Here's my first garden starts! Nobody told me what a LOT OF WORK it was to prepare just the ground you see in the picture. Although the entire area had been rototilled and broken up somewhat, with the horse manure mixed in, I still needed to get the old shovel into the ground to break it up more and mix it with what is called "soil amendment." I chose three bags of premium compost, which came with the instructions to mix with 50% soil. Well! Once I got a big shovel of soil, I had to break it up with a hoe until I could get it mixed together and looking moderately soil-like. I have more than half of my plot still to go. This weekend will see me out there preparing the rest of it, hopefully.
Here I am showing Mary, another gardener-to-be, what I've got started. Now when I go to the grocery store, I spend some time looking over the garden starts outside, and I'm thinking that bush beans (the snap kind) and collards will be next. I've got three different brussels sprouts plants, three basil plants, ONE zucchini plant (I heard you, and frankly it looks the happiest of any of them), and two Asian eggplants out there. I was told that these eggplants mature earlier and are better for our short growing season. Oh, and two delicata squash plants. I also planted some carrots from seed.
The "new" bike is in getting a tuneup, new tires, and fenders. This is the Pacific Northwest, after all, and I figure I won't mind having fenders the first time I'm riding in the rain. Today I took the bike to
Kulshan Cycles, which comes very well recommended by everyone I asked. We discussed what happens to rubber when it gets old (it deteriorates, even when not used) and so at the very minimum I needed to replace the brake pads. I decided to go ahead and get new tires as well, even though the ones on the bike would probably be just fine for the amount of riding I'll be doing. But it seemed prudent just to replace them, too. I'll pick her up on Wednesday, and I'm really excited now!
Between the garden and bicycling, I hope I will have some time left over for skydiving and my regular workouts. I'm learning that gardening muscles are not the same ones as those I use for lifting weights. Now I understand what
Annie at Elegant Blessings is talking about when she comes in from a long day in the garden. Of course, she's also got chickens and acres of land to worry about, while I've got just a teeny little plot. There is so much to learn! But I'm a willing student.
:-)
i like that - gardening muscles are not the ones you use in workouts. somehow i'm thinking biking muscles will be different again! :)
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you're making great progress with the garden. You will love riding your bike when you get it out of the shop. Next thing you know you're be buying a mountain bike for the trails.
ReplyDeleteWhere do you get all that energy? Don't forget to plant some heirloom tomatoes.
ReplyDeleteYou have never tasted anything as delicious as a tomato from your own garden.
nice on the bike getting a tune up...it will be good and ready for you...smiles....gardening is a lot of work for sure...just think of the end products though...
ReplyDeleteGood on the zucchini!
ReplyDelete"But I'm a willing student" the secret to your success in so many things.
ReplyDeleteYou are doing a very important thing in your life and that is trying something new. We need to add new things and throw away some old to keep ourselves sharp.
ReplyDeleteIn my garden everything is seeded. I could buy some things but find the seeded stuff does the trick for me.
We just harvested our bush beans (had them for dinner (lunch) ) today, and they were yummmmy! I can't wait for your garden plants to start blooming and bearing. The fruits of the harvest are worth the work, Jan. I'm so proud of you!!
ReplyDeleteWe also ate an Asian eggplant today...another delish veggies from our garden...along with squash.
Again, I commend you for all your hard work, and I can guarantee that this won't be your last garden; you will be head over heels in love with everything about it.
Hugs,
Jackie
Yup! Gardening muscles are different...and so will the bicycle muscles be different. It is so exciting to be starting new projects and learning new things. I've never gardened (well, since us kids were forced to help weed when my mom had a garden behind the garage when we were growing up) so I will be learning along with you. I, too, admire Annie's stamina--all her gardening and canning and cooking from scratch!
ReplyDeleteWe'll want to see pictures of the new and improved bike. Fenders are a must! Rain and rocks and mud--yup!--a must! ;)
Gardening muscles are very different. A full day in the garden in truly exhausting (and a tad painful the next day).
ReplyDeleteBrussel sprouts? My mother told me I couldn't be a vegetarian because I DON'T LIKE BRUSSEL SPROUTS. At all.
Such a busy and productive life you lead. Photos of the refurbished bike please - and garden updates.
Wonderful, DJan! You are an inspiration to all of us more sedentary folks! Keep it up. You'll need new recipes for all those veggies, too.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is really starting to shape up DJan. Those fresh squash and zucchini are going to be delicious as will the beans. Like someone else said, don't forget the heirloom tomatoes. They make the best fresh salsa.
ReplyDeleteYep, those gardening muscles don't seem to be the ones used for anything else.
There is a delightful Greek expression which translates, "Well begun is half done." I think that clearly applies to you, in both the gardening and biking. Kudos.
ReplyDeleteI hope you keep having fun with your garden. I tried one a year or so ago. it was a lot of work.
Isn't it interesting what muscles you discover gardening? I swear they don't get used for anything else and don't like it much when you wake them up for weeding. You have a wonderful start on summer here. I hope the weather gods give you some summer now. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for you. I can imagine how fabulous it will be when you have your first harvest. Biking will tone your muscles even further for all that hiking that you do.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget the tomatoes DJan - there is nothing like the fresh slice of that first garden tomato - one bite into that and its just heaven. You will see.
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, the garden is certainly coming along and you are progressing quite nicely and learning so much. I remember the first year we had a garden and trust me girl, those garden muscles ached. ha,ha
Have a great day and glad to hear you are tuning up the olde bicycle - you will love this too.
Yep that's why I never go to the gym. I do all my workouts in my garden. I wish I could get the photos sorted out. My garden is just on the verge of flowering and I'm so proud of it as you will be when you get your first produce. Of course, here in England we are mad keen gardeners so it's taken for granted. I would think that in the Pac. N.W. you would have some ideal conditions.
ReplyDeleteDon't laugh....but in my entire life, I've never HAD or tasted Collard Greens. Just a few years past and I tasted for the first time in my life...grits, so I just may need to add that to my taste list soon.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about working the soil the first time. The first time I gardened, Peter broke up a bunch of soil with a shovel. Huge clumps, turned once. He couldn't understand why I asked for more help. I finally worked a four-by-four-foot section and had some nice results. I used a book called "Square-foot gardening" that shows how to get the most out of limited space. I plan to try that again, if my stupid leg stops hurting!
ReplyDeleteAll this learning and exercise is what keeps you so young. Clever move on your part to replace the tires. I'm looking forward to seeing how your garden progresses.
ReplyDeleteBrussels sprouts are my favourite veggie...YUM! The fresh veggies this garden will yield to you will be well worth all the effort you're putting in. Quite exciting!
ReplyDeleteDJan--you are going to fall head over heels for gardening, just like I have. I looked at that photo and thought--how'd she do that?? Looks like you and YOU on both sides of the fence, right down to the clothes!! lol
ReplyDeleteI don't have acres and acres, sweetie...but I do make the most of the space I have. And it's all a labor of love...I have just about as much as I can possibly take care of, lol.
Happy Gardening!!!!! I ADORE brussels sprouts!!
"Well, how does your garden grow?" I'm sure you will be answering that question on future blog posts. I will of course stay tuned...
ReplyDeleteGardening is not for sissies:)
ReplyDeleteSoon you will have garden muscles!:)
It is good that you have some rain for your garden. Here it rained when we left for Tennessee, did not rain there, and it is raining again here. The gardeners are very happy because it had been dry for a while. I cooked Brussels sprouts a new way last week and my husband loved it. They were shredded and the recipe was on the bag – from Trader Joe’s. We have red clay here and pine trees all around – my husband tried to grow tomatoes one year. He bought 6 plants and got 2 tiny tomatoes out of the lot for all his work. I do get some nice basil, rosemary and mint from my planters though. You are going to be sore for a while DJan.
ReplyDeleteSmiles:))....the garden is coming along nicely! I get what you're saying about the muscles. Soil is everything. Double digging is the hardest part. The rest...a reward. I have much respect for my farm market friends.
ReplyDeleteI have a hard time just remembering to water my little herb garden that sits in pots on my patio. Love your energy. When those collards and Brussels sprouts come in I'll share a recipe or two if you'd like.
ReplyDeletethe next time you're at the library of bookstore (in all your free time!!) check out Mrs Obama's book about the American garden
ReplyDeleteit's got great tips and recipes
I love your little plot of land :)
I hear basil plants grow really large. Unfortunately, we haven't been so lucky. I've really got a brown thumb. I'm looking forward to seeing your gardening progress.
ReplyDelete