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Getting back into summertime actvities

Here we ‘grow’ again!

It’s already mid June, and my garden is loving the late spring rains. Some seeds sprouted more quickly than I expected, and plants that had been started in pots are taking off now that they are in the ground.

For about four years now, my husband, Mike, and I have been growing backyard gardens. It seems that each year our plot gets a little bit bigger, and this year is no exception. We mainly grow vegetables, but I do experiment with a few fruits here and there.

So far this spring, we have green onions that are growing rapidly as well as three or four varieties of tomatoes and a similar number of types of peppers. This season, I decided to plant a whole row of Romaine lettuce, along with half a row of mixed salad greens and half of arugula. We do enjoy our summer salads!

We do not, however, enjoy visits from the veggie nibbling animals that roam our neighborhood. A couple of years ago, we had a problem with bunnies who were far too fond of our bean plants. Last year, it was deer that wreaked havoc.

Those fleet-footed creatures jumped our 4- to 4.5-foot fence handily, gobbling up crops and trampling those that they did not care for. Our squash, cucumbers, tomatoes and more fell victim to these otherwise welcome critters.

In an effort to combat that problem, we invested in and erected a much more elaborate fence this year. For starters, it may not be quite 6 feet high, but it is several inches taller than I stand at a little more than 5-foot 7-inches.

We bought sturdy 6- or 7-foot fence posts that Mike drove securely into the ground, and we purchased a fabric-like material that is specifically meant to keep deer away. So, instead of a heavy, garish orange plastic border, we now have a tall, black barrier that we topped with reflective pinwheels on the posts.

Hopefully, this will discourage our furrier neighbors from helping themselves to a midnight snack.

Things in the garden aren’t completely finished yet. Although I planted green beans, carrots, radishes and beets, I still have seeds left to sprinkle in neat rows or mounds in the ground. Our plans call for adding a few types of squash, including zucchini of course, as well as a few cabbage plants and possibly okra, leeks, a different variety of onions and more.

If all goes well, what will we do with our harvest? We will eat much of it, of course!

I suspect, though, that I will end up with more tomatoes than we can consume. These I will likely share with friends and coworkers, or I might try my hand at canning or making sauce. If last year was any indication, we also will have more squash than we can eat on our own. I happily shared those with others in 2020, until the deer helped themselves.

For me, there’s not much that says summer more plainly than a fresh-picked and sliced tomato from the garden. I find it to be a real pleasure to work the soil, plant the crops, maintain those plants and then enjoy the fruits of our labor. (Mike likes the fruits more than the labor.)

If you feel inclined to give gardening a shot ­– whether to save money on fresh produce or to eat a healthier diet — don’t be afraid to try. You don’t have to have a large, open area to cultivate. You can substitute raised beds in a smaller area, or you can even grow certain plants in pots on your porch.

Just decide what you want to accomplish, do a little research and get to work. I think you’ll find it well worth the effort.

If you do take a crack at it, let me know how it goes. I can be reached by phone at 740-633-1131, ext. 731, in the office or by email at jcompston@timesleaderonline.com.

If gardening is not your cup of tea, there’s another summery activity you might enjoy next weekend.

The state of Ohio is offering two free fishing days on June 19-20. That means anyone over 16 years old — who normally would have to buy a $25 fishing license — can cast a line into the waters of the state without a license and free of charge.

I grew up fishing with my dad, the late James Compston, and older brother, Larry (who started all my pepper and tomato plants, by the way). I’m not sure if they had fishing licenses then, because we did most of our angling on private property pulling bluegill, bass and crappy from strip pits. I don’t even think Dad needed a regular license, because he was a veteran of World War II.

Those were some wonderful adventures that we had. Sometimes we encountered snakes or had to pull my dog out of a groundhog hole. Often, I cast my line into tall weeds or the low-hanging branches of a tree that spread out over the water. Dad or Larry would then have to walk away from their own poles and give me a hand.

One thing I remember from nearly every fishing trip was that Dad or Larry had to tell me repeatedly to be quiet.

Later on, as a teenager, I fished with friends. We did not go to those potentially dangerous strip pits, though; instead, we chose nearby creeks and streams, or we rode our bikes from Belmont to Barkcamp. As we got older still, we would drive our cars to more far-flung destinations, such as the Ohio River at Bridgeport or lakes such as Tappan or Piedmont.

If you decide to take advantage of the free fishing days, I recommend you try a state park, where conditions tend to be safer. If you fish by boat, make sure you wear a life preserver at all times.

Remember that your cell phone may not work in a remote area or if it gets wet. And, it’s always a good idea to bring a buddy along.

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