~Getting the garden ready~

Now that the end of May is rolling around and we are having some (not enough in my opinion!) warmer weather, it's finally time to start gardening again! My oh my, I can't wait to garden this year....for a number of reasons. First, last year we didn't know anything about gardening. We put our plants in random spots, didn't do anything to the soil, waited to stake our tomatoes up till it was too late, and the list goes on. Secondly, now that I am staying home, I have so much more time to spend at the garden and really get into it! And this is just one of the things I'm learning to love as it relates to the idea of "homesteading." I am far from a homesteader, but this is a step in the right direction.

So over the last year, I've read a number of books about gardening and such. One of my friends recommended "Square Foot Gardening." It's my new favorite! I can't wait to apply his principals to our garden this year. But the first thing we needed to do was go in and tear out all of the cover crop we planted over the winter. Hmmm....we let it get a bit to out of control, but I think it's still did a fine job carrying out it's purpose, which is to leave some organic material in the soil.

So after my workout class today and in between meetings, Dustin met me at the garden and we got to work. We ripped out massive amounts of clover and other cover crop we had planted back in the winter. We moved a few strawberry plants to make sure we can accurately implement the square foot garden idea. We added compost, which was made during our gardening season last year, and fertilizer to the soil. Then watered it and tilled it up nice and good. We are having a "garden party" through the Community Garden on Saturday so we'll be ready to plant. This year we're going to add a few new things. Once we have it set up, I'll let you know what we decide.

For now, here's a few before and after pictures of the work done today! :)

BEFORE:

AFTER: