Real rocket science
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006
So my husband just launched another Atlas V rocket, but he seriously doubts our ability to ever grow a respectable crop of backyard strawberries. (Though our production didn’t near that of a commercial grower, I’d say we did better than the year before.) Yes, some things are rocket science. Growing strawberries is one of them. Filing a tax return is another.
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Patience is the key to strawberries. After several years, we had quite a good crop growing at our house…just in time for the military to move us.
I just found your blog today! It is great and I love your sense of humor. Thank you for sharing your life.
Comment by Canaan (April 20, 2006 @ 7:34 pm )
I miss the days of living on the space coast of florida and seeing those rockets blast overhead. I never got used to that like the locals have. I would pull over on the side of the road and strain my neck everytime to watch it disappear into the clouds. We dont see many rockets of that calibur in ohio.
Comment by The Ohio Guy (April 21, 2006 @ 5:24 am )
Amy,
I agree with the first comment. I’ve heard that it takes three years to get your strawberries up and running (I know, bad pun!).
AmyJoe
Comment by Anonymous (April 21, 2006 @ 1:00 pm )
Oh yeah, I forgot…I read about it taking three years to get those strawberries going in Countryside Magazine sometime last year.
AmyJoe
Comment by Amy Howard (April 21, 2006 @ 1:01 pm )
Hi AmyJoe and Canaan,
That is true about the strawberries. Unfortunately, in Florida strawberries are grown as annuals. We replant every year. (not just me, but the Big Boys too) I get Countryside too, BTW. Before undertaking our garden a few years back, I did a lot of research. Unfortunately for me, Florida gardening is a whole ‘nuther ball of wax. Every gardening book says to plant strawberries after the first frost, right? Well, down here you plant in October. I learned that one the hard way, 100 plants later.
Ohio Guy, we don’t tire of it either. Fortunately, the kids and I have a good view from the second story sun deck. My husband gets an even better view.
Comment by Amy Scott (April 21, 2006 @ 2:41 pm )
I have come to embrace the fact that my backyard will be taken over by Bermuda grass and that I am forever going to be its prisoner. It is a miracle that we can grow anything at all back there. I feel your pain! :+)
Warmly,
Kate
Comment by Under the Sky (April 21, 2006 @ 3:04 pm )
Kate,
Raised beds are key when you have Florida grass that grows one foot a day.
We just put in our own orange and grapefruit trees. Got tired of mooching off the neighbors.
Comment by Amy Scott (April 21, 2006 @ 8:00 pm )
You will laugh when I tell you that we did that–and the Bermuda grass took over those too! :+) I will tell you that potatoes successfully grow amidst Bermuda grass, and sunflowers, but that is about it!
I seem to remember reading on JenIg’s blog that I will be meeting you in Florida, correct?
Warmly,
Kate
Comment by Under the Sky (April 21, 2006 @ 8:23 pm )
Oh groan….I have a tax return to fill in….thanks for the reminder! I will not have to pay any though as I have made no profit! (hmmm, maybe that isn’t such a good thing!)
Comment by Susanna (April 22, 2006 @ 3:54 pm )
Correct! See you then!
Comment by Amy Scott (April 22, 2006 @ 9:55 pm )
Congrats to your husband on the successful launch. I had been following it closely and was glad to see it go up (yes, I’m a space-head…guilty as charged.)
It’s funny you should write this now. My wife often chides me. For all my vaunted knowledge of technology (I’m a senior research analyst for a leading tech research firm), I seem to stumble over some really mundane aspects of everyday life.
To wit: my struggles replacing a bulb that had rusted out and broke, leaving an orphaned and twisted base in the socket. My brain didn’t seem to have much benefit this time out!
Love your blog, BTW. Lots of themes that parallel my own life. Must read more…
Comment by Carmi (April 23, 2006 @ 10:14 pm )