Fruit of the Land

Having a large backyard and not using it is truly a waste. That is why Larry and I decided to do an organic produce garden this year. He conferred with his mother as to the best location for said garden and which way the furrows would have to run so as to ensure that the water didn't just run out of the garden with regard to the slope of the land. Once we had the lay of the land (pun totally intended) figured and what we were going to plant we set a date and went to Home Depot to rent a tiller for two hours.

I watched as Larry jammed to some tunes and tilled the land. After the tilling came the raking. Here I struggled a little because I am prone to perfectionism so it took me ages to get a piece done. Later my back and hands ached from the exertion. Gosh, it's just embarrassing to be that unfit! I prevailed - until, that is, Larry's mom showed up and showed me how it was done. She would know as she used to own her own Plant Nursery and gardening is part of her DNA make-up at this point.

Larry spent a day hoeing. This made me think of a line in a King of the Hill episode where Peggy and Hank are at a garden store and Hank enthusiastically admires a hoe to which Peggy rhetorically replies, "Why are men so attracted to hoes?" We now actually own a hoe. . .

And, the land rested - just long enough for us to see if any unwanted remnants were still lying dormant in the soil in which case we would have to start the raking and hoeing again.

Planting! Well, here I can tell you that the fun began. We were able to purchase quite many - if not all - of our plants through Larry's mom who also helped us plant some. Larry bought pea fencing, a sprinkler and a hose and set those up for us. Larry's mom brought over some chicken poop and some vermiculite and so all the plants were installed in the right place with the right fertiliser.

We planted snow peas and sugar snap peas along the fence. A row over we scattered some lettuce seed which proceeded to blow everywhere during some rain thereafter, so we decided to plant lettuce plants instead. We have carrots, radishes, garlic, onion, squash, zucchini, patty pans, green beans, eggplants, cucumbers, cubanelles, cherry tomatoes, yellow cherry tomatoes, vine-ripe tomatoes, and Big Boy tomatoes (as far as I can remember).

The growth period is quite exciting because you can walk past the rows and either see little green shoots reaching up out of the soil or you can notice visible increase in size in the starter plants. The lettuce went wild. We were handing it out faster than we could pick any more. And, the leaves would last and last!

Not too long after the initial growth stage we started noticing stray Bib lettuce growing in the trenches. The seed didn't wash or blow away as far as we had hoped.

Of course, although the setup and planting is strenuous, the maintenance is a lot of diligent work. The setup also took place during very early spring when the weather was lovely and cool. Most of the maintenance is taking place in what is not officially even summer yet and we are drowning in the humidity.

I have not been able to go outside and help as much as I have wanted to as I am quite allergic to bug bites - especially mosquito bites which form welts on my skin. I know, I know, "you should spray bug spray, silly", but, you underestimate these mosquitoes. They find unsprayed skin - like my earlobe or the back of my scalp or maybe even the tip of my toe. They have a keen sense of smell. However, someone has kindly given my Avon's Skin-So-Soft bath oil that I can use. Apparently mozzies hate that stuff. I'll have to give it a try.

My biggest joy about this garden is actually Larry's enthusiasm. If he seems nowhere to be found, he is sure to be in his garden. He has even purchased some Crocs for gardening purposes (only, ugly things) so that he doesn't ruin his regular shoes or flip flops. He waters conscientiously, weeds and checks for bugs. Almost daily after work you will see him outside with an orange tub picking the produce. We have had so many green beans and cucumbers that it's almost ridiculous. Also, the tomatoes have been bountiful. Our biggest pest being the squirrels picking the tomatoes for themselves. They are just fortunate that Larry hasn't caught them yet.

Now we have pulled up the lettuce as it has become too hot for them to thrive any longer. Larry decided to plant okra. I'm not fond of okra but him and his family are so they can share it.

Larry and I commented on the fact that we hardly buy food anymore seeing as we pick so many things in our backyard to eat. It is one of the most rewarding investments ever!