Learning by doing

One thing I really hated about renting was the lack of a back yard to "do me own thing in." Sometimes that translates into leaving a bag of garbage outside because it stinks, or letting my shoes dry on the back porch, or sunbathing in my bikini. Today it translates into having a garden. A friend here loaned me her Square Foot Gardening book. Now I am officially a gardener!

The back porch. We need to do something about this porch. It is hot as Hades in the afternoon and evenings. Lets just say some deck and roof plans are in the works.

The garden bed I built and painted all by myself(OK, Brad had to show me how to use the drill and he helped a little bit).

The little green guys! They were so cute to watch grow up.

You missed the hard part, which was mixing all the dirt* on a too-small tarp in 90 degree heat. But, here's the box all neatly gridded out. The PVC is supposed to be holding up the shade tarp, but it was not working.

So, Brad helped me get some shade on these poor guys until we figure out a permanent solution.

Here's a little peak under the tarp to see the small greens doing ok now that they have shade.

In the pots I planted carrot and onion seeds, then covered them. I think I read later that onions need light to germinate, Oh well. Nothing is happening with them yet. This whole thing is a bit overwhelming to me. I decided to just plant what I wanted to plant regardless of the season and learn by doing what things will grow and what dies.

*The Square Foot Garden tells you to mix one third compost, one third peat moss, and one third Vermiculite. After nearly breaking my back shoveling it all back and forth on the tarp, I went to a nursery and saw pre-made boxes and pre-mixed dirt specifically for Square Foot Gardens. What gives?