Well, the garden is in full swing, to say the least.
One of the most exciting and calming things at the end of a day is to walk out to the garden and see what is happening. It seems as though one short day, where I feel like I accomplish next to nothing, can yeild so much activity in that little garden world. Did I tackle even half of my "To-Do List"? No, but the zucchini has tripled in size since yesterday! I did not get all of the errands taken care of, but there are beans that were not there this morning!
Through this experiment, I have learned something unexpected. This garden is nourishing more than my body. I am re-learning how to take time, even just a few minutes a day, to marvel at the way nature works. Just because I have a bad day at work or forget to buy something at the grocery store, doesn't mean that the world stops. The tomatoes keep on growing, the zucchini keeps getting more and more monstrous, and the sugar snap peas keep flowering. Is this what is meant by a "Zen Garden?" That will require a little more contemplation, but expect more to come on that topic!
27 June 2011
04 April 2011
Welcome to the jungle room
Anyone who has ever planted seeds before is familiar with the vague directions printed on the back of the package. "Sow 1/4 inch deep, spacing 6-8 inches apart. Harvest in 65 days." The package might as well say, "Put in dirt. See what happens." And that is what I am doing. I am taking the directions the supplier gives merely as suggestions. "Plant 18 inches apart." 18 inches?! That is so much space. How about 12 inches? I am sure that there is a reason they suggest 18 inches (each plant needs more room to spread out, competing for resources, etc.), but I am trying to maximize my space.
A few posts ago I reported on the seeds I had planted. Well, due to my impatience, I planted more seeds inside about a week ago. Realistically, I still have at least four weeks before I can plant any of these little plant babies outside. My thought was that if I started them early, then they would be big and strong once I was ready to plant them outside. One thing I did not count on, however, was how quickly some of them would grow. My miniature greenhouse has a plastic lid to keep heat and water in. Within one week of being planted, the bean plants have become so tall and so strong that they were literally lifting the lid off the greenhouse. All of a sudden the story of Jack and the Beanstalk came back to me, and it all made sense. Those weren't "magic beans!" Jack simply started them inside in a small greenhouse way before he should have.
These latest seeds that I have planted have far surpassed the previous ones both in speed and strength. Seriously, not only are these bean plants as big around as a drinking straw, but they emerged from the soil two days ago and are already nearly three inches tall. The laundry room may soon become known as the jungle.
A few posts ago I reported on the seeds I had planted. Well, due to my impatience, I planted more seeds inside about a week ago. Realistically, I still have at least four weeks before I can plant any of these little plant babies outside. My thought was that if I started them early, then they would be big and strong once I was ready to plant them outside. One thing I did not count on, however, was how quickly some of them would grow. My miniature greenhouse has a plastic lid to keep heat and water in. Within one week of being planted, the bean plants have become so tall and so strong that they were literally lifting the lid off the greenhouse. All of a sudden the story of Jack and the Beanstalk came back to me, and it all made sense. Those weren't "magic beans!" Jack simply started them inside in a small greenhouse way before he should have.
These latest seeds that I have planted have far surpassed the previous ones both in speed and strength. Seriously, not only are these bean plants as big around as a drinking straw, but they emerged from the soil two days ago and are already nearly three inches tall. The laundry room may soon become known as the jungle.
03 April 2011
This should be interesting
The garden is taking shape. Several weeks ago, we rented a tiller and tilled the area for the garden. After much deliberation, I decided on an area that is 39' long and 17' wide. That is 663 square feet! I seriously considered creating another garden of the same size on the other side of the yard, but that would have been more than 1300 square feet for me to take care of. I did not foresee that turning out well, so I stuck with what I had.
During a conversation with my mom and sisters, I realized that, perhaps, I have little to no idea what I am doing. But that is not necessarily a bad thing! We were discussing potato plants because my sister plans on planting hers in a container of some sort. I explained that I had just planted mine and then planted strawberry plants in between the potatoes. My sister laughed and said, "You know that you will have to start digging potatoes up a few feet around where you planted them, right?" This could very well mean that I will have to dig up the strawberry plants to get to the potatoes. We will have to see how that goes.
After tilling the garden area, we realized that our dogs might invade it, so we decided to build a small fence around it. I think it looks pretty awesome! Talk about sustainable living. I just hope our neighbor doesn't care that we took all of his branches.
During a conversation with my mom and sisters, I realized that, perhaps, I have little to no idea what I am doing. But that is not necessarily a bad thing! We were discussing potato plants because my sister plans on planting hers in a container of some sort. I explained that I had just planted mine and then planted strawberry plants in between the potatoes. My sister laughed and said, "You know that you will have to start digging potatoes up a few feet around where you planted them, right?" This could very well mean that I will have to dig up the strawberry plants to get to the potatoes. We will have to see how that goes.
After tilling the garden area, we realized that our dogs might invade it, so we decided to build a small fence around it. I think it looks pretty awesome! Talk about sustainable living. I just hope our neighbor doesn't care that we took all of his branches.
21 March 2011
Get up close and personal with your food
Americans tend to be disconnected from their food. To many people, it does not particularly matter where their food comes from or how it comes to be. They do not think twice, or even once, about the lettuce and tomato that came from thousands of miles away to sit atop the hamburger they just picked up from the drive-thru window at the nearest fast food restaurant. So many of us pick our fruits and vegetables from the produce section at the grocery store with the same amount of consideration we give to selecting a box of cereal.
Vegetables can be easy to grow. You may say you don't have an area big enough for a garden, but if you have ten feet of space, you can grow a lot. Don't have a yard? Plant tomatoes, lettuce, and herbs in containers on your porch or deck. Don't have a porch or deck? Plant things in containers inside in front of a window. What I'm getting at is there are no excuses when it comes to getting up close and personal with your food. Michael Pollan has illustrated this well in his numerous books about food and gardening.
Many people say they don't like the taste of vegetables. I'm willing to bet that if those people tasted locally grown, fresh vegetables straight from the garden, they would be amazed at the difference in taste and quality. A tomato that is ten feet away from my backdoor definitely has a different taste than the tomato that came from two thousand miles away.
Vegetables can be easy to grow. You may say you don't have an area big enough for a garden, but if you have ten feet of space, you can grow a lot. Don't have a yard? Plant tomatoes, lettuce, and herbs in containers on your porch or deck. Don't have a porch or deck? Plant things in containers inside in front of a window. What I'm getting at is there are no excuses when it comes to getting up close and personal with your food. Michael Pollan has illustrated this well in his numerous books about food and gardening.
Many people say they don't like the taste of vegetables. I'm willing to bet that if those people tasted locally grown, fresh vegetables straight from the garden, they would be amazed at the difference in taste and quality. A tomato that is ten feet away from my backdoor definitely has a different taste than the tomato that came from two thousand miles away.
20 March 2011
Early Risers
Two weeks is a long time in the life of a seed, so I have learned. It has been two weeks since I planted some seeds in a miniature green house in my laundry room. I had heard that it is a good idea to start things such as broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, and peppers inside several weeks before it is time to plant them in the garden, so I did just that.
Every day after planting the seeds, I would stare at the dirt, looking for something to indicate that this was going to work. After four consecutive days of being disappointed, on the fifth day things began to change. The tiniest little green stem was sticking out of the dirt. I didn't even care what it was, I was so excited! Naturally, I beckoned everyone in the house into the laundry room to marvel at this little speck of green by yelling, "It's growing!!". Every day after that, something new would sprout up until, eventually, all 50 pots had something alive in them.
Now my spindly little forest is getting bigger and stronger every day, just waiting for me to plant them outside. It's kind of funny how all of the plants grow at an angle toward the window, but within one day of me turning them the opposite direction they grow back toward the window. What is even more incredible is that out of one tiny seed no bigger than the question mark on your keyboard will come ten, twenty or even thirty pounds of food.
Every day after planting the seeds, I would stare at the dirt, looking for something to indicate that this was going to work. After four consecutive days of being disappointed, on the fifth day things began to change. The tiniest little green stem was sticking out of the dirt. I didn't even care what it was, I was so excited! Naturally, I beckoned everyone in the house into the laundry room to marvel at this little speck of green by yelling, "It's growing!!". Every day after that, something new would sprout up until, eventually, all 50 pots had something alive in them.
Now my spindly little forest is getting bigger and stronger every day, just waiting for me to plant them outside. It's kind of funny how all of the plants grow at an angle toward the window, but within one day of me turning them the opposite direction they grow back toward the window. What is even more incredible is that out of one tiny seed no bigger than the question mark on your keyboard will come ten, twenty or even thirty pounds of food.
27 February 2011
Let the games begin
To some, it may seem a bit early to be thinking about gardening. I mean, the snow has just melted from the blizzard. But it is almost March! I might not be able to plant much, but I can definitely get started on several things.
Today, it was about 50 degrees, so I began clearing out the old flower garden to get it ready to become part of this year's vegetable garden. While I did think the black eyed susans were pretty, I would rather put something out there that is both pretty and delicious! So the leaves have been raked out, and the flowers have been removed. The strawberries that were already there are turning green and will be ready to flower soon. Also, the garlic that I planted in October is starting to come up, and it looks like it is doing well. Yum!
Within the next few weeks, I will start planting the lettuces, broccoli, spinach, potatoes and other cool-weather items. My goal is to make this an edible but aesthetically pleasing garden, not just boring rows. Check back for updated plans and pictures as the weather gets warmer!
Today, it was about 50 degrees, so I began clearing out the old flower garden to get it ready to become part of this year's vegetable garden. While I did think the black eyed susans were pretty, I would rather put something out there that is both pretty and delicious! So the leaves have been raked out, and the flowers have been removed. The strawberries that were already there are turning green and will be ready to flower soon. Also, the garlic that I planted in October is starting to come up, and it looks like it is doing well. Yum!
Within the next few weeks, I will start planting the lettuces, broccoli, spinach, potatoes and other cool-weather items. My goal is to make this an edible but aesthetically pleasing garden, not just boring rows. Check back for updated plans and pictures as the weather gets warmer!
20 January 2011
Don't wait for the future
I recently re-read a portion of Pema Chodron's book Comfortable with Uncertainty. While Chodron addresses many topics surrounding meditation and Buddhist practices, the chapter in Comfortable with Uncertainty I keep going back to is titled "Slogan: 'Abandon any hope of fruition.'" At first, it sounds a little dark, but Chodron explains that this slogan means that as long as you are hoping for things to change, they never will. People often orient themselves toward the future, thinking "Once I (fill in the blank), things will be better" or "As soon as I (fill in the blank), then I will be happy."
For many people, the thought goes something like this: "Once I lose weight, then I will be happy and satisfied." Is it good to strive for improvement? Absolutely. But staking your happiness and satisfaction on something that may never happen sounds pretty risky to me. What are you supposed to do in the mean time? Be sad and dissatisfied with yourself?
This orientation toward some future event is wasted energy. If we decide to enjoy where we are and how we are with all of the quirks, this allows us to live in the present rather than wasting the present on a future that may never come. I challenge you to enjoy every moment of every day, no matter how good or bad the moments may be.
For many people, the thought goes something like this: "Once I lose weight, then I will be happy and satisfied." Is it good to strive for improvement? Absolutely. But staking your happiness and satisfaction on something that may never happen sounds pretty risky to me. What are you supposed to do in the mean time? Be sad and dissatisfied with yourself?
This orientation toward some future event is wasted energy. If we decide to enjoy where we are and how we are with all of the quirks, this allows us to live in the present rather than wasting the present on a future that may never come. I challenge you to enjoy every moment of every day, no matter how good or bad the moments may be.
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