by Noel | Nov 12, 2011 | CobraHead, Environmental Issues, Gardening
In the village that borders us a few blocks to the west and south, leaf burning is prohibited, but it is allowed and practiced as a seasonal rite in our township. I’m not advocating a ban on burning, but I really wish the neighbors understood what they are wasting. While I was working hard today to get as many leaves as I could into my garden, I could see at least four smoke trails in the neighborhood. Too bad for the leaf burners, they could be making...
by Noel | Nov 6, 2011 | CobraHead, Gardening
I took advantage of a dry day between the rains to get my garlic planted. I’ve been using a method Geoff taught me years ago that works particularity well with raised beds. I’ve posted the method several times before, but it’s worth repeating as it works so well. I form a loose worked-up bed into three ridges (or two troughs) using a steel rake. This year, before I planted the garlic cloves, I liberally dusted the entire bed with cilantro and...
by Noel | Oct 22, 2011 | CobraHead, Gardening
Judy harvested these two excellent heads of cauliflower this afternoon. The one on the right is one of the best heads we’ve ever grown. It was over eight inches across and perfect in every way. I searched “cauliflower” on Wikipedia just to see what might be of interest for a blog post and discovered fractal dimensions. Mathematicians find broccoli and cauliflower interesting because of their fractals. A paper cited says: “The fractal...
by Noel | Oct 21, 2011 | CobraHead, Gardening
We’ve been harvesting salad greens from the cold frame I built earlier this year. I talk about the building of the cold frame here. I seeded the frame about a month ago with a mix of mustard, spinach, arugula, several Asian greens and some lettuces. As the picture shows, germination was excellent. Until now, when we are finally getting some very cool nights, the main issue has been to remember to open up the glass lid totally during the day. The daytime...
by Noel | Oct 16, 2011 | CobraHead, Environmental Issues
Turkey vultures are extremely common in Wisconsin, but it’s rare to see them flying directly overhead in my yard. Our wooded property is the main residence of an extended family of crows that controls the neighborhood skies. The crows never allow vultures, owls, hawks or other larger birds to secure the local airspace or even intrude into it for very long. This afternoon there must have been a major road kill on US Highway 18 which is the north border of...
