So, the seeds are here! I felt like I was meeting a new little baby when I carried in the little parcel.
I was crushed, however, to find all my tidy white seed packs neatly packed away WITH NO DIRECTIONS. I've always seen the packets all printed with sun, water, and planting recommendations. Apparently, the people who order from Heritage Farms know what they are doing already.
I now will need to do a little more homework. Off to get right on that...
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Stall
There was no garden progress this week.
I have tried daily to reach my seed company, but their phone is busy or no one answers. It is time to move on and try to find seeds somewhere else.
I have farmed out my little boy and cleared my schedule of other projects in order to get outside (rain or shine) this week and get things going.
The good news is that Jim hasn't put down seeds yet either. So, if he knows what he's doing, I'm still ok. If he doesn't or is late, I'm hosed.
Off to rest up for a big week.
I have tried daily to reach my seed company, but their phone is busy or no one answers. It is time to move on and try to find seeds somewhere else.
I have farmed out my little boy and cleared my schedule of other projects in order to get outside (rain or shine) this week and get things going.
The good news is that Jim hasn't put down seeds yet either. So, if he knows what he's doing, I'm still ok. If he doesn't or is late, I'm hosed.
Off to rest up for a big week.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Still Waiting
So, on Tuesday I skipped my garden and planted some pansies.
On Wednesday we turned over a bit more soil.
Thursday and Friday were a little chilly and I was busy with some other things, so we didn't get out.
This morning, Adam and I went and got our hoses sorted out. I wanted the longer one at the front of the house and I had an old broken hose reel I needed to get all untangled. I did most of this with Adam on my hip because there's a pesky little black cat who has figured out he scares Adam and loves to come freak him out. Despite his making my gardening task a bit more difficult by terrifying my toddler, I enjoy this little "diddy dat." Charming personality and some good company.
I still need to finish preparing my bed. The weather doesn't have use below freezing again in the 10-day, so I'm hoping my seeds will arrive this week and sometime in the next couple I can get them in the ground.
I'm going to try to come up with first draft plan for planting tomorrow and run it by my mom. I hope to also do some reading about composting. My friend Shannen sent me some good links. I'd like to try to compost without buying special equipment, but I have to read up and see what will work.
On Wednesday we turned over a bit more soil.
Thursday and Friday were a little chilly and I was busy with some other things, so we didn't get out.
This morning, Adam and I went and got our hoses sorted out. I wanted the longer one at the front of the house and I had an old broken hose reel I needed to get all untangled. I did most of this with Adam on my hip because there's a pesky little black cat who has figured out he scares Adam and loves to come freak him out. Despite his making my gardening task a bit more difficult by terrifying my toddler, I enjoy this little "diddy dat." Charming personality and some good company.
I still need to finish preparing my bed. The weather doesn't have use below freezing again in the 10-day, so I'm hoping my seeds will arrive this week and sometime in the next couple I can get them in the ground.
I'm going to try to come up with first draft plan for planting tomorrow and run it by my mom. I hope to also do some reading about composting. My friend Shannen sent me some good links. I'd like to try to compost without buying special equipment, but I have to read up and see what will work.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Soil
Today the kids and I drove out to Valley View Farms. They began their Spring hours today, and it felt special to be there as the nursery was waking up. Just a few shrubs and trays of pansies in what is usually a packed indoor and outdoor garden center.
We took a soil sample. It turns out our soil is slightly acidic. Our PH level was about 6.8 and we want it a bit lower, around 6. The garden guy recommended an 8 pound bag of lime. The whole clay issue is apparently a non issue. I asked about peat moss, but he said that peat moss could lower the acidity too much. He said we should be fine, but to just add a 2 inch layer of Leaf Grow to the top of the soil. He also pointed me to a bag of organic fertilizer I can sprinkle.
This information was a sweet relief, for some reason I was expecting them to tell me I would need a truckload of manure and 7 bales of peat moss. A few bags of Leaf Grow, some lime and fertilizer seem simple. I was also pleased that no one seemed to think I was behind. I felt almost like I knew what I was doing.
I emailed the seed people today as well. I'm sure they are rolling their eyes at me, as I actually only placed my order on February 25th. It's been fewer than 2 weeks and I'm already tapping my foot. I wonder how I'll do waiting for seeds to become food.
Our last accomplishment in our garden front was the most fun. After naps, I took the kids out back and let them play while I dug. I've expanded the garden about a foot and then turned over soil and pulled some weeds in about a third of the bed.
On a sad note, I learned this morning that a friend and a cousin-in-law both passed away this weekend. I don't know how to put losses like these in words, so I won't try. It just didn't feel right to write without acknowledging this change in the world and lives of those I love. May they rest in peace.
We took a soil sample. It turns out our soil is slightly acidic. Our PH level was about 6.8 and we want it a bit lower, around 6. The garden guy recommended an 8 pound bag of lime. The whole clay issue is apparently a non issue. I asked about peat moss, but he said that peat moss could lower the acidity too much. He said we should be fine, but to just add a 2 inch layer of Leaf Grow to the top of the soil. He also pointed me to a bag of organic fertilizer I can sprinkle.
This information was a sweet relief, for some reason I was expecting them to tell me I would need a truckload of manure and 7 bales of peat moss. A few bags of Leaf Grow, some lime and fertilizer seem simple. I was also pleased that no one seemed to think I was behind. I felt almost like I knew what I was doing.
I emailed the seed people today as well. I'm sure they are rolling their eyes at me, as I actually only placed my order on February 25th. It's been fewer than 2 weeks and I'm already tapping my foot. I wonder how I'll do waiting for seeds to become food.
Our last accomplishment in our garden front was the most fun. After naps, I took the kids out back and let them play while I dug. I've expanded the garden about a foot and then turned over soil and pulled some weeds in about a third of the bed.
On a sad note, I learned this morning that a friend and a cousin-in-law both passed away this weekend. I don't know how to put losses like these in words, so I won't try. It just didn't feel right to write without acknowledging this change in the world and lives of those I love. May they rest in peace.
Friday, March 6, 2009
In The Beginning
There was earth.
A little patch against our garage that gets half a day of sun. Mostly the noon til sundown sun.
Three summers ago, while we were away for the summer, our neighbors planted tomatoes and zinnias in the little stripe of potential. For two years the tomatoes came back and I apologized every time I saw Jim that I wasn't taking better care of them.
Then last spring we had a fence built, and that summer I actually tended my little piece of land and added three new varieties of tomatoes to my returning cherries that Jim had put down. Along with some herbs, I managed to keep tomatoes growing on 6 plants.
This year, I would like to keep a garden of about 10 vegetables. I'm aiming for easy ones. It is a learning year.
I am already a bit behind. Sigh. I've ordered, but not received, seeds. The next thing I need to figure out is how to get my soil ready. It's on the clay side and I think I need to mix something in there. I also need to expand my space a bit and make a plan. I'm waiting for my seeds so I can read the back and decide where to plant and how to space things.
This week I'm going to figure out what to do to the soil and check on my seed order.
I hope anyone reading this will feel welcome to share any information you have, as I am very truly a rookie.
A little patch against our garage that gets half a day of sun. Mostly the noon til sundown sun.
Three summers ago, while we were away for the summer, our neighbors planted tomatoes and zinnias in the little stripe of potential. For two years the tomatoes came back and I apologized every time I saw Jim that I wasn't taking better care of them.
Then last spring we had a fence built, and that summer I actually tended my little piece of land and added three new varieties of tomatoes to my returning cherries that Jim had put down. Along with some herbs, I managed to keep tomatoes growing on 6 plants.
This year, I would like to keep a garden of about 10 vegetables. I'm aiming for easy ones. It is a learning year.
I am already a bit behind. Sigh. I've ordered, but not received, seeds. The next thing I need to figure out is how to get my soil ready. It's on the clay side and I think I need to mix something in there. I also need to expand my space a bit and make a plan. I'm waiting for my seeds so I can read the back and decide where to plant and how to space things.
This week I'm going to figure out what to do to the soil and check on my seed order.
I hope anyone reading this will feel welcome to share any information you have, as I am very truly a rookie.
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