Sunday, April 28, 2013

Our community garden

My garden plot is in the middle
As you might remember from last year, the tenants in my apartment complex got the owners to agree to let us have a community garden in the sunny unused area to the west. The acreage gets mowed a couple of times every season, and the grass and buttercups grow waist high at times. We got a nice-sized area with ten plots and a community area in the middle that is about twice as large as each individual area. Last year I thought my plot was small, but after a season of working to discourage weeds, slugs and aphids, I decided it is plenty big after all! I have been working to get my area ready for planting, and once we find a truck to use, we'll haul in some more dirt to mix with the clay soil.
The plots of Carol, Amy, and Beth, left to right
I spent over an hour out there this morning, when I woke to sunshine instead of the constant rain we had yesterday. Now it's overcast again, but at least it's not raining right now. Clint came out and helped me beat back most of the grass and buttercup invasion in my area. The soil is so deep and dark, with lots of worm activity, and it reminded me of how nice it is to get my hands in the dirt and feel the sun on my face. See that yellow flowering thing on the left?
Flowering kale
Carol left some of her kale in the earth over the winter, and now I see what happens when kale is not harvested. It's kind of pretty but probably not good to eat any more. Kale is my very favorite vegetable. I planted some black kale last year, and it got overtaken by aphids. All of my cruciferous vegetables had pest problems, I guess because pests know a good thing when they see it.

I'm not sure what I'm going to plant this year, but it will be a different group of vegetables and not so many. I have already put some sugar snap peas into the ground and this morning I see they have begun to come up! It's very exciting to put a pea in the ground and watch it turn into a plant filled with them. I know I want to plant more flowers in my garden, like sweet peas and nasturtiums, because I love the color. Carol had half of her garden filled with nasturtiums last year, and I would munch a couple of them when I passed by.

The illness of the past couple of weeks is almost gone. Only a residual cough remains, and I am now beginning to feel like myself again. I'm smiling as I drink my tea and rest after gardening. Ahhh!
:-)

29 comments:

  1. i think the sunshine and dirt is healing what's left of what ails you. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. First of all...so glad that you are feeling much better. That is wonderful news.
    Next...what a joy to see that the garden is under way! The prospect of fresh veggies and flowers brings a smile to me. Enjoy, my friend, and continue to take good care of you.
    Love,
    Jackie

    ReplyDelete
  3. We've been working in our garden this weekend also. Our onions have grown up several inches this past week! It amazes me that I can actually grow plants. I have never eaten kale. I'll put it on my things to do list.

    ReplyDelete
  4. glad that your illness is gone...and i bet getting out in the dirt and nature and sun did it good as well...thank goodness for a break in the rain eh? smiles..

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think I'll visit my garden and see if the peas are up yet. Today might be a good day to plant the green beans.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a pretty garden we all can anticipate. I love the idea of planting colorful flowers and hope the bugs will stay away from them.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I hear ya! Once upon a time, a large garden with many areas to fill was my pride and joy. After 2 hip replacements and a knee replacement, I'd be happy with nothing more than window boxes. Ha! I still get out there and garden. I just try to fill in with more perennials each year. Eventually, I won't need to do much more than mulch and weed. And that's plenty.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Glad you're beginning to feel better. I'm not a fan of kale but I'm impressed with its enthusiastic flowering!

    ReplyDelete
  9. There isn't much more that screams SPRING than starting the garden. I look forward to seeing what you will plant this year. Glad to hear that you're on the mend.

    ReplyDelete
  10. You must be feeling better if you are ready to tackle the veggie garden. Look forward to seeing photos of your crop this year.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh good, you're sounding better about your garden. I was afraid it was going to have to go by the way side with all your other activities. I've never known you to drop anything so I was a little worried. Glad to see you're back in the battle of the bugs.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I can't wait to get in the garden!
    I had picked up seeds, and seed potatoes well over a month ago, a little prematurely this year.. as our main garden is still buried in snow.
    We always do the usual veggies, and usually try at least one new thing, like okra, or rutabagas. A few years ago, we noticed everything started off great, and then was a total flop. We had our soil tested, and found that we were putting too much wood ash from our fireplace in with our compost over the years.. and the garden PH was way off! It was about a $7 fix from the local farm service. The soil test was interesting.. we learned that aside from the ash, our soil is coming along nicely with organic content. It started years & years ago with a lot of heavy clay.
    Glad you're feeling better, and I smile at the thought of your peas coming up already!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Gardening is not so much what you grow as being out there and watching it grow. Once I put my seeds in I'm completely obsessed and watch every day to see if anything is coming up. I grow the snow peas but I'm not fond of them but somebody else in my house likes them.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm glad to hear you are feeling better. Dirty hands and the warm sun can cure most anything.

    That kale may not be good to eat but it sure is pretty. Hopefully I can plant some things soon but we have a couple of nights of freezing temps coming mid week.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Gardening is healing magic. And I too love Kale.
    Be kind to yourself. Gentle gardening, gentle exercise... Yes, I know, not going to be a happening thing.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I agree with you DJan - nothing like growing your own vegetables and have the pleasure of watching them grow - fetching a handful of this n that for supper. Glad you are feeling better and weather cooperated for you to inhale that fresh garden smell running rich soil through your fingers - I guess you have a bit of "mudder" in you. he,he Have a wonderful day. I sent you an answer by email to your comment - I have to figure out how to add a reply to my posts - it would be much easier. lol

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm glad you are on the mend. And tending your garden. I am so happy spring has arrived. I can't wait till we can plant here.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Your community garden is beautiful. You should try the kale even though it has bolted. Mine is still yummy, certain ones are even sweeter than they have been. The yellow flowers are very sweet on some of mine and are a favorite edible garnish sprinkled across our plates or floating in soup. Our weather has been crazy good hasn't it?!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Don't forget the tomatoes. Kale is one of my favorites...I have at least 8 different healthy ways to fix it. Have fun in the garden this summer

    ReplyDelete
  20. Good to hear you are feeling better! Looks like you have some grass in your plot...and your area is so grassy in between. Vinegar is supposed to be a good organic weed killer. I just read where after your garden is up you can sprinkle cornmeal on the soil and it will keep weed seeds from germinating..and your worms will love it...BUT perhaps those slugs will too:(

    ReplyDelete
  21. Gardening is definitely good for your physical well being but its also good for the soul. Your on the right track....:)

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'm so glad you are feeling better. Sounds like the gardening is restorative for you. That is so cool that you have already been planting over your way. We still have residual evidence of snowpiles and snowbanks, but that's all that's left. Will be gone soon. I don't think they usually plant here until mid-May. I look forward to hearing how your garden grows this year. It looks wonderful and green all around there. Spring! Time for new growth! :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Everything looks so green and lush! Can't wait to see this year's garden progress.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Dear DJan, I just finished reading your "Eye" blog and have come to this one and learned that you've been sick for two weeks. I'm sorry to hear that but glad that you are feeling so much better. I remember how much you delighted in your garden last year and I'll be interested in learning from your postings just what you do decide to plant, besides snap peas and flowers, in your garden this year. Peace.

    ReplyDelete
  25. So glad life is settling into something normal, more or less. And I'm particularly happy to know that you're getting healthier. And stronger.

    Living in a big apartment with very little ground precludes the tenants having a garden here. But I can look at other people's places! Like yours, as it develops

    Blessings and Bear hugs!
    Bears Noting
    Life in the Urban Forest (poetry)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Sure glad you get such a kick out of gardening. If I had to grow what I ate, I'd starve. As for growing kale, maybe I could try that as I use a bunch each week now in my juicing but can't stand to eat the stuff.

    You should read up on how to keep the bugs off your veggies. I know that our organic CSA farmer has lots of ways he does it and writes about it in our weekly newsletter that comes with the produce. I don't follow along too well, though, because I'm not going to grow anything. Not when he does such a good job.

    Hope you keep feeling good. It's no fun to be sick.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I'm so glad you're feeling better and better, DJan. I'm also looking forward to seeing what you plant. I hate those slugs. I just threw some crushed eggshells out. I hope they work.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I love the idea of planting colorful flowers and hope the bugs will stay away from them.

    Castlerock Landscape

    ReplyDelete
  29. Ooh I can't wait to see what you plant D-Jan. It is hard work and I know what you mean about the size of the plot. My garden here is plenty big enough. It seems ENORMOUS once I start digging!

    ReplyDelete

I really appreciate your comments! If you see a word verification box here, just ignore it. I don't use the darn thing and Blogger is trying to get us to use it, I guess. Ignore it and your comment will still appear.