flowers for kev

           rarely do i get flowers , except when i buy them myself. a special friend bought me some and they are lovely , more so because i would hardly spend money on them as i now manage a greenhouse, and would only hope i can grow such beauties . it sure has brightened a winter wracked kitchen on which i will spend awhile getting the gray out. but the flowers sure help. thank you again. 

         and i am buying flowers and starting baskets. in fact it was a month ago i started about thirty baskets and transferred to the greenhouse. after which winter started with a vengeance causing me more harm than good. burnt up a bunch of lp gas fuel and decided it was time to convert to wood. even though winter is still nagging on.  it doesn't take much sun  to get the greenhouse up to 80 degrees and it wont be long till i will need to ventilate. i had never expected to be running a greenhouse and to say the least this is still a new adventure to me. i only plan on being in this business for the next 10 years, and hopefully by then i will know everything you shouldn't do in running a greenhouse. 

        the greenhouse is owned by yockey farms which is a family corporation and the name is in honor of my grandfather and grandmother with out whom , our family would have been a lot worse off. this is a new adventure for us. the greenhouse is located at 7528 e. sparta ave. magnolia ohio, 44643. i am the resident carver and chief and cook and bottle washer. i know all but i am a  hardly get anything as much as i would like to get done type person. wishing for wasted youth i spent freely to come visit me again. with help from a friend , i am getting closer to resembling a greenhouse operation. 

       it is time to go to the next step,  to try and make some money. the greenhouse is loaded with pine trees that need to start moving and yockey farms  is  offering for sale pine trees out the door in original pots at 5.00 per tree as an arbor day special. originally i had planned to plant on reclaimed strip mine land but the lease is still being held by the coal company. also i originally thought that by planting in pots would assure a lower mortality rate among trees as compared to bare root planting as they normally come. i feel it has helped me preserve more trees especially during last years drought conditions. the trees are growing great and will soon be out of the pots with most needing re-potting,  save me some needed soil and plant directly into your yard or fence line. their size should surely help in easy identification to prevent loss due to mowing or weed whipping. most are in the 2 foot range and taller, with well established roots. 

      why plant a tree on arbor day? why not . maybe you were going to jump in your new corvette and take a quick trip to the beach , or maybe it was pontoon boat trolling the shores of the ohio river looking for a place to tie up. it is about balance in life. as humans we have become real good at taking but find it much hard to give, especially when it comes to the environment  we expect our politicians to look out for our best interest when it comes to our consumption practices. unchecked petroleum prices grow exponentially as profits do also , while oil spills, fracking , and the impact on the environment. the wellhead and the pipelines that criss-cross our nation as well as the international impact all add up to one of many abuses we inflict daily upon an already stressed  ecosystem.  and politicians are to deeply embedded in the system to change it or want to. we are still studying the effects of the industrial revolution and how it impacted our weather and climate today, yet not really understanding completely mankind's role in how we affect everything us.  

        we should err on the side of caution and safety in health. even if global warming didn't exist , then what harm will a couple of more trees cause. none in fact it will be shade for a weary sole someday or food for a squirrel as it keeps on giving and at same time locks up- hydrocarbons and stabilizes our environment.  in the end rots to nothing and becomes nourishment for another of its kind or other plant life. your corvette or pontoon takes a little something away from the environment each time we use it. or worse yet it releases carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide into the environment , at the same time the oil company is clearing a 100 foot right of way through a woods somewhere for a pipeline or a well head to keep you going down that road or up that river. . how many trees did the pipeline or well operators plant? none. 

        turn up your thermostat and the power company shoots another ton of coal buried under the hills of northeastern ohio , to sell to you. of that money , reclamation and air quality are  mandatory expenses comprising a large percentage of that money . but  are we getting what we pay for when it comes to matching original vegetation. if the trees were 65 percent oaks , then that is what should be replaced. we get the area reclaimed where mining exists , but barren level fields hardly reminiscent of anything of like it was originally is the norm . 

       i could go on and sound like i am on a soapbox but instead choose to not fight with industrial zealots who believe we can continue utilizing all resources without any fear to the consequence except when it comes to profits. i have a simple solution buy a tree and i will feel better about everything. 5 is nothing , it is half of the new anticipated minimum wage. every year i plan on having this sale and hope that each year it expands as more people get involved. prices may not always be the same. 

      if you are interested in buying a tree or trees, i will have some planting information available at time of sale. in addition i may be offering to deliver these trees to your place of residence lessening their fossil fuel requirements as i would plan my route and would have one vehicle driving as opposed to several vehicles coming to my place of residence. 

      some people who are not interested in planting or cant plant , may decide to use our service of planting on your property or ours if you are renting and want to do something to help the environment. our planting crew will plant on your land for 10 per tree. if you need a place to plant a tree to help do your part and want to plant it yourself , you can do it on our farm. the cost is 7.50 per tree. we will provide the shovel and the tree and a ride to your tree planting site on a wagon. this planting area will be set aside with promise to never cut the tree while our family retains the land. i will take a picture of your family with your tree if you like aalso for free . this is kinda like going out to cut your christmas tree only you are planting one that will be around a lot longer. our family originally bought this land in 1942 and really don't see selling anytime soon. but for as long as i am around will do my best to keep my word . we are not responsible for accidents , and large groups should make preparations in advance. we will do our best to accommodate handicapped individuals. but this is a farm. if participation is high then may provide hotdogs off the grill and a drink. possibly cider. 

        will have contact information on my new website : kevscarvings-chainsaw carvings -i am still working on it but if you go to my contact page and send me an email , i will get back to you as soon as possible. a receipt will be provided and all taxes will be paid for that amount. also on my website i will have yard tools available for sale in both new and used condition. at times i will have carvings available for sale also when  they become available. the website will be the business end of our yockey family greenhouse. 

      the official arbor day this and every year is the last week in april on friday the 26th . as more information and response becomes available will let you know in this blog. i will be looking forward to planting at least 10 of our own trees also as well as maybe even more.