May Garden Reports for the Middle South

Hello Middle South Region Square Footers. How are those Garden's Growing? Be sure and share a picture or two. What are you having problems with and what is doing well for you?

First off I would like to apologize for being away from the forum for a week or so. As you may have heard on the news much of Tennessee was hit hard with flooding this last weekend. Hundreds of businesses completely flooded and thousands of people left with almost nothing as their homes were flooded. A number of deaths resulted as well. Some areas saw as much as 16 inches of rain in less than a 48 hour period. If you are a Tennessee resident and were affected by the flooding please post a quick note and let us know how you are doing.

Personally my wife and I are fine. We had minimal water damage to our home and minimal damage to our neighborhood. We did have a stream at the end of our road flood and close the road for a day or two. The water had enough power to buckle and ripple the pavement and tore down fences in several areas.

I have spent several days in the hardest hit areas gutting dry wall and insulation from peoples homes. I started with a close friends home and before I knew it I was working in several of his neighbors homes. I have been heartbroken at the level of devastation and the amount of loss I have seen in these last few days. I have also been uplifted by the number of volunteers showing up to help complete strangers recover and repair their homes.

I have lost count of the number of people who have walked up to destroyed homes and asked if workers needed a bottle of water or a sandwich. I have lost count of the number of people who have stood next to me cutting out dry wall and insulation that were from another part of town or another part of the state. One fellow Tuesday had just driven in from Knoxville Tennessee to help, he brought his RV to stay in but ended up letting a family move into it because their home was unlivable. He got a hotel room and parked the RV in front of their home for them.

Much of my Garden work has fallen by the wayside with all of this going on and I am headed to West Tennessee, Millington area, in a few hours to help with flood clean up there. Millington was my home town and was also devastated. I have family there that did not suffer any damage but several friends from my High School and college days still live there and lost everything. I will be ripping up flooring in a former classmates home on Saturday and hanging new dry wall on Sunday at another home.

Keep West and Middle Tennessee in your thoughts and prayers. I will be back to my garden next week. I may have to buy some plants already started since some of my seed starters have not got the attention they needed but I will have all my squares filled soon. My lettuce varieties are doing well and my tomato plants are taking off like rocket ships. With any luck the cucumber, pepper, and melon plants will not be far behind.

Still Soggy but Blessed in Middle, TN
Jason

Some Photos of my friends home and car. The water was only about 5 feet deep in his home. He was very lucky as some neighbors had water up to their gutters and rafters.

I would be totally destroyed if I ever had to live through something like that. I can't even imagine. Please give them a big hug from me.

Claire

I can't begin to comprehend the devastation...my heart and prayers go out as well.
Rebecca

SQF photos from last Saturday, 5-15-10. I may have to plant rice, it's raining like crazy in Alabama today.

Leon