There isn't much happening in the garden right now. Actually, there's nothing happening in the garden right now. It was a bad year all around. The weather was uncooperative and I didn't have the time to devote to it anyway. We do still have a bit of chard and some arugula growing that will suit a meal or two. I have cabbages and brussel sprouts and collards, but they didn't get a good enough start and won't amount to anything I'm afraid. Again, just not enough time to devote to getting it right this year.
Now I'm looking to next year. I really need next year to be a good year in the garden. I need it for my sanity. I need it for hope. I need it for food! We have been talking about tearing out the yard entirely and transforming the front and side yard into an edible landscape. I am just now starting to read up on permaculture and its design principals, which I think is going to be the way to go for us. The key here is that I'm just starting. I also have a job that isn't going to let up on the overtime until well into the Spring and the growing season. Plus there's that wedding I'm planning. Oh, and some fool (me) signed up for a half marathon right about that time too.
After a little discussion I think tearing out the yard is off the table for next year. It is simply too much to put on my plate. It will be one more year in raised beds. One more year of limited space. Then 2013 we can go crazy!
One thing I know I will need for next year to really make it more successful is a couple beds with cloche covers. It should be simple enough with some plastic sheeting and PVC pipes. This will keep temperatures in those beds higher than the actual temperature. I might get some decent peppers with this method, better tomatoes and earlier Spring greens and later Fall greens.
The other challenge will be seedlings for next year. The past two years I have grown my seedlings in our great big southern facing living room window with built-in shelves. We are getting our windows replaced this Thursday and those handy shelves will be gone. In exchange we get a modern energy efficient window, instead of single paned glass from 1951. I'm not sure how I'm going to do the starts next year. I could set up lights in the garage and grow them on our work table, but the garage is uninsulated and will be too cold for them, unless I get a heating pad too. I'm also a little afraid of burning down the house this way. I may have to try and set something up in the back bedroom with lights. It's pretty crowded back there already though; it's the catch-all room. I guess I'll figure something out.
I got my first seed catalog in the (e-)mail the other day. It's that time of year where there is nothing but hope and possibility and dreaming of how much better next year will be.
Now I'm looking to next year. I really need next year to be a good year in the garden. I need it for my sanity. I need it for hope. I need it for food! We have been talking about tearing out the yard entirely and transforming the front and side yard into an edible landscape. I am just now starting to read up on permaculture and its design principals, which I think is going to be the way to go for us. The key here is that I'm just starting. I also have a job that isn't going to let up on the overtime until well into the Spring and the growing season. Plus there's that wedding I'm planning. Oh, and some fool (me) signed up for a half marathon right about that time too.
After a little discussion I think tearing out the yard is off the table for next year. It is simply too much to put on my plate. It will be one more year in raised beds. One more year of limited space. Then 2013 we can go crazy!
One thing I know I will need for next year to really make it more successful is a couple beds with cloche covers. It should be simple enough with some plastic sheeting and PVC pipes. This will keep temperatures in those beds higher than the actual temperature. I might get some decent peppers with this method, better tomatoes and earlier Spring greens and later Fall greens.
The other challenge will be seedlings for next year. The past two years I have grown my seedlings in our great big southern facing living room window with built-in shelves. We are getting our windows replaced this Thursday and those handy shelves will be gone. In exchange we get a modern energy efficient window, instead of single paned glass from 1951. I'm not sure how I'm going to do the starts next year. I could set up lights in the garage and grow them on our work table, but the garage is uninsulated and will be too cold for them, unless I get a heating pad too. I'm also a little afraid of burning down the house this way. I may have to try and set something up in the back bedroom with lights. It's pretty crowded back there already though; it's the catch-all room. I guess I'll figure something out.
I got my first seed catalog in the (e-)mail the other day. It's that time of year where there is nothing but hope and possibility and dreaming of how much better next year will be.
