Some Mulching Benefits:
1.  Keeps weeds from getting out of control.
2.  Brightens things up.
3.  Provides shelter for beneficial bugs and they add nutrients to the garden.
4.  Will break down and become compost over time.

These are the Diva variety from Johnny's Seeds -- a greenhouse cuke -- and mentioned in Janisse Ray's book on seed saving.  I've been cutting off the skins to give to Beau Toby who really loves them with carrots and softened alfalfa cubes.  The magazine Holistic Horse has an article on whole foods in season, so in moderation, we're putting some goodies in the mix.

Saturday we picked up this package of 12,000 bees with a Queen from Wilbanks Apiaries in Claxton. 

The Queen was in a tiny separate box...here's Shanny creating a tiny opening. 

Blowing smoke helps them go into their hive.

Sandor got stung once, but I didn't.  Just a few stragglers were flying around, but they really want to go into the box to be with the Queen.

By early evening, all the bees had gone into the box!

Now, they'll get busy building up the hive.  It'll take a year before we can harvest any honey.

We'll need to add another box in a few months, because this is a small hive.

My two favorite things in one (horses & chocolate) -- a Chocolate Palomino!

A walk to get grass...

The other precious, Lulu.

Dried green lace....that's how mustard greens look after they've been devoured by harlequin bugs.  This crop is lost, so I'll cut it back and see if it returns....

I found this article on harlequin bugs and stink bugs from Toxic Free NC.

As the article recommends, I've been picking off the harlequin bugs (mustard greens) and the stink bugs (potatoes) -- they're so funny-looking, I hate to squish them.

Sandor bought this and we've sprayed it in isolated areas.  Spinosad is a biological pesticide, not synthetic.  But now I read it's toxic to bees. 

We are collecting our Queen and bees on Saturday.  One tip I picked up, is to spray when they go into their hive, since it's less toxic when dried than wet.  More research on this is needed -- and any input from other growers is welcome....

I stumbled onto the Statesboro Farmer's Market last Saturday and felt an unexpected wave of pure happiness.  I picked up a violin near Main Street, that my thoughtful bro and sis-in-law had restrung for me.  I was very touched by this brotherly generosity.  The Sun was out, everyone was smiling...and that Dido song Thank You played over the sound system ...and it synched with my mood....

I want to thank you
for giving me the best day of my life
Oh just to be with you
is having the best day of my life

Since I was new to the market, I got five tokens to spend on local produce in their "My Market Club" program.  I bought a blueberry bush from Longwood Plantation, some onions from a humorously persistent young salesman at the Walker Organic Farm booth and red potatoes. 

I also bought a handmade berry minty soap from the lovely Amelia (seen above) from Wee Farm from Dover in Screven County.

Wee Farm's website has eye candy for food lovers.  And I spotted this on her bio, which fits with things Sandor and I discuss about preparing for our golden years.  Amelia writes, "I'm coming to see this way of life as a retirement plan, and it's not that I want to spend all my time planning for forty years from now, however, I'll begin reaping the benefits now. Acquiring skills not everyone has and investing in tangible material goods and land means I won't be dependent on someone else to look out for me or feed me when I get older. Not to mention I find few things in life more satisfying than getting dirty and creative, inventing, being resourceful...that and picking food fresh from my backyard for dinner."

Thanks to all these wonderful vendors for one of the best days of my life....I'll be back!