Asparagus, Steem and Cryptocurrencies

This is the first time in my life, that I've planted part of my outside garden in my winter coat. Normally I would never plant in my zone before the 3rd week in May due to the risk of frost, which means almost certain death to fragile plant material.

Today, I took a calculated risk. I planted 10 fairly large asparagus root clusters, 60 snap peas and 20 yellow bean plants.

  

Last Spring, at the end of May, I planted 10 of the green asparagus root clusters called "Jersey Giant", (for the very first time).  I'd always wanted to grow asparagus but shied away from them because I had been told (by more than one well-meaning person) that they were hard to grow. I was also told that it would take 3 years before I could take a harvest. Oddly, people said similar things about Steemit and cryptocurrencies to me too. They said that they were difficult to understand and that growing anything of financial worth would be a futile exercise, that would be a waste of time and effort, at best. 

With asparagus, I was always too impatient to dedicate precious garden space to something that wasn't going to produce at the end of its first growing season. I like producing and growing. It feels like you've accomplished something spectacular when you achieve a high yield of sustenance from a compact growing area, like a backyard garden. Dedicating 2 or 3 precious garden rows to something that doesn't offer a return for a long while, feels counter-productive and less valuable, somehow.

The crux of it all, is that I happen to really like fresh asparagus. I also really like writing, taking photos and socializing with others while I broaden my horizons with perspectives directed to me from all over the world. Steemit let's me do this and it also gently introduced me to the excitement of other crytocurrencies, in the process.

Last Spring, after giving myself a gardening pep-talk, I decided two things. First, I'd better test the advice that I was given and find out if asparagus, Steemit and cryptocurrencies are, in deed hard to grow and for the love of anything good, practice the art of slowing down at the same time, so that I can start engaging in more activities that I really like.

Why did I convince myself that I didn't have transferrable growing skills to grow asparagus and Steem? Why did I think that I really didn't have the time for either challenge?

Ridiculous! I planted the damn asparagus and I created a Steemit account and got started.

 I tended to the asparagus all through the summer and let it go to flower in the early Fall. I seemed to only have female plants, because no seeds were produced. I cut them back just before the snow came, intuitively thinking that this strategy would work best. Last month, all 10 of my original asparagus clusters came up. They survived their first winter and so did my Steemit account. I just patiently worked away at both.

It wasn't hard. (Well, well, well, would you imagine that?)

As a result of my asparagus win, I put 10 more root clusters in the ground. These ones are purple and are called "Purple Passion". I also started investing in a few more cryptocurrencies to round out my growing crypto portfolio. 

To plant the asparagus, I dug a trench about 8 inches deep.

Then I laid each root down, leaving about 6 inches between them.

Next, I gently covered the node end of the cluster with a thin layer of soil and covered the roots a little thicker. Once the nodes start to grow, they will pop through the thin soil layer and I will continue to add a little more soil over top of the planting until the trench is completely filled in. I will also water as needed.

My husband (@knarly327) is famous for two of his sayings. First, that "it's easy to do something, once you know how" and the second is "Just do it, because it will be a good experience for you". 

He usually parrots this to me, in a moment of high frustration as I'm trying to figure something out and cursing like a sailor whose been at sea for far too long. Just about the time that I am contemplating the best way to throat punch him, he'll jump in to help me wade my way through whatever it is that I am struggling with. (Can you tell that we've been married a long time?)

I'm not sure if it is wise to plant two different kinds of asparagus so close together, but time will tell.

Sometimes you just have to try things and keep trying things until you learn how they work. This is the same experience that I've had growing asparagus, Steem and now other cryptocurrencies, too. 

Damn it all! It is easy when you know how and it has been a good experience for me.

My next frigid gardening task was way more risky. I had used our automatic sprouter to start seedlings. After planting a few trays, which will stay indoors for the next 3 weeks, I had quite a few left-over that were viable seedlings.

(This is my sprouter. It's plumbed in, drains into a sink and mists the seeds using a timer. It makes getting any seed to sprout, exceptionally easy.)

I took these left-over seedlings and planted them in the Garden Barrel that @knarly327 built for me last year, too.

I decided to take the centre pail out this year. It had contained worms and was a small composter, but I didn't feel it really worked well. I changed my strategy slightly...just like I have been doing all along with my Steemit account. I make small changes to how I do things, based on the feedback and the new information that I receive over time. 

This year, I planted the top with the yellow beans and the entire outside in snap peas.

If there is a frost warning in my area, anytime in the next 3 weeks, I plan to just cover the barrel. It feels like Steemit is changing very quickly from one day to the next too. I will be carefully watching and I will continue to STEEM ON and trust that all the seeds I have planted will bear fruit! 

I welcome your comments and invite you to follow me on my journey.

~ Rebecca Ryan