That's right I made $45 at least this morning, got a little wet doing it but it was well worth it. Now I don't get paid to walk, if only, wouldn't that be great. I picked up somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 dozen nightcrawlers and at $3 a dozen that's $45 I saved by not having to buy them for my fishing this summer. OK it's creepy to some but it's worth it to me when we sit down to a mess of those fresh fried fish. Hey, besides that someone has to feed the fish and lots of them eat the worms off my hooks without me catching them so that is a good deed I am doing, right?

So far the buried cooler is working, this morning's catch went in the cooler and that will be all it will hold I think; there was already 5 or 6 dozen in it. They are working on the rhubarb leaves I put in a few days ago, I will put something else in the next day or two. Worms are vegetarian and love anything fresh from the garden just don't give them anything dairy or meat.  Also will add some dry bedding to help soak up some of their 'moisture'.  Shredded newspaper works well and a good way to recycle, a green living tip also! 

So get out there and gather some worms. No? Then just get out there and walk, enjoy Mother Nature and her wonders. Remember she speaks many languages, see how many you can hear-

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This post isn't going to be for everyone but if you are a redneck you will have been there, done that!When trying to pick a category for this blog I was really stumped. It just didn't fit any one section but I figure if we are living off the land that's Green Living right?

We love to fish and use a large worm called night crawlers, well the night crawlers do just that crawl out at night and only after a rain. So we gather them at dawn in the rain most of the time and I love doing it. My mother-in-law got me started many years ago. Her method was to take a flashlight during a nice warm rain and haunt the alleys and streets around the town park. The crawlers were out but as soon as they felt the light on them, zip down the hole they went. If you haven't been night crawler hunting you really can't imagine how fast the little buggers are. If you were lucky enough that there were some just outside your flashlight's range those were the ones you aimed for. Oh and one interesting little tidbit, they  breed at night and if you could catch them in the act you could grab two at a time. Our 4 year old son ask what they were doing and my MIL told them they were wrestling. Good save Mom. We spent many rainy nights this way and laughed while getting soaked, but we had the last laugh as we enjoyed eating the many fish caught with those juicy night crawlers.

We live in the country now on a Wildlife Habitat area with an irrigation lake at our front door. Where the water is let in to the lake - the inlet - is where I have the best luck. The ground is lower there so the worms have to stay out longer.

Well twice this spring I have gotten to go worm hunting. Yesterday morning was the best so far this year. I gathered around 3" in an ice cream bucket. We keep them in small Styrofoam containers in an old refrigerator in our garage; that way everyone can help themselves for we like to share. When my garden gets to over producing that is the only refrigerator for the overflow. Now the worms can't get out of their containers and the two are on different shelves but still, worms and food?

Yesterday after studying some ideas on the Internet I took an old insulated cooler and buried it for a worm farm. The drain was broken and we had it taped so no big loss. I drilled holes every 5" in the bottom, laid window screen over the bottom inside. Then I layered the cooler 1/2 full using couple of inches of soil from the hole I dug, moistened 1" strips of newspaper and bought worm bedding. I found 6-7 worms while digging the hole so I put them in the cooler to test it for a week before I put the big batch in as the pieces I read said to do. This morning they were scattered out and that is a good thing according to the so called experts. I will transfer the others the first of next week.

So that's the extent of my hunting, that and my excursions with my camera.

Took time to plant two rows of peas today, late getting my Good Friday potatoes in but did it anyway. I thought they had gotten thrown out so when I found them I just had to plant them. Radishes and onions are up, the cold frame is doing fine, most things are up, had to transplant broccoli and cabbage yesterday. Found a few of the giant sunflowers coming up from a head I laid in the box last fall, a nice surprise the birds will enjoy this fall.

There are flowers sitting around my house everywhere, even the bathroom, I am forcing blooms on plums and crabapple, cut some forsythia and hyacinths. Oh the smell of the hyacinths, mmmm. Tulips are starting to open up this morning so will have lots of color soon.

Well, if you are bored and don't mind some advice, get out of the house. Take a walk with Mother Nature and listen to all she has to say!  She speaks in many languages!

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Despite the weather diffidently taking a cold turn the seeds jumped, especially the broccoli. About the time I think I am really doing better at getting the seeds planted thin they come up in bunches again. The bunches are scattered but still I have room for improvement. So far no tomatoes in the paper peat pots are up. But I don't doubt but what they will.

The horseradish is breaking ground now all over the old patch, haven't seen any in the new patch but it should soon. Some of last years perennials are up, hyacinths are showing color and the tulips are ready to bud. Again last fall I forgot to dig and divide my newest lily so will do it this week. It is not the evasive kind like daylillies but still has to be divided. Have a lot of older daylillies to get rid of yet, don't ever plant them where you don't want them to take over because they will. If you want them contained bury a tub and plant the bulbs in it. Make sure to leave the rim of the tub above ground a couple of inches. You will still want to thin them out every couple of years.

By the time I get home from having a wonderful fun time spoiling three of our grandchildren Monday, I will be surprised by the changes spring has brought to my garden and flower beds for sure. Hopefully they are all good ones. Will let you know next time. For now I hope the hubby is watering the coldframe daily and Mother Nature keeps the sun shining!

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Well that might be a little presumptous on my part but the cold frame is planted. I did get lazy and left last years soil, just gave it a good boost with more compost and sand. It is packed full with tomato, cabbage, broccoli, summer squash, two kinds of cucumber, basil, jalapeno and another kind of hot pepper I can't remember the name of and morning glory seeds. Some of the tomato seeds are in my homemade newspaper pots, last year I had some trouble with shock when they were transplanted so thought I would try something a friend suggested. The paper will disintegrate letting the roots spread out as needed. Check out hot they are made on my site http://ramblinannie.wordpress.com

With 200 onion sets and two rows of radishes planted we are well on our way. The hubby helped me put up the panels for the peas to grow on and hopefully the soil will warm up enough in the next couple of weeks they can be planted.

The rest will have to wait until we are sure Mother Nature is in her Hawaii mode for sure or they might get their topnotches frosted. Waiting to be planted are carrots, beets, koli-rabi and beans at least.

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