I don't have much time to write on this, but I wanted to get something here and get this started. A little late, but better late than never. This week has been very hectic - working on a project that takes almost all my time. Things should smooth out pretty soon and get back to normal (yeah...AS IF!) :-)!

I did manage to get out and do some weed control in the garden yesterday and today. Almost couldn't tell garden plants from weeds, but it's looking better now, thanks to lots of help from my mom. And I'm happy to report that we have "a" pepper on one of the plants, and a couple green 'maters on the vine. Makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Not to mention the fresh green onions and radishes we had with our Sloppy Joe dinner last night :-)! Yum-Yum!

One more thing before I pass out here at the keyboard. Did any of you see the Dateline report on the date changing on meat products across the country? Pretty wild! Told my wife that with reports like that, it sure shouldn't be hard to sell our fresh meat, eggs, and veggies. Not to mention that it's sure a good reason (among all the others) to be growing our own food. I KNOW what my kids are getting on the dinner table ... don't have to wonder about the chemical content, and I sleep better at night not having to worry about food poisoning. It's sad at how low companys will stoop for the almighty greenback! Don't care if it kills us, so long as we've paid the bill at the cash register first (sigh).

Oh well ... too much for my exhausted brain to try to think on tonight. I hope all you have a wonderful day tomorrow filled with lots of productive stuff! G'nite all ... sweet dreams!

-- Phil in KS (cshomestead@planetkc.com), May 21, 2002

Answers

I can't believe the stores are doing this ( again). To this day, and it IS many years later, I will not buy a piece of meat of any kind at a Food Lion store. One of those news magazines did the same expose on them long ago, and my stomach still rolls when I think of it!

It is hard to imagine the grocery stores were caught again! Ugh!

-- Granny Hen (clucking along@cs. com), May 22, 2002.

I agree and would think it would be easy to sell your "homegrowen" but it is not here, people are too interested in cheap and could care less about what they're eating. My blueberries for our u-pick and farmer's market are organic but I don't even bother advertising that way, people could care less in this part of the country. I do a pretty good job at selling them to the ones that care and do not have that big of a supply to bother with others but..it amazes me how people say how much, I tell them and they sell "we can get them at Walmart for the same price"why wouldn't they be cheaper? Take lamb, I raise that on pasture and unmedicated feed. Can't really sell them at any profit. I basically do a lot of work, take all the risk and my payment is we eat lamb chops almost every nite! Well I guess that is good too!

I have found that people want auction price for both cattle (corn feed out) and the sheep. So I just send them to auction as soon as everything is weaned instead and keep out what I want for myself or positively have sold.

When my girls have their own homes, I will raise beef and sheep for their tables too, I think I will enjoy that and maybe with all the news on what's for dinner there will be a movement back to buying direct. Hope so... Debbie in OK.

-- Debbie in OK (debbie@cwis.net), May 22, 2002.

That was one SCARY show!!!!

-- Terri (hooperterri@prodigy.net), May 22, 2002.

Been a busy week here at the house. I had family come down for a few days. Was so good to see them. I had alot of neglected housekeeping to do and work outside to get ready for company. Glad it's done, the visits over and everything back to normal. Don't know why I think everything has to be spotless around here, by the time the house fills up, no one ever notices!

I've been painting Laura's room the last few days. Got it done and everything put back, now Dave wants to paint our room! He's got a long week-end, so I might take advantage of the help and get it done too.

The weather is finally starting to warm up. Lucklily I didn't get any frosts up here on the hill, although I held my breath a few nights. Went out and weeded the garden yesterday and noticed some of the tomatoes are flowering! yeah. This cool weather has actually been good for the garden. I don't think I've ever seen it so healthy. I had a redbud in the front yard that was shading a tomato plant and that tomato plant is the only one that isn't growing as good. Also noticed it's the only one that has aphids on it. hmmmmmmm. Ended up cutting the redbud way back, but we have literally got hundreds and hudreds of them up here, so I didn't feel too bad. I still don't have the tomatoes staked. I've been so busy with other things, now I've got to play catch up with them. It seems I do this every year. Think I have plenty of time and then bam, the tomatoes have gone crazy growing and it's hard to control them! Maybe next year......:)

Well, it's about 4:00 in the mornin, so I better be getting back to bed. Woke up earlier with a muscle ache in my upper back and now even the back ache can't keep me from sleeping. yawn.

Hope everyone has a great week and a great Memorial Day and plenty of sunshine for your growing things!

Annie

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), May 25, 2002.