By Dr. Bruce Smith —— Bio and Archives--August 2, 2022
Ah, Summer in the Heartland! We're east of the 100th Meridian, so we draw moisture up out of the Gulf to mix with drier air from Canada, and that brings thunderstorms. We're having sweltering humid days, and we're having the warm nights that help the corn grow tall. In the mornings the dew soaks everything. That dew wets the corn, allowing water to trickle down the stem to soak the ground around the roots, even on dry days. Interesting!
It's an old fashioned summer. It's not as hot as I ever saw it, nor is there more rain, nor is it unusually cool, nor is it dry. It's the climate and the weather we've been having here since the end of the last ice age. It's the weather I remember growing up. In those days, of course, we didn't have air conditioning any place we lived. Shade trees and fans did the trick. Sometimes when it was really hot the fans weren't quite enough, so we might have an uncomfortable night. Somehow we survived. I remember about 1960 our family made a trip to see family in Kentucky. On the way back we stayed at the Seven Gables Motel in Burnside. There was no AC, but there were fans and there was ice water. It was hot. I still recall the smell of the Cashmere Bouquet soap. In spite of the heat we survived that night, too. The Comment section of online publications is the new front in the ongoing Cancel Culture Battle.
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By wendy kinsey on 2022 07 31
Well Dr Bruce, that was some very fine writing as I was there all the way with you in those gardens, weeds, nor no weeds, morning dew or mulch keep the stems and roots just moist enough to thrive.
A brilliantly written colourful article on the wonders of farming, the heavy toil involved and constant thinking and forethought needed.
My grandparents farmed tomatoes and tobacco in the early years in southern Ontario not a long way from Windsor and then, Detroit. But later my uncle found amazing ways to cultivate corn and was so successful at it. Only 100 acres but he did as well as the corn. Now I live in Alberta in ranch country and love it too as I see the fields merge into the gold and green hills and then into the purple blue rockies.
Your writing inspired me greatly. Thank you. Wendy in Alberta
By Roy E Strayer, Jr on 2022 07 31
If you avoid pesticides in your lawn, I highly recommend using your lawn clippings as mulch. This makes a very dense covering that weeds won't penetrate. Back in Pennsylvania (Appalachians), we would use a riding mower to cut weeds, etc. in non-tillable areas. We used that for mulch. You want to cut it before the weeds go to seed. Before mulching, you do need to cultivate the soil.
By Centrewing on 2022 08 01
Great article for gardeners and farmers too! I kept about two and a half acres of Vegetable garden, another of flowers and then fruit when I was on the farm, it was heavy clay, when I started it all. I used the trencher on the tractor at first and planted on the top filled in the trenches with well manured (from my barn) straw and veggie scraps from the kitchen then covered it with better quality soil, I slowly developed the soil and garden the next year I trenched the hard hills I grew on the year before and planted on last years trenches well fertilized now after years the whole garden was much bigger and excellent good soil. I also was lucky enough to have a worm farm in the area and bought and spread worm manure by the yard it was great stuff just expensive.
By stephanie on 2022 08 02
This is the first year I mulched my garden. I purchased straw from a chain farm supply store. I was not too pricey in my opinion, but I am unsure of its composition. You have me curious about it now. I will ask the next time I go in there. I wonder if anyone will be able to answer that question. I have noticed these days when I ask questions in most chain stores it is difficult to find someone who can actually answer them.
The thin layer of straw I used has kept the weeds at bay for the most part. I have had to pull some but keeping up has been very manageable. Another way I avoided weeds this summer was growing vertically with trellis.
You offer practical and sensible advice; you also give ideas to consider and explore. I always enjoy your columns.
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