3 Lessons From Spring
Plants have sprouted and been transplanted. Soil hauled to garden beds, and fences erected. I’m proud, yet hesitant to state that neither deer nor raccoon have yet helped themselves to my garden. And, despite us hauling 18 yards of soil to our garden that’s 100 yards away, I’m happy with the progress made and already learned some lessons along the way.
Lesson 1: Get to know your neighbors quick! I can’t express the gratitude I feel for our nearest neighbor. After seeing us haul 5 gallon buckets of soil back and forth with our truck and trailer, he arrived with a small tractor equipped with a bucket. He hauled several loads to our garden gate, and saved our aching backs.
Lesson 2: Yes, I started too many plants in trays, but I stand by my enthusiasm! I have way too many plants; there’s no question about it. Having said that, it’s given me an opportunity to easily provide gifts to others, and have assurance with this incredibly late frost we received. Will I start as many seeds next year though…I think not.
Lesson 3: Yes, I tried companion planting again, but I realized my plants are more rural neighbors than city neighbors. Don’t ask my why my brain thought this was companion planting, but I put all tomatoes in a box, and all broccoli, etc., but I made sure that companion boxes were next to each other. I had a little mix in there, some beets with my peas, etc., but I don’t think I’m really getting the companion effect. Oh what a feeling it is to start a garden and as soon as a seed is planted, think, “yeah, I should’ve done this different.” But, we learn, right! So, next year, I’ll plan to have my companions WITHIN THE SAME BOX!
My last note is about our newest project. Yesterday, my husband and I started building a garden shed - our first building project on the land. It went surprisingly well, which means I didn’t give my husband enough credit! We’re determined to build with the land, which is on a 14-20% slope at all times. So, instead of lifting an incredibly heavy beam 8 feet in the air, instead we were lifting it up 11 feet in the air. My husband’s only-child mind kicked in, and he fashioned an ingenious stepped process for the two of us to get the heavy beams in place. So now, our garden shed is framed in, and ready for a roof. Which is the most important part - it’s our water collector!