Well, I learned a little more about poison oak. I now know it is not only the leaves that have the poison oil on them but the most of it is in the stems. It is the live blood of the plant and is the fluid in the veins of the the vine. The vine can be “dead” or just dormant but the oil is still in the stem and when you break the stem the oil sprays all over you. That is why if you try to burn “dry, dead” poison oak, you can catch it from the smoke. The oil is still in the stems for years and the heat of the fire boils it out the end of the stems and is carried off by the smoke, so watch out!!
I think I am finally on the mend. I got into the poison oak and it got so bad it turned into rash like burn with big weeping patches. I am still pretty much laid up and only doing inside work that is needed but am getting better now and hope to be outside working again soon. Norman has been working on the gardens and everything has been harvested now except a few leeks and four green pepper plants and a half row of carrots that are not fully grown yet. This next week we hope to get a truck load of mulch to put on the flower gardens to help lightened the soil and keep the weeds down for the winter. We do not have the stable manure this year to put on the vegetable gardens so will put on some compost this fall and then get some bagged compost in the spring. The soil is so well built up it really does’t need much this year anyways but do want to have it still ready for planting in March. Have a great day and keep well.
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About Carol (Ouma) Petts
I am a retired teacher. I have taught all levels from kindergarten through college and have been retired now for over 20 years. The last ten years we have lived on a farm and lived off the land, growing our own food and canning for our extended family. Now we have sold the farm and are moving to Florida to truly retire. I guess I have always had a short attention span as this is our 11th move. We have moved from a small farm in New Hampshire, to more city type living, small business adventures, focusing more on traveling, Florida living, Georgia, and Tennessee farming and now back to Florida. My blog is a way to keep my children up to date on what I am doing and letting them know I am still alive and well. My children are spread across the country from New England to Florida, Nova Scotia to New Mexico and CA and several places between, They let me know what they are up to by commenting on my blog but they are so busy with their own lives most times I have to assume " no news is good news". Now I are starting on a new adventure so will try to give daily updates until we get settled into a routine. Then I know even if I am getting older and should settle down I will start looking for some new and exciting adventure to start. Welcome aboard. Norman died Oct 30, 2017 so I am continuing the journey alone with the aid of my children, grand children and great grand children. At present I am living with my daughter and we are 7 in one house and cover four generations. We range in age from 7 to 85 and are finding common ground, we are living proof that multi generations can live and function in a three bedroom house if they really want to. Soon my grandson will have his house built next door so we all will have a room of their own except for the seven year old twins who by choice will share a room.
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