Remember Victory Gardens? The "do your part" movement to help the war effort, your country and community by conserving, rationing and growing vegetables in your back yard? The cool thing about a Victory Garden was that you could make one anywhere. A sunny porch stoop, a little raised bed tucked at the side of the house - anywhere!
I went to visit a friend this weekend and her husband was at Home Depot picking up wood for a raised vegetable bed. They're going to build a little raised plot in their backyard for veggies, fruits and herbs. I really really want to do this in my yard. I also want to start a little compost bin. Since my diet is leaning to the mostly raw side of life, a veggie garden would be awesome. I have never done anything like this before, and I'm a little freaked out at the prospect. But I figure if I do my research and start small, it won't be so scary.
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To get inspired, I've got "Animal, Vegetable, Mineral" on my reading list. I've picked it up before and loved the first 40 pages or so, but as with so many good books in my life, I never quite get back to them. I think its time to pick up Ms. Kingsolver again.
Do you have a veggie garden? What do you like to grow?
What tips do you have for a novice?
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12 comments:
Beautiful post! I'm a little young to recall the "do your part" movement, but shouldn't this still apply? :)
We started some seeds early last week. We have 2 types of basil and rosemary at the moment. The tiniest little sprouts have begun to rise out of the soil. Later, we will transfer them to small pots indoors and eventually they'll go into the raised beds out back. I used a starter kit, less than $5 and you can use whatever seeds you choose.
~B
YES>>YES>>>YES!! It's the perfect thing for you to do. The boys will love growing things too. FYI, one zuccinni plant will do! Heirloom tomatoes and lemon cukes are my favorite. Peas and beans look so pretty climbing up a trellis.
Okay Mama (Connie) when you're here next week, will you help me get this going? I really want to do it!
Walmart sell $0.20/pack seeds every Spring, perfect for beginners
My husband and I started with one raise bed in our backyard 4'x12'. A year later, we added a second one of the same size. That's as much as we can handle. One raised bed is planted with tomatoes (just for BLTs) and zucchini. The other has peas and beans.
When I was a kid we used to have a small garden in our yard, such a cute place.
Sarah, a vegetable garden is so rewarding. I can't keep flowers out of mine though. I am currently living in an apartment and my balcony is too shady for most veggies. On my blog I posted about four square gardens and that would be the type so perfect for you. You can check my blog or google four square gardens for info.
Thanks Shawna - I'm headed over right now!
I do have a veggie garden and several compost piles going...to answer your second question: I'd start with the type of plant that will give you results quickest and easiest: leafy greens. I live in Florida and I am not sure of where you are but if you are up north you can easily grow all sorts of lettuces and oriental greens (there are tons of different cultivars of bok choi alone...and all delicious and nutritious)...that's my vote..also, to grow these leafy greens all you need is a medium or large pot with good draining and some seeds, so no immediate commitment (or expense) with raised beds.
If you think a large compost bin is too much and you are not bothered by worms a worm bin would be a great start too. There are tons of easy tutorials online and it is very inexpensive to get it going.
Lastly, with you being a busy mom and all perhaps you would like to give perennial veggies a try (the kind you only plant once and keep harvesting from), a great book to learn more about is "Perennial Vegetables" by Eric Toensmeier....
Best of luck! :)
Gorgeous post. I would love to have a vegetable garden, but we just have a patio with pots - am considering growing veg instead of flowers this summer though :) Have a great day sweets,
Axx
hey darlin'
I'm a raw foodist. email me, I'll give you some DELISh recipes. it will be worth it!!
I love those beautiful garden boxes. I've never thought of doing that, but I am now!
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