Garden: FAIL

Last summer (my first year gardening) was awesome. We practically lived off of our backyard. Fresh eggs for breakfast and delicious salads for dinner!

Because everything grew so out of control in the two beds that I had, I ended up building 2 more in the side yard this year. It was a lot of work but I figured that I could definitely use the extra space for some new and exciting plants. 

I started early and felt prepared for the summer ahead. I planted seeds when the weather got warm I and spent a lot of time back there treating my garden with as much care and attention as I did last year. 

But something must have been different. 

NOTHING GREW!!!

I feel like such a failure. everything that could have gone wrong seemed to happen this year. Not to mention, we had A LOT of sunshine which should have made for a great harvest. But we were left with practically nothing and no explanation as to way :(

My mint, which despite all the issues in the garden, grew well and looks as though it will make it through the winter.

My one and only edible cucumber. LAME.  

One of the veggies we are most excited about every year is the broccoli and cauliflower. They were completely ravaged by insects. Last year they were eaten by the chickens so we have yet to taste fresh greens from this plant.

The biggest issue last year were my chicken girls. They love all things green and yummy. Imagine that. I put all of their favorite foods into netting this year but they are smarter than they look.

They are a lot like Velociraptors, they check for weaknesses in the fencing...and they find it. It only took 1 hour before they were able to destroy all my strawberries, peppers, kale and green been plants. And I mean DESTROYED.

My tomatoes were growing beautifully when a horrible wind storm blew them over. Now all the leaves are starting to brown due to the frost we are getting overnight. Its so depressing.

We had a ton of green beans and peas early on, two things that we don't eat a lot of in this house. It's also looking like we may get some squash out of this years harvest, but nothing compared to last summer. I would love to say I learned a lot from my mistakes, but I just can't figure out what the difference was! Ill absolutely try again next year, but if I have another horrible gardening summer,  I quit!!!

Did anyone else have a hard time in the garden this year?

Out

My little helper, runny nose and all.

We have been working really hard in the back beautifying our yard the past few days. It feels good to improve something.

Really good.

While I dug and slaved away, Sam hunted for worms, gave them names and then fed them to the chickens. Not sure if that is one of the first signs of a serial killer or not....

Gardening is very therapeutic for me. I enjoy the thinking, the getting really dirty and the fresh air. It's all something that I have been in desperate need of for a while now. What I don't enjoy is running into a neighbor during the 30 seconds I spent in the front yard un-showered and bra-less. Sorry to scare you, Alycia.

Vitamin D is something that we don't get a lot of here in the Northwest, so when we have the opportunity, we drink it up. Everyone was out enjoying the nice weather. The sound of lawn mowers and laughing kids sure made it a nice spring day. I absorbed every ounce of it.

The muscle and blister pain I am now experiencing is actually easy to tolerate when I look out at all the pretty new shrubs I planted. Nevertheless, I could use a nice relaxing back massage right about now, MATT. (hint, hint)

It's been a hard month and we are glad to see March go. Here's to hoping April brings more fun, pretty blooms, warm sunshine and LOTS OF GARDENING :)

Fresh

Just pulled all this from the garden :)

Fresh eggs from Doris and Daisy, summer squash, zuchinni, carrots, roma tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, strawberries and a small walla walla onion.

Holly's garden notes

I am no pro. This is my first year of gardening but I have learned so much that I thought I should take notes so that I don't forget how to do it all again next year! ROMA TOMATOESNext Year - 2 plants only. 4 plants took up way too much room and 2 plants gives plenty of fruit. Pinch off suckers from the start!

Use a stronger cage or build a trellis. Plant on the opposite side to keep it from shading the rest of the garden.

SWEET MILLIONS CHERRY TOMATOESNext year - Same notes as Roma's. These tomatoes are to die for! They are so sweet and so juicy. Must plant every year.

ROMAINE LETTUCEThis year - Matt didn't like the texture and I planted too much for our small family. Next year - Try another breed of lettuce. Simpsons? Butter? Cut back when the plants start to take over.

ROSEMARYThis year - 3 plants that are slow growing but strong and fragrant. Next year - Try planting in decorative pots or along fence line. Should do good outside of garden when a little more mature.

WALLA WALLA ONIONSNext year - Either protect with a "spine" or keep chickens away. 25% of my plants were trampled. Harvest when the size is right, usually around 150 days.

SUMMER SQUASHNext year - Fewer plants. These grow large and in charge. Plant on a hill to keep squash from sitting (rotting) in dirt. Keep chickens away. They tend to nibble on the veggies. Pull when approx 1ft long. Doing so will allow other veggies to grow.

ZUCCHININext year - Notes are the same as the squash. Used for "Zucchini Cake" that are delish.

CUCUMBERSThis year - Failed. Next year - Try a trellis or a vine guide.

CARROTSNext Year - Plant further apart and keep chickens away. They get trampled easily. Do not transport plants. Carrots become crooked and oddly shaped. Water dirt before harvesting to keep the root from breaking.

BUSH BEANS Next year - Keep plants protected from Chickens. My bushes were not able to grow because the leaves kept being eaten. Beans were good when harvested. Plant directly into garden.

SOY BEANSThis year - Failed. Next year - Keep protected from chickens.

SILVER ROSE GARLICNext year - Use a "spine" to protect plants. Tend to grow a little weak but bulb is still growing and strong. harvest late fall.

STRAWBERRIESNext year - Do not be fooled by their sweet disposition and good looks! Chickens love Strawberries! Keep protected from all angles. Trim back plant shoots.

BLUEBERRIESNext year - Another fruit that chickens love. Keep covered with netting at all times.

SPINACHNext year - Fewer rows and pull while leaves are still small. Freezing spinach works great for omelettes or cooked spinach.

BASILNext year - Plant in a pot and move through yard throughout the season to follow the sun. Needs more heat and light than the garden is able to provide.

LAVENDERNext year - Plant more! Very hardy and very fragrant. Need to learn how to trim it in the off season though.

DILLThis year - Killed during a transport. Next year - Try planting seeds in an herb garden.

BROCCOLINext year - Don't even bother. The plants are too big to protect from my hungry chickens who apparently, LOVE broccoli.

GRAPE VINENext year - Expect one or two grape bundles. Guide vine to desired shape over both sides of fence.

PUMPKINS This year - Didn't plant in time. Next year - Try planting them around the fence line. Should grow well there.

ARTICHOKE This year - Didn't have room. Next year - Try! GARDEN LAYOUT & CONSTRUCTION
"Covered Wagon" with netting works great to keep chickens and other birds out. Copper slug tape works miracles. Keep it constant around the base of pots and garden bed.

Keep taller plants towards the grape vine section of the garden beds. This will keep them from shading other plants. (dill, tomatoes, squash, etc.) Fertilize with "Chicken Poo-Tea." So gross, but so rich.  Start composting. Back corner of side yard? Find a inexpensive barrel composter. Make a walkway to coop and garden using flagstone or bricks. Spay moss growth in between. Marigolds are pointless and the chickens love to eat them. Bugs were not an issue without the flowers. Start seeds on soaked paper towel, but be prepared to plant in 72 hours. Sprout you see is actually the root! Don't plant upside down.

Our first garden-fresh meal

It wasn't much, but it was good. I loved walking outside, gathering leaves and then taking them in the kitchen to prepare dinner.

I used my romaine lettuce for a nice salad.

followed by a cheese filled pasta covered with a freshly chopped basil pesto.

Yum! I cant wait for more of my garden to start maturing! 

The side yard

I pretty much get whatever I want. So it should be no surprise to me that Matt was more than willing to build me the garden beds and the chicken coop that I asked for.

Still, I am super excited about these almost finished products.

Our side yard has been a wasted space up until last week.

Out of sight, out of mind.

But now I have a fun garden to care for and I will have even more responsibility when the "Chick-Inn" is completed.  

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We planted all of the things that we most eat/use most around our home. Tomatoes (2 different varieties), lettuce, spinach, string beans, garlic, onions, cucumbers, dill, strawberries, basil, rosemary, broccoli and carrots. (Blueberry bushes will be added this week as well. ) Its so exciting to go out there every day and see how mature it is becoming.

There are still a few more projects to tackle in regards to the garden (stain the outside wood and add some slug-b-gone to the dirt mix) but I am loving any excuse these days to get outside. Rain or shine...even though its been mostly rain.

Yesterday, Matt started building the chicken coop. Did I mention that the girls are LIVING IN OUR BATHROOM?! Yes, its a disaster. Even though they are contained in a plastic tub, they are taking over. Not only are they huge, but they are curious birds with no fear. When I go in there to change their water or food, they immediately fly onto me to be able to stretch their wings a little. I love the attention, but I cant wait to introduce them to the outdoors, where they belong.

How white trash is this situation: Constructing A CHICKEN COOP with a toddler in CHRISTMAS PAJAMAS and hand-me down RAIN BOOTS in the recently thatched and seeded DIRT LAWN. Oh, and Sam is pretending that the broken screw he found is a gun. Sweet. Should I take a trip to Walmart in my flannels now?

The cherry tree

On Wednesday morning we woke up to a bunch of workers digging out the trees that line the road in front of our house. I asked one of the men what they were doing, and he informed me that most, if not all of the trees were dying from a fungus. When he explained that it was cheaper to plant new ones over spraying them all with "fungus-ide", I asked if I could keep one and try to save it myself. He was more than happy to pick me out a healthy one for our back yard.


The tree is over 5 years old so it was quite a chore to dig a hole big enough for the mature roots let alone carry that thing into the back. But I had help!Sam and I got up early on Thursday and before we got cleaned up for the day, we put on some scrubs and got down and dirty in the mud.

Sam was in little boy heaven. He helped me dig, played with worms, collected rocks and climbed in and out of our newly dug hole.

When we had completed the task of planting our tree, we played in the backyard and then carefully marched ourselves strait into the bathtub.

We had tons of fun getting nice and filthy, and now every time we look out at our tree (that we hope survives!) I will remember the very dirty day I had with Sam.