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Why I'm Planning a Big Garden This Year

When we moved into this house in November of 2010, one of the things I was most excited about was having the space for a garden. I could hardly wait to until it was warm enough to plant things, and had Doug out buying a tiller in January.

So last summer was the first garden I had planted in a long time. I started small because I didn't want to get overwhelmed. Basically we just had enough to eat fresh as it got ready.

But this year I am planning to plant a lot more. I want enough to eat fresh all summer and to have lots to can and put in the freezer. Doug asked me the other day what I'm planning to put in the garden this year and I said "Everything." I'm not sure what he thinks about that idea. All he said was "I guess I'd better till up some more ground then." I keep telling him last year was just an experiment so see how things grow here. I guess it was my refresher course.

I know I want a large garden but I found myself asking myself why I want such a large garden. Why do I really want to go to all that work planting, weeding, hoeing, watering, picking, canning and freezing?

I know the reasons for wanting (or not wanting a garden) will vary with each person or family. But here are some  of my reasons for wanting a garden this year.


First, the whole process just simply fascinates me. Working up the soil (or rather, watching Doug work up the soil), smelling the freshly turned earth, letting it run through my fingers. Making rows and putting in the seeds, waiting for the first sprouts, watching the plant grow, blossom and bear fruit. It is just an amazing process and I love it.





Second, it's a learning experience for the kids. There's a lot of life science going on in a garden! Photosynthesis, Pollination, Plant Life Cycles, Insect Life Cycles, Metamorphosis - it's all right there in living color. We can see it, touch it, smell it, and taste it. And if you count the buzz of the insects and the croak of an occasional toad you can hear it too.

It also teaches perseverance and the value of hard work. The weeds need to be pulled, the plants watered and the produce harvested and put up.  Planning and thinking ahead is also important in order to make the best use of garden space.





I believe, that for us, it's a wise use of our resources. We have the land for a garden, we have plenty of people who can help work in it. So why not make the most of these gifts and reap the harvest. I like filling up the freezer with food from the garden. And hopefully this year, I'll also be filling shelves with canned goods.






Another good thing that came out of having a garden last year and I'm looking forward to this year was simply the quality time we had working together as a group. Even those who complained about having to take the time to come work in the garden found themselves enjoying the time together. There was a lot of conversation and laughter as we worked together.



So, these are my reasons for having a garden. Do you have a garden? And if you do, what are some your favorite things about having one?

Morning Musing Over Coffee - I Will Fear No Evil



credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

Psalm 23

¹The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
²He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
³He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
⁴Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
⁵Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.



God never promised that life would be easy. But He did promise that if we follow Him He would be with us. And when He is with us He provides us with His protection, and with rest no matter what is going on around us. He assured us of comfort, and of sustenance even in the presence of our enemies. He promised to fill our lives with goodness and mercy.

So no matter what I see with my human eyes, I can rest assured that God is in control and is working things out in His own way and His own time for my good and to bring glory to Him.


  Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”  ~ Mark 10:27

Sunny Saturday - Gardening and Other Fun

Today was a beautiful sunny day and I just couldn't resist playing in the garden. After checking on SproutRobot to see what I can plant this early in the year I got out the seeds.

Doug tilled the ground one last time before I started planting.

 Radishes - I'm not quite sure what I was thinking when I bought a 1/4 pound package of radish seeds. This is a lot of potential radishes! I planted two rows today and I'm going to plant a row or two every week to space them out a little.

  Sugar Sprint Peas -I got three rows (Doug says the rows are about 20 feet long) of peas from these two packages of seeds.

Carrots - Three 20 foot long rows.

Lettuce from this salad mix collection of seeds - also three rows.

CJ and Michael helped me plant. Michael was excited about planting but I was surprised that CJ really wasn't that interested. I did get him to help plant one row of peas so that he would have the experience and so that when they start growing he would feel a sense of ownership as well. I think he enjoyed it once he got started although he didn't want to help with anymore.

Cayson didn't help plant seeds but had fun digging in the dirt at the other end of the garden.

After planting these seeds I started wondering what else I could plant and decided to make a cold frame
from an old bin and some old window frames that were left in our shed when we bought this place. I planted cucumber and tomato seeds (also from the salad mix collection) in here and will transfer them to the garden when they are big enough. I've never tried this before so I'm just hoping it will work.

One of the cool things about planting these seeds was knowing that I bought all these seeds (and I have more waiting to plant) with Amazon gift cards I earned through Swagbucks and Superpoints.

When the kids weren't helping in the garden today they spent a lot of time gathering walnuts. CJ cracked some of them and shared them with Michael, Cayson and me.

 

 

 

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The Simple Woman's Daybook - Friday March 9, 2012

For Today

Outside my window . . . cooler and breezy today although we still spent quite a bit of time outside. I picked up more walnuts from the yard and Doug tilled up some ground for our garden.

I am thankful . . . that it's Friday.

In the kitchen . . . CJ fixed spaghetti and meatballs, salad and cheesy bread for dinner this evening. It was delicious!

I am creating . . . I am so close to being finished with the braided rug for the living room. I can hardly wait to see it on our floor every day.

I am going . . . This morning we ran some errands - bank, grocery store, dollar store and pharmacy - as well as taking Lauren to and from preschool. The rest of the day I was at home.

I am wondering . . . where this year will take us.

I am reading . . . I finished When Bad Christians Happen to Good People: Where We Have Failed Each Other and How to Reverse the Damage by Dave Burchett yesterday. It was such a good book. Dave Burchett has a great style of writing. Often I laughed out loud while reading the book and yet the seriousness of the subject is not diminished and the points were well written and relevant to everyone.

I am hoping . . . for a quiet weekend.

I am looking forward to . . . going to bed.

Around the house . . . The house is a bit of a mess tonight and I'm not finding the energy or motivation to worry about it. Tomorrow is another day and I'll deal with it after I've had some sleep.

I am pondering . . . Purpose

A favorite quote for today . . . Someday is not a day of the week. ~ Author Unknown

One of my favorite things . . . listening to NPR programs on the radio.

A few plans for the rest of the week . . . grocery shopping tomorrow.

A peek into my day . . . Doug was trying to catch a little nap and two boys decided to join him. I don't think anyone got a nap though.

Morning Musing Over Coffee - Purpose



credit: Michelle Meiklejohn

 

 

 

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” 2 Timothy 1:9



We were created with a purpose and that purpose is to bring glory to God. God has given us each a calling, and that calling was assigned to us before we were even born. So lets live each day with the knowledge that we are here for a reason and if we ask and listen He will show us that reason and give us direction to move forward in that calling.



Here is the test to find whether your mission on earth is finished. If you're alive, it isn't. ~Richard Bach

The Simple Woman's Daybook - Thursday March 8, 2012

For Today

Outside my window . . . I can hear the Spring Peepers peeping away. I love this sound! I noticed today while I was picking up walnuts out of the yard that little wildflowers are starting to bloom.

I am thinking . . . that every day is an adventure and we  never know what interesting things are around the corner for us.

I am thankful . . . for days like today when we can spend lots of time outside just enjoying the fresh air and sunshine.

In the kitchen . . . I fried Three Cheese Black Angus Burgers for dinner this evening.  

I am going . . . today Amanda and I went to SPCA to spend some time with the animals there. We didn't get quite as much time as Amanda would have liked because we forgot our volunteer badges and had to come back home for them. But once we got there we had a good time. Today we played with the cats, getting them out of their cages and letting them have some time to play and soak up some individual attention. We played with four different cats and this one was Amanda's favorite. His name is Angelo. He was the last one we got out and the friendliest.

Here are two of the other cats we played with.

Tinker

Fluppy

Each cat has to be played with seperately. Then when we put it back in it's cage the furniture in the little playroom we used has to be disinfected and the floor mopped before we get out another cat. We also have to wash our hands after each cat. This is to keep them from spreading illnesses between them.

I am learning . . . to take one day at a time.

I am pondering . . . Sharing God's Comfort.

A favorite quote for today . . . The trouble with talking to fast is you may say something you haven't thought of yet. ~ Ann Landers