WINTER IS ON THE WANE

January and February are months for
people to slow down. Most do not.

Our winter here in Albany has been
cold with snowfall plentiful.

March is a few days away. The pace
will pick up.  The weather will warm
the snow and ice will melt.

I planted garlic in November and
winter seeded plots with carrots
spinach, lettuce, beets and swiss
chard. They will emerge when ready.

March will be the time to seed the
remainder of the garden with a crop
of oats which should mature in 45
days. The oats draw up nitrogen from
below, and keep weeds at bay. Cut
the oats just before they mature.
Plant among the mowed oats.

A few plots will be set aside for early peas
and spinach.
 

Red and russet potatoes will be planted
some blocks of sweet corn , some cabbage
turnips and parsnips in April- May

In late May, tomatoes, summer squash
basil, rosemary, pole beans, peppers go
in.

June, winter squash and pumpkins.

The garlic should be ready for harvest
in July along with potatoes, corn.

July and August are for planting
a second crop of spinach, cabbage
broccoli, turnips.

Biggest hazards are the heat, moles
mice, mosquitoes, wood chucks and weeds.

Being fair skinned , the early morning
and late afternoon are the best times
for working the garden.

Water may be a problem, if we have
a drought.

Like my ancestors before me, I have
been a tenant on this bit of land for
more than 3 decades.

A 350 year old white oak tree stands 
nearby, along with two red oaks, the
latter I planted 20 years ago.

A quiet refuge to seek peace and quiet
as well as provide a healthy harvest
for the home table.

                                       Joe Sullivan




 

Monday, February 17, 2014

RICHARD A KOHN RIP

Richard A Kohn a family man, attorney
friend and past Vice President of the BPCNA
Buckinghan Pond/Crestwood Neighborhood
Association has crossed the great divide.

 http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/timesunion-albany/obituary.aspx?n=richard-a-kohn&pid=16967

Condolences to Margaret and family.

                                Joe Sullivan

                                

Posted by J P Sullivan at 10:35 AM No comme

ANOTHER SNOW STORM ON THE WAY

ANOTHER SNOW STORM
ON THE WAY TO ALBANY

The snow should fall Tuesday night
into Wednesday.

Will be closely watching New Scotland
Ave to see how the City DGS deals
with the snow.

Will the plows  start up when the 
snows begin to accumulate? Will
the plows work in tandem clearing
the entire Avenue, outbound and
inbound, in periodic sweeps that
do not allow the snow to build up
in curb/parking lanes?

Will the cash strapped City reduce
dumping of road salt, which destroys
road surfaces, kills street trees,
destroys our expensive vehicles
and creates the salt-vehicle smog
that presents a health hazard to
all who must breathe the toxic smog?

This is a major issue relating to
the quality of life in neighborhoods
of Albany, as well as an economic
issue for the City, residents and
commuters.

                               Joe Sullivan

ALBANY'S WINTER SMOG

Go to Thacher Park overlook. Try to
find the City of Albany.

More often than not the city lies
beneath a smog blanket composed
of airborne road salt mixed with
vehicle emissions

Albany lies in a former
glacial lake bed surrounded by
highlands to the West and East.

One can get another view of
of the smog shrouded  City from
the highlands along Rte 4 to
the East of the Hudson River.

A walk in the clear air of Thacher
is a pleasant relief from having
to breathe the salt-vehicle smog
down in Albany.

 
                             Joe Sullivan


























A walk in the clear air of Thacher
is a pleasant break from breathing
the city smog.