Did you know...

 

In a recent study comparing every Nobel Prize-winning scientist from 1901 to 2005 with typical scientists of the same era, both groups attained deep expertise in their respective fields of study.  But the Nobel Prize winners were dramatically more likely to be involved in the arts than the less accomplished scientists.  Here’s what a team of fifteen researchers at Michigan State University found about engagement in the arts among Noble Prize winners relative to ordinary scientists:

 If the scientist practiced music, he or she was twice as likely to win as compared to contemporaries

 Arts such as drawing, painting, printmaking or sculpting - 7x as likely.

Crafts: Woodworking, mechanics, electronics, glassblowing - 7.5x as likely

Writing: poetry, plays, novels, short stories, essays, popular books - 12x as likely

Performing: acting, dancing, magician - 22x as likely

Soil Test Results

When we got the soil test back, it turned out that our basic nutrients – nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus – were literally off the charts.  It looked exactly like two idiots not following directions and fertilizing too much.  But we don't fertilize at all, except for an annual dose of Miracle Grow that my husband puts on the tomatoes despite my protests.  We certainly haven't been going nuts with it.

 Oh, and our soil consistency was clay.  I think we’re going to try cover crops to break up the clay soil.   A free consultation with an agronomist came with our soil test, and he suggested adding sand, but I'm leery of doing that in case we get concrete instead.

 The soil consistency is better than it was when we started in 2011 so that’s something….

2023 Garden Totals

 

Carrots: Your size may vary....

Very tall sunflowers....

 

We didn't weigh sunflower seeds, mostly because we were unable to get to them before the birds and squirrels did.  But sunflowers were about the only thing that did really well this year.  I guess beans did OK. But I planted a lot of them. Strawberries were impressive.  But some of our regulars were duds.  Glad I'm not depending on the garden to get us through the winter.....

Totals, in pounds:

Asparagus - .5
Purple Beans - 21.1
Potatoes - 2.5
Cherry Tomatoes - .1
Tomatoes - 99.7
Okra - 0  (First total fail on okra EVER!  Normally, you just toss the seed over your shoulder and walk away.  We replanted THREE times - no success.)
Garlic - 1.6
Squash - 15.2
Carrots - 1.5
zucchini - 15.8
Kholrabi - 8.1
Peppers - .9
Beets - 8.7
Radishes - .3
Armenian Cucumbers - 3.7
Strawberries - 13.2
Leeks - 1.4
Watermelon - 23.4

Total - 217.7 pounds

Expenses, including absurdly expensive watering cans and self-watering tubs that required potting soil to work (boo!), more PVC hoops, binder clips, a new leaf chopper and a soil test: $607.50.

Normally, the garden isn't nearly that expensive.  But anyway, the total was $2.79 a pound, which if you consider that all of that is organic and fresh, really isn't that bad.  But I'm hoping for much better the next time we garden.

My Christmas letter had lower totals because I had forgotten the leeks and the watermelon.

Getting ready to plant garlic