grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

Farm Art Friday – Pivot in the Rain

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irrigation pivot, poinsett co

Papa Creecy always said it was better to get too much rain in the spring than not enough. That was back in the days before irrigation pivots. Of course a pivot does no one any good during the heat of summer, if the land doesn’t dry out enough for spring planting. Too bad these pivots can’t vacuum up water to save for later.

Rain, rain, feel free to stop. Grumpy farmers must plant crops.

This too shall pass.

Happy Friday y’all!

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

[tweetthis]Too many people talk about weather and not enough talk about #agriculture. @ArFB @arkansassoybean @arkansas_grown[/tweetthis]

“Too many people talk about the weather, and not enough people talk about agriculture. When somebody says to me, “Beautiful weather we’re having,” I always reply, “Irrigation and crop rotation.”
― Jarod Kintz

Musical Pairing:

Luke Bryan – Rain is a Good Thing

Planting Ollas in my Garden

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Ollas - ancient irrigation system in my garden

Dripping Springs Ollas

 

I planted something special in my garden this month. Ollas. If you aren’t familiar with Ollas, keep reading because this is exciting stuff for those of us who garden in hot, dry regions. Like the South.

Simple yet brilliant, Ollas is an unglazed, porous clay pot used for irrigation. Instructions are easy peasy. Bury the pot in the garden. Leave the neck exposed (a lid is included).

Planting Ollas in my garden.

Planting Ollas in my garden.

 

Fill with water a couple of times a week. That’s it. Ollas will provide constant, steady irrigation to nearby plant root systems.

Crafted by Lori Haynes of Dripping Springs, Texas, her clay pot design is based on an ancient method of watering. And bonus…the pots are lightweight and easy for one person to maneuver from vehicle to garden. For more information and details on where to buy visit www.drippingspringsollas.com.

Adding water to Ollas.

just add water

 

Now for an update on what’s growing in my garden (besides my Ollas)—three types of tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, several varieties of hot peppers and orange bell peppers, basil, dill, strawberries, swiss chard, carrots, lettuce, arugula, radishes, and onions.

And lots of earthworms. Yay! earthworms in my garden!

Everything looks happy in my community plot at Promise of Peace Garden. Magic in the middle of an East Dallas parking lot…

April garden. Ollas in action.

My garden. April, 2014

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.”
― Margaret Atwood

Musical Pairing:

Counting Crows – Big Yellow Taxi

Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

THANKS FOR READING!