I’ve been talking about the garden but I haven’t shown you many pictures. Here it is, then, a pictorial romp through the garden. Any one of these photos could be the subject of a whole ‘nother blog.
My village has got ordinances against all kinds of things, including showing affection on public streets, but there’s no ordinance against having a vegetable garden in the front yard. Good thing because the back yard has low ground and gets awfully wet in a rainstorm. We put a hedge around three sides so no one would be offended by whatever gardening paraphernalia we put out there.
There are two raised beds in the back. Because of the often damp ground we expand the growing area with bins and pots.
I think my hat makes me look like I belong in the Australian Outback or an Indiana Jones movie. My wife, who bought me the hat, has a different opinion. I thought the hat should’ve cost about $12. She said I wouldn’t want to be seen in the ones that cost $12. I know exactly what she means, the kind my grandmother used to wear.
I’ve known Alayna for 30 years. Here she picks a bagful of Swiss chard to freeze for winter. Growing to the left of her are Hidatsa pole beans for drying. A bush-type bean, Arikara, grows in another part of the garden. Behind her are brandywine tomatoes.
I’ve also known Richard for 30 years. He’s standing in front of the brandywine tomatoes. Before he started gardening, he didn’t have a bean vine growing out of the top of his head. The shirt he’s wearing is his own design. Richard is our wheatgrass growing expert and worm wrangler, among other things.
We’ve got 11 rain barrels. We pump the rain water to irrigate the gardens. Plans are to do all of the watering with drip irrigation, someday.
Some of the worms that Richard wrangles.
This is one of two coldframes made out of old storm windows I got for free. There are tomato, onion, broccoli and calendula seedlings and more inside. The two foot height of the coldframes makes them handy for lengthening the season of full-grown plants.
A couple of the heirloom vegetables we grew this season. Broccoli was the only non-heirloom plant we grew this year.
The tomato vines behind me are a foot taller than they were when Richard stood in front of them a month before.
Hope you liked the pictorial. We’ll be working to share some how-to’s about coldframes, extending the season on both ends, vermiculture, making things for the garden from junk, and more.
Nice garden. Nice pictures, too, but not enough with that hot hunk Richard in them. Post more!
Okay, how about one when he’s up to his elbows in worms, and worm castings? Nice to meet you here, maybe next time in person.
Worms, worm castings, compost, manure, all fine and dandy with me as long as I can see his adorable face. And yes, Iād like to meet you, too. I offered to work in your garden alongside that jagoff while I was visiting, but for some reason he preferred to take off. Maybe I can talk him into at least bringing me by next time. š
…as long as I can see his adorable face
Where does he keep that one? You’re welcome to visit the garden any time.
Here’s a wheatgrass idea. I’m not sure if it is feasible but I think it will appeal to your carpentry/fabrication/recycling skills and senses.
Instead of flimsy cardboard box lids for growing wheatgrass in your house, what about making wood boxes that would fit on indoor shelving. You could use some of the wood that drifted your way via Frank the neighborhood landscaper. Plywood could be the bottom and the wood could be treated against water damage with the same plastic used with the cardboard lids. Also, those wood wheatgrass boxes should stack well when not in use.
Or…does anyone have other ideas for wheatgrass-growing containers?
Good idea. I’d also be interested to hear if anyone else has any ideas for containers.