Last year I did it for fun, this year I'm doing it functionally. Neither will be fruitful, I'm betting, but it's all practice for this inevitable depression. (And if not, at least it will help with grocery bills!)I'm reading Mel Bartholemew's Square Foot Garden. It's basically a method of gardening for people like me with little space, not much time and or patience to tend to. But it's supposed to put out tons of veggies. And we love veggies here.
Supposedly one 4'x4' square will yeild enough food for an entire year for one person. I have 3. Since I'm a kindergartner when it comes to gardening, I severely doubt I will be planting all year long, but I'm going to consider it practice, so that eventually I will be able to do that. I'm planting lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli, spinach, onions, beets, radishes, celery, carrots, potatoes (hey, I'm Irish. We can live soley on potatoes in an emergent situation.) cucumbers, squash, peas and beans. Supposedly I can fit all that into just 48 square feet. And hopefully I can freeze/can some of this harvest (that may be 1st grade gardening, not sure...) There's just something about the smell of canning tomatoes that brings back some great memories.
But beyond preparing for the worst, it's therapeutic for the soul, it's rewarding, it's fun, it's exercise, it's outdoors, and it's good for a nice tan. Farmer's tan, but tan nonetheless. Plus the kids can get in on it. The only thing bringing me down is that the more I read, the more I learn about what a pain in the ass it is to be good at this. Last year when birds ate the strawberries, I said oh well, que cera, and didn't eat strawberries. This year, I have to find ways to keep birds, bugs and rabbits out and it's becoming much more tedious (and expensive). Not to mention I'm considering starting a compost heap. That's gardeneese for rotten food in a pile.
But just wait, give me a month and I'll have fresh produce growing out my ears. And a hellatious farmers tan.
