Chaos Gardening

Have you heard of chaos gardening? It is where you just scatter garden seeds willy-nilly instead of in straight rows. I suppose modernistic artists would get a thrill out of it, designing it with no particular pattern. It would be something different, out of the norm.

Of course, if you are going to have a garden, you will need top quality seeds. You will find the best Non-GMO, heirloom seeds at David's Garden Seeds®.

Chaos Gardening - 4/28-5/4/25

Monday, April 28, 2025

My scarlet runner beans are already flowering. They look so pretty. Matt put tomato cages over them and they are growing up on them.

Good morning and welcome to the week where we look at chaos gardening. It sort of sounds like my house--chaos! Back when I had time, my house was kept very nicely. Now, the business requires so much attention.

For instance, I have spent the last two hours redoing our abandoned cart emails. Someone had them off and they were never personalized although they were turned on at one point. I have rewritten four of them. Hopefully, they will work some magic.

It is way past the time for me to open the store so let's go!

We had one order for pick up today. I got that ready and contacted the customer. She picked it up at 3pm and bought some eggs as well. She was the only customer here all day long. We got in a lot of needed seeds and got out a bunch of back orders.

It has been windy all day. We got no rain at all. It is 5:40pm now and I am getting hungry so I guess I will go cook dinner. Matt has been waiting for an important phone call all day long so I thought we would be leaving here late this afternoon, but that did not happen. Time for dinner.

I made an assortment of cooked veggies, penne pasta, and delicious pork chops for dinner. Matt could not stay so it was just the two of us. Then I did the dishes and washed the eggs. I noticed out the window that some of my citrus trees were not looking that good. I realized that it's been eight days since we got that half inch of rain so out I went to water all of my trees and plants in my plant area. It is a good thing I did. Some things were looking pretty bad. It keeps on threatening to rain so, in my mind, we've had a lot and everything was fine...not so.

By the time I was done, it was 8:13pm and getting a bit dark. Now, in just a few minutes, a new Martha Stewart cooking show is coming on. Tonight is the first night and I am excited to watch. David is just thrilled about it (she said extremely sarcastically!) David likes Gorden Ramsay but he is not a fan of Martha Stewart at all. I, on the other hand, have always enjoyed watching her shows and reading her magazine...

Chaos Gardening

Hey there, fellow gardeners! Ever feel like your garden is a bit too…orderly? Like those perfectly straight rows are just begging for a little bit of wildness? Then you might just be ready to dive into the wonderful world of chaos gardening!

Chaos gardening is all about embracing the spontaneous, letting nature guide your hand, and creating a backyard garden that's as unique and vibrant as you are. It's the perfect antidote to the rigid rules of traditional garden planting.

So, who should give chaos gardening a try? Anyone who's ever felt a little stifled by the "shoulds" and "musts" of traditional gardening. If you're tired of perfectly spaced rows and crave a bit more freedom in your garden planting, then chaos gardening is calling your name.

Why should you try chaos gardening? Well, for starters, it's incredibly liberating! No more measuring, no more marking rows, no more stressing about perfect spacing. Just plant where your heart desires and watch the magic unfold.

One of the biggest benefits of chaos gardening is the sheer joy it brings. It's a chance to connect with nature on a deeper level, to let go of control, and to embrace the unexpected.

Another perk? Chaos gardening is surprisingly low-maintenance. Remember those preconditions? No digging rows, no weeding, no marking rows. That's right, less work and more time to enjoy the fruits (and vegetables!) of your labor.

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

I am rich in eggs so I used 12 along with some mushrooms, cheese, peppers, and onion to make an egg casserole breakfast.

Good morning. I got up and David was putting bacon into the oven. I made a delicious egg casserole to go with it. I will say it was pretty tasty.

The Martha Stewart show last night wasn't really all that great but it is amazing to see how well Martha looks at 83! She looks better than me!

As usual, we filled orders and then around 1pm, David, Matthew, and I headed into San Antonio to take care of some business. We were gone until after dinnertime.

Chaos Gardening

But can you actually grow food using chaos gardening? Absolutely! In fact, many chaos gardeners find that their plants thrive in this more natural environment.

Now, let's talk about the what and why of chaos gardening, those sentiments that really get to the heart of this unique approach. What is chaos gardening? It's a philosophy, a way of interacting with nature that emphasizes spontaneity and biodiversity.

Why should you try it? Because it's fun, it's rewarding, and it's a chance to create a garden that's truly your own.

Think of your garden as a blank canvas. With chaos gardening, you're not just planting seeds, you're painting a living masterpiece. Each plant has its own story to tell, and when you let them mingle and intertwine, you create a tapestry of life that's both beautiful and productive.

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

How is your spring garden coming along?

Good morning. We are supposed to be getting rain but there is none again. I wish the weatherman would stop promising rain because very seldom do we get any. It gets very dark and cloudy and then it goes away...

It is time to get out there and fill orders again. I also have a newsletter to write. I have been scheduling social media posts this morning.

The mailman came very early today, at 11:30am. We had about half of the orders done.

This yellow rose is growing in my rose garden.

It is now 90° and miserably hot and humid. We will not be getting any rain today. I got a delivery this afternoon and that is when the hot sun came out.

I went outside to set the item up--Complete failure. It is now all put away. I am so disgusted. I get an F for the day.

It is 3pm and I am still working on orders and still have not had a chance to do a newsletter.

When I fed the fish this afternoon, I noticed Sammy the nasty snake back for the third time in a week, lounging in the pond, on the hose. Everytime we try to get rid of him with the snake grabber, he escapes and then comes back when we are not there.

Our coffee is on sale and it is going fast. I sold 28 bags so far today. We have just 38 left. After that, we won't be carrying it for a while. I sent a newsletter out today announcing the sale and immediately, I began getting orders for it. I wonder why it is not that way with our seeds...

I finally got around to setting up little tag alarms on our sets of keys. Just a few weeks ago, someone lost his or her keys here on the property and they were not found until the second day. I tagged all of our keys. Now I need to tag our TV remotes that constantly go missing and my phone. I lose my phone in this house ten times a day.

Chaos Gardening

Ready to ditch the straight lines and embrace the chaos? Here's a glimpse into what makes this gardening method so appealing:

It's all about letting go of the need for control. Forget meticulously planned rows and embrace the beauty of a slightly wilder backyard garden.

Chaos gardening encourages biodiversity. By mixing different plants together, you create a more resilient ecosystem that's better equipped to handle pests and diseases.

It's a low-maintenance approach to gardening. Less time spent weeding and more time enjoying the beauty you've created.

It's a celebration of nature's own creativity. Let nature be your guide and watch as your garden evolves in unexpected and delightful ways.

Chaos gardening is more than just a gardening method; it's a mindset. It's about embracing the unexpected, celebrating the beauty of imperfection, and finding joy in the simple act of planting a seed and watching it grow.

Thursday, May 1, 2025

The squash seeds I planted a month ago area already producing. Look at this patty pan squash! So exciting!

Hello! It is almost 4pm. I have been busy. First, we have had a big coffee sale. We have 21 bags left. I spent most of the morning packing bags of coffee up and mailing them out. One person ordered eight bags! That was the biggest coffee order since I announced the sale yesterday. Most ordered three or four. Two folks ordered six. There were also lots of twos and ones. The mailman came early and I have not had an order for coffee since then.

After that, I pulled all of the seed orders and I have been filling them.

I ordered Starlink and we finally got it yesterday but I had no clue how to set it up. Matt helped but it just wouldn't connect. It is connected now but there is zero coverage at the store. I have a booster coming for the store and a mount coming to put the internet on the roof. For now, it is on the ground. We have internet in the house and in Production and Fulfillment.

This afternoon, someone came over to help us set up our new internet in a temporary spot. We have to get a few things for it. Last week, David turned off the internet to the store. We have had to subscribe to three internet lines since we put up all of the buildings and even then, we have horrible connections. Of course, we have to have internet because our business is an online business. We use it to get sales, build our websites, do social media, communicate with our customers, and to ring up in-person sales here at the farm. It costs us close to $400 a month on internet because of this. Now we can turn all of that off.

David picked up a truckload of soil for my plant area. Matt is unloading the truck and filling planters back there for me. It is a miserably humid day for it but he is doing it without complaint. Sometimes I wonder what I ever did to get a terrific son like him...He does so much for me.

It is 88° right now. I found out that yesterday evening when we got all of that lightning, it rained and hailed in both Poteet and in Pleasanton. We did not get a drop. It doesn't look like we will get any again today.

My scarlet runner beans are running up the tomato cages, flowering. We sell the seeds if you want to grow some.

Matt put two planters together for me and filled them with dirt. He also filled some large pots. He has more to do but he went home around 6pm. It is now 7:30pm and the wind is picking up. The weather is calling for a storm but we will wait and see.

It is now 10pm and the thunder and lightning are frequent. I believe we will get some rain.

Chaos Gardening

So, are you ready to unleash your inner chaos gardener? Let's dive a little deeper into the practical aspects of this fascinating approach.

Forget about those rigid rows. In chaos gardening, you plant wherever your heart desires. Let your intuition guide you, and don't be afraid to experiment.

Mix and match different plants. Create a vibrant tapestry of colors, textures, and flavors. The more diverse your garden, the more resilient it will be.

Embrace the "weeds." Many so-called weeds are actually beneficial plants that can attract pollinators and improve soil health.

Friday, May 2, 2025

Two more beds of squash that I planted. We have a lot of it. The only thing that did not come up is the ground cherries. I planted 2 beds with 2 kinds...where are they?

Good morning. Last night, somewhere close to 10pm, it started pouring for about ten minutes. The rain gauge barely moved from empty...

I made eggs and David has bacon going in the oven. Our water pressure is very low so the coffee maker made about one cup. Benton City Water is always having problems but this is the worst it's been in a long time.

The bacon is done and it was good...

Last night when the dogs came in, Trump's collar was gone. I grabbed the flashlight and went out around 9:30pm to find it. I couldn't find anything.

This morning, I combed the entire dog yard and still could not find the collar with the tags. I will have Matt take the metal detector out there. They were not out for very long last night, maybe 15 minutes, but they buried his collar and did a mighty fine job of it.

I spent the morning planting and filling orders. We have just 11 bags of coffee left.

I have been putting off what I should have done on Monday but right after lunch, I got Matt and took care of business. I finally banded George. This was my first goat banding. I watched a bunch of videos to be sure that I would do it correctly.

Matt held George and I did everything else. The poor little guy screamed his head off. When it was over, he stopped screaming and went to lay down. Then he got up and moved around. The video said they are uncomfortable for about an hour if you do it correctly.

Hopefully, George will be fine and now we can keep him as a pet and he won't turn mean like his father, Norton. The girl in the video I watched today just banded seven goats all in the same day. I am grateful I just had to do one.

Back to orders...

We just called the accountant about our income tax. He said we should be able to meet on Sunday afternoon at 2pm here on the farm. I sure hope so. I hate being late for anything and this was definitely not our choice...

This evening, it actually started raining at 9pm and we were excited--for about two minutes. That was all. The rain gauge registered nothing.

Chaos Gardening

Let nature do its thing. Minimal intervention is key in chaos gardening. Trust that your plants will find their way and thrive in their slightly wilder environment.

Observe and learn. Pay attention to how your plants interact with each other and with their surroundings. Each season brings new discoveries and opportunities for growth.

Chaos gardening is a journey, not a destination. There's no right or wrong way to do it. The only rule is to have fun and let your creativity bloom.

Now, let’s talk about the benefits of chaos gardening. It's not just about aesthetics; it's about creating a thriving ecosystem right in your backyard garden.

Increased biodiversity: A chaotic mix of plants attracts a wider range of beneficial insects and pollinators.

Improved soil health: The diverse root systems of different plants help to improve soil structure and fertility.

Reduced pest and disease pressure: A healthy, diverse ecosystem is naturally more resistant to pests and diseases.

Less work, more enjoyment: With less emphasis on weeding and other maintenance tasks, you have more time to simply enjoy your garden.

A deeper connection with nature: Chaos gardening encourages you to observe and interact with the natural world in a more intimate way.

So, can you grow food using chaos gardening? The answer is a resounding yes! In fact, many chaos gardeners find that their food crops thrive in this more natural environment.

Here are a few tips for growing food in your chaos garden:

Choose a variety of edible plants: Mix and match different vegetables, herbs, and fruits to create a bountiful and diverse garden planting.

Consider companion planting: Certain plants can benefit each other when grown together. For example, basil can help to repel insects from tomatoes.

Pay attention to sunlight and water requirements: Even in a chaos garden, it's important to ensure that your plants are getting the right amount of sunlight and water.

Don't be afraid to experiment: Try different combinations of plants and see what works best in your backyard garden.

Harvest regularly: Regular harvesting encourages continued growth and production.

Saturday, May 3, 2025

George is the one outside of the shelter. He is the only baby boy we got this spring.

This morning, it was not wet at all and it did not rain the entire day. It was windy and cool. Right now, at 3:30pm, it is sunny and 82°. We had a few customers and some orders. I think there are six bags of coffee left. I am really surprised we have any left.

All of a sudden, no one wants eggs at all, even though I have lowered the price again. I give up.

I planted several hundred seeds this morning and watered my entire plant area because the rain did nothing for my drooping plants. The animals are fine. George seems to be doing well. I visited him early this morning. Matt came in and helped us with packing seeds. We did not close any orders today.

We had a few customers today. The last one left at 2:15pm. Then I packed seed packs until 6pm. By the time I was finished, my back was absolutely killing me.

I collected eggs and took care of all of the animals. Then I did the dishes and put fresh sheets on my bed. After that, I collapsed on the couch, ate pizza with Matt and David and watched a crazy Steve Martin/Eddy Murphy movie. It was hilariously funny.

Somewhere after the movie started, Nacho showed up and we had to pause the movie. He brought some crosses for our furry friends who went over the rainbow that David ordered from him. That is when I saw that the internet booster box was delivered so I had to play hide and seek all over the place while David talked to Nacho. I searched high and low. Amazon did not take a photo. They always take a photo but not when you need it. The driver said it was put on a porch. We have a lot of those. I went to everyone. I searched out front by the gate. Nothing...

About 20 minutes in, I thought that I might check inside the Production building. For some reason, the door was still unlocked. Lo and behold, the driver went into Production while we were eating and placed the booster box on the table. I thought it had all been locked up but David did not lock it when he finished up. Hide and seek was finally over so I could go in...

Chaos Gardening

Chaos gardening is a fantastic way to create a thriving, productive, and beautiful garden. It’s a method that embraces the wildness of nature and encourages you to let go of control and simply enjoy the process.

So, what are you waiting for? Embrace the chaos and watch your garden transform into a vibrant oasis of life.

Now, let’s recap some of the key takeaways about chaos gardening:

It's a low-maintenance, high-reward approach to gardening.

It encourages biodiversity and creates a more resilient ecosystem.

It's a great way to grow food in a natural and sustainable way.

It's a fun and creative way to express yourself in the garden.

It's a chance to connect with nature on a deeper level.

Sunday, May 4, 2025

Daisies are growing all over right now. They are my favorite flower and they make me feel so cheery.

Daisies are growing all over the property right now. They are my favorite flower and they make me feel so cheery.

Good morning. The air is cool and so pleasant this morning. I happily went out and took care of all of the animals. I put up a bunch of new fly traps in the goat area. Norton is tall enough that he started eating one. No poison involved, just stickiness, but I had to move that one to a different area.

For some reason, the flies are extra thick out by the goats this year so I went on one of those goat forums to see what other goat owners do about the problem. I bought two of those suggested things. I have some farm fly repellent coming from Amazon but it won't get here until Wednesday or Thursday.

Anyway, the animals are all fine. The babies are growing up. Tomorrow, the two sets of twins will be nine weeks and five weeks old.

We have a busy afternoon planned. Our accountant is supposed to be here at 2pm to finally finish up our income tax and get it filed.

Then around 5pm, some lady is coming to show David something to do with the bees. Matt is coming for this as well. They will be out there in bee suits. David asked someone from the church who is interested in bees and, as usual, he said no, he wasn't interested. He always says no. David says this is the last time he will ask him or anyone else.

I know the feeling. I guess we are just big bores since we moved out to the farm...Whatever! It just gives us more time to work on our business.

One of my plumbago plants is flowering. I think these flowers are so pretty.

We woke up to the water barely streaming out of the faucet again this morning. We just went through this on Friday and that started around 2am and it was not working right on Friday until about 4pm. So I could not make a pot of coffee. I tried making a pot on Friday and the silly thing made one cup instead of ten. It automatically fills and did not wait until full before brewing. We had to use the Keurig and David was not pleased because apparently I drank all of the good flavors.

It is now 9:30am and the water is still at a trickle. Thank the good Lord that we showered last night or that would be a mess, right? Benton City Water has a lot of water problems. We are constantly getting messages about leaks and breaks from them. When we lived in San Antonio, this did not happen much at all. The only thing is water was always on restriction and the price kept going up.

I hope they get it fixed before we get back from church because I have to do a load of whites this afternoon.

Good news! The water is fixed and my whites are going! Now for a most horrifying tale...

After church, I was standing outside talking with a group of three other ladies. After a while, I decided to see if David was in the church. I looked in and saw him and went on in. At the front of the church, I found him and then I began to feel something on my back. I felt around for it with my hand but could find nothing. I told David and another lady that there was something on me. I turned around. They both assured me there was nothing. Whatever it was, it continued to move across to my left arm.

At this point, David told her that I was mental, you know, like Clang Clang, Bellevue from the 1947 version of Miracle On 34th Street. (If you are going to watch one of the versions, this is the one to watch, not the others.)

A new couple came up to introduce themselves while all of this was going on. They met David. I turned around again, trying to find this thing and then I felt it biting my arm inside my sleeve. (I am sure they also thought I needed to go to Bellevue.) I lifted my sleeve hoping it would fall out. It did not. The man who had just met David saw it and grabbed it off of me and carried it outside. I never did get to meet them or thank him because they left and I was still freaking out. I was glad they all saw the bug and it was one of those big, black beetles.

I was horrified all the way home, replaying it crawling across me over and over. Fun, fun times.

Now we wait for the accountant to show up. I guess I will empty the dishwasher.

At 3:35pm this afternoon, we got the call from our accountant saying he would not be making it today. Maybe tomorrow...Will we ever file our 2024 income tax return? Stay tuned for details or the lack thereof...

Here Matt is on the right as they remove a frame from the old hive to put in a new one so they won't be overcrowded.

Here Matt is on the right as they get ready to remove a frame from the old hive to put in a new one so they won't be overcrowded.

Matt takes the frame. In front, you can see a lot of bees swarming out of the hive. They were getting ready to swarm.

Matt has a frame filled with bees. There were too many bees in each hive in just 8 months. How can that be?

David is holding a small piece of honeycomb from one of the hives. It is overflowing with honey in the hive.

Matt lifts a full frame of bees from one of the old hives to a new one. We thought they would just move in on their own but they have to be put there.

Joanna found a queen and David stepped over to see it.

At 4:30pm, the bee helpers from So Tex Farms came by to help split the bee hives. Matt and Joanna suited up and went for it. I went into the store and harvested some of the lettuce from the aeroponic tower. I fed the fish and locked up.

Then I went out back to take some photos of the bees. To my shock, there were already ripe peaches on five trees. I got a basket and started picking.

Then Joanna said we have honey in our hives. We got to taste it. Now we will have to figure out how to get it out. Meanwhile, Joanna and Matt successfully split the two hives into four. The amount of bees had already outgrown the hives, something I had no idea they could do in just eight months. Also, they told us in bee class that we would not get any honey until after the first year. Joanna said the hive is full of it.

The peaches were so tempting that I ate two while I was out there picking. They are the sweetest, juiciest peaches ever!

This is my peach harvest for today. I got every ripe one I could reach. The big trees haven't started making peaches yet. There is also a loaded apricot tree but not ripe.

After picking a lot of peaches, I went to take care of the goats. As I was carrying in food, the goats rushed me at the gate. This is always my fear and today Gracie got out, tasted freedom, and absolutely loved it. I chased her around for 15 minutes, trying calmly to get her to come to the treat cup. I just could not catch her.

Gracie slipped out as I was backing in carrying food. She is good and now she won't come to me. I definitely got my exercise today!

Now she is on the other side. Back and forth, back and forth. And so it went for over 15 minutes until help finally arrived!

Chaos Gardening

Chaos gardening is not just about throwing seeds at random and hoping for the best. It’s about understanding the principles of nature and working with them to create a thriving ecosystem.

It’s about embracing the unexpected and finding beauty in the imperfections. It's about creating a garden that is not just beautiful, but also productive and resilient.

So, if you're looking for a new and exciting way to garden, give chaos gardening a try. You might just be surprised at what you create.

Remember, chaos gardening is all about letting go of the rules and embracing the wildness of nature. It’s about creating a garden that is unique, vibrant, and full of life.

So, ditch the straight lines, embrace the chaos, and watch your backyard garden transform into a thriving oasis.

You'll be amazed at the beauty and abundance that emerges when you let nature take the lead.

Chaos gardening is a rewarding experience that connects you with nature in a profound way.

It’s a chance to step outside the box and create a garden that is truly your own.

So, embrace the chaos, and happy gardening!

Remember, in chaos gardening, there are no mistakes, only opportunities for growth and discovery.

So, go ahead, experiment, and let your creativity bloom in your backyard garden.

Embrace the chaos, and watch your garden thrive!

Return from Chaos Gardening to Our Sixth Year

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