Winter seems to want to linger. I still seem to be in a grumpy funk. I’m hoping warmer weather and some sunshine help, however, I wonder if this is going to be a cool damp summer. And I do realize that I don’t live in the best region for blue skies and sunny days (did you know we get more rain than Seattle?!). But let me tell you, when we do get a beautiful day, it can’t be beat! And on those days, one of my favorite places to be is in my own backyard. Yep. My little city lot is one of my favorite places. And one of my favorite things to do is to work that little plot and try and improve it. That was part of the reason I started this blog, to have a place to document my attempts at what some are now calling homesteading. Silly isn’t it that something as technical as a blog can be used for something as primitive as digging in the dirt?
Anyway, I’m hoping that this summer I am able to tend to a veggie and herb garden a bit better than I have in recent years. Here’s to hoping and praying that illness and family issues don’t interfere again. Because let me tell you, my plot may be tiny, but it quite quickly gets out of control and turns into a jungle! The amount of clean up I need to do this spring is astounding. All because it got away from me last summer.
So to get a jump on this year, along with the clean up outside, I’m attempting to start a few plants indoors. I don’t plan on starting trays of anything. My garden is to small for that, I can’t always find people with whom I can share extra seedlings, and I don’t always have great luck with indoor seed starting (don’t do well with houseplant either). One year I thought ALL of my seeds were duds. Turns out my dog, Grace, just thought I planted a salad bar. She ate the sprouts as soon as they appeared!
This year I started a few tomatoes that are supposed to be keepers. Meaning that in the fall I’ll pick them unripe and they ripen in storage! How cool will that be? I also started a few peppers. But when it’s all said and done, I’ll likely end up purchasing some seedlings later. But for now, I’m keeping my fingers crossed and the seeds watered and as warm and well lit as I can manage (the warm and well lit seem to be the houseplant and seed starting problem in my house).
This past weekend The Goat helped me out by building a few raised beds for me. We had an overabundance of pallets available for our use. By cutting them in 1/2 and forming boxes with the pieces we were able to make 3 raised beds that are about 4′ square each. I’m excited about this! Mostly because it means I’ll be able to better utilize the best gardening space in our yard and the height will hopefully prohibit my dog from trouncing on all the little seedlings and plants!
Our side lot is the only relatively flat area we have, and it gets full sun. I’m hoping to paint the pallet beds this weekend, to help pretty them up and make them more fun as well as to protect the wood a bit. I won’t be filling them completely with soil, the height is mainly to act as fencing and contain the soil that I do add.
Can you tell I can’t wait for warmer weather? Here’s to an overabundance of produce.
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