Gardening? It’s Winter!
Yep here we are in February and it’s time to plan the garden. But don’t worry, this project can be done inside where it’s nice and warm. Even as use sip a cup of herbal tea or hot cocoa.
Whether you are new to gardening or are currently gardening, planning will help make the process of gardening less stress full and more abundant.
Where: We have a small space for our gardening. My husband built this a few years ago. Even though it’s fairly small, it can still do a lot, with how I plant certain things.
I grew up with my parents gardening. We had a good sized one in Phoenix Arizona, and a really large one in Price Utah. In every home my parents lived in, Nampa Idaho, Prescott Arizona, and currently Lehi Utah, they have made a point to have a garden.
My husband and I started out living in rental homes and apartments. So we didn’t think we could have a garden. I have since learned that there are a few things that can be grown in pots on a patio or balcony or even inside the home.
Don’t be discouraged and think you can’t have a garden. Here are a few pics to show different ways people have overcome the lack of space to garden.
On the back against the fence we needed to put cinder blocks to keep our dog and the dogs on the other side of the fence from digging. This year I am going to plant sunflowers inside the blocks.
Then on the wall stone around the garden I can plant things, like herbs, carrots, potatoes and a few other plants in pots and set around the garden.
The PVC and fencing closing off the garden can be used as trellises for pole beans, even in pots, to save room for more veggies.
The containers can be various types, like Terra Cotta or ceramic pots, tin buckets, old plastic pots that nurseries might give away, or even plastic buckets you can either purchase or get free from restaurants, bakeries or I get them from work because our laundry soap and dish soap come in buckets.
Here are a few links to videos that teaches how to plant in various ways.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pvCwJaKUu8 (with this one highlight the underlined portion, right click, and you will see, Go to www.youtube… click on that and it will take you to the video) This one is about carrots in a pot.
Now that we’ve covered where, let’s take a look at…
Watering: My parents had irrigation in one of their gardens, but I believe they used sprinklers for the majority of their gardens.
I personally have used sprinkler and hand watering but this year I am doing a drip hose system. Here are a couple of videos to help you decide what you want to do.
So, we have the where and the watering, let’s talk about how and what.
How: As for my containers I will be doing a mixture of compost and peat moss. I didn’t make my own compost this year in time, so next year I’ll have that. That means I will need to purchase it. I will be using straw to mulch the containers after I plant.
As for the garden spot, the dirt is there and we will till it or broad fork it. I’ll be putting up T posts, like those taught about in the Mittleider Gardening Course, though I will not be true to that system this year.
I am just delighted, and blessed that my health has improved enough for me to even consider doing a garden this year.
Now for the…
What: Plan on growing only things you will eat. For me we are growing tomatoes, pole beans, peas, peppers, onions, garlic, potatoes, carrots, zucchini, summer squash, spaghetti squash, butternut squash, beets, chard, spinach, black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, garbanzo beans and white great northern beans.
Growing or purchasing starts, seeds, and plants are too long for me to go into now. Hybrid or heirloom is another thing to consider. There are SO many videos on YouTube that will help you decide and plan.
Why: Why plant a garden? I can go to the store and purchase the vegetables that I want. Yes, I can just buy them, but the purpose of learning how to and keep gardening is to develop self-sufficiency for current and rainy days, plus I will know what is in my produce, like if it is sprayed with anything like that. Plus I believe it will be a delight to work with God and His earth to help provide nutritious food for my family. YES it will be hard work, but with hard work comes development of character, and To Simply Become Who I Am.
I’m also going to be doing more fruit trees and fruit bushes but THAT is for another blog post for my Mini Orchard page.
Happy Gardening, Let me know how you do.
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