grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

a certain slant of sunlight…

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sunlight through the kitchen window

I know right off when the day is destined to be a good one. I can tell by the slant of sunlight through my kitchen window. This simple ray of sunshine, as yellow as the apples it shines upon, sends me working out into the yard all day long. The world could turn upside down and I’d be fine as long as I’m busy in the garden.

That was yesterday and yesterday was my favorite sort of day. A trip to the nursery and lots of digging in the dirt. Today I feel the ache in my back. It’s a good ache—the ache of transplanting hostas and moving around day lilies. Sometimes plants need to be relocated. Sometimes I think I must do it for the feel of it.Continue Reading

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!