I should say “no” more often if I am being honest. I like to have lots of things happening that swirl with potential. Some people put labels on that behavior, but I call it “productive chaos”. The Reluctant Farmer Rob calls it ADD. I like to develop an idea as we dive in head first. He likes to ruminate, pontificate, try to escape and then is forced to create. Secretly he knows that he’s going to have to be involved with my ideas, one way or another. He makes me laugh the way he tries to not make eye contact and ignore me when I am “stewing” in my creative juices!
One thing I absolutely LOVE about the farm is all of the wild potential. When I go foraging, I am shocked at how Mother Nature knows where to tuck in the beauty. I use the app “picture this” to identify plants. It is amazing. I have identified so many things that are beautiful and prolifically perennial in the pasture. Charlie, my farmer neighbor that said, “you ain’t gonna make no money” (boy was he accurate-but can you put a price on growing joy? The Reluctant Farmer would say “Hell Yes! And get a move on Jul!”) would want to eradicate these pesky perennials but I say NO, there are gorgeous and undiscovered. There is tons of wild yarrow growing on the tree line. Bingo! Why waste my rows on yarrow when she has it covered. On old fence posts there are honeysuckle vines that make fabulous spillers in arrangements. There is wild lime green amaranth that is amazing as a pillar in bouquets and can be a little testy to grow from seed. Why try when she has it covered…if only I could order it in other colors. I LOVE IT ALL! I keep gloves, bucket, nippers and a jug of water in my car so that I am undeterred when I spot some amazing specimen on the side of the road.
Last weekend we were making breakfast and getting ready to go to the farm. I recently discovered this “invasive native weed” called mustard that hay farmers hate and it was growing in the small field right next to my shed. I was thrilled. The definition of a weed is a plant growing where you don’t want it…so my mustard is a “cut flower” to me, not a weed. Well that’s a little foreboding…take a look at this video of the Reluctant Farmer trying to avoid my “collaborative efforts”. I am trying to tell him not to mow over my new “cut flower” treasures.
Well, the rest of the story is that he absolutely mowed right over all the mustard, and paid zero attention to me. When I showed up and mourned my beheaded beauties he just shrugged and said, “thought you were talking about the other side of the shed”. So, he made me breakfast, he mows my farm, he shows up for me 24/7. I could not say anything other than, “thanks so much for mowing, would it help if I put little flags around where not to mow?” I need to develop better communication skills. I think in a marriage of 32 years, that will be ongoing. At least we are willing to learn and grow from our failed commmuntications. Now having been “pruned”, maybe it will come back stronger and even taller! Also, he is “on” to me recording him. Now he is super guarded…dang it.
Stick around and see what happens with my flowers this spring! I start delivering to my subscription clients this week. EEEEKKKKK! Please pray for gentle spring rains and no hail. The fragile poppies are amazing, the ranunculus are soooooo petally, the delphinium are my first grown EVER! The foxgloves are starting to bloom, the catmint is so hardy and prolific but the beauty of the garden is my David Austin English Cottage roses. The fragrance is so intense it doesn’t seem real. I will be sure to post photos of my harvest!
Thanks for following us on our farm journey…we have a lot to learn.
Julie and Rob the Reluctant Farmer!
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