Views Lofty and Low: June 2015

Friday, June 12, 2015

Growing Roses using the Ruth Stout Method

The legendary Ruth Stout harvesting rhubarb

Views Lofty and Low is a blog about God and life this side of paradise. Life this side of paradise encompasses a lot -- basically everything in the physical universe, which God created.

So, let's talk about roses.

My goal in gardening is to make everything as low-maintenance as possible, while maintaining plant health and beauty. Roses, as many of you know, require much care in order to look beautiful. So, if I can find any little trick to make rose care easier, then I'm on it.

Years ago, probably through Organic Gardening magazine, I heard about this spunky, elderly woman named Ruth Stout, who advocated a thick, year-round mulch on her vegetable garden. Her No-Work Garden Book (copyright 1971) is a classic for organic gardeners. Hay (preferably spoiled) was her primary mulch of choice. She would initially apply a good 9" (or so) layer of hay over the entire vegetable garden, then add more as it slowly composted. She did not till the hay in. It always stayed loosely on top.

My valuable copy

Here in the McKenzie Valley, leaves are plentiful in the fall, so that's my mulch of choice. I spread the leaves high over the vegetable garden and the rose garden, letting the mulch sit over the winter. By spring, the leaves have composted and settled so much that a fresh topper of hay or straw is needed. Ruth Stout, from Connecticut, got spoiled hay for free from a local farmer. I get leaves for free, but must pay for hay or straw. So obviously I favor leaves.

What are the benefits of a thick mulch? First, it decomposes into a rich compost. Stout's soil was so rich, she didn't use fertilizer. She didn't even add extra compost. I do add some extra compost and organic fertilizer at planting -- but maybe I'm wasting time, money and effort by doing so. Of course, rich soil results in lush, healthy, green plants that resist pests and diseases. And of course, the fruits and vegetables are top quality.

Our straw-mulched rose garden in foreground, the vegetable garden in background (2014)

Another benefit of a thick mulch is it significantly cuts down on watering-- big time. Mulch holds in moisture. Need I say more?

Vegetable garden at planting time in May 2014. Rhubarb nearly ready to pick.

This is either Evelyn or Abraham Darby (David Austin roses). Notice straw.

Another benefit of a thick mulch is "no tilling." The mulch attracts earth worms, which eat the mulch and produce high-nitrogen castings. The good worms bore through the dense soil, loosening it.

And finally, a year-round, thick mulch significantly cuts down on weeds. Those unwanted plants can't push through the mulch.

When sowing seeds, it's important to scoot the thick mulch away from the furrow, so the seedlings won't suffocate. Same applies to setting out starts. Scoot the mulch away a bit, so the starts have air to breath.

Rose garden as of June 2015. No new straw yet this season. Remnants of fall leaves as mulch.

So, what does this have to do with roses? My rose garden is fairly new. In fall 2012, I decided to transplant most of my roses into a designated "rose garden." Of course, I spread leaves thickly and added straw in the spring.

Evelyn rose trained as a climber

During the growing season of 2013, the results were amazing. The Ruth Stout method produced lush, green, vigorous growth and beautiful blooms. Ruth Stout goes strictly organic, avoiding sprays; she claims to get very little black spot. I'm not a purist, so I do spray (every 3-4 weeks) for insects (primarily aphids) and diseases. I also top-dress each rose bush in the spring with organic fertilizer.

The 2015 season has kicked in and I've never had better roses. My previous "non-mulched" roses were clearly inferior in growth and vigor. But it was these same anemic roses that I transplanted into the new garden in fall of 2012. It's like they were resurrected. If you think a hay or straw mulch is ugly, then just flip the mulch over. The partially decomposed underside is dark and more attractive.

So there you go. Do you want to grow healthy, beautiful roses? Try the Ruth Stout "no-work" garden method.

Scentimental

Hot Cocoa

Abraham Darby

Graham Thomas

Denise's mystery rose from her previous residence

Double Delight

Saturday, June 6, 2015

Israel Trip: Day Eight

Valentine's Day in the Valley of Elah, where David slew Goliath

Bus route in red. National borders in green.

Our eighth and final day in Israel happened to land on Valentine's Day. Tour guide Harrison Cohen and bus driver Isaac were true gentlemen, giving pink carnations to each of the women in our group.

Before I continue, I'd like to mention a rumor that another tour of Israel may be happening -- also hosted by Sutherlin Family Church and Friendship Tours. If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, call Sutherlin Family Church at (541) 459-9803. The trip will probably occur in late winter 2016. I'd go again in a heartbeat, but only if I could be placed into a deep sleep during all the flights and stopovers.

The Garden Tomb was the first stop of the day. This relaxing garden is located just outside Old Jerusalem. It is a possible location of Christ's death, burial and resurrection. The Anglican Church maintains the Garden Tomb. Retired Anglican minister, Graham Hadfield, gave us a tour of the garden. Later, in his pleasant British accent, he gave a short sermon about Christ's death and resurrection. Reverend Hadfield became animated as he described the moment of the resurrection. It made my heart smile.

The Garden Tomb and the nearby Golgotha do possess the requirements of possible authenticity. They are located just outside the city, contain an ancient garden, an ancient tomb and a rocky area that resembles a skull (Golgotha). I'm no expert, but the sources I've read say the more likely location would be at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. However, I thought the Garden Tomb was much more relaxing, authentic or not.

Our group took communion in the garden, overlooking the tomb. We used little cups made of olive wood. At the gift shop, I purchased a heart-shaped piece of olive wood, which I gave to my honey bunny as a Valentine.

Our host, Reverend Graham Hadfield

A possible location of Christ's tomb

Overlooking opening to Christ's possible tomb

From there, we boarded the bus and headed to the Israel Museum, southwest of the Old City. This museum contains a very large outdoor model (1:50 scale; about 2000 square meters) depicting Old Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple as it was in 66 AD. This was amazing, but the more significant aspect of the Israel Museum is that many of the Dead Sea Scrolls are stored there. Selections of the scrolls are on display in a dimly lit building called the Shrine of the Book.

Possible tomb of Christ

The door to the tomb

Possible Golgotha near the Garden Tomb

What would it have been like to watch young David slay Goliath? It's easier to visualize the event when you visit the actual location where it happened. Our next stop was the Valley of Elah, where the giant Philistine met his demise. The Volvo bus pulled off the side of the road next to a dry, rocky stream bed called the Brook Elah. This is where David chose the lethal stone for his sling shot. Each person in our group chose a memento stone from the dry stream. Near the brook, vivid red flowers caught my attention.-- Anemone coronaria, the national flower of Israel. The Valley of Elah is currently used for agriculture; nearby was a large field of pepper plants, recently zapped by a frost.

Ancient wine press near tomb

The group to take communion overlooking the Garden Tomb

Then we headed back to Jerusalem, where we had free time to roam the Old City, shop, people watch or go back to the hotel. That night we had a farewell buffet dinner, followed by a ceremony where each person in our group received a Certificate of Pilgrimage. So there you go. Denise and I are genuine pilgrims.

"Do this in remembrance of Me."

The weather was great the entire week until the 1:30 AM bus ride to Ben Gurion Airport. Thunder, lightning, torrential rain, 2 hours sleep -- followed by 20 hours of flights and stopovers. Vacation over.

Shrine of the Book at Israel museum

I hope you enjoyed this travel log blog of our trip to Israel. It was the best vacation of my life and really helped me get a visual on the events, locations and true stories mentioned in the Bible. The experience strengthened my faith. If you get a chance to visit Israel, I recommend you do it. God bless.