3rd Haircut and Garden Story

So Grant got his third haircut. He looks more like a kids than a baby. I think I prefer his hair long though.

Before (doesn't he look like a character from Dr. Seuss?)

After.

He loves his pockets. Its even more cute when he walks with his hands in his pockets.

And on to the garden story. So we really wanted to garden. And we didn't really have any idea how to get started. We didn't want to till the ground but that seemed like the only answer. Well I researched a little online and this University of Massachusetts guy was talking about no till gardening. I was like... This. is. for. Us! So the idea is to put down 5 sheets of newspaper over the area you would like to garden , and then 3 inches of dirt, soil, or compost mix. Then just plant your seeds. Water it like you are supposed to and eventually the weeds under the newspaper will die and decompose and become great soil for your plants once they need to deep roots.  So far it is working. We will see later in the season for sure.

So here is my pride and joy. All the plants.. or most of them have started to sprout and grow. 

We planted pretty much everything under the sun..no pun intended.  (Corn, strawberries, green beans, pumpkins, watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe, basil, thyme, chives, lettuce, spinach, onions, green onions, rosemary, cucumber)

So don't even get me started with the cucumber. So we have had an attack from the snails and slugs from our back yard. ICk! They have attacked mainly our cucumber plants and some of our pumpkin as well. And now that I think of it... I think our watermelon seeds were duds so I need to plant a few more. Anyway.  So here is the damage from one row of cucumber. That one with the tattered leaf is the last one on the row. Our other row of cucumber is thriving with about a forth of it eaten.

We started the battle by going out in the evening and salting all slugs in sight. And then I put a salt perimeter around the garden but that only lasts so long with watering and what not. Well yesterday I found and killed the mother of all slugs. Score! And then a new development this morning... I found 10 snails in the garden, curled up in their shells, and the first one I found had 2, probably cucumber leaves, stuck to the shell. A snack saved for later no doubt. I was appalled, amused, and excited. I collected several. I have no idea why they were still in the garden. It wasn't even very early and the sun was already basically on the garden. So I collected them and put them in a jar. I want to show Perry, but then I will destroy them. I know I sound heartless but when snails and slugs are basically eating your money that you have put into a garden you get kind of POed! Here are a couple pictures of said snails.

Ew.

And ew.

We shall see if it proves effective removing these snails. Or maybe tomorrow I will find even more!