Sunday, April 13, 2008

Photobucket Ode to DIRT!

Mike and I went on a date. To Lowe's Building Supplies. It was wonderful. He picked out carpet pad, a yard storage container, and a pond kit. I walked through the garden area and felt my spirits soar.

I remembered living in Hardin, MT. Every year my Uncle and Grams would ask the children and I to drive them to Billings to buy DIRT, and seeds, and plants. My uncle would spend hours during the winter pouring over seed catalogs. I had a HUGE garden in Hardin, and lots of flowers. Those are good years to remember. My Uncle died the day Arielle was born, 10 1/2 years ago. Some days I just miss he and my Grams intensely....and the dirt took me back in time.

Our family went military....Mike built some gorgeous flower beds for our first base house. Then we moved....and we realized that we had to leave all the landscaping behind. We could never get the hang of gardening in TX. We moved to Alaska and there aren't a lot of gardening months. We're back in TX again...... I did not inherit the green thumb of my mom's family. I kill things. It didn't make sense to spend $$$ on temporary gardens and beds et al. We quit buying houseplants (of which I had zillions when we were civilian) because we have to leave them every few years....

BUT a little over a year ago, when Mike was deployed, Debbie gave me a little plant to care for. It lives. On Valentine's Day Mike gave me another plant. It lives. I've been dreaming of a small palm for the entry......and I asked Mike about a garden. I was shocked when he thought it would be a good idea. We'll be planting the back yard next spring before we move......

As I sauntered through the plant section, smelling the dirt, examinging petunias.....I got very happy thinking of planting a garden. I know we're LATE but we think we CAN garden year round with a bit of planning down here.....so it will be o.k. I bought a bag of potting mix to replant my little houseplants. I bought a few hanging baskets for the front yard.

I came home and googled "square foot gardens" as we have a very small yard. I'll have to plant some things in pots. I found steps, pictures and more here. I was talking about my square foot garden plan at chapel fellowship today. Ivey said she has the book and wondered if I'd like to look at it. SO....I'm going to find vermiculite, peat moss, and compost (and hope to start my own).....build a bed and go for it. Have any of you planted a garden with this method? Do you have tips to share? Did you use the little grids for the top of the bed? The best luck I ever had with a garden was the year we did it all in raised beds.....I just sort of threw it all in...and it grew. LOL

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8 comments:

Debbie said...

De'Etta, I am so happy for you that you will be planting a garden! It is one of my favorite havens in our busy lives right now. Nothing like working the dirt and watching things grow. Can't wait to see some of your plans.

What sort of pond kit? Inground, barrel? I love our small garden pond.

all in the family said...

DeEtta,
We are compiling a composting bin pile. It has wood chips, leaves, table scraps and horse poo in it. That will be our fertlizer and compost. HTH

Beth in GA

Michelle said...

De'Etta, last year our agricultural extension office offered a free class on composting. At the end of the class each participant received a FREE compost. While we were active duty I too gave up live houseplants but continued to with landscaping and small gardens while living in military housing.

This year we're doing container gardening (dwarf fruit trees) and SFGing too.

I've purchased the patio boxes to put on a slab of concrete instead of taking up grassy areas (which are full with a trampoline and wooden swingset).

I'm excited for you and the kids. Nothing like watching a planted seed grow and then reaping the reward of hard work.

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

Michelle- patio boxes? Where did you buy these? Are they the SF thing but for the top of concrete? I'll have to search further.

Michelle said...

De'Etta, SFG sells the patio boxes. Yup, for on top of concrete/patios for SFG.

Gilda said...

DeEtta,
It is NOT too late to plant your garden. We are in the process of the SFG too. Since we have had such late cold weather we should be fine in planting within the next week or two.
This is the first time we are trying SFQ so I can't give any advice, but I look forward to hearing about your garden.

Cynthia said...

FUN FUN! We haven't had a vegetable garden in years, but we do have flower beds.

Angi said...

I am anxiously awaiting a date to Lowe's! We just haven't been able to fit it in!