I just gained serious farmer cred. I stepped on a snake. WEIRDEST FEELING EVER. Then I cancelled out said "cred" by squealing and hopping around the yard as I watched the snake slither away through the grass and disappear more quickly than is comforting. No, seriously, I have no idea how that little beauty slipped so invisibly out of sight within mere seconds of our interaction.
My foot is still a little twitchy.
We've got a good amount of pretty little garter snakes on our property. One day last summer, as I cleared piles of rocks and paving stones left by the previous owners, I uncovered a small den and 6 or 7 uncoiled and reluctantly left. Last week as I watered our hops bed I knelt down right next to one and it slid past me into the knotweed forest. The one I met today was just sunning itself in the middle of the yard. I imagine that as I jumped and squealed it was muttering to itself about my inconsiderate clumsiness.
Our garden, most likely with the help of our bug-consuming snake tenants, is flourishing. Jake and Stevie build two 5x12 foot raised beds this Spring and they are overflowing with green. Here's the list of what we have growing: watermelon, strawberries, pumpkin, beets, swiss chard, sun sugar tomatoes, big boy tomatoes, black krim heirloom tomatoes, onions, cauliflower, peas, beans, carrots, asparagus, broccoli, cucumbers, lettuce, and three different kinds of hot peppers. We also have a bed of hops, and an herb garden with dill, oregano, sage, basil, chives, parsley, cilantro, summer savory, and mustard. There are lots of flowers too- the dahlias finally have buds and I'm hopeful that the lupines and sunflowers will take over the spaces I've given them.
I'm unabashedly proud of it all.
We had our first modest harvest last night, eating lettuce picked right from our backyard. Food that fresh, from seeds planted by my own novice hands, tastes better than most anything.
Its worth a moment or two with a snake between your toes.
My foot is still a little twitchy.
We've got a good amount of pretty little garter snakes on our property. One day last summer, as I cleared piles of rocks and paving stones left by the previous owners, I uncovered a small den and 6 or 7 uncoiled and reluctantly left. Last week as I watered our hops bed I knelt down right next to one and it slid past me into the knotweed forest. The one I met today was just sunning itself in the middle of the yard. I imagine that as I jumped and squealed it was muttering to itself about my inconsiderate clumsiness.
Our garden, most likely with the help of our bug-consuming snake tenants, is flourishing. Jake and Stevie build two 5x12 foot raised beds this Spring and they are overflowing with green. Here's the list of what we have growing: watermelon, strawberries, pumpkin, beets, swiss chard, sun sugar tomatoes, big boy tomatoes, black krim heirloom tomatoes, onions, cauliflower, peas, beans, carrots, asparagus, broccoli, cucumbers, lettuce, and three different kinds of hot peppers. We also have a bed of hops, and an herb garden with dill, oregano, sage, basil, chives, parsley, cilantro, summer savory, and mustard. There are lots of flowers too- the dahlias finally have buds and I'm hopeful that the lupines and sunflowers will take over the spaces I've given them.Its worth a moment or two with a snake between your toes.
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