Animals!

Something is eating the top of my corn! Pretty sure it is an opossum! No way to keep them out unless I put a net on the top. I hope it leaves the rest alone!

Soil

On the advice of a friend, I tested my soil this morning to see if that is why I am losing my seedlings. My PH is fine. But my Nitrogen, Phosphorous & Potash is low. I need new fertilizer. I have been looking, there is so much out there! Any suggestions?

What am I thinking???

This morning I was out with my coffee. I had lost some more plants, a cucumber (putting me to 3 plants), all but 2 of my carrots, all of my beans and some green onions! I was heartbroken! Then, while checking out my herb garden, I realized I had not planted 2 of my most used herbs! Oregano and Thyme! How could I forget those? I had to fix this! I decided to get some different carrot seeds and replant them. Big mistake, going anywhere near seeds. I ended up buying new carrot, bean, garlic chives, oregano, spearmint, and thyme seeds, and a jalapeno plant! I put the jalapeno in the space where the cucumbers were, replaced the carrots and the beans, put some garlic chives in where I lost the green onion. I planted seeds in cups for the oregano, spearmint and thyme. I also decided to try and start my mix of bell peppers again. Where am I going to put all of this? In my excitement of starting a garden, I think I have over done it. Now I need to worry about over crowding! Of course, if I keep losing my plants, that wont be a problem! I just wish I knew why I was losing them. To much water? Not enough sun? Wrong soil? Transplant shock they just never got over? My herbs are doing great. Is it because I put the amender in? Is that my mistake in my gardens? Lots of questions but no real answers. Frustrating, yes! Will I give up? NEVER!

Completed??

I think so, but who knows? Besides planting the watermelon, all seedlings and seeds are planted. I have everything situated as I would like it. I may still add rock, so it isn't so dusty but not sure how I will like working on that. I set up a little work table, and a chair so I can sit and admire my work..haha...Anything you think I should add?

Pumpkins are planted

Today, I decided I better get the pumpkins transplanted. I was worried that they were not big enough but they were out growing their cup. I know the area may look small but I left several feet between the pumpkin mound and the fence for growth.

Mother's Day

What a great day! What can be better than spending your day with family and working in the garden? I can't think of anything! I got my pumpkin and watermelon mounds done, now just waiting for the seedlings to get big enough to plant. I think the pumkin is big enough so will probably do that tomorrow. So, besides having to plant those, my garden is done, well until harvest time! However, I am sad to report, it looks like I have lost all but 2 of my carrots. The seeds I have planted have not sprouted yet either. Not sure what I am going to do yet. I have to have carrots so will probably try to plant again. Most of my lettuce has died but my seeds are coming in. And I lost another cucumber plant, out of 6, I have 4 left! But on the positive side, I have a baby tomato! And my herbs are thriving! I start to get frustrated at my losses and have to remind myself that this is my first try and am learning as I go. Next year, I will not plant but a few things early. Everything else will go in the ground! I saw some animal prints in my garden today. Not sure if it is from our dogs and cat or if an opposum is visiting! So far, they have not caused damage, but I need to keep my eye out on that. I am going to put a fence up at the end of the house so my animals can not get in. They wont like not being able to follow me around! Tomorrow, I will post pictures of my finished work! Meant to take them yesterday but was side tracked by mimosas!

My Mornings

Every morning, I get my cup of coffee and walk out to my garden. Not only do I have a sense of accomplishment when I look at what I have done, it soothes me, just as planting does. It is a wonderful feeling to watch what you have planted sprout and grow. Yesterday, I found a baby strawberry. This morning, I was showing my daughter Cori my gardens. I showed her my 4 cups where my pumpkin and watermelon still had not sprouted. Later today, I once again walked over there and the pumpkin had broke the surface and I can see the sprouts for the watermelon. I am literally watching my garden grow. What a feeling!

Herb Day!

Finally, I got to Home Depot to get the materials for my herb box. So yesterday, I put Jake to work:
While he was building that, I raked and shoveled. Got the area for by herbs level and ready to go. After worrying about whether or not I made a mistake with the soil on the vegetables, I added a soil amender to the dirt and compost for the herbs. I wish now, I had done it before.

I try and cook with fresh herbs (well ones from the store) whenever I can get them. They add so much to the meal. I also believe strongly in the medicinal aspect of herbs and would take natural over pills any day. I have been taking a class on The Science and Art of Herbalism. I am learning how to make herbal remedies, teas, etc. I want to learn how to dry my herbs too. I know they are not as potent as fresh, but fresh dried are better than the store. I have been taking the class for awhile, should be done by now but was discouraged by my lack of a garden..but look out now! Although my herb garden is not as large as I would like it to be this year, if it is successful, next year will be another story!

Transplant Day

I was very nervous about transplanting my seedlings. Where they big enough? Strong enough? Well according to everything I read, they were. So, the first of May, I took the plunge and put my vegtables into the boxes. I did plant tomatoes, zuccini and the cucumbers in the ground. I have been a bit worried about them. They seem to have gone into "transplant shock". I have been keeping my fingers crossed for the last 2 weeks that that is all it is. I worry I may be over or under watering and I am not sure that all plants are getting enough sun. I didnt have enough carrots or lettuce, so I filled in the rows with seeds. I noticed this morning that some lettuce has sprouted. I did cheat with a few items. I could not get the pepper plants or tomato plants to grow, so I purchased small plants.

Planning

The first thing I did was plan how I wanted my garden and what I wanted to plant. I took measurements, drew out my plans, researched plants & soil. I chose my plants and the first part of April, I planted in paper cups to get my seedlings started while I decided on how I wanted to plant. Because of the type of area I had to plant and the limited space, I knew I had to use garden boxes. I read several articles on small gardens to find out what type of wood I needed and get some ideas on how they were built. I decided on redwood, got my idea on my boxes and with the help of my son Jake (okay, he built all of them), the boxes were built. The soil was the hardest thing. I did a lot of research on this. Our soil is a combo of clay and sand but because of cost, I knew I could not fill the boxes with soil so I decided on a good compost and mixed it in with my dirt. I am not sure I made the right decision on that. I guess only time will tell.

First things First

To start, I needed to clean up this mess! This took a couple of weekends, but while cutting, pulling weeds and cleaning, the vision for my garden became more clear. Put the watermelon and pumpkins here, sunflowers over there, radishes, carrots, lettuce over here. My list for planting grew beyond reality! But it was fun dreaming!

The beginning

For years I have told myself that I was going to feed my family better, work out more, get healthy. You know, all the New Years Resolutions we have the best intentions of following, then life gets in the way. I decided 2010 was going to be my year...I have started slow, but picking up speed. One of my major goals was to have a garden come spring. We have lived in our house for 15 years and I have threatened to have a garden every year. There is only one spot, on the side of the house, that I could plant. Well, it was full of weeds, the neighbors fence is about to fall down and I just didn't see the point (in case it fell on my garden). So, I could not get excited about it again. And that bothered me. Fortunately, on face book, I was reacquainted with one of my friends from high school. She and her family are avid gardeners, enter their produce in the fair and have a blog (see blogs I follow. You will love their blog). Seeing what she did, with her family, how much joy they had in their garden, well I felt that stirring of excitement for a garden once again. Thanks Sue! What am I doing here, with this blog? I have no idea! What do I know about blogging or gardening? Well, I guess, I am going to learn both! And so the journey begins.....