Babies for the Garden

Nothing fuels my anticipation for spring like starting seeds.  There is something wonderful and amazing about watching a tiny seed sprout into a seedling.  Dreams of giant tomato plants covered with juicy, ripe tomatoes are fueled by these tiny green babies.

So far I've planted tomato, pepper, eggplant, and cabbage seeds inside.  Next on the seed planting list is broccoli.  The cabbage is suppose to go out into the garden soon, but it was so cold and miserable this week that I haven't started hardening them off.  The weather is suppose to dramatically improve this weekend, so I will introduce the cabbage to the great outdoors then.  Friday we are predicted to have ice and rain with a high of 44 F followed by a high of 71 F on Saturday!  Crazy weather!  Although I will definitely not complain about a nice, warm weekend.

Horsing Around in the Garden

Spring is hopefully coming right around the corner, but secretly I'm hoping it'll hold off just a little bit longer because I'm not ready!  We tilled the garden, but then I needed to add compost.  Last year I did nothing to improve the soil and things did not grow well.  I think I have been spoiled in the past with raised beds filled with purchased garden soil.  Now I am working with the native dirt with all it's clumps, rocks, and clay.

I found a place nearby that has fields of horses and a valley filled with horse poo that has been composting for decades.  Not only is it close and convenient, but it was also only $30 for a truck and trailer load.  Now I have the arduous task of getting it from the truck and trailer into the garden.  At least this is the second and last load!

I have three rows to go and I am so tired and sore!  I'm hoping that all this hard work is going to result in a productive year.  If nothing else I should have toned arms to show for my gardening!

Starting Over, Farming Style

Last year's garden was not a success.  I wouldn't call it a complete failure because it did provide food for the deer!  But let's not dwell on the past, there's a new spring just around the corner and I have hopes for a productive year (and plans for a deer fence!).

I've always been a small space gardener, so I feel that I'm now a newbie when it comes to gardening outside raised beds and square foot spacing.  Since we already had a tractor, I decided we might as well use it for gardening.  Thanks to Craigslist we found a used plow and rotary tiller.  Last weekend we broke ground on the garden.

I'm not sure where gardening ends and farming begins, but I have a feeling we are getting very close to crossing this line.  J was having a bit too much fun on the tractor.  My plan was an area of 50' x 50'.  However, it turned out to be 61' x 73'!  Now I'm trying to figure out what to plant in all this space and how to keep it manageable.  Luckily I've had some planning time because we got buried in snow this past week, which is not a common occurrence in South Carolina!

Here is Domino exploring the snow covered garden.  I did start my first seeds last weekend: cabbage, peppers, and tomatoes.  Now that the snow is melting, I'm very excited for spring to arrive!