The Garden Challenge!

Here is the start of a gardening challenge that was extended to our stake from our wonderful stake president. He has encouraged us all to seriously study, plan and cultivate a garden. He felt like we ought to be getting in some practice before times become seriously hard. He shared his experience of living in East Berlin during the war. He knows what hunger is and how difficult it was to get food to people during those impossible times, especially in the cities. He suggested that we practice these skills and also share some of the bounty with our neighbors.

I love gardening, and we have gardened every year since moving here, however, we have had a very difficult time growing healthy plants. I am pretty certain a large part of the problem has to do with the quality of our soil. It takes several years to get your garden soil happy and thriving. In our situation, I really felt like we weren't experiencing much improvement. So, this year we have decided to start from scratch again, this time right up near the house. Our first garden beds are right next to the chicken house. I have planted a lot of flowers here and have expanded and amended the soil like a crazy woman. I have decided that I will not plant unless I know I can heavily amend the area that I choose to dig. I am also loosely applying the square foot gardening principles.

Currently planted in this area, besides old peonies, columbines and several plugs of perennial cone flower, russian sage, wild snap dragons, and yarrow, are also potatoes, broccoli, onions, peas (they didn't germinate very well), tomatoes, swiss chard, zinnias, cosmos, marigolds, radishes, carrots, 4 o'clocks and nasturtiums. We have started several cukes, cantaloupes, lettuces and squash in our new cold frame (more to follow on that)!

Gardening with a challenge has brought on a new excitement to the whole ordeal of weeding and feeding. Perhaps we can say in a few months that we managed to claim Victory Garden!