Winter started around November of last year and continued onward with a vengeance until yesterday morning, when “42 degrees and sunny” seemed to constitute as “spring.” The snow is all but melted (except for a few very stubborn igloos built by resourceful squirrels), so Birdy and I took advantage of the sunshine yesterday to explore our backyard.
We moved house several months ago, just before the winter came crashing in, so we don’t know much about what’s actually outside. For all we knew, there was a hole that went straight through to Renza’s house. We did know that there was a shed with a fenced in garden-looking area, and my hope was that it would be useable for a vegetable garden.
So yesterday, my daughter and I went out with our rakes, clippers, and yard refuse bags to find out what was underneath all the pine needles. After a bit of raking and cleaning up, we saw that the garden was decently set up for planting.
“Good thing! Because we have all those green beans, Mom!”
Oh hell yes we have green beans.
A few weeks ago, she and I took a crack at starting some seedlings in the house, preparing for the eventual moment when Jack Frost would loosen his grip on New England and we could plant our starter garden outside. We bought one of those seedling trays from Home Depot and with steady preschool hands, my kid planted seed after seed from packets she picked out at the store. (I didn’t want to stifle her excitement, so we are growing all kinds of stuff – green beans, cucumbers, eggplant, watermelon, carrots, and a woman from the ground. It’s a festival of greenery.)
Now, several weeks later, the seedlings are starting to sprout. We moved them to bigger pots so they could become more badass, and in a week or two, we’ll move them outside into the garden.
I’ve always wanted to have a vegetable garden, but needed a partner to help me tend the feeble crop. (Chris is not a gardener. He mows the lawn, rakes the leaves, and deals with any snakes/spiders/chupacabra we might stumble upon in the yard, but he’s not into weeding.) After watching my kid diligently don her gardening gloves and rake, weed, and create impromptu shelters for any worm we came across, I realized I have my vegetable gardening partner now.
Here’s hoping I can go from seed to plate without screwing it up. But so far, we’re having fun,
As someone whose love of gardening was cultivated from her mother, this post makes me happy!
And veggies grown in your own garden taste amazing!!
That looks like a great garden spot!
We have a random set of seedlings for the same reason. So far the peas, sunflowers, cucumber, and marigold plants are just starting to harden off on the porch and should be ready for the garden in a couple weeks.
I’m a “buy the starter plants at the garden store” kind of person, but Your Gardening May Vary. I applaud you for digging into gardening! If you plant some lettuce right now (just about any kind), it should be ready in about 5 weeks. You can enjoy that while everything else grows. Good luck!
Oh how fun!!!!! Although I have to admit, a hole that went straight through to Renza’s house would be pretty damn cool!!
I used to do a great vegetable garden when I lived at my parent’s house. So far, attempts at my own house have been less than fruitful (or veggieful). Too much shade and too many stupid squirrels. Here’s hoping your yard (and varmints) are much better.
How wonderful! Gardening is great exercise in addition to a hands on science lesson. Stephen’s idea of starting some lettuce now is what I would be doing. There are many varieties of leaf lettuce that grow quickly and like the cool temps of early spring. Picking a leaf here and there allows the lettuce to continue growing while you get to enjoy the freshest tasting salad you’ve ever had. Hope you two have lots of fun with your new garden.
Hi Kerri,
I have a suggestion for your assistant. There are selections of spices, to add to our lifes which can be grown inside. Parsley and rosemary and just a few. Now, for the best house plant try African violets. Warning, Warning…Will Robinson do not get water on their leaves. Keep is a moderate temperature room, no drafts and not outdoor sun. Meaning a Northern window or better under a lamp which is on most of the day. Now the best part. Take the plant our of the purchased pot. Use a clay pot one size larger, place a piece of cut clothesline in the bottom thru the drainage hole. Place some mid size stones on the clothesline fill with soil and be sure the leaves are above the rim of the pot. Last…. take a cool whip container, cut a small hole in the center of the lid for the extended clothesline to reach the bottom of the container. Fill the cool whip container with water and your done. The only watering you will do will be to refill the cool whip container. Reminder… no water on the leaves and the plant loves to be pot bound. Hope Birdy enjoys the flowers of the violets.
Dan
I just love gardening! My dad and I always did this. Great way to teach your children. Fyi work those leaves and such in to the soil it’ll help build it up.
My mother has the gardening gene, and I do not. But one year I begged for a watermelon. It may not have been the biggest watermelon, but all the flavor was compacted and it’s still the best watermelon I’ve ever had. I hope you guys have a watermelon (or more!) that is just as wonderful!