Plant Puppy Mills

As I was contemplating the fact that the only heirloom tomato plants which did not reliably product seeds for me were ones I had purchased at big box stores, I came to a realization. The problems I had stemmed from the fact that the big box stores, like the chain pet stores, purchased their plants from huge factory farms. These plants were not the lovingly grown plants found at local nurseries, farmer's markets, and friends. These plants were grown and shipped in mass. Now it made sense why a friend of mine who works for the state pest control department frequently warns me away from the big box plants.

They were selling puppy mill plants.

Since I would never consider purchasing a puppy mill animal (I have enough rescues and fosters to know the issues), I have made a new resolution to not buy puppy mill plants in the future as well.

Adventures in Composting

For years we have composted. I have seen the oddest bugs in the bins. Never has the compost moved. This Sunday as we were emptying the bins to use the finished compost in my raised bed. As I was pushing the compost which was slipping off of the main pile back into the middle of the pile for Jeff to shovel it into the wheelbarrow, the pile started to move.

I asked Jeff if he saw the movement. He had not. It moved again. As I was mentioning this phenomenon for the second time the middle of the pile erupted and a grey rat appeared. This was not one of my old pet rats. This was a wild rat which of course immediately ran.

Who did it run at? Jeff? Of course not. It ran in my direction. I screamed. This of course brought the dogs at a run. With an instant circle of it's natural enemies, the rat immediately ran for the nearest climbable object. My leg! This time my scream was accompanied by a dance. The dogs having seen me dance before retreated. This left a clear path for the rat to the wood pile.

Gidgett, my prissy, gorgeous, show girl, spent the rest of the day circling the wood pile. She may look like she is not a real dog but she becomes a Jack Russell when she sees or smells a rat.

What a day.

Side note: There were four more rats in the pile.

New Addition - Pippin

We have a new family member. Pippin is a baby budgie. We are hoping he is a boy. His nasty temperament leads me to believe he may be a she. He is also the most timid budgie we have ever owned. Was Zippy this much of a 'fraidy-cat? I do not remember him being such a scared wimp but it has been several years. We can only hope Pippin improves with age.