



© The Cedar Journal, 2022, all rights reserved.
The adventures of a cedar canoe
© The Cedar Journal, 2022, all rights reserved.
I know… it could be worse. I heard from blogger friend “B” in GB that it was even hotter than here in the Low Lands. I wish I could send him some cooler weather so he can get out and photograph more beautiful butterflies!
Yes, it is the hottest, driest summer I have ever experienced in The Netherlands. We were off to pick up some bargain fencing for our garden when I realized on our drive how bad things really are here with the drought.
The Lek was the other river we crossed over yesterday, it also was so low that the locks that lead from a smaller river into the Lek were open completely as the water levels were the same. Not something that we normally see here.
Hummmm… when are we getting rain for my garden?
We finally got (only in the very West of the country) rain yesterday. About 2 cm or just under a inch. Not enough to not have to haul more water to fill the barrels this morning but enough that I don’t have to water plants today.
Hummm… I have finally insects in the garden.
With all the things we have on our plate recently from the drought, heat, water shortages, high gas prices, higher food prices, Ukraine/Russian war, possible nuclear holocaust if either side gets really stupid, we were hit with a totally new one yesterday…wait for it… solar flares! Yup, we were given 12 hours notice that solar flares could disrupt our electric grid, cell phone service, gps navigation systems! But, not to worry, don’t panic, the government has it all under control!!!
Which both the Hubby and I looked at each other and started laughing so hard I started to cry! Really?!
It is enough to make all the therapists in this country rich from all the new patients they will have streaming in their doors.
So if you don’t hear from us for awhile…maybe we got zapped with gamma rays from the solar flares…
Stay safe friends!🤨
Hummm…© The Cedar Journal, 2022, all rights reserved.
©
Maybe we all need a break from the weather? I know I sure do! My DNA was never meant to spend any sort of time in weather above 75 degrees with any humidity over 50%!!!
Today the inside the house temperature is 75 degrees F!
I feel like I am either going to explode or melt.
Best time to add a small Hummm…
© The Cedar Journal, 2022, all rights reserved.
As my regular followers know the Hummm file never knows what the universe will throw our way, this month was full of such surprises.
Let’s start with this…
We then had our own farming moments of the summer as we finally were called and offered a garden plot close where we live. Late in the summer to start a garden but we got to work and within a week we have cleaned out the weeds, hauled in 26 bales of straw, built a processing table, and started amending the nearly dead soil.
That has gotten some raised eyes from neighboring plots but hopefully by next Spring we will have things going towards raising all our own veggies. Since I don’t like to weed and have a bad back the straw bale garden method should be a win/win for adding nutrients to the very poor soil and not having to bend or be on my knees pulling weeds.
Hummm… if you are wondering what this entire straw bale thing is… it comes from my home state of Minnesota. You can listen to a podcast all about it here …
148-Gardening in Straw Bales: An Easy & Inexpensive Solution to Make Growing Food More Accessible for All
Then it was hot! So hot here we broke records.
The truth is out there and people should not get on the conspiracy bandwagon without all the right information!!! The environmental laws were placed into law here in The Netherlands years ago to help control the CO2 emissions.
Some of the smaller farmers who didn’t and still don’t have the capital to make the upgrades could be forced out of business.
That sucks if you are a farmer or a consumer of farm products (like that is anyone who likes to eat!).
The fact is the climate is changing, and all people on this planet have to make changes to help everyone, not just one nation or one culture or be fearful of what others have or don’t have!
I do feel that the farming community here in The Netherlands was unfairly targeted when the laws were made. There are many large corporations and businesses that place toxic chemicals into the air here and around the world each and everyday and are not held to the same standards. I do not think the way of protest should ever be the destruction of property (that goes for anyone! Even the farmers). Peaceful protests with constructive helpful diplomacy will make for a better future.
Hummm… what is the
way forward?
© The Cedar Journal, 2022, all rights reserved.
© The Cedar Journal, 2022, all rights reserved.