The plan...

As if there was one! Ha! Ha! Ha! For sake of this post, let's just pretend there was.

March 2008, the seeds arrive. Oooo! Seeds have a way of growing more then just plants, they grow ideas. Like little lightening bugs in my head, I had visions of vegetables dancing in my head. All romantic, none realistic, but hey, that's what dreams are made of.

The man had already told me that we really needed to re-consider the vegetable garden. Gas and food prices were getting out of hand, it was a sure way of good food on our table and in our bellies. He suggested that we make a team of it. Ok, fine, you prepare the beds, I'll grow the plants. The first thing to go was the monkey grass.This wonder plant, aka: mondo grass, ophiopogon japonicus and liriope will grow with neglect. It is common in landscaping as an edging. Not to mention it has a pretty purple flower that attract beneficial insects. However, it was in my way and taking over the small patch we had eeked out, added topsoil to and were trying to claim as our garden. Simply put, it had to go!

While man and boy toiled to remove the monkey grass, I bought seeds. I had this grand idea that I would grow the three sisters. So, I bought corn. Because I have a mind of my own, I started them in Jiffy Pot Strips. No one told you weren't supposed to transplant corn. Besides, this isn't transplanting, you plant the whole pot. Ignorance is bliss in my case. In early April, the bed was ready and the corn went into the ground. Once again, without a whit of knowledge, they are a bit close together this year and doing OK. Next year, I will know how to space them better. But hey, if farmers in Idaho can get higher yields on less land, then so can I. It just requires constant vigilance. Who know, if it works, I may never change.

As the monkey grass went, I "planned" the rest of the garden. Along with the corn I started tomatoes and sweet peppers. I am pretty sure 100% of the tomato seeds yielded plants. In fact, only the peppers were less then 95% from the seed company Botanical Interests. I bought mine at Rosewood Market. The tomatoes would go into pots. I just never have much luck with them in the ground. So, I would need to round up enough pots. Ultimately I had 15 in pots, (I am down to 13 now as I gave two to my neighbor). Each pot has a marigold with it.

I ended up selling 13 plants in small pots to a friend at the All Local Market (By the way, IF you live in Columbia, you MUST check out this market.) for $2 each. Ahhh! My first "harvest." I turned around and spent that money on food. Mmmmmm? Do I smell a side business here?

Pretty much as soon as I put the peppers in the ground, I ended up with nine, I started some okra in little pots. I had been searching locally for peet pots without any luck, you would have thought I was looking an alien, and given up to just use small pots.

So a small garden was started and I was pleased. I would patiently wait for the corn to settle in before putting in squash seeds, (I think I was patient for about 3 weeks). I would also wait for the corn to reach at least half it's height (4-5 feet) before I put in beans, (that's it's own story there). That is surely the hard part about gardening: the wait. But wait I did, do and will do.

More on the plan soon. Later taters!