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Post by cornishwoman on Jan 24, 2010 17:09:48 GMT -5
Hello every one,my name is Kate,aka cornishwomen or CW.A little wise Canadian bird and Washington state rare bird whispered in my ear about this friendly gardening forum who may" except", the odd foreigner from time to time ,especially if they had a healthy respect for all that grows.So I came a knocking at your forum door to see if I may enter. A little about me ,theres not a lot , I came from Cornwall in England to the USA in the early 80s. By profession I used to be a SRN {state registered nurse} 35 years worth of that was enough so I decided I would try my hand at working in the veterinary world,not a good career move money wise, but far more fun, and at least I could muzzle the patients who bite me . I'm now retired, a little bit due to a dicky heart,and another career change,fancied my self as an artist, only thing is I'm the only one that thinks I'm an artist,Ah well. I have always gardened,even when working 12 hr shifts I have managed to grow some food .My family come from arable farmers mostly and in Cornwall that's quite a feat being as in our area it was rolling hills and a bit rocky and a bit to near the sea.We had the odd milk cow , some times piggies not only for pork but also to root over pasture for planting,they mostly lived in the small orchard along with the chickens and ducks, there was always a horse or pony some where. I fancy I'm right in saying growing food is in me,its not some thing I think about as such,I just do it because I feel I have to. Heritage seed saving is comparatively new to me,I started to take an interest in it when I was in my 30s,my grand mother was the seed collector,I always helped her weed her patch and harvest when ever I was home ,but never knew she seed saved,I found that out when she died,those seeds were left to me,sad to say I don't have any strains of her seeds left,little mistakes along life's way,storing them wrong,to name only one.Well I'm smarter now and just a birthday away from the big six zero in two thousand and eleven.We live in T.N.apart from digging up boulders in order to plant any thing I find the soil is really rich here.Formally my garden was pasture, so its virgin soil to me, and not much clay that I can see.I don't have to large a veg patch,just enough to feed us fresh vegetable's and enough to store for summer delights through winter. I cook,I make bread once a week,I really like to make my own wine,and I make my share of really bad plonk also,like rice and raisin which is enough to send you blind after one glass.I keep chickens,buff orrpingtons by choice,layers, as I make some pocket money in selling the eggs,its enough to keep me in watercolour paper and feed for them and fresh eggs in the fridge. I do have horses,some are rescue some are trekking,they take up a lot of my time,I use some of the manure in the garden, mostly in the flower garden as I have them on a worming rotation and I'm still not to clear on the effects of some of the worming ingredients being in the soil where my veggies are growing,some thing I keep meaning to look up but don't. Well this completely disjointed dribble is my hello,good job I don't have any aspiration's of being a writer.
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Post by bunkie on Jan 24, 2010 17:48:27 GMT -5
come on in kate! so glad to see you found us!
kate's being modest about being an artist. every year, since we've known her, she mails us her homemade decorated balls to adorn our Christmas tree! they're always so whimsical and colorful, truly festive for the season!
kate also just lost her seed collection. some knitwit stole her prescious seeds. seeds she brought over with her when she came to America, and many she's been saving from friends abroad. maybe some of you who are from or near Cornwall, etc... might be able to help her retreive some of them?!
so happy to see you here kate! hugzzzzz.....
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Post by canadamike on Jan 24, 2010 17:49:33 GMT -5
Well well, welcome to the crazy but friendly bunch my dear. Here, it is like a family, you need something, you say it. We are not very good trade accountants. Sharing is more the norm than trading... Need anything, try us... ;D
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Post by plantsnobin on Jan 24, 2010 18:06:48 GMT -5
Glad you are here, I think you will fit right in. Sorry to hear about your seeds, I can't imagine anyone stealing seeds! Please do let us know if there is anything in particular you are looking for, someone here should be able to help.
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Post by pugs on Jan 24, 2010 18:38:44 GMT -5
Welcome Kate!
Glad you were talked into coming here.
Now, seeds, well, I've got a few tomato seeds. Not from Cornwall, but I can send you some. Look over my list, or just PM me your address and I'll send you some to restart your collection.
Pugs
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Jan 24, 2010 18:45:43 GMT -5
Kate, I'm soooo glad to see you here. I took the liberty of writing Bunkie to let her know that I'd put a bug in your ear about Homegrown Goodness and then off to that social engagement I told you about. To My delight, when I arrived home, I had two messages from Bunkie and here you are! What did I tell you about being a Generous lot with their seeds? And you've only just joined!! And speaking of Generous, Kate has sent me lovely handpainted Christmas ornaments as well. One is a Bourbon Red turkey from my days as a breeder of Bourbon Reds and the other this year, is a Bluelacedredhead in a tutu, She's quite the artiste!! Welcome, Hon!
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Post by Dan on Jan 24, 2010 18:50:06 GMT -5
Welcome! So sorry to hear about your seeds being stolen. I am sure you can find plenty of need ones here, but I know they will never replace what you've lost.
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Post by cornishwoman on Jan 24, 2010 19:59:58 GMT -5
Thank you all so much for such a warm welcome,the kindness melts my heart.Yes we had a break in,it was last Monday,every one was at work and I went grocery shopping that afternoon,I was gone for about 2 hrs,came back to find the garage door stood open,I know I had locked it but with the key lock, not the bolt lock.I knew my husbands tools were gone right away,hes kind of messy and when I had left there was a red towel on the garage floor with all sorts of spanners layed on it,that was no longer there. So they got 3 tool boxes the metal ones full of tools,my drimal tool kit, 2 drills ,a table saw and 2 other types of heavy duty saws,my rubber boots of all things,they were insulated hunting boots,I did miss those tonight when sloshing around in the mud and rain putting the horses up,and of course the seed box with seeds,I would have given them all hubby's tools if they had left my seed box,see the box its self is kind of posh looking,the lid is a panel of marquetry showing windmills and bulb fields and its large. I had brought with me glass test tubes from the hospital I left when I came here,we used to collect bloods in glass tubes up till the mid 70s then the hospitals changed over to plastic,the tubes make good containers for tiny seeds,and they come with a rubber bung so it seals the air out, at least 75 test tubes were in that box.The police were very nice but said I wouldn't see the tools ever again, as for the box well the policeman was confused as me over that,he seemed to think that they may have thought that I was saving different types of WEED seeds,Ive been mulling on that ,I think hes right,either that or they really liked the box,as for my boots,well I'm a size 8,I cant think of any man with a size 8 shoe,so I'm profiling this thief as a lady gardener with a craving for tools and hunting. I would be most grateful for ANY seeds in the food line and I will send a stamped self addressed envelope,I don't need a lot we are just a family of 4,just to get me started for this one season.Kate.
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Post by pugs on Jan 24, 2010 20:16:04 GMT -5
Kate,
Well, I don't wear a women's 8, but a wide women's 7 usually fits me pretty well. I've got a size 6 EE or EEE foot.
Seeds, PM my your address and I'll some out to you. I've only got tomatoes and a very few peppers to send.
Pugs
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Post by plantsnobin on Jan 24, 2010 20:17:12 GMT -5
Wow, seeds & boots. I'd have to kick someones ass if they stole my Muck boots.
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Post by bunkie on Jan 24, 2010 22:21:50 GMT -5
dayum....i'm a women's size 9....is this where bigger's better???! ;D
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Post by sandbar on Jan 24, 2010 22:51:50 GMT -5
Hi CW, welcome to HG! Glad you have stopped over here!
Very sorry to hear about your break-in. Please send me a PM with your address and I'll respond back with what I could send you.
See ya' Steve.
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Post by sandbar on Jan 24, 2010 22:53:13 GMT -5
Oh, and if you're worried that HG won't accept "odd" folks ... well, they let me keep posting here so I think you're PLENTY SAFE.
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Post by Alan on Jan 24, 2010 23:13:05 GMT -5
Howdy, Howdy, glad to have you and welcome!
And not only do we accept "odd" folks, we embrace them.
Sandbar dissapeared for a bit and it just didn't feel quite right here, so he has a point!
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Post by stratcat on Jan 25, 2010 2:29:26 GMT -5
Welcome to Homegrown Goodness, Kate! You've come to the right place.
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