I have a long list of things I absolutely need as soon as we get out of lockdown level 4. Level 3 is still pretty high security but it frees up what can be bought – it doesn’t need to be essential but it needs to be done in a contactless way.
I’m figuring if I make my list big enough my local friendly hardware store will contactlessly drop it all off. We’ll have to give them call to see…
The thing is, this isn’t some spur of the moment last minute list of things I have decided to do while being in lockdown. These are things I would have just popped out and picked up in the course of normal gardening activities and for projects I have underway. The scary thing is to add up all of the items that would have just been absorbed in small amounts into my weekly expenditure alongside coffee out and fuel and a pie on the run… To see it all listed out as what I would have purchased and will have to pay for in one shot, is kind of shocking.
Most of the items on their own don’t cost much at all and my garden budget can easily absorb $10 here and $20 there over a sensible period of time. By the time I can get my hands on these items it would have been at least 5 weeks worth of not buying anything in the busiest time of the year as a gardener. I guess I would have saved a lot in fuel by not taking multiple trips into town to buy these things as I needed them. That should make things feel a little better.
I’m more of a spur of the moment kind of girl and will race out to get what I need for a new and exciting project. Or I’m a procrastinator and will know what I need but the hassle of the procurement process, the reluctance to part with the cash, or just a busy life can prevent me from getting the resources I actually need. In normal circumstances this isn’t really a problem because eventually something will happen to prod me into action.
But these aren’t normal times and I need to become more like a squirrel and know what I need before I need it and store it away ready and waiting. You just never know when things will no longer be available. Life’s conditions should prompt a change in behaviour – not only doing things to keep us safe, but also so we can operate as normal as we can under trying circumstances. I’m not saying I should horde things, but I know what I need for most things well in advance so I should just go out and get them without waiting around for the stars to be aligned. I need to be like my grandmother saving string, rubber bands and brown paper, because you never know when you will need it. Hopefully my one-day grandchildren living ‘normal’ lives won’t find this a little odd.
So in the meantime – here is my list for my current needs and to finish projects started well before we were locked away and for normal gardening activities in my garden. It is probably not everything and I expect I will add to it before the decision is made to release us from this level (or not) next week.
- 4 bags post hole concrete
- 4 bags of cement to make pavers
- Rebar
- Waratahs
- Lots of Paper cups (could probably get these at the supermarket)
- A lot of Potting mix
- A lot of Compost
- Roll of black plastic mesh large
- Roll of black plastic mesh small
- 4 sheets Clear roofing
- Enviromesh
- Blue paint
- Grey paint
- Screws
- Mulch
- Wood for windbreak
- Large pavers
- Windbreak fabric
- Neta end drippers
- Neta in line drippers
- 4mm irrigation tube
- 13mm irrigation tube
- Windbreak clips
- Cable ties
- Roll of brushwood screen
Come again soon – I still have plenty that can be done without the items on the list.
Sarah the Gardener : o)
Hi there, Ive just found your site and youtube. Of course you have a cat called Fennel!! So far Im finding you enjoyable and a kiwi (yay). I was wondering where in NZ you lived but found its in the Auckland area by reading your blogs. I live in Nelson so we get frosts…always that last frost in October to come. Ive just started ‘landscaping’ our house which is very ordinary and the garden will be ordinary too but it will have extra ordinary vegetables and fruit. Keep safe and look forward to watching and reading more from you.
Thanks for getting in touch. We are south of Auckland but got swept into the big lockdown when they expanded the boundaries. All the best with you landscaping and I hope you have a wonderful growing season this year. : o)
Hi Sarah, it’s always a little bit scary to see what those regular runs to the hardware and garden stores add up to, and also very interesting to see what others are up to and spending on as well.
Asparagus: Last year I planted some crowns, maybe a little late, but they did fern up, and I cut them back when they died off, but this year as yet I’ve seen nothing come back up. Do you think they might have missed the boat? How long would I leave it before planting more?
Thanks
Hi Wayne. It would seem that infrastructure is taking priority over plants for me right now!
With the asparagus it is best to wait – not all of mine have come back yet but after 4 years and no major issues or events since last season there is no reason for me to think they won’t pop up eventually. Besides mid winter is the best time to plant asparagus crowns and when they are readily available.
I hope this helps and I hope your plants burst into life soon. : o)
Sarah, I’m winding down and trying to complete the projects of the summer here in Nebraska. It was a hot and rainy summer here which kept me from working on the garden structure projects …. or was it just plain procrastination. (Contemplating look on face). Either way, it’s time to get busy and just do it. The first frost date is creeping up on me. It usually happens here around October 15th but the dates have shifted bit so I think it’s a little later now. According to “Farmer’s Almanac”, on a global level, July was the hottest month on record. We had a couple 100F (38C) days and many in the 90F (32C) days which is normal for July here. I am finding that I just can’t tolerate those hot sweaty days as I age. So it’s less time gardening during the day and more time in morning and evening.
I’m not sure what level 4 lockdown is but it sounds bad. Hopefully, it will lift soon and your gardening will get back to normal.
Nebraska Dave
Urban Farmer
I think – being in the opposite season, it is hard to remember just how hot or cold summer and winter can be. And at the start of spring you can become quite optimistic about all you want to achieve but in the autumn is when you look back with the most realistic point of view! I hope you are able to get your projects done before it gets too cold.
We are now in Level 3 which isn’t quite as restrictive as Level 4 and I have been able to order loads of gardening supplies that weren’t considered essential before, which is fabulous – hopefully we can get back on top of things so we can get back to some kind of normal by Christmas. : o)