“The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.” ~ Oprah Winfrey
My goals for 2018
Goal #1 – Write Like No One is Reading.
“Close the door. Write with no one looking over your shoulder. Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It’s the one and only thing you have to offer.” ~ Barbara Kingsolver
What a view! And in about 10 days from now, this will be the view from my new office space {if the snow has not melted yet}. I am BEYOND excited. No HOA, no lookyloo’s, no landscape trucks whizzing by every 5 minutes… Just, peace and quite. It’s going to be WONDERFUL. And inspiring.
Goal #2 – Slow Down
Yesterday the HH and I took Lucy on a nice hike. I think that counts, don’t you?
Goal #3 – Shop Small
This past week I spent $45 at a local independent shop picking up supplies for goal #15 and it was so nice to talk to someone with some actual knowledge about a product. As expected, they were able to answer every question I had and make suggestions and steer me to the right items I needed.
Often times when I am at a big box store and have multiple questions, the people there are not able to answer them. And as a buyer, no matter how much I am spending, it’s frustrating. A lot of times I feel like it just so much easier to do the research myself and then buy the product online instead of stepping into a big store.
Small, locally owned stores, will knowledgeable salespeople who actually have an interest in the products they sell, rule. And no matter how hard big companies try to duplicate that with their loyalty programs and constant promotions, and I have to ask the customer 5 meaningless questions, will never be able to duplicate that real, down home, small store experience. Ever.
Goal # 4 – Have a Designated Meal Prep Day
This goal is on hold until early April! 🙂
Goal #5 – Install a Vegetable Garden
Does anyone out there use a rototiller in their garden? I have never used one before and since my garden space will be so large, and because I won’t be building raised beds at the new place, I am seriously considering investing in a Mantis 4-Cycle Tiller Cultivator. The way I see it, I could rent one for $50 or just take the plunge and buy one and be able to use it when ever I wanted to. And with my history, chances are once I get one bed dug…. I’ll want another. Plus, I have a feeling my back will thank me for it in the long run.
Goal #6 – Clear Land for a Chicken Coop and Future Raised Garden Bed Area
Lucy’s babies are set to arrive April 11th!
Goal #7 – Grow 500 Pounds of Vegetables
I had all my seeds shipped to the new house and I’m looking forward to getting started!
Goal #8 – Hook 100 Rugs
32 down, 68 to go. This past week I hooked 6 small penny circle rugs and a few sunflower heads for my Etsy shop. I need my favorite serger to trim and finish off the edges so I’ll have to take care of that once we get settled. As far as hooking projects go, I am down to a batch of mini crow rugs and my big chicken rug to work on. I’m hoping to get the mini crow rugs finished before we take off, and then work on the giant chicken rug as we travel across the US {I plan to snap some pictures along the way so you can follow along with the progress}. I thought for sure I was going to run out of projects to work on, but I think I’ll be okay.
Goal #9 – Make a Set of Dolls
I plan to make a set {or two} of primitive dolls later this year after the garden has been put to bed.
Goal #10 – Make a Sampler, Frame it and Hang it on the Wall
I’m halfway there. I finished my sampler a few weeks ago and plan to make a frame for it later this fall when I get some down time.
Goal #11 – Visit 22 Bakeries
We didn’t hit up any new bakeries this week and won’t until our road trip but let me tell you Bob, I am totally looking forward to stuffing my face with some sweets.
Goal #12 – Start a Collection
A friend and I checked out a few antique stores in Sumner, Washington yesterday and we came across several nice yellowware bowls. Sadly, I didn’t find any with a green glaze {what I’m trying to hunt down} but I know I’ll find what I’m looking for eventually. I think what I’m looking for is a set of 3 or 5 yellowware bowls {with a green glaze} in graduated sizes to display on some open shelving in my new kitchen.
Does anyone know if there is a way {or like a special pen or something that I can take along to antique stores with me} to detect if there is any lead in the pottery glaze on the bowls? I read online that the general dates for yellowware in the United States are 1828 to c. 1930.
Goal #13 – Read {or listen to} 26 Books
I am currently #10 on the wait list for Sister’s First and #1 for Lab Girl and I have downloaded Furiously Happy and Life Itself for our road trip to the east Coast next weekend thanks to overdrive. I haven’t been listening to books the past few weeks but instead have been catching up on tv time {movies and mini-series} instead.
Books I’ve read or listened to so far this year:
- A Secret Gift
- Bad Days in History
- New England Farmgirl
- Founding Gardeners
- The Bookshop Around the Corner
- The Bassoon King
Goal #14 – Try 12 New Canning Recipes
Canning is going to be a little different for me this summer as I will be doing all of my canning outside. My friend Heather in Massachusetts does this and since our new place doesn’t have A/C I am trying to figure out the best set up to do this. At first I thought I’d get a dedicated BBQ with enough room for 2 large {hot water bath} canning pots but now I’m thinking a “fish fry” type of set up might be a better idea.
Do YOU do your canning outside? If so, I’d love to hear your suggestions and what supplies you use, and what time of day you are typically canning {early morning, midday, evening?}.
Goal #15 – Secret {for now} Holiday Project
I took the first step towards this project on Friday and bought a few starter supplies to experiment with. My plan once we get settled on the East Coast is to get everything unpacked, then all my seedlings started, and then while I am waiting for the soil to warm up start playing around with my secret holiday project a little bit. I don’t want to give it away yet… but I’ll be sharing more about this project in the near future. 😉
How about YOU? Did you set any goals for 2018? How are they coming along?
~Mavis
Read About My 2018 Goals HERE.
Cathy says
Good morning, On the brand of rototiller , find a shop near your new home and that’s the brand you buy. Here in Kent Wa. We have been going to the same owner shop, for 40 years now. His son runs the shop now.They have had our back and fix things and sharpen the blades of the lawn mower, before others , As he told the man next to me. “She bought her lawn mower here, you didn’t “ I’m hoping you get just as great service as I have. Oh I got my rototiller , chain saw and lawn mower from this little shop.
Amanda S says
I don’t know where you’re moving to in New England, but where I live in MA there are tons of landscape trucks around in the spring and summer, even though there are no HOAs around me as far as I know. People just want their yards to look good. It’s actually really funny to drive down the street and count all the different companies.
Terri at The Frugal List says
Oh yeah, when we lived in MA the landscapers would always come to the neighborhood and make tons of noise when I was trying to get the baby to nap. It would drive me bonkers.
Mim says
Mavis,
Having created three large garden beds, I highly recommend renting a large tiller and not buying one. All the new research argues that when you successively till an established bed, you are just undoing all the good that has happened over the growing season, ie worms, beneficial nutrients, etc. You are also just compacting the soil. (Some books that talk about this are the Vegetable Gardener’s Bible and The Nourishing Homestead. I highly recommend the latter, which discusses at length how to build and optimize your soil.)
When I do have to resuscitate a bed — such as my 20 year old flower bed that was becoming infested with weeds, I use a broad fork, which again I highly recommend.
Re. Canning outdoors, I haven’t done it, but many of those who do use a standalone propane cooker — see Amazon for examples. A grill simply doesn’t get hot enough.
Have a great eastward trip!
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks for chiming in. I didn’t know a grill would not get hot enough. I think the lobster pot set up might be the way to go.
Sue R. says
I agree with this comment about the tiller and the canning outdoors. Rent a tiller (or a tractor!) to establish the beds. I use a propane cooker for canning outdoors. Works great–though it does make lots of steps in and out of the house 🙂
jennifer says
I agree on renting a rototiller. I’ve read the exact same info that no-till gardening is superior to routine/annual tilling. There is a natural stratification of water and air, plant/fungi matter, nutrients, and critters that benefits all the participants. It develops over time and is basically ruined by tilling. That said, there can be a case made for tilling soil maybe once when you are getting started. But i’ve read of people having great success with a broadfork instead, since it loosens but doesn’t specifically mix and grind up the layers. Compaction is a definite outcome, as well as the creation of a surface in the soil that divides the area you tilled from the area below it that isn’t tilled, and some root systems don’t transit the differing soil densities well, so it effectively limits some plants to only growing in the tilled depth instead of reaching deeper.
Hope this helps! I’m very excited for you new adventures.
Mim says
P.S. I should have mentioned that my garden beds are in Vermont, definitely New England rocky soil. And that you can see broad forks on Johnny’s Seed site, where they sell the original Elliot Coleman design. Pricey, but I found a cheaper version on Amazon. I am told, though, that the Coleman model is worth the investment and when I have to replace this one, I will go that route.
Kara says
We use “turkey fryers” to can outside. Similar to this:
https://www.amazon.com/Bayou-Classic-SP10-High-Pressure-Outdoor/dp/B000291GBQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1520781471&sr=8-2&keywords=propane+turkey+fryers
The water comes to a boil quickly!
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks!
JoAnn Chmielowic says
Mavis,
I can outside all summer long. I would recommend a propane pot boiler like this one (which is square) as I think it adds a little more stability. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Bayou-Classic-55-000-BTU-Propane-Gas-Single-Burner-Outdoor-Stove-SQ14/100121665?cm_mmc=Shopping%7cTHD%7cgoogle%7c&mid=sbesEeyaq%7cdc_mtid_890338a25189_pcrid_238558212142_pkw__pmt__product_100121665_slid_&gclid=CjwKCAjwypjVBRANEiwAJAxlIipuGJNkZumhj56VdkeMGJcJZfQnanLaivfhbl0Xzenx5q1rZM6-DxoCHnQQAvD_BwE&dclid=CLuPy4_h5tkCFcm_swodMpUEyg
I set up a patio umbrella to keep the sun off, have a small table nearby for my supplies and for jars to cool when they come out of the water. This setup works great for me. I use the ball canning pot which fits a nice amount of jars.
Just one word of caution, don’t let the propane boil the water too high, I’ve had an exploding jar or two from that!
Hope that helps
JoAnn
Kate says
I use a turkey fryer base as well, with a canner on top. Pretty easy and I love to have the heat outdoors!
Jessica says
No comments on anything you asked about but just had to tell you that I really look forward to reading about how your goals are coming long each week. It is on my Sunday to do. Drink morning coffee and read Mavis goal updates. Ha!
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks Jessica!
Audra from Ohio says
I have the same ritual, Jessica 🙂
Rhonda says
I have used this for canning outside, but would suggest the three burner model.
https://m.fieldandstreamshop.com/p/camp-chef-explorer-deluxe-face-plate-2-burner-stove-16ccfuxplrrstvwlgcac/16ccfuxplrrstvwlgcac?camp=CSE:FNS_pg44028_ecom_PLA_453
CathyB says
Yes, something like this is what I have used for outdoor canning. Costco usually sells a model in the late spring / early summer for a good price with their camping stuff.
mim says
Sorry to clog up the comments, but I keep thinking of things. The outdoor propane burner is also great for boiling sap and making maple syrup, which is a great, fun, delicious thing to do in New England.
Also, on the tiller, although you said you want to buy one specifically for creating new beds — and they are good for that — I would say that the small one will not go deep enough to do that. (I speak from experience, as I own a small one. It only goes down about 6 inches.) So again, it is a better use of the $$ to rent a big one…
Nancy D says
Regarding rototilling….with my experience over the last 40 years of gardening in different soils (loamy, clay, and rocky), I’ve think hiring a local person to come with their tractor and rotovator would be the way I would go. Beautiful results in a short time!
Starting from scratch in an area with sod and possibly rocks and larger roots can be back breaking with a smaller tiller. Plus, they often can’t pulverize the sod the first time as well as a tractor’s set up can. It also saves you time and gets your soil ready to add any amendments and that is where I would use a personal tiller.
Tillers vary greatly in ease of use per individual. I would rent a couple different styles to see which works best for you (your back AND your garden soil and area) Local garden and feed stores usually know who offers the tractor service. Often, they are really local people with lots of helpful information about your specific area and soil and can give you great information. Good luck!
Jennifer says
Lead Safe Mama (she has a FB page) would be able to answer your questions regarding testing yellow ware I believe. Even a lot of modern dishes have lead…all of my mugs did. 🙁
I agree about just renting the tiller and using a fork.
Looking forward to seeing your New England adventures!
KC says
Re: canning outside, I’d note that the jar-sealing can definitely be done, but you might want to keep jam-boiling, etc. inside due to bugs, or have screens over the tops of the pots or something, or you may have what my mom euphemistically refers to as “a little bit of extra protein” joining your jam. Depends on your local insect population, though.
Cait says
I can not find the exact one we purchased, but it is quite similar to this: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Bayou-Classic-25-in-2-Burner-Propane-20-lb-Cylinder-Manual-Ignition-Black-Steel-Outdoor-Stove/4136570 .
A double stove has been great for us- and it being counter height has been ideal. Love not having to stoop!!! We tend to use it for our big canning days- apple sauce, tomato days etc…so we are canning all day long. I try to be done before dusk, because mosquitoes LOVE me.
Bobbie says
We have a Cub Cadet tiller and I love it. Whatever you do, make sure it is a gas tiller. Electric tillers do not work as well, gas tillers are just the bomb. I’ve had both. Plus you run the risk of running over the cord with an electric tiller- don’t ask how I know I till every year in the early spring because I plant crimson clover and dump chicken coop refuse over my garden bed. I till it early spring and plant about 4-6 weeks later- works like a charm every year! You can also till in the fall in colder climates like new england. We are in Virginia.
Julie Laing says
Loving your goals! I do all of my canning outdoors on a two-burner propane crab cooker. It works great for water-bath canning, can be a little finicky if you’re pasteurizing pickles and have to hold a steady temperature for a long time, and is not recommended for pressure canning because it can affect the integrity of the kettle. A single-burner model will work fine if you’re just running one kettle at a time. I generally use my indoor stove to prep the jar contents and take them outside to fill the jars. We built a little counter along the edge of our deck where we set up an assembly line for filling the jars–it’s awesome! We can whenever we have time (friends tease use about our midnight canning sessions), but whenever temps are steady and the wind is down is best. If you do can outdoors when it’s chilly, bring the jars indoors to cool so that they do so evenly and seal properly. There are plenty of tips and recipes you might enjoy on my blog. 🙂
Joanna says
Perhaps creating a summer kitchen to can in would be an option for you, down the road.
Julie says
I’ve been canning outdoors or in my empty garage with the doors open using an old propane stove we acquired when a friend was renovating her RV. My husband built a wheeled platform for it so we can move it indoors, outdoors, or out of the way. We also use it to boil maple sap for syrup.
Peggy says
I had to stop and comment when I got to the rototiller part. The Mantis is a great product and company, but I would go with a rear tine tiller (4 wheels and larger than the one shown, with the tines behind the rear wheels. It’s a lot bigger, but a cultivator doesn’t break ground or till well in our southwest PA soil. The cultivator is great as a cultivator in an established garden, but not so much to work a plot year to year.
Julie says
Every four or five years, we use our farm tractor and deep plow our garden to do a major turnover of the soil and mix in any additives a soil test has recommended. At the beginning of the other years, we use a rear tine tiller to work up the soil and dried weeds, etc. For summer maintenance where I have not used mulch or plastic, I use a small tiller much like the one you pictured or I just manually hoe around everything….depends on whether the weeds have gotten ahead of me or not.
Safe travels!
andrea d says
I too have heard the recommendations not to till every year, but choose to ignore them. I have no idea what brand we own (my husband got it for me a few years ago), but my garden is in an area that is very rocky and used to be a hay field and it is the only way I can get the garden ready every year without breaking my back. Maybe for the first year a kind new neighbor would have one you could borrow? Then you could try it and see what you think before committing.
On canning outside- it is not something I have done, but on a canning forum that I follow a lot of folks use a Camp Chef Camp Stove https://www.amazon.com/Camp-Chef-EX60LW-Explorer-Outdoor/dp/B0006VORDY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1520790811&sr=8-3&keywords=camp+chef. The only thing I have read is you need to be careful whatever you use isn’t turned up so high that you warp your canner.
Alison says
We can outside in the summer. We set up our camp stove on our picnic table in the shade. We make the salsa and jam outside too. Our camp stove has a 15000BTU burner. It’s also what I cooked on when our power was out last weekend 😉
Marie says
Tillers designed for a backyard are not what you want to use when you do your first turn of the soil. They are too weak. I’ve owned a Merrytiller with tines not sharp blades (designed in the NW) when I added fresh amendments to our soil. Save your time/back/frustration and hire it out this spring so you can get growing right away! Have you even thought about a tractor yet? Mowing, plowing, snow removal from driveway, hauling etc all with one machine. Go for it!
Almost all functional glazes from the 1930’s have some form of lead. Check out Seattle Pottery’s website for lead detection pens. I too was drawn to this era of ware but sadly it’s not healthy to eat or serve from. Someone once joked that’s why they are still for sale-no one would be able to maintain a “working bowl” for 90+ years. Cheers!
Cindi says
I agree with hiring someone to till the beds initially and then simply turning them over (not tilling) each year.
I can outside. My husband salvaged the side burner from a gas grill and turned it into a stand-alone burner. I use it for canning and he uses it to cook the wort for his home-brewed beer. I much prefer outside canning to doing it in the kitchen. I think a turkey fryer would work well.
RebekahU says
I have a very large area for our garden and even though it might be bad for the soil, I do not think I could get things done without the tiller. I have a half acre garden which is mainly planted in flowers for the honeybees, but I also have a large vegetable section. I have a Husqvarna and a small cultivator that has an electric starter. I started with the small tiller and quickly realized that I needed to invest in a tiller. I use it extensively every time I put in a new planting. And since I do not own a truck, renting would have been a pain. I have the electric starter on the small cultivator so that I do not have to pull the starting cord so much. My suggestion would be to use regular gas only on these machines. The unleaded/ethanol variety of fuel will eat away the plastic components on the engine. I am planning to transition to no till for the veggie area, but I cannot imagine the wildflower area ever being no till.
Super excited about your move! Loved you office window photo!
Mrs. C. says
I agree with renting a tiller. I had a Mantis, once, but it was for a very small garden with loose soil. New England tends to have rocky soil, and you may need a heavier tiller… or will make friends who have a tractor and will till your garden every year!
Canning outside in the early morning on a two-burner propane camp stove that comes with its own stand is very doable. You may have to experiment a bit to get it just right for pressure canning. Morning is great because it is cool and no mosquitoes yet. I try to get as much prep work as possible done the night before.
Mable says
Please look up some of the latest research about tilling. Except for when you at converting lawn to garden, tilling damages the soil and hurts plants by destroying the intricate bio-structure beneath the top layer of soil. Really, the most recent gardening advice is to stay away from tilling in an established garden—meaning buying a tiller is not worth it in the long run.
Richelle Krienke says
Agree! Recent gardening and soil research data are clear on their message to avoid tilling garden beds.
Mrs. C. says
Mavis, I use this stove:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006VORDY/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Elizabeth says
My daughter’s vet had her cut back on dog food but add canned green beans to her dog’s diet for weight loss and it worked great. The dog loves them and didn’t feel deprived.
Michèle says
I’ve also read (and experienced) using a tiller throws weed seeds all over the garden area!! The first time we used a tiller, it threw my husband all over instead of the soil due to the previously unworked soil!
Angela D. says
Ha! Better him than you!!!!
Deborah says
We can inside. We use a pressure canner for vegetables, but water bath canner for acidic foods like tomatoes, and pickled items. Jellies, are water bath canned. We do have Aid conditioning. But then we live in humid East Texas.
Vicki in Birmingham says
I am so excited for you and your family on your new adventure/chapter in your life. I have always had an adventuresome spirit and I know how that feels!
I must say I get ashamed of myself by not having all my goals and intentions for the year all planned out yet. I see all of yours and honestly, I get overwhelmed thinking about all of those! Maybe because I am not as young or as strong as I once was. But I do know that time sees to be passing so quickly, that if I don’t hurry and get my list done so I can start, it will be Christmas and time to end this year!
I have a Mantis tiller that I love. I also still have plenty of earthworms in my gardens (several raised beds) and it is a lot easier on my back. Gather all your information from your very informed and learned readers, sort through it, then decide what you think is best for you. If it doesn’t work out the way you want it to this year, you can always make changes it for next year!
Good luck with your move! I am so happy for anyone who gets to do what their heart desires!
sclindah says
We have that tiller but haven’t used it in years. It’s nice but too small for what you are looking for and it’s kind of picky on how it runs. We have a large garden and used to have a Troy Bilt that we used for years. Look into no till gardening. We haven’t tilled in ten years. Our soil life is much better because of it.
Margery says
I would rent a tiller this year, and get to know the brands serviced by your local hardware store. And buy from them if you can. For us we bought a washing machine once from a big box store with a warranty, two weeks before they would come out to our area to look at it. Next one bought from small town hardware store with warranty they made it out the same day. How rural will you be aka how much driving time to Walmart/Target, and a decent size grocery store?
Arlene says
Hi I first want to say I love your blog! Good luck in your new home.
I bought my husband a Mantis rototiller a few years ago when he wanted to start a small garden. Our yard (we live in NJ) was full of weeds and he’s getting too old to be digging it all up by hand. The rototiller really was the answer for that. As someone said, don’t use it again on the same bed because it undoes all the good stuff. I didn’t know that! Never looked at it that way. You learn something new every day, don’t you? But if you are starting a new garden where there wasn’t one before, I think the answer is the rototiller.
Ruth says
By Big Box, you mean Home Improvement stores? I’ve worked for 2 big international companies, not wanting to name names. Yep, some people love the industry and are constantly curious, learning and awed by the newest developments. They don’t like to pay for knowledge. Management, well, lets just say their a different breed.
What are you working on….you know you have a wealth of ideas here…..
Candy C. says
I got a Troybuilt..the horse for my birthday years and years and years ago and it was simple to maneuver for even me at 5’2 and 110 pounds. However, although I worked in fall leaves, manure, etc. and the soil received spring plantings well as your feet would literally sink into the well worked soil by mid-summer it was weedy and the soil seemed to revert to its old clay self. Then, I listened to the person who discovered the Back to Eden method and I was sold. No longer use the tiller and dredge up weed seeds year after year. Covered the whole area with wood chips 6-8 inches deep. Layered on the leaves collected in the fall, not mixed in. Anyway, the weeds that did pop up sparsely came up with no effort. The veggies and flowers grow wonderfully full and lush and are very productive. For the first time, I had a fall veggie garden. Very little watering, very little was done all summer although we had experienced a drought. Just pull back the chips, plant in the soil and pull chips back. I will never go back to weeding constantly and watering almost daily. There are earthworms galore. I now enjoy my summers but there is one downside. The abundance of veggies and fruit make it necessary to do a lot of canning, drying, freezing and sharing. I can live with that. We have a quarter acre of garden and one person to work it. Me.
Lynda says
For breaking open new beds over large areas of unworked land, I borrow a tractor to plow them.
Then in established beds, I couldn’t garden without my Mantis tiller. Great for amending soil and turning under old vegetation in the beds. After tilling with the Mantis, it’s easier to then fork deeper where needed. Have been doing this for many years and haven’t noticed any soil problems, but after reading other commenters today, I’ll be doing some research!
Gloria says
Have you considered doing what many have said and hire someone to till this year? Then acquiring free mulch and going the Back to Eden route? Deep mulch it at the end of the season with some added lime and manure as well and let it sit all winter. So next year the weeds are blocked by the mulch and no tilling is necessary. Just pull back the mulch and plant. Add mulch as needed from then on out and leave the soil biome intact. We get wood mulch from tree trimmers who dump here for free.
Keralee says
On your way through Missoula, visit Paul Wheaton of permies.com and getthe lowdown on no-dig gardening techniques!
I had a Mantis. Too weak. Then a big tiller…beat the flip out of me and weeds tangled in tines. Yuck. As others note, it just wakes up the weed seeds anyhow.
My fave no dig bed system starts with chickens! A mobile pen the size of my beds…park it where I want a bed for a couple weeks while the girls dig it up and eat every last weed. Move to next bed spot. Cover poopy dug up bare spot with 2 layers cardboard and a few inches woodchip. Next year, plant in the fluffy black weedfree loam full of worms that will have happened, compliments of Nature.
If you are in a hurry, frame the poopy bare spot, cardboard, then “lasagna garden” layer it with misc compostables, top with mulch esp wood chips, and plant it up. Maintain established beds with “back to eden” style woodchips to suppress future weeds. Easy.
Save your money for decent broadfork to open lower soil layers without double digging or tilling, if it needs it—and get a bunch of chickens, instead of a tiller!
Hugelkulture on a smaller scale (with woodchips instead of big logs buried in the “lasagna” soil layers) works super well for me, makes great soil and it really never needs watering because decomposing woid holds lots of moisture. Then it becomes humus which also holds lots of water. And helpful soil bacteria!
Angela D. says
I, too, enjoy reading anything from Paul Wheaton. My hugelkulture is going on five years old. I will report that it has few weeds! Most of my garden beds are some form of “lasagna” layers, which to my thinking, is all on the same thought as Hugelkulture.
Mel says
We have a tiller, but we stopped using it. We found that the ground compacts like crazy after we use it, and it seems to weaken the soil. It’s also very hard to till deeply. Instead, my husband has started using a broadfork to till manually. It’s much gentler on the soil, but it seems to do a better job making soil workable, and it reaches deeper than the tiller. I don’t know if you could use one to establish brand new beds, but it might be worth considering down the line.
Aunt G says
That small tiller is too small. A large one is a pain. It’s best to just hire a neighbor with a tractor or do a no till method.
Lisa says
Hi Mavis,
I would suggest that you do not buy the tiller you show in the blog. I live in MN and have had very large gardens. When establishing a new garden you need a large rear tune tiller, and I would suggest renting g one or like others have said, find someone with a tractor tiller for the initial till. Once you garden is established then you can purchase a small tiller like the mantis which works great to keep down the weeds in between the rows. I use a med sized front-tine tiller in the fall, which leaves rows for the freeze to get into, if I don’t till in the fall and leave the ground flat, it is nearly impossible to get the ground broken up in the spring. I would suggest getting to know your soil before purchasing a tiller and talk to your neighbor gardeners.
Have a fun, safe trip across the US!
Libby says
Just got home from spending the weekend in Brunswick, Maine. LOTS of snow in Maine. The snow piles in the store parking lots are at least 20 feet tall. More snow coming Monday night into Tuesday for New England.
BTW – I stopped at Lil’s Cafe and had the most delicious almond croissant. Also found another neat bakery in Kittery called Beach Pea. Molasses sandwich cookies with lemon filling 🙂
Mavis Butterfield says
Lil’s is the BEST! I’ll have to put Beach Pea on my list, thanks for the suggestion.
melissa says
I would suggest a Camp Chef for outdoor canning. Used my neighbors a few years ago and then bought my own! But you also have to have an area set up for jars to sit and seal that not too far away from the canner – you don’t want to lift that canning pot off the burner if you can’t help it.
Gail Nowakowsky says
I would recommend purchasing a rotoriller/ rotovator type of machine. I’m sure you plan to raise a garden for many years- it will be a good investment. You could use a hot plate for outdoor canning.
Carolina says
I strongly suspect that you will still have that snowy view when you get here. We are expected yet ANOTHER blizzard to start before dawn on Tuesday and continue until Wednesday afternoon. I pray that there is not a power outage at your new home. We have dodged that bullet so far, but thousands of others have not.
Karin Carson says
Good evening Mavis and Lucy , I can a ton and it is hot ( Interior of BC Canada ) I can on our back deck in the summer and use our 3 burner Camp Chef stove , they are the ones from Costco and I have 2 , here this year they are in the 200.00 CaNaDiaN ball park, they are sturdy, great work horses and I couldn’t get through canning with out them, i hope to put up 1000 jars this year . Got for the rototiller , look for brigs and Stratton motor I bet you can find a used one very reasonably price when you hit your new digs, we use it to add mulch and compost in the fall after our growing season .
Heather says
I made the jam, etc inside the house and just used a two burner camp stove to do the water bath canning outside so I didn’t have to worry about bugs, etc. I tried to pick a not too hot day in Northern Nevada.
Em says
Because of the comments, I purchased a broad fork this afternoon. Wish me luck. 🙂
Mel says
Good luck! My husband pairs it with an auger for things that need to be planted deeply like tomatoes. The auger obviously disturbs the soil, but only in very localized areas (unlike the tiller). And in the case of tomatoes, we’re adding lots of fertilizing material back to the holes. We also plant bush beans at the corner of each tomato cage to help provide nitrogen back.
Hazel says
Another vote for not rotovating year on year. It dredges up the weed seeds that need light to germinate and chops up all the worms and soil life that you’ve just established, and as others have said, creates a hard pan under the rotovated layer.
Others have mentioned Back to Eden and permaculture beds- lasagne and hugelkuture- which I would really recommend researching. Gaia’s garden by Toby Hemenway is a good introduction to permaculture. And of course, you don’t have to adopt a school of gardening completely, there may be elements of each that appeal to you.
I’d also suggest looking at Charles Dowdings videos on youtube. He’s the British No-Dig guru (similar idea to Back to Eden but less woodchip) and see his results. He grows vegetables on a large scale- he’s a commercial grower so he wouldn’t do it if he didn’t get results. He’s also set up lots of experimental beds comparing the two types of gardening- some veg prefer either dig or no dig. You could try both?
Vicki says
Elliot Coleman operates a 4 season garden in Maine. You might glean some good info from him on getting your beds started. Maybe even visit the farm. http://fourseasonfarm.com/
Mavis Butterfield says
I was there in 2013 and was able to meet Elliot and check out his farm. Crazy cool! https://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/four-seasons-farm-eliot-coleman-barbara-damrosch/
Debbie says
I’m fairly new to you blog, even though I have some of your books. I agree with the tiller thread. Rent or get a farmer to break up your initially, then maybe try the back to eden garden so you won’t have to till every year. It really is better to not till very much. Also, I’ve canned many years outside and set up a screened area with my camp stove and fish fryer burner, and an old laundry sink set up to use a water hose. That helps with a lot of the cleaning up so I don’t have to take sticky things in the house to clean. I’ve gotten good results every year.
Now on to a question Mavis. I know you are moving across country and my question is how did you go about finding your new property? We are wanting to move from the coast to the mountains and I don’t have the time or resources to check all the places we might want to settle. Any advice?
Leslie J Honcoop says
I have canned outside for years! I use an outdoor cooker — which is basically two propane burners on legs so they stand about table height. I’ve had my outdoor cooker for years, but have since seen similar ones at Costco in recent years.
I started canning outside when we lived in a mobile home and the house stayed so hot from summer sun and canning heat that my jars would cool too slowly. Every batch had a jar or two that would not seal. As soon as I moved outside, that problem basically went away. The hot jars are set on my outdoor dining table and often stay there overnight. It also allows a lot more room in the kitchen for working on what you’re canning. The cooker sits right outside my back door, so it’s still really convenient. I won’t go back to indoor canning!
I haven’t had much luck trying to boil water on my barbecue so I would think that could be frustrating and difficult for canning.
Joyce says
Mavis, I follow your blog, have for years….must say I love it!
I may be in the minority but I say get the Mantis! I am on my second Mantis and just love them. They came out with a deal a couple of years ago that you sent the motor back on my first one and they sent the newer motor. Easy to start, easy to use and once you get used to it, you can make it dig deep or shallow however you want it done.
I use it even in the flower beds, and I take care of my dads garden with it. I garden big and it does the trick. I will say that when I first started my garden I did have a farmer turn the sod first.
I also think you should get into the tapping of trees and making syrup…I am in Indiana and do it every year…some years are more productive than others… 3 trees this year and I have made 2 quarts and 1 pint of syrup. It is fun and while others may say just go to the store and buy it, I can’t make myself pay for something that I can make myself on my little farmette. Would love to have bees but too much chemical drift for me. Son in law has bees so it’s all good.
Have fun in this nest phase of “Mavis life”
Mavis Butterfield says
I’m hoping there are maple trees on the property. If so, I’m totally going to try making maple syrup!
UpstateNYer says
Rent a tiller. Then you won’t need space to store it the other 50 weeks of the year. 😉
Pat says
If you get a tiller you want a rear tine tiller. A front tine will beat you to death! Here in north central WV I’ve used Troybilt’s for years. We built a new home 5 yrs ago and I had to start a new garden. I plowed it and raked sod and plowed and raked sod some more but I got it done. My last Troybilt bit the dust 2 yrs ago and my husband bought me a Cub Cadet. It does an amazing job but it’s not as easy to handle. Maybe the fact that I’ll be 65 this year has something to do with it! Ha ha
Bonny says
I would recommend you look into a Hoss wheel hoe. We Garden a large spot (100×100) and own a large 24” tiller to turn the soil for planting, but once the garden is in the double wheel hoe is amazing for maintenance. I use the saddle attachment and it keeps the rows nice and weed free. It is definitely a back saver!
I can outdoors as well, and own 2 ball electric canners that I set up on my patio. The propane turkey fryers are the only other way I have found to do it outside. I would suspect if your planning on pressure canning the propane cookers would work but I would be scared to try and maintain the burners to keep the pressure equal. I personally do not pressure can anything because I think anything that requires pressure canning is better frozen! IMHO!
Best of luck on the move and I admire you for following your dreams!