My mother's family always grew their own food. They grew potatoes and corn in a nearby farmer's field. In their own yard they had fruit trees and grapes. They canned and dried their vegetables and fruit. They even had pigs, chickens and turkeys (on a not-too-large yard).
I began a flower and vegetable garden when I was very young. At first it was just a small strip against the house: some beans, tomatoes and a large hollyhock. Later, when I was a teenager, I dug a rather large space in the back of her yard. I will always remember he first time I realized nature controlled all things, no matter how well planned ("the best laid plans aft gang aglee") when a hailstorm tore apart my perfect vegetables. They didn't die, but healed in large knuckles and joints, a testament to their will to survive.
For a long time I lived in apartments and had only a tomato plant or two in pots. But when I married and we moved into rental houses I used all the space I could. I've grown vegetable gardens where I never witnessed a destructive insect and gardens that partially succumbed to them.
When we bought the house I where I now live, I thought I'd have a garden for life. But life had other plans. When my husband left his family for a "person" he had been seeing for years, unknown to me, and subsequently filed for divorce, I no longer knew how much longer I'd be growing here. But I plan to make the most of the few years I may have left here. With that in mind, I want this garden blog to celebrate the life in my yard and my home (my son and I), and make the most of whatever time may be left here, in the event I may never have another garden after I leave.
I have two gardens here: one front garden whose has been destroyed with miles of pine tree roots. I have tried to place roses in the front, but will dig up most and move them along the fence in the back. I will replace the space in the front with a few 10" raised gardens, approximate 4x8'. I should probably build 3 of these. I will also build a few 2x2' raised gardens for winter squash and bean structures. I will get to the types of seeds/plants in the next post.
The backyard is tricky. On the bottom level there are two plots: one is 3x25', and the other is 12x25'. There is a bit of shade on the larger plot, thanks to a thoughtless neighbor who planted a tree right next to the fence, which, btw, is 1' over my property. The fence was erected when the last owner lived here.
The upper level has three main plots: one is 18x30, one is 12x35, and the last is 3x15. I try to use every inch, and if I can remove the limbs at the back of the yard to let the sun in, I plan to get 100'sq more dug and planted.
I would like to plant some radishes in a metal or wood tub, but I would have to obtain a found container so I'm not planting at negative cost.
I have 2 grapevines: Frontenac(red, not gris). This is a wonderful, wonderful wine grape with cherry undertones. I am going to make fruit spread with the fruit this year. It is absolutely disease resistant, and I cannot recommend this more highly. The other is a white seedless, which I plan to give away. It can't compare to frontenac and I want to plant more veggies on the space it takes up.
There are 2 semi-dwarf antique apple trees: Tompkin's County King, whose fruit quality I am not too pleased with, and a semi-dwarf Northern Spy. I had planted this type when I was a teenager. I loved it then and love it now.
I have about 10 red raspberries, 5 blackberries, a few red currants and strawberries as well. There is also a dwarf Rochester Peach and a wonderful Montmorency sour cherry tree. It is neither bothered by birds or insects. The first year it bore fruit, I got 3 gallons of cherries. I used very little sugar in the cherry pies made from this. (I planted a North Star Cherry tree once, and there wasn't enough sugar in the world to sweeten these cherries).
I plan to get a few blueberries, dwarf for the front yard as well. I don't know what kind yet.
As aforementioned, I will list the seeds I purchased this year and what type I always choose. A later post will describe the chickens I'm purchasing in April and the coop I'm building. I will also write a description of the cob bread oven I'm building in a shady part of the backyard. The compost bin will be covered as well.
And, I will include other interests, hobbies as well; all tie together to create an enlightened life (at least sometimes).
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