Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Earth Day



I wanted to share with you what I see and hear when I walk out my front door. Being Earth Day I thought it was appropriate. Excuse the untidiness, I am in the midst of so many projects. Hopefully, later in the season I will be able to show you the fruits of my labors. The barrel I am trying to figure out how to convert to a rain barrel, it is part of the old softener system. I usually try to repurpose most things, I hate sending things to the landfill. Please turn up the sound, the prominent sound is the wind, but you can hear the bird song. Such a variety of birds, makes a chorus.


I was hoping to add a picture of my Grandfather, and dedicate this post to him. If I manage to get the album apart so I can scan his picture I will add it. Arthur G. Eldredge was a man of many talents, inventor, photographer, college professor, author. I have parts of his book on pollination, it was never published as they would not include his pictures at the size he wanted. Talk about stubborn New Englanders! I have letters from various publishers expressing interest in the book, he had taken all the pictures and wanted them just so. It would have been a college textbook. While looking for a picture to post I found a manuscript of a short story he wrote about his Father, William Wells Eldredge, Sr. He was a farmer, school superintendent and whaler, the story is about memories of stories he told when he was home. Grampa would have been right at home with Earth Day, many of my earliest memories are being outside with him. Gardening, fishing, "helping" him with his photography. He wrote endless letters trying to get DDT banned, which it finally was. His predictions of the harm that was being done were proved to be correct, as well as his warnings about various chemicals added to cosmetics and foods. I mostly remember his lab, being in the garden and watching him making grafts, or planting gardens. Most of the happy memories I have are linked to him and I also feel he was a person to live up to. Many times I would think "what would Grampa think" and kept myself out of trouble. Can you tell I loved him dearly?

This is the bed I worked on the other day, I cut down some volunteer mulberry trees and put down newspaper and hay to hopefully block out the weeds. The tulips coming up are ones that were here, with water and fertilizer they look better each year. I try to preserve any plants I find, sort of homage to those that came before. Today is supposed to be glorious so hope to get more done outside, plant some more things. I am also going to try and move some poppies, each year they come up and the wind blows them to bits. They are behind the garage so I want to move them to a more prominent spot. We'll see how that goes.

Wonderful Earth Day to you, protect and heal our world, we all can help.

Barbara

10 comments:

Carole Burant said...

Happy Earth Day to you too my friend. I so enjoyed watching your little video and seeing what you see every day:-) I always have birds singing as well and even as I type this I can hear them through my open window...I just love listening to them. I haven't had a chance to do any work in the yard/gardens yet because once the snow was gone it then started to rain so everything is too wet. Hopefully it will get a chance to dry up soon so that I can do some work.

Your grandfather sounds like he was such an interesting man and how wonderful that you have a lot of his writings and such. I would have loved following him around as well!! lol

It's cool and cloudy here today and we're supposed to get rain but the next 3 days sound much better, sunny and warm:-) xoxo

Joanne said...

Barbara, I love the new photo in your blog header! Are those your goats? Great shot.

Your grandfather sounds like an inspiring man, how fortunate you are to have those memories. He sounds like he would've very much appreciated Earth Day. It's nice how people are so aware of it now, doing things to go green and keep the planet healthy. Every little bit helps.

Happy Earth Day to you, wishing you much happy planting!

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Barbara,

Oh, I enjoyed your video. Loved seeing your homestead, for that is what you truly have. And I know how much you want to and will accomplish. I remember you had quite a nice vegetable garden last summer. And beautiful flowers as well. And you're a conservationist at heart, which is wonderful!

You know, we got to 74 degrees today, and will be in the low 80s for the rest of the week. I bought some tomato plants and my zucchini, cucumber and green bean seeds today, and will be working on planting everything. I want to taste my first home grown tomato by the 4th of July,so I have to get them in this week! But my garden will be small.

Your grandfather was quite an accomplished, remarkable man and a real inspiration to you, obviously. You were lucky to have had him in your life.

Such a wonderful post. Thank you for sharing, Barbara. Happy Earth Day!

Hugs,

Renie

Nancy said...

You are one ambitious lady!!! Your garden plants are many!!! People years ago lived off the earth like that, and we all may end having to do again!

Loved reading about your grandfather! I never knew either of mine, but I did have a step-granddad at age 15. My real ones died young, when both my parents were still very young, ages 5 and 8.

Enjoyed your video!!! So nice to be in touch with Nature like that! Loved seeing your "girls" out looking for some green, too! How many do you actually have?

I am still working on the tile! I had to quit for awhile...had some health problems and then had a mild heart attack last night. I've had several small ones, and a big one in 2004. One of these times, I may not make it, who knows! It's scary when I live alone, I know that.

To be in lower 80's here this weekend, so we are looking forward to a great weekend here in Dixie!

((( HUGS )))

Mary said...

Barbara,

Enjoyed your post and the video. Very interesting facts about your grandfather. I hope you will write more about him.

Yes, DDT was harmful. I remember when it was sprayed on farm crops. We weren't allowed to go near the fields for about a week after the spraying took place, but I'm sure it was in the soil. I often wonder how it has affected our bodies.

Take care, my friend. Happy Earth Day.
Blessings,
Mary

violetlady said...

I really enjoyed watching your video. Hearing the birds singing outside is such a joy - especially in the morning. Your grandfather sounds like a true Renaissance man. How interesting he must have been. Thank you for sharing a bit of your family history.

2 LMZ FARMS said...

enjoyed watching the video. Your Grandfather sounded like a man I would have liked to know. Hope you and yours have a blessed day

Karen said...

I loved your video. Thank you for sharing you lovely homestead and spring day. We woke up to 4" of snow this morning. Oh, I am so anxious for spring to get here.

Your grandpa sounds like a fascinating man. It occurred to me as I was reading about him, that you are very much like him. Someone who has such a zest for life and cares very much for the earth. The apple didn't fall far from the tree;)

Nancy Jo said...

Barb,
Your Grandpa sure sounds like he was a very interesting and educated man. Maybe that's where you got all your good energy from, because you sure do take on some projects.
Looking forward to later in the season to see some pictures of how things are going.
Nancy JO

Nancy said...

Just checking in to see if you any new posts up.

Enjoy your weekend!

((( HUGS )))