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Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Ostara

This upcoming weekend, we are having a gathering at our house for Ostara. Being an introvert, I have mixed feelings about this. While I love getting the growing Iowa Heathen community together, it means I have to open my home to people I don't know very well, and many more of them than I would like at one time.

I love our gatherings. The last time we had one was Yule, so it's definitely time for another.

I have mixed feelings about Ostara though. Within Asatru, Germanic Reconstruction, Heathenism, or whatever you want to call it, I haven't found many accurate accounts for a spring celebration akin to the way Ostara is celebrated. Bunnies, and eggs, fertility, and dawn. Or whatever they want to put it as.

While I certainly feel like the Equinox should be celebrated, I don't think I quite like the way that it has been done lately. Now, I also don't know how to fix it. I haven't had nearly enough time to read through lore, and historical accounts. I think maybe focus on the spinning of the wheel, sure some sort of fertility can go in there. But leave out the bunnies, and the references to Eostre. I think Frigg would be an acceptable Goddess to honor. Freya, maybe to a lesser extent. She is more of a sexual warrior type of personality, that I don't think quite fits in with Spring. Frigg nurtures, the way that spring is nurturing the earth after the long winter, making way for summer.

This all sounds very hippy of me, in my opinion. I started on a pagan path through Wicca, and have since moved on from the very mystical side of things. They're still there, but my main focus is on the tangible, and making the best life for myself, my kin, and community.

I can't seem to get my thoughts straight lately, and lean towards rambling more often than not.

Monday, March 16, 2015

More Seedlings Started

Just started more seedlings. These ones are actually for outside.

My previous plants were mostly herbs that I intend to keep in containers. Not sure if I'll be putting them outside at some point, or if I'll keep them as indoor plants.


Started a bunch of peppers, tomatoes, and broccoli/cauliflower/brussels sprouts/cabbage.  I've heard mixed reviews about how the broccoli and whatnot transplant, so we'll see how that works out.

Most of the stuff that is supposed to be planted directly outside is supposed to go in right when I am expecting baby to come. So I'll have to get a bunch of help with that from my partner. Cucumbers, carrots, lettuce, radishes, peas.  Then a couple weeks later, for spinach, kale, zucchini/summer squash. Seedlings are supposed to be transplanted too.

Our garden bed still isn't ready.

I was thinking of doing a mix of a square foot garden and a back to eden, or return to eden, whatever it's called method of gardening. So I'm outlining where I want the beds with brick. There is currently a bunch of sticks and weeds, and some kind of woody vine thing going on there. I don't want to purchase any extra soil to fill in a proper square foot container, so I was planning on planting into the ground and mulching on top of it once things start growing. Adding compost and grass clippings as they come. We should be able to get some wood chips at some point this summer/fall. And once stuff is done growing, I'll put that on there.


While planning the garden, it seemed like it would be a lot bigger than I'm realising that it is. I think I may want to add some size to it. I have (2) 3'x24' beds planned, and one 2'x24' bed planned. I think I want to extend each by another 10'. Not sure what I'll add to the planting. Maybe more zucchini, onions. And I need a place for potatoes (sweet and probably russet). I can probably add that in there. I am not entirely sure how I want to grow potatoes, since I don't fancy digging them up with my back issues. I like the idea of the vertical planters for those, but I'm probably just going to plant them in the ground this year, at least.

I'm thinking of doing a summer/fall crop for onions. And planting radishes every couple of weeks so we aren't flooded with them all at once. Those I'll mostly be planting for my partner, anyways. I'm not a big fan. Same with lettuce and kale. Carrots?

This has been a major ramble, so if you actually read it, thanks. I was mostly just hoping to get it all out of my head.

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Cats are Evil

Let me preface this with: I love my cats. Really, I do. They just suck.

I had my seeds all starting and being nice and growing. Celery was growing, lettuce. And my cats ruined half of that. They knocked empty pots onto my seedlings, breaking a few of them. The celery got knocked into the water it was resting in and got all mushy. Just after it was finally getting roots, too.

They knocked over my sons little pig that was growing grass, and broke that.

They knock over everything on my desk. Which annoys me because I actually need to get work done, not just clean up my desk every day.

And I have no idea how to keep them off of the window sills, tables, and desks.

Bah, humbug.