Recent content by ruralmamma

My slinky was tremendously shortened after I thought it would be a good idea to wrap it around the stair railings at my grandparent's house. 🤣 Guess I got tired of it walking down stairs.

Great question! I still use the standard black beans and kidney beans in mine but am hoping to replace them with varieties I grow myself.

Glad you thought to confirm the address. Hoping both parcels arrive with no issues.

I was playing under my great-grandmother's quilting frame when I was a toddler and when I got older I would take a few stitches. Unfortunately I didn't take much of an interest until after my grandma passed away. I'm at least a fifth generation quilter. I prefer scrappy quilts as that's what...

I'm a T-shirt and jeans gal and it's so hard to find 100% cotton anymore. I have to admit that the spandex in jeans makes them a bit more comfortable, but I'm in no hurry to get rid of my thrice patched cotton garden jeans. Also the synthetic shirts seem to hold on to smells after washing. I...

Forgive my ignorance but what is the paper wrap method? I'm guessing once the package reaches the USDA station, the outer wrapping is removed to reveal the address of the final recipient? I'm planning to send seed to @heirloomgal at the end of the season and wondering if this happens in both...

It's called being human.

I found a video by Travis Parker on YouTube discussing the UC Rio Zape and a few other varieties they are working on Not sure if inserting the video would be okay but I did find it very informative.

Thank you for mentioning that site. I'm almost at my limit for new beans this year but never hurls to drool a bit. Glad @Blue-Jay will be able to help you.

I remember being able to sleep through the night and oh my do I miss that. Now I'm usually up once or twice to go to the bathroom every night. Same with long trips. Used to be able to drive for hours straight and now it seems like I have to stop at every rest area on the way.

Pretty much the same here. One town 30 minutes away and another 45 minutes. Little community five miles away has a small grocery store, elementary school, health clinic, hardware store, dollar store, convenience store and two restaurants. Used to have a post office but it's been "temporarily...

Thank you! Definitely closer but won't be able to make it this year due to an event the same weekend in which my husband is a vendor. :( On the bright side, there's plenty of time to prepare for next year.

I'm envious of those of you attending seed swaps. Our county just did get a seed library established last year and trying to organize a swap, so fingers crossed. I'd really love to attend the one in Berea, Kentucky someday. I'm also participating in a USDA bean trial again this year and one of...

If those seeds were grown in 2024, the small size could be due to drought. I was sorting through my seed last week and noticed a significant difference in size of one bean in particular compared to previous years.

Thanks for the heads-up about amaranth. I'm planning to grow it this year and will attempt to remove any seed heads I'm not using. The worst weed I've encountered in the garden has been sorrel. My second garden is in an ideal area as far as the land is level and it's in full sun. However it...