Garden adventures

Last year I really wanted to start a garden. So I built a 4x4 box and made a lovely concoction of soil (following the square foot method) and compost and planted every square of my nice little grid. It grew like mad. However, as a big pregnant lady I didn't have the energy to go out to harvest or weed or really anything that involved me spending any extra time out in the heat and humidity towards the end of summer.

This year I vowed to do better. So my neighbor and I went to some local gardening classes in February and March and planned and plotted our gardens. We even shared a seed order to a local nursery.

But then when Audrey and I went out to plant it started raining so we quickly sowed a few seeds rather haphazardly. I intended to write down what we had planted and where but instead...

This year my garden has been full of fun surprises. The squash turned out to be cucumbers. The lettuce is perhaps kale. Things are still growing like mad but I'm just not sure what they all are. I may have some carrots but that could be parsnips as well. I am quite sure that when I am a more experienced gardener I will laugh heartily at this garden of surprises.

Goal for 2011

I have one goal for 2011 - to have a garden. In my neighborhood, you are supposed to either have a fence or get your "landscaping" approved. I have been putting off the garden for years due to lack of a fence, but now, I have decided that I am just going to try it anyway. The worst that can happen is they tell me to get approval from my neighbors and/or tell me to get a fence.

Audrey and I have been talking about our plans and what we want to grow. I am going to do a raised bed for our first garden. I already know my backyard soil is bad and this way it will be fairly simple to put up some chicken wire around the garden to protect it from furry friends who may want to taste test the goods. It should be a fun project!