Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Le Jardin


Everything sounds so much more fancy and eloquent in French. It is kind of a cliche, but I am simply referring to my humble little garden and just wanted to amp up the fancy factor. Kind of like when you refer to Target as Tarshay. Anyway, along with chickens, we're trying out a little garden this year. I have wanted to start a garden for years, but before kids there were some lame excuses and then I was full-on pregnant for two summers in a row. Uh-uh. I was not weeding with a 7, 8, 9 month pregnant belly. I've also always thought that I have a black, rather than a green, thumb. So here we are, finally doing it. Well, Ted was the one who actually dug it, planted everything and put a little chicken wire fence around it. But I have taken the baton and taken charge. Really, it had been neglected for several weeks and I started noticing that the weeds were taking over. Early yesterday morning, I got this ringing in my ear and went to town. Well, at least until the sweat started pouring down my face and into my eyes from the heat and humidity. Rome wasn't built in a day, right? I left the remainder to this morning and while it is still not perfect, I don't think our precious vegetables are getting choked by encroaching weeds. While I was weeding, Ted took down the chicken wire so that I could get all the weeds around the perimeter. Of course, the kids charged in, stomping all over everything. Lily, my one year old, trampled a pepper plant that I fear many never be the same. Ainsley, the two year old, plucked off a couple of immature cherry tomatoes. Who knew that the chicken wire was to keep my little animals out and not the critter variety?

It's funny, I have always detested yard work. I would much rather scrub a toilet than be cutting grass or planting flowers, or taking care of them. Probably why for so long I thought I had a black thumb. I have to say, even including all the sweat and humidity and dirt and all the things I have never liked before, there was satisfaction in ripping out those weeds and showing them who's boss. Not to mention, my reward for this hard work will be delicious tomatoes, rosemary, sage, thyme, lavender, squash, cucumbers, peppers, and hopefully pumpkins in the fall (thanks, Jeanne!).

While I was taking pictures of the plants, I also took some more pics of the chicks and you can see how big they are. We're even starting to hear the beginnings of some "bawks." Farm fresh eggs can't come fast enough!

Note: This is the garden, post-weeding. I would never post the "before" pictures for fear that the garden police would arrest me for cruelty to plants. The weeds were that bad. I'm all about saving a little face for the purposes of my blog.


The tomatoes that Ainsley plucked too soon. They WERE tasty!





I love how nosy they are


Nothing to see here peeps! Just plotting our next escape

Our "coop" - just a shed on clearance from Home Depot that Ted added a door to

2 comments:

  1. I have a feeling you'll be hooked on gardening after this season :) I only grew flowers until 3 years ago, but after experiencing the deep satisfaction of planting seeds (or seedlings) and nurturing them to fruition (and then COOKING the literal fruits of your labor!), there was no going back. I've got 5'9" tomatoes (green zebras! Black Krims - even the names are tantalizing!), Japanese eggplants -- one plant has 19 luscious purple eggplants already!, hot peppers, mini peppers, bell peppers, 3 kinds of chard, basil, parsley, oregano, thyme, lavender, pineapple mint, spearmint, and...alluringly, chocolate mint. How can you resist?!?! (clearly, the words from an addict ;)

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  2. I can totally relate....but do find great satisfaction in spring planting. This year our elementary school built a school hoophouse garden to teachbtge kids about growing vegetables...i think i am learning just as much as the students, having never grown a seed in my life! :)

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