May / June 2005

Summer Squash Milkweed Butterfly Weed Oregano Butterfly Bush Biointentive Gardening Basil Healthy Gardening Local Garden Clubs Opportunities Books Gardeners on the Go Dining Out Dining In Resources Bits & Pieces Keepin’ it Clean   Gleanings from the Editor Beck on Nature Notes from the Brazos (greyed articles available in printed version - subscribe now!)

Gleanings from the Editor     Once again the superiority of the hand tool versus the electronic tool has been proven. With a simple trowel, hoe and spading fork, I was able to get my whole spring garden planted in only a couple of days. With my sophisticated computer hardware and software, I was able to put the May issue of Homegrown together in a few weeks — and then watch it crash and burn and start over putting it together again from scratch. Which explains why your magazine is late. I, of course, checked with the expert when I suddenly couldn’t open my computer file. His advice was that my computer is suddenly obsolete — as is my software and system. I need new everything. After all, I’ve had this system almost five years. My trowel, on the other hand, just slightly updated from a pointed stick, has been serving me well for decades. It never crashes, and if by some unusual occurance a handle breaks, it doesn’t take the tomatoes, squash and cucumbers with it. I just toss it in the trash and go get another one for less than $10. You can guess what new hardware, software, and system is going to cost. Considerably more than $10. Besides that I have to relearn how to use all this stuff over and over again. I just learned how to use a shovel once, and the skill has stood me in good stead. It works the same way no matter whether your shovel has a long or short handle, is green or red, and is metal or plastic. No learning curve (I first typed “curse” and that’s probably what I really mean) to slow down the process. So, sorry this is late, but the peppers are right on schedule!