A Time & Place In Appalachia Living

This blog features the life adventures & projects of Edwin Bloodworth and his family on the top of a mountain, in the forest. Follow our journey as we strive to stay connected with nature and share our passions for taking the path less traveled. With the combination of modern technology, & traditional methods, and open minds, I hope to inspire you to try some new ideas and follow your way of life dreams.

Friday, June 26, 2015

I'VE ALWAYS TENDED TO TAKE THE LONG ROAD

  Like trying to grow vegetables in the woods for instance.  My yukon potato plants seemed to come and go pretty quickly.  I planted them in old wooden barrels.  I filled the bottom with sticks and leaves to provide adequate drainage and filled the barrels with organic soil as the potato plants grew.  The location began in the sun in the spring and slowly transitioned to a shadier spot as the leaves came in. It is certainly not a complete failure but not the potato harvest I had hoped for.  I do have 5 more plants to dig up.  It's interesting the constant test of patience in life.  So I moved my glass box, for lack of a better description, to a new spot today hoping for better results.

  

  It is funny how some things in life seem to happen really quickly and other things, like the ones most desired, have a funny way of making us wait.  I do believe the timing is precisely as it needs to be.  At the end of last season I finally found my first spice bush.  I have found many things wild that I have searched for, but this was one that kept eluding me.  I have been waiting all winter for it to show itself again and today was the day.


  This plant below, still unknown, was a first for me today.  I will keep you posted as to what it is after some research.  It is very minty, floral, and a touch of menthol.  The stems are too small to determine if they are square, linking them to the mint family.  A great find that I am very excited about.



  Ok, so after closer examination, it does have a square stem.  I believe it is mountain mint, which would make sense.