The Garden Project: Getting Started
How did I end up with a red mark like this on my hand?
From being a ho From using a hoe!
Steven and I are participating in the inaugural community garden in our town this year AND WE ARE SO EXCITED!!! We think there are about 20 participants. The gardens are located right behind the police station (the station is behind the fence in the picture below). I like to joke that the cops are watching over our crops.* There are a variety in sizes of plots: 5’x10′, 20’x20′, and 20’x40′. We got a 20’x20′ plot and had to pay $35 – $10 of which we will get back if we clean up at the end of the year.
We have plot #6! I hope it turns out to be lucky #6. We are all the way in the back by the end of the fence (our plot in red below).
The photo above is what our plot looked like when we arrived on Sunday (after my 10 mile run, I might add). We had to break up all the soil, but all we had was a hoe. Hoe away, I did. Steven took measurements and put out all the stakes, and started planting. When I got tired being a ho using the hoe, I managed to dump too many seeds in one area helped plant too.
Halfway through, we had to borrow the shovel of the person next to us. I ran out of steam with that hoe (and the soil was really large and clumpy). Steven used the shovel then I broke up the clumpy dirt with the hoe.
Click to make larger and admire our beautiful work! Really. You WANT to click on this picture (Steven will be happy if you do).
But we got a lot of work done in 3-4 hours (photo above) – we broke up the soil and planted the following:
- Onions
- Two kinds of lettuce
- Cucumbers
- Zucchini
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Green beans
I know that sounds like a lot, but we are hoping just ONE** thing will grow. The sweet potatoes, tomatoes and pepper plants will go in later this month.
It’s not coming through in this post, but Steven and I have been talking about having our own garden for years, and we are excited this opportunity arose. We planned the garden out about a month ago and got all the seeds we needed and tools we could afford. We really hope we have a big yield of crop for us to enjoy and share with our friends. We’ll see what happens!
What are you growing in your garden? Or if you don’t have one, what would you grow? Or, do you think this is too much work? Ha ha.
And yes, I am a hypocrite about posting too many pictures.
A prize I found in the garden…
And what Steven found…
*We’ll still need a fence to keep the animals out.
**I am talking to YOU, green beans.
Themocracy
When we first got married, we had a HUGE garden (about 3x yours), and I thought I had to can and freeze everything that came out of it. (WAY too much for the two of us!) Now that I’m older and wiser, we have a smaller garden that we plant each year. We always do lettuce, spinach, radishes, green beans, and tomatoes. I also like cucumbers and zucchini, but a little bit of those goes a really long way. The rabbits always seem to get the peppers, and I couldn’t deal with the worms in the broccoli. Last year, we did onions, beets, and turnips too. To me, it really makes a big difference what you like to eat the most.
Oh gosh. My husband will freak out if he finds a worm in the broccoli. That has actually happened to him before, and only recently has he been able to eat raw broccoli again.
I think it would be fun to get in to canning. 😉
how fun! i love the pics, btw! 🙂 i really think you’ll LOVE having a garden.
That’s really cool that you get so much space! I think the city offers community gardens, too, but the plots are, errrr, much smaller! Is there a water source there to water your plantings? Though, I don’t think you’ll need one today – nice and rainy!
There is a water source there. It is a huge plastic tank! I think we are okay with the rain today… more to come this week!
Nice work! I used to help at home with our garden all the time and it always ended in blisters and marks such as yours… battle wounds, right? 😉
I keep entertaining the thought of doing an herb garden. But haven’t materialized the idea yet…
Oh, this is SO exciting!! I can’t wait to see more pictures!
If you end up with too many vegetables you know where I live.
I am going to attempt to garden again this year but haven’t actually planned anything out yet. I think I told you about our mishap when my husband was taking care of things after my surgery last year. FYI pumpkins and zucchini look very similar when they are growing at first.
You and Steven did such a good job of getting it done and making it look nice too. I am not so good with plants but somehow outside things seem easier to grow because nature sort of takes care of it a bit and makes it easier for whatever I am trying to grow to forigive my mistakes and thrive anyway. I can’t wait to read updates on this!
Ha! I will probably be knocking at your door with some produce!!!
I hope you garden again. And do it yourself 😉 I was thinking about that story as we planted our seeds 🙂
Thats so cool! My dad and brother are planting a garden (at least more than just a raspberry garden which my mom always has) this year. So far, onions, radishes spinach and lettuce have started popping up. My dad just planted the potatoes yesterday and I have no idea what else they are planting lol
So great! Nice work, hoe lady! I keep wanting to do my own garden, but I’m somehow worried that I will do it wrong and mess things up (as if that matters AT all). I probably should take advantage of this rich Midwestern soil though…
I would really want a garden.. we have been talking about one for a while… but we have an excuse every year as why we haven’t started it… 🙁
What’s the hold up? 🙂
Oh so fun! No major garden for us this year, probably just a small herb garden. I tried growing herbs on my deck last year and that didn’t work out. I have no idea why either! But I’m trying again. 😀
You are cracking me up… cops watching over our crops and hoeing around… whew, I needed a good laugh this morning!!! And that is so freaking cool about the community garden!!!! I can’t wait to see what all grows!!!! dc and I talked about a garden in the backyard but we didn’t have time to do it this year… hopefully next!!! And we can learn from you and Steven!!!
=^..^=
Good luck with the garden. What a cool idea!
That is awesome that your community does that–I really wish mine would. After growing up with parents and grandparents each with their own HUGE (and organic gardens) I miss going out and picking veggies and then cooking them.
This year, I am going to try the topsy turvy thing to grow tomoatoes and try and plant some herbs and maybe some squash. I can only do so much with planters though because my HOA won’t let us have a big vegetable garden 🙁 BOOO
Our HOA won’t let us either, that is why we were excited about this! Let me know how your plants go! I have been curious about potted veggies!
I am envious, we have planted our summer deck herb box. We are attempting Stevia, Strawberries and basil. The stevia has really taken and has grown a few inches in two weeks. The Basil will do ok because it is a hearty herb.
I wish I could grow lettuce, tomatoes, onions and cucumbers. I will have to live vicariously through you.
If I have A TON extra I may be asking for your address 😉
Wheee! You did it!!!! I’m so excited for you and your little plantlings! I swear by my old broken down pitchfork for digging, declumping and hacking away at weeds. You might try an estate sale or something for old garden tools. Super cheap and usually more sturdy than what you find in the stores today.
Can’t wait to see things grow!
What a great tip! I am going to keep that in mind! (The first thing I did was ask my mom if she had any spare tools, ha ha)
That’s great that you are growing your own veggies!
Right now due to the frost, the only thing that’s growing in our backyard are weeds, but I’m hoping the tomatoes will come back and am considering buying a flower box and growing some nice varieties.
Have you ever grown flowers in a box?
I haven’t grown flowers in a box! Is it easy? I do love having flowers around 🙂
How fun! I’ve always loved the idea of a garden, though I have no space for one in our little backyard, and I have kind of a black thumb of death when it comes to growing anything. I would love to grow veggies and herbs though… maybe someday. I think it’s awesome that you’re involved with this.
I think this is a great idea! I’ve always wanted to start my own garden and will get around to it one day. I’m crossing my fingers that everything you planted grows into delicious vegetables. 😀
I clicked the picture to make it bigger!!! Nice job! That looks really good!! When I come visit in August will there still be a garden or will it all be picked by then?
I think there will still be some stuff growing when you come! 🙂
what a fun adventure!
That is awesome! How cool that you can purchase a plot and plant your own goodies. I have never had my own garden so I am going to live vicariously through you! Here’s to hoping lots of yummy veggies in your future.
I am so jealous of your garden! My mom just planted some herbs and some lettuce in her yard and she promised to share them with me. So thats something.
Im trying to grow little pots of cilantro and basil, but Im in a basement suite and theres no place to put the pots that gets more than 30 minutes of sun. Its perfectly bright, but theres no actual SUN ya know?
What a cool idea!!! We used to have a HUGE garden in my backyard. My dad did it every year….tomatoes, zucchini, cucs, peppers and even pumpkins. I loved it!
I don’t know if it’s a good idea to be hoeing around behind a police station. Just saying. : ) Actually, this is a really fantastic idea, and I WISH my community had something like this. Happy Gardening!
LOL! 😛 I am a discreet ho(e) 😉
That is awesome…what a great project!
oh i’m so excited for you!! $35 seems like a pretty great deal for a plot to garden. i hope you get tons of crops! (and i LOVE posts w/lots of pictures, hee)
So awesome! I have always wanted to garden… but I am clueless about it. My family never did but I’m not worrying about it yet since I don’t even have a yard let alone space for a garden :). I’m excited to pick up some tips from you though!
It looks great! I’m always impressed by gardens, especially vegetable gardens. I keep thinking I’ll plant SOMETHING but then I think about how much work it is and I get discouraged. Maybe you’ll motivate me!
That’s wonderful!!! We have an employee garden at work and I’m excited about it! I also have one at home, but I think I may have made some rookie mistakes. I just hope to get some yield!
At work we have: potatoes, tomatoes, onions, sweet peas, canteloupe, okra, and spinach.
At home: potatoes, onions, tomatoes, broccoli, artichokes, cucumber, squash, bell peppers, spinach, kale, and romaine
Please share your rookie mistakes with me! I am sure we are making some too. Wow! Both gardens are going to have awesome crops! 🙂 We should have done some more squash 😉
My sister and I lived in a townhouse together while I was in university and we had a ‘back yard’. Really it was a concrete pad with 2′ of dirt/junk from the previous tenants around the sides, but I was able to clean it up and plant tomatoes and herbs and hostas (on the shady side).
My only tip is manure. My tomatoes were twice as tall as my next door neighbour’s (they ended up about 6 feet tall) and I did nothing to them except mix in manure when I planted.
Now I have no garden and an amazing ability to kill houseplants 🙁
Oo! I will tell my husband about the manure tip! Thanks!
No houseplant can make it past you? 🙁
you know what i always forget about yard work.. how bad my back hurts afterwards!
Ho!
I love your garden, I want a garden. My dad plants a tomatoes and they are mouthwateringly delicious!
How cool! We’ve had a garden for many years and I love it!
You guys did an amazing job 🙂
Awesome work! I have really fond memories of always helping my parents put in a garden every summer at our house. It always somehow resulted in an overflow of tomatoes and not much else, no matter what we planted in various quantities! Maybe the cops’ watch will have some positive yields and what a great cost saver!
I love it, Kim! I am super excited for you guys…too bad you couldn’t use Fritz’ muscles on breaking that tough ground :P. And yes, it’s too bad we’re not there to reap the benefits of having fresh produce from you guys…hee hee.
I also love the way you cross out “being a ho..” I thought that was hilarious! LOL! Keep us updated on your garden project.
This looks wonderful! I love doing a little gardening. I’m no expert at it but it is just so nice to get your hands dirty and be outside, not to mention the rewards of great veggies if you are successful. I have a small backyard but if I didn’t have one at all, I would hope my community would do a garden project like you have. It’s a wonderful idea! 🙂
Man, that looks like SUCH a fun time! I grew up on a farm so I always have a soft spot for gardening. I don’t but always talked about doing it while I was in KC.
I have a teeny backyard that’s mostly flagstones, but my parents have a huge garden and offered us some space to plant whatever we wanted. We planted broccoli, peppers, beets, chard, cucumbers, eggplant, and watermelons. My parents always have a million tomatoes and lots of corn and zucchini.
I think of my old self who hated most vegetables and think — how did I get here? But it’s a much better place to be!