It's better to be proud of a small garden than to be frustrated by a big one !
First off . . . Why bother with a vegetable garden ? ? ? When you
consider the amount of work, wouldn't it be easier to just buy what
you want at the grocery store ?
Well . . . That all depends on what you are wanting to accomplish.
The price of produce seems to be climbing higher than my pole
beans ! So I save a LOT of money by gardening. We haven't
bought vegetables in 4 years other than lettuce in the winter.
ACK ! There are times when Romain is $2.00 a head, and it
didn't look all that great ! ( Working on a better way to grow
lettuce off season . . . seems it KNOWS when it is winter ! )
Also, when you buy from the grocer ( Farmer's Markets are usually all right though )
you are buying vegetables that have been sprayed with pesticides, herbicides, and chemical
fertilizers. Thanks but NO THANKS ! If I get a little bug bite on my green beans, I
just snip it off . . . I don't want the chemicals ! They are TOXIC !
Also . . . these vegetables have been picked before they are ready ! The last growing
stages of fruits and vegetables add the most wonderful flavors ! AND they are more
nutritious. So give me a home grown veggie any day !
The size of your garden does not have to be huge . . . It should be manageable and
enjoyable. I have had large gardens that overwhelmed me, and at one time I had
a garden that was completely in containers ! Thank goodness whiskey barrels were
cheap back then ! Ha ha What ever size garden you choose, grow the things that
YOU and your family want. And while you are at it, grow an extra row to give to
the local food bank. They can always use fresh home grown produce !
These pages will grow as I run across items, so check often !
And if you have a particular question, feel free to ask. I don't have all the answers,
But I will do my best to find a solution for you ! Feel free to send in your own
tips on gardening too !
Where to grow . . .
Make sure you have a sunny location for your garden. Look your yard over as the
snows are starting to melt. The area where the snow melts off first is a good indication
that it is a warm sunny place. You want the sun to be on your garden as much as
possible. If I planted my garden on the west side of my yard, the garage would keep
it in shadow most of the day. So I plant on the east side of the garden. By 9 a.m. the
sun has gone past my neighbors garage and my garden is in full sun until sundown.
Pretty cool, eh ? ? ?
Sometimes I want to plant more than my garden area can hold . . . so after the tulips
are done blooming, I will plant lettuce . . . You need not restrict your garden to one
area . . . Play ! Enjoy !
Starters
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Peppers
Peas
Cabbage
Radish
Beans
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A Home made dehydrator with a minimal amount of work and expense !
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| Background photo by Olivia http://public.fotki.com/whispersfromspirit/ |
