Planning Your Garden

It is this time of year that most gardeners have their seeds started. The early birds here in the north country may have their soil ready for planting. Others already have their cooler weather crops in.

We have our beds ready quite early for the north country and it is time for us to map out where everything is going. I keep an accurate record each year of where things are planted so I don't repeat plant. Crop rotation is one of the key things to do in order to cut down on disease and depletion of soil nutrients. I have found two great writings that aid in rotation and planning. The first is a pdf file from the Washington State Department of Ecology. It is a "rotation for dummies" type of article full of charts and solid reference material. www.co.thurston.wa.us/health/ehcsg/pdf/CSG_VegeGarden_sglpg.pdf

The other is an on-going blog site from another north country garden across the border in Vermont. I had the pleasure of hosting the owner of Sweet Grass Farm for a writing sabbatical. She writes for High Mowing Organic Seeds, one of those great blogs that is like opening a personal home garden magazine. You may want to bookmark the link for the step-by-step approach on garden planning. http://www.highmowingseeds.com/blog/garden-planning-a-step-by-step-approach . I am so grateful for the high quality seeds that they develop, test and make available.

REMEMBER ~~ Your garden will only be as good as your soil, the plan, and the seeds you use. All of this preparation is worth its weight in fresh veges!

Spring Has Sprung

It’s Good Friday and the sun is warming the soil. We are hoping to be able to till this weekend and get those rows going north to south to maximize the sun exposure. There is one area of the garden that is still very wet because it drops off a little and I was seriously considering bringing in some additional soil and supplements for that area. There is also a scrub tree that is on the east side of the garden that we had left last year in our hurry to just get established. We will be removing that this spring. Forecast is for sunny and in the 50’s. Let’s hope it follows through. One never knows living in this area of country.

The blueberries have buds swelling and I will gather the pine needles from the front of the property to spread around them for some additional nutrients.

The seeds that were started have now begun to sprout. I have them nursing themselves inside the 3-season porch that is south facing. Help from two large grow lamps help keep them warm at night. I started several varieties of lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, brussel sprouts, squashes, dill, parsley, basil, eggplant, catnip, cauliflower and broccoli. In two weeks I will sow another crop of lettuce.

There is no greater feeling than watching those young plants stretch themselves upwards. It is like a rebirth each time one pops up. We will hold their hands and keep their feet firmly planted until they bear their fruit. Then we will save their seeds and bring them back to life again next year.

So many people are planting gardens now. I was seriously thinking of organizing an organic seed swap in my area. I’ll have to put it out on my Facebook and post up some signs. I’m so excited that a friend of mine has organized a CSA (community supported agriculture). She is including fresh eggs, fresh soap, and fresh chickens with her fruit and vegetables. I wish more people would do this. To expand the CSA movement across the country would help eliminate the need for trucking our food supply and lessen our carbon footprint.

And we're off and running....

The snow has melted and the first of some of our perennial garden items in our own yard are popping up. This rhubarb is from the garden of my surrogate grandparents. I grew up next door to Elizabeth and Henry and think of them each time one of their plants pokes its head up. I also have their garden bench that my younger brother and I used to sit on when little. I may move it to my garden area…just because.

The first of the seeds have been started. Warm, sunny space for all of them is a real issue. So I purchased some grow-lite bulbs and put them in some adjustable lamps I already had on hand. I will keep them in the living room for a week or two, then place them in the enclosed porch of Kilburn Place. It is south facing with lots of windows.

I’ve started all of the following from seeds gathered last year:

* black seeded simpson lettuce

* flame lettuce

* broccoli

* Italian flat leaf parsley

* pumpkin (jack-o)

* acorn squash

* butternut squash

* straight neck yellow squash

* zucchini

New seeds purchased this year are:

* sweet Italian basil – for summer use and for drying

* roma tomatoes (Burpee)

* long-keeper tomatoes (Burpee’s Organic)

* baxter’s bush cherry tomatoes (Burpee’s)

* italian frying peppers (Hart’s) - very tough seeds to find!

* oregano (Burpee)

* cauliflower (snowball – American Seed Co)

* dill (Burpee)

* black beauty eggplant (Burpee)

* swiss chard (Ferry Morse)

* white Lisbon bunching onions (American Seed)

* pumpkin (jasper – Ferry Morse)

I’m really excited about the jasper pumpkin. I think something about a white pumpkin will make the front porch or our tables look very autumn-like, come that time. I also ordered some seedless tomato seeds from Burpee. They are supposed to be a very juicy and meaty tomato. We shall see.

We have decided to burn off the overgrowth where the garden is going. This is a good week for it since it is damp out and we don’t have to worry about a huge brush fire spreading. (Nothing worse than the Fire Chief having an out of control brush fire.) The tilling shall begin soon afterwards.

So now that those seeds are started, I have to plan a raised bed for asparagus and another one for some root crops. Also planning what type of fencing. Anyone with some good ideas on either of those? Tips are appreciated.

Welcome To My Dirt

Welcome to my little corner of this earth. Seven years ago I had a huge garden when living in another state. I haven't had the time or space for one, until now. A property purchase last year has enabled me to dream of planning, planting, weeding and harvesting my next generation garden.

The area I've chosen has not been even mowed for 6 years. But it gets sun from sun up to sun down. This will prove extremely handy since I live above 44 degrees latitude. It is April 12th and we still have some snow on the ground. Yes, a very short season. So I will be looking for avenues to extend the season.

I will also be dealing with lots of critter control. Although we live in town, this area has lots of deer, woodchucks, skunks, some moles and an occasional bear or moose. I think a good fence will be in order and want to remain as organic as I feasibly can.

So sit back and enjoy the journey of building this garden from the hay up with me. Feel free to chime in to offer tips and comments anytime. I look forward to my new garden in the north country. Welcome to my dirt!