A Time for Beginnings

Spring. The time for change. The time for new beginnings. Life emerges from the ground with high hopes and fruitful goals. So it goes with the gardener too. A new bed is on tap and if it will stop raining for a few days and if I can not be busy with work then we will get the dirt into the new raised bed.

Transplants are growing well. Especially the pepper plants. Lots of strawberry flowers in the old bed. Mint and oregano have awakened from their slumber. Soon and very soon we will have a complete and new garden.

Seeds of Desire

Gods of the yard plot. Titans of the tiller. Zen masters of backyard feng shui. Now is the most anticipated time of year. When we plan out our year of edible landscaping and gardening. Pruning and prepping our perennials and planting beds for the beauty and deliciousness that is to come.

But then it hits. The onslaught of free plant marketing begins to fill our mailboxes. Soon it consumes our hearts and minds. Creating deep desires which can only be fulfilled by endless purchases of innocent little seeds. The DNA of our spring, summer, fall, and winter meals encased in a little (or sometimes large) shell. We flip the colorful pages wanting to plant everything we can get our hands on. If only our wallets were as deep as our lust for seeds.

So as you realize that your garden can be just as green and colorful as your neighbors'. Don't settle for just the typical beans and tomatoes. Start experimenting with new varieties. Go where no man (or woman) has gone before (in your own yard.)



SOME HELPFUL LINKS:

Southern Exposure Seed Company

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

High Mowing Seeds

Seeds of Change

Seed Savers Exchange

Johnny Seeds

ATTRA

Peaceful Valley Farms

Hobby Farms

To Grow or Not to Grow

Want to save money on your grocery budget? Do you find yourself eating junkfood because you can't afford to buy fruits and vegetables from the store on a consistent basis? Afraid of getting some communicable disease from your produce because you don't know where your food came from? Tired of worrying about fruits and vegetables that have been grown with pesticides and have been genetically modified beyond what God/nature intended. Well, how about your own little produce section in the backyard?

I know, I know. You don't have the time or know how to tackle such a project. That may be true depending on your situation, but it also may be easier than you think. http://www.organicgardening.com/ The Organic Gardening magazine website is a good start for those who wish to venture it alone. At the bottom of this blog I have posted a few websites which have a great selection of supplies to get you started on the way towards food independence.

Visiting the local farmers market is a great idea if you have one close by. http://localharvest.org/ Usually they are not open but one or two times per week and it may not fit your schedule. You may know where your food comes from in this case but do you know how it's grown. Visit the farms you buy produce from and get to know the farmers too.

Another option is hiring a backyard produce expert. Yep, they are popping up all over America. Edible landscape designers ready to turn your yard into a rainbow of consumable yummies. It doesn't have to look bad either. They won't make your yard look like a farm with rows and rows of corn or soybeans. There are plenty of colorful plants which you can eat and can be grown nearly year round with the proper care. Several plants grow well in pots too. So before you give up fresh fruits and veggies consider theses options I have presented.

SOME HELPFUL LINKS:

http://www.attra.org/

http://www.johnnyseeds.com/Home.aspx

http://rareseeds.com/

http://www.groworganic.com/

http://www.hobbyfarms.com/

http://www.highmowingseeds.com/

http://www.southernexposure.com/index.html