Education In The Field
Tonight I was working out in the tomato patch and noticed some black droppings by a few of our Green Zebra plants. This could only mean one thing - the dreaded tomato hornworm (see photo). I quickly investigated and sure enough found a good sized worm blending nicely on the underside of one of our stems. I picked it off the plant and showed it to our oldest, Cooper, who just the other night told me that he wanted to be an entomologist.
I was impressed that he even knew what an entomologist was. Anyway, we observed the offending bug and doing what men do, quickly put it down on the ground and smashed it. Hopefully another tomato plant saved. Of course minutes later William and Cooper were looking for more of the bugs so that they could smash them. There's something about bug guts that provides boys with the "ooooh gross" factor.
Normally when the boys catch bugs they run them over to the portable chicken pens and feed them to the hens - it's free family farm entertainment to see which hen can catch the bug first. However, a friend of ours informed us that the hens have a strong distaste for the tomato hornworm and to exterminate in the field.
After the excitement, I went back to trellissing my tomatoes and pulling weeds (MY FAVORITE CHORE). I was reminded that my Dad will be coming down to the farm in about a week and when he arrives it won't be long until he makes his way to the garden to pull weeds. Our yard in Kansas was always immaculate when I was growing up - no thanks to my help. To this day Dad keeps a perfect yard. I'd like to think that some of his perfectionist tendencies have rubbed off on me, but I have to tell you when you have more than a few acres and a to-do list a mile long, sometimes weeding takes a back seat. So the bottom line is I'm looking forward to seeing Dad - for more reasons than to pull weeds. My youngest, Eston, has already proclaimed that "Grandpa gonna like me!" .... Dad, I'm getting out the Advil and buying an extra heat pad for the hamstrings. Those are just for me; you'll need to bring your own! I'll give everyone an update next week to let you know how it's going.
p.s. Thanks to my wonderful wife for making a great meal tonight that included her incredible squash casserole with our fresh garden pattypan and zucchini.
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