My New Toy

 

I purchased a new toy today.  A Troy-Bilt electric tiller.  I looked at this last season, but didn't purchase it.  It was the same price as last year, so I decided to treat myself.  It's getting great reviews and as of today I can vouch for it.  It's light weight and will cut through sod like a butter knife.  We were able to put the handles on in 10 minutes and it was ready to go.  I used it today to break up the leaves and newspaper that I've been placing in the garden through out the winter, and to prepare a spot for my onions and garlic.  It did a good job.   

I plant to put in a few flower beds this year, and wanted something that I could maneuver without breaking my back or have it jump away from me.  This little baby does the trick.  I love the fact that it's electric, and I don't have to fool with gas and oil.  I have miles of outdoor electric cord that I use for Christmas lights, so reaching long distances from the electric outlets is not a problem. 

I was concerned that I would have a problem with the cord getting in the way while I was working, but it's manageable. 

I got a few rolls of garlic, white and yellow onions in today that I will be storing.  It's calling for rain tomorrow, so they should get a good soaking.  I going to plant a few red sometime this week.  Red onions are my favorite.  I love to use them on burgers and in my salsa in the summer.  If you plant red onions, what kind do you plant?  

I checked out one of my compost bins today.  It's looking good.  It broke down nicely.  I'll be able to use quite a bit of it in the garden this season.  The other bin is coming along.  I need to get it heated up, so I'll be able to use it next season.  When I first started the compost bins, I was getting grass from my neighbor since I have lawn service.  It was the one ingredient that heated the bin up quickly.  She has lawn service now, so I wasn't able to add grass to my second bin.  They mulch your grass so there's nothing left to bag.  How do you get your compost heated up?  Have you planted anything in your garden yet?