After moving into our new home last fall, we really wanted to revisit the idea of our backyard garden - something that we had always done, but with babies around, and back when we both worked full time outside of the home, it had fallen by the wayside. We really enjoy the idea of having fresh vegetables, and we enjoy even more knowing full well where those plants came from; what kind of soil it grew in, what kind of seed it began as. Our back yard is pretty popular with the rabbit and deer population, so we had to fence it in nice and tight.
The beds are raised boxes that are about 10'x5' each (2 of them). We filled them with a mixture of 1/3 sand, 1/3 topsoil, and 1/3 manure, and topped it with peat moss. Below the beds, I dug up about 1' down and turned the soil over, and then turned in some lime to combat the effects of the pine tree that had hung over the area. The area gets sun for at least 7 hours a day, and we feel really good about the location.
We have a number of started seeds, including summer squash, beans, beets, watermelon, pumpkin, carrots, lettuces, and herbs. Future plans include potato, but the first effort we made to get eyes on potato to grow resulted in a nasty slurry of rotten wanter and nausea inducing smells. It was gross.
I love to cook. I love fresh food, and I really like the idea of helping my children to understand that our food doesn't really come from Giant Eagle or Whole Foods. It comes from the earth. We were meant to be involved in that process. I'll be honest - there are times when I even get caught up in it all, and I forget.
So hopefully soon we can actually get a process going here, and I actually need to move the compost bin from where the previous owners had it to a more ideal location. We use so much compostable food that it's a shame we haven't been collecting it this whole time. Oh - and also the rain barrel that is waiting to be tied into the downspout, which is conveniently located a a slight uphill location from the garden.
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