Gardening

This Witch's Garden...

Recently, and by recently I mean June of 2011, we moved into a new house sitting perfectly on a double lot. We have a wonderful backyard! Perfect for the garden of my dreams! I began planning the garden the moment the bank accepted our offer. Much to my disappointment, I will not be able to have the garden I so long for this year. Being pregnant takes too much of my energy. I can hardly keep up with my daily tasks. So, instead of the lavish garden I planned on, this year I will focus my remaining energy on container gardening and refine my plans for my garden for next year! This will also give us a chance to save up a bit and then I won't have to give up anything.

There are a few things that I require of any garden I grow:

1. Must be manageable!! Time, money, and energy are always a huge factor when I plan a garden.
2. No chemicals! I am a very huge fan of the Green movement. I do not use any chemicals in my home. So why would I use them on my food/herbs?
3. Consumable. Not only do I enjoy growing things, but I love to eat/brew/work with what I grow.

Now, there are a few types of container gardens that I am interested in growing this year:

• Herbs for Teas
• Herbs for Cooking
• Tomatoes
• Salad

I'd love to add a few more, but like I said earlier... I need to keep it kind of simple this year. We have a wonderful window in our kitchen and I would love to have an herbal window box! I may need to look into what it would take to install one...

In the next few weeks I will be filling this section with tutorials, information, seed and plant types, and, of course, containers!! Just giving everyone a heads up though... I tend to have a slightly black thumb. I am getting better though! I had a thriving herb garden last year, until the Swallowtail Caterpillars started eating my Dill down to nubs. I couldn't refuse them though. They were so cute. I am always looking for input and advice! Please feel free to message me (mommazen@live.com) or leave a comment!

I am very disappointed that MY computer crashed on me and limited my database of information that I had planned for this section. So, rather than dwell on the past and throw, yet another, tantrum about my stupid hard drive; I'm just going to jump right into this year's garden and the progress we've made so far.

All of our raised beds are being made from recycled wood (aka, Daddy and Neighbor man go out pallet swiping the night of trash day!) We currently have a wonderful stash of pallets behind our garage.

We already have one veggie bed setup and ready to go (it's a 10'x4' bed). We are just waiting for slightly nicer weather considering is is windy, rainy, and (Daddy says) too cold. I love the weather we are having right now. This witch is NOT a fan of heat! 

I was lucky enough for Daddy to have found me an amazing trellis for the bed! I was so excited, it's beyond cute. I'd prefer it were bigger, but it will work for now.

(That bed has also had 12 bags of dirt and 6 bags of aged manure added to it since this photo was taken)

We are currently working on building a second bed with the same dimensions and also a vertical herb garden (also out of a pallet). I can't wait to see the finished product of that one! I will post directions on how to build the vertical bed once it's finished and I know that it is well built.

As soon as we get some veggies in these beds, I will post information on each type and tips on how to grow them. I am also currently reading a phenomenal book called The Year-Round Vegetable Gardener. 

So far, I LOVE THIS BOOK and this is exactly what my family and I are striving to get to. It's a great read for anyone who is a garden-enthusiast. 



As promised, I have pictures of a planted garden! Thus far, nothing has been eaten by any critters. We also have 4 little peppers that are forming rather nicely.




We've got:

• Mixed mini peppers
• Sweet Banana peppers
• Garden peas
• Cucumbers
• Radishes
• Carrots
• Celery
• Tomatoes
• Green AND Purple pole beans
• Arugula
• Spinach
• Mixed baby greens

It sounds like a lot but this bed is MUCH bigger than it looks in the photo.

We've also got a nice little fresh herb garden growing happily against our back fence as well!

This one has:

• Flat leaf Parsley
• Basil
• Greek Oregano
• Stevia

I also have access to chives, thyme, and oregano across the street from us!

I have to admit, none of this would have been possible without the help that my friend and neighbor was there to give me! He helped out so much to get these beds made and dirt shlepped! So just throwing it out there.... THANK YOU NEIGHBOR MAN!!


**2014**

It's that time again... we are prepping beds and expanding the garden! Can't wait to have some pictures for you and a little more information. This year we are working more on creating food stores for the winter months along with fresh veggies and fruits for the summer months!

More info to come soon...