Summer seems to be in full-gear around the farm!
This is what I’m talking about!
Finally, my clothesline is up and in business! Four lines about 25 feet apart! All the rain kept us from installing this for far too long now, but it felt great yesterday to hang laundry and again this morning. Sometimes people wonder why anyone would bother to hang clothes out to dry anymore. I can understand the question, but it’s the wrong question.
Why not hang out your clothes?
It’s great exercise, it clears your head to get outside during your day, the laundry smells wonderful afterwards and saves energy. I’ll do it every chance I get.
With the rain finally behind us, for now, it’s been a full-court press to get the garden in and chores finished. I’ve enlisted the help of my dad, who is one unbelievable gardener. I’m quite certain that he could grow a tomato right out of a rock….seriously.
For the last two days, we’ve been outside in the hot sun, working to get the gardens weeded and seeds finished. I can’t remember a year when it was June and I was still planting, all of the crazy weather around the nation has kept many of us gardeners cooped up far too long.
I noticed that our mulberries are already coming in (above), we have about 10 trees on our property. I’m totally excited about making jam and freezing them again this year! Mulberries are the ultimate in foraging for me right now, because they are so readily available. As I learn to identify other native plants on our property, I look forward to using them as another food source and medically when applicable.
This bird bath was left with the property and it’s been nothing but a source of irritation for me, quite frankly. Regardless of how I position it or balance it, it would fall down. Yet, it occurred to me that my garden could benefit from the presence of a bird bath! Birds aren’t a threat to what I’m growing in my garden, on the contrary, they can be my plants’ advocate.
Birds eat bugs, lots of them. Keeping the bath about 2/3 full with fresh water will keep the birds coming. Dumping the ‘dirty’ water directly into my garden soil is fertilizer. Win/win!
I really believe that the way to a high-producing garden is consistent fertilization. It is possible to over-fertilize with commercial products. Using natural and organic fertilizers like bird poo, animal manure, human urine and compost, which are all free and at your disposal and discretion. Building your top soil over the long-term will reap many happy harvests of the years to come.
A couple of snapping turtle mamas have come to our creek to lay eggs, as they do every year. One of my favorite parts of Spring is watching all of our little animal “families” making homes and creating their next generation.
However, instead of laying her eggs in the creek as expected, one of the snapping turtle mamas decided to lay her eggs right in the center of my “big crop” garden out back. Rats! Now what?!
After a quick google search, I learned that snapping turtle eggs gestation can take 3-4 months. What I haven’t determined yet is how long “mama” will hang around. I don’t mind the eggs, I just don’t want to have a chunk of my ankles taken out! Growing up in Florida, I am well-acquainted with how aggressive these turtles can be.
What a wonderful time to enjoy the outdoors and the cycles of animal life. What kind of critters are invading your yards? I would love to hear about it!
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About kmorris
I love to hang out clothes! I don’t have much line space these days and not a lot of spare time, but I hang whenever I get the chance. I love how it smells, too!
Elizabeth,
It does smell wonderful! I love hearing from you, thanks for the comment!
In Spain, hanging our clothes outside was the only option. They always smelled so fresh.
Sorry about the snappers. 
Hailey,
That’s the way it is in a lot of places, as you know. Thanks for commenting!
Love your clothes line! We’ve got one too and its’ the best!
Thanks for linking this great post to farmgirl Friday! Have a great weekend!
Deb
Debbie,
I love Farmgirl Friday!
I love to hang things out to dry! My mulberries are coming in too. Sounds like you have plenty of trees/berries, but one thing I’ve done the last couple years is to lay old sheets on the ground to catch the ripe berries as they fall! A lot better than hanging from the branches picking the berries which is what I was doing:@)
Hey Happier,
LOL! I learned that the hard way as well! I was working myself to death when someone mentioned getting a tarp….well duh!
Thanks for commenting!
I really like the photo of that clothesline outdoors
I live in an apartment complex. My landlady said we aren’t allowed to hang clothes outside…bummer. The apartment complex owners wouldn’t allow it. It’s too bad, because I have this nice clothing rack that is perfect for that. However, my work-around is to have the clothing rack position in front of my sliding glass door. There’s a screen door in front of that…It’s inside, it catches a good portion of sun and nice breeze and it’s “okay”, since it’s inside my home 
Someday I’d love a place where I can have a proper clothesline outside 
The only critters invading my “yard”(back porch) are a couple of homeless apartment cats…very cute..and raccoons…large, cute and make funny noises
Have a great weekend. Love and hugs from Oregon ,Heather
Heather,
Great to hear from you!
I love the idea of having a clothesline right in front of the screen door, how innovative! You might want to ask your landlady about a retractable line and agree to only use it on certain days. Just an idea.
Hugs right back to you!
I’ve been trying to figure out where to put a clothes line here and I may have to try a bit harder. I LOVE lined dried clothing!!
Kimi,
Umbrella clotheslines or retractable ones might be an option for you.
No critters (that I know of!) in the backyard. *knock on wood*
I love your clothesline! I am so hoping that when we find a house to buy, it has a clothesline, or at least room to put one up. Right now, I have a couple folding clothes racks that I put outside on the patio. Not as great a volume as a line, but better than running the dryer all summer long!
Tori
Hey Tori,
Sounds like you’re making the best of where you’re at and that’s great. I didn’t have room for a big clothesline for many, many years. The umbrella kind worked for me during those days.
Bloom where you’re planted!
I’m hoping to finish getting my gardens in too. I am so far behind it is unbelievable! Finally, I’m hoping to be done this weekend (if I quit blogging and get out there). I so wish I could hang my clothes out to dry, but on my gravel road, I’d have to rewash from all the dust and dirt blowing onto them.
Hey Teresa,
OH, I can’t imagine dealing with a lot of wind and dust….I would totally use my dryer or hang a line inside.
Hopefully, we can both get these gardens in before July!! Praying for a mild fall and long harvest season.
My clothes line kicked the bucket. I need to get DH to fix me a new one. Mom always hung our clothes when I was growing up.
Hi Alana!
Like everything else, clotheslines wear out and break down. I hope you get one that you love!
I love hanging laundry outside too~so peaceful! Our “critters” are 3 bald eagles that come back to the same fir tree every year. So beautiful watching the eagles soar over us while we’re in the garden!
Kimberly,
What a great view! I love bald eagles! We have big, honkin’ hawks that are beautiful to watch as well.
Turtles are so darn cute…I dont know what it is about them. Oh wait, God’s creature. That’s what it is. I love (most) all animals!
Meg,
Yes, turtles are very cute, I agree. Snappers are very aggressive though, don’t get near those!