The One About Planning A Garden

Growing up, mom used to have a huge vegetable garden in the back yard. I remember in the spring, dad would get out there with the rotter tiller and spin it all up…mom rounding us up to start planting….the sisters and I bickering over whose “turn” it was to do the weeding…mom complaining when we came home from two weeks at the cabin and the forest of garden that had over taken the back yard. She eventually decreased its sized as she quickly learned that it was a) a lot of work and b) it always seemed to be ready to harvest, just as we were vacationing at the cabin.

Living with Meemaw, I started to learn a bit more about planting, as she has an incredible green thumb and a wicked eye for coordinating bedding plants. It definitely piqued my interest.

I have never really tried gardening. I did manage to get some bedding plants in last summer, and I definitely learned a thing or two. I think I did not too bad for a complete amateur. But let me tell you…all this playing house and a wonderful new hubby has made me crazy enough to want to try my hand at my very own vegetable garden.

As soon as we bought our home, I had the perfect location for my “garden-wonderful” in mind. It is a 4 x 8 foot section of gravel bed, right along the south fence of the back yard, tucked behind the shed. I watched that section all last summer and (fingers crossed) believe that it will get enough sun.

Late last summer I wanted to know what I was working with for the location of my soon-to-be garden. I had no idea what was under all this gravel. I was a little...erm..aheh...angry with my then-to be husband, so I asked him to pull up all the gravel so I could see if it was possible to plant right into the ground.

It was over 30 degrees that day. I made him move at least two wheelbarrows full of gravel…only to discover that it was useless ground (again…I was mad at him ;)

The spruce roots had made their presence known and there was no way that the soil would be any good for planting, so I went with my original plan of contained gardening. I got out my trusty tape measure and started to plan my design. As I said, I was originally thinking container gardening and was hoping to do a tiered garden, so with that plan in mind, I started sketching and researching.

Stay tuned! I have been a busy bee and can't wait to share this adventure (or total fail) with you!

Hehe…My First Garden!

Cheers!