A Blank Canvas

As many before me and as I promised I would not do, I fell way behind on my blog.  Imagine this, life happened!  I got so caught up in the actual gardening and my other goals that I let it slip.  No more empty promises, I will do the best I can this year.
So mother's day is this weekend and the planting is scheduled.  Bamboo is battled, only plain old weeds to deal with.  I really wish I'd taken a before photo because I didn't think that I would get them all cleared in one afternoon.  It's amazing what one can accomplish with the right playlist.

Several hours ago you would think that I was only growing weeds.  Now it is prepared for the planting to come.  If you look closely at the right side of the photo you will notice there are already rows started.  Those two rows hold 100 asparagus crowns which sometime in the next 2 or 3 years we will be able to harvest.

This time of year is better than Christmas!!

Updates on the other big goals I've mentioned here before, I've kept up with the running.  (no, no one is chasing me) I've run races in two states due to a thanksgiving trip to PA.  I also completed my first 10k two weeks and live to tell about it.  I hope to maintain a successful garden and train for a half marathon in the fall. That is as long it doesn't interfere with  Lockn.  Happy Gardening everyone!

DIRT

So here it is, the biggest pile of dirt I have ever had to move.  The picture does not do it justice.   Dad and leveled this thing in under 3 hours and that includes breaks.  As I have described to friends and family we were a machine.  This is the final product:  

I was also able to add a sitting area to watch the plants grow, lame I know.

There were several other photos with me in them to give perspective of the dirt pile's size.  They were less than flattering and will only be available for viewing upon personal request.  

Typically this post should include all of the planting photos as that should be done on or about mother's day.  I instead spent the weekend in Roanoke and had a wonderful time with Mom while Dad is off sailing the Chesapeake   Turns out one again there was a divine power involved because there is frost warning for tonight.  As long as I can get my hands on a roto tiller soon, the planting post will be up next weekend. 

For now, potato pic update:

       

                                        

Future

You know how sometimes when you look forward to something and it finally occurs it can disappointing because of the hype?  I have been looking forward to some changes occurring at my office that I thought would change my attitude and career forever.  This morning the announcement was made, the person I have blamed for my stagnancy is relocating.  I should be jumping for joy right? Now I have to take full responsibility for what happens and that is terrifying.  It was easier to blame someone else than own the fact that I give just enough to get by just like everyone else.  Unfortunately the state employee system does not foster hard work or originality so it’s easy to be lethargic.  See there I go again blaming.  The next several weeks will be exciting and I have decided will  determine the direction of my future dramatically. 

I am sure you are thinking how is this sad little carrot dramatic?  Let me tell you.  Dad and I were cleaning up the garden and preparing for the roto-tiller and 12 cubic yards of dirt (yes 12 cubic yards of dirt) and I found this carrot.  I was amazed because I did not get any carrots last year thanks to my friend Bambi eating off all the tops.   I knew that I had to include it in this post and it was going to be the star.  There were actually two and after a long day of yard work, I forgot them on the trunk of my car Saturday evening.  On Sunday I ventured out to the lake for VISA recommissioning, still not remembering where I left them.  This one survived the trip and was rescued by my dad.  So not only did it survive a winter in the garden it survived 55 miles on my trunk.  What determination to be famous right?

Zorba the Greek

I have a new found respect for those of you that have a blog that you keep updated.   I promised myself that even after the garden was covered in leaves and then snow that I would find something else to write about, well I didn't.  I was pleasantly reminded why while watching Jeopardy the other night when this quote was an answer to one of the questions.

"All those who actually live the mysteries of life haven't the time to write, and all those who have the time don't live them! D'you see?” 
― Nikos Kazantzakis, Zorba the Greek

So that is my explanation for being unable to keep up with a simple blog.  It also helps that spring has finally arrived (I hope!) and the gardening season along with it.  

My attempt for this year is to use all organic, non-GMO seeds and gardening products.  I ordered all of my seeds from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange.  As my brother and I am sure many other people have taken on the attitude to pay the farmer rather than the doctor.

I started simple with potatoes...









and Kale...

For those that have been following battle bamboo this year has not been without little victories.  The picture below is only a small portion of the work dad has done to keep the bamboo at bay.

One last update for this post.  Last weekend I completed my third 5k!   Definitely excited about the warm weather for that hobby too!

Vacation

Another important lesson learned.  Don't go on vacation in late August without spraying your garden for bugs.  I was not going to spray anything but while I was away some sort of flying creature that looks alot like the stinkbug took over by garden and ate almost everything.  I am glad to give back to God's creatures but I wish they had left me at least one watermelon, I am sure they were delicious.  
 But with views like these who can complain....

These are a couple of warriors that survived the battle.

Tomorrow I will be back to the daily grind.  Nothing like a week in paradise to motivate healthy eating.  I even restarted the Couch to 5K program while I was gone and should be on track for Run for Their Lives on October 20th.

How could any day be bad that starts with this?

Well friends as the garden is tilled under there will be less gardening to blog about.  I hope that you will stick around to see what other awesome things are happening in my life!

Ripe

This title was inspired by the message at Brentwood Church.  When I started this project I wanted to share my gardening experience and I have found that I want to write about more experiences because they are all interwoven.  Today's message was about choosing joy.  It really spoke to me that we have a choice to choose joy over sadness and that is really what God wants us to do.  This project has helped to me to that.  I have experienced joy though the achievements and the relationships that have been cultivated along with the plants.  When life starts to beat me down I can look at this small patch of space that used to be barren and now is producing new life and find hope.

I am winning the battle with the groundhogs on the cucumbers and might get to eat a couple before the season is over.  Anxiously awaiting the beautiful watermelons, pumpkins and cantaloupes.   As the zucchini and squash wrap up their season I am preparing for the winter by freezing pounds of zucchini.

I couldn't help but take a couple of pictures of last night's dinner.  Everything was grown in my yard.

Let the eating begin......

This is my favorite part of the garden so far.  The vegetables are plentiful and delicious.   I have been able to make meals for friends and family.  I've even given veggie baskets as birthday gifts!

Just because I am enjoying the fruits (or vegetables) of my labors the work is far from over.  I am still battling  nature and by that I mean all the animals that think I am growing food for them.  I can't figure out if it is deer or groundhogs or bugs or all of the above.  As all of you are also experiencing it has also been a very dry summer and the rain barrel has been empty.  So an unanticipated expense of a higher water bill has been an adjustment to my budget.  Don't get me wrong it has all been worth it.  I learn something new almost every week and am already laying the plans for next year.

There have been some newcomers to the party.....

watermelon

cantaloupe 

It's been amazing to watch everything start from a tiny seed and then become a plant and begin to bear fruit which also starts small and will hopefully grow enormous and delicious.