Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Day 30 and a word about gardens

Yesterday our county Board of Supervisors decided to reclassify local Garden Centers and Plant Nurseries from *essential* to *non-essential* businesses. Yes, that IS a big deal as non-essential businesses MUST close, must not deal with the public, must send all employees home for however long this shelter-in-place order remains in effect.

This means no vegetable plants for my garden. This means no paycheck for hundreds more people. And, since these businesses count on income from the Spring to see them through the year, this means many of these businesses will not re-open, will not be around for next Spring planting season. Downstream consequences include the wholesale plant growers as well.

Already, there is talk of food insecurity and more people are looking for solutions. For those privileged enough to have space for a food garden (and it can be done in pots on a patio) why take that away?

At least the Farmer's Markets are still open.

Today I'll be putting in a couple of cucumber plants and some Blue Lake bean plants I picked up at the hardware store. I hope they thrive.

My Chickens' First Night

 Sunset  was at 8:11 pm so I went out to the pen a little after 8. The three chickens were milling around, scratching and peeping and seemin...