time.

Something is Eating the Bean Leaves

A creature is on the loose eating up the young bean leaves.

It isn't clear what it is. Some people have reported slugs, others suspect beetles.

I'm covering both bases and using a pyrethrin based (in case it is a beetle) and diatomaceous earth.

So far it seems to be working out.

Does anyone know more?

Cutworms

Over the last week or so there have been a few instances of cutworms killing young tomato plants. I haven't seen them, but the evidence is there. Gardeners have responded to the challenge in a few ways.

Protect the stem. Many have created protective coverings for the stem. Cups, toilet paper rolls, wax paper buried slightly. Apparently the critters slither along the ground, climb plants, but don't climb over obstacles. For more read about controlling cutworms organically on the Simple Gifts Farm website.

Ward them off. We sprinkled diatomaceous earth around our plants. Diatomaceous earth is an organic mechanical pesticide due to its physico-sorptive properties. (did you like that one?)

After the first few kills, it looks like the situation is under control.