So over dirt

Ready for planting!

I've dug holes, replanted trees, stained wood, built garden beds, dug more holes, filled those holes and filled those beds, started a compost pile, dispersed dirt randomly throughout the lawn to even it out a little and I've only ruined one pair of shoes during the process.


It's been a grueling adventure to undertake on my own but I feel really accomplished.  In fact, this week has been a great week for me and for a lot of people around me.  Friends are making changes in their lives that are for the better, I'm embarking on a group project that could potentially be really rewarding, and I'm faced with a unique job opportunity that will most likely change my entire existence.  Also, it was Jeston's 25th birthday and I cooked him some food that I ate (because he's in the Virgin Islands).

Overall, it's been overwhelming in all the right ways.  

Evening out the yard

TIME FOR PLANTING

I've gotten to the point where there is no more preparation to be done.  It is time for planting.  And that makes me crazy anxious.  Most of the time I thought gardening consisted of dirt, water, sun and seeds.  A careful balance of both and you'll be successful.  NOPE!


There's soil pH levels, pests, birds, soil compositions, fertilizers, plant varieties, direct versus indirect sunlight, which plants need other plants near them to grow better, and all the other small details that botanists have a leg up on over me.

What am I planting?

A visitor!

Here's the laundry list of things that I want to plant.  I've been researching which plants go well together, what varieties do well in this climate and while most of the vegetables I'm planting aren't super finicky, with my luck they'll all die a slow and painful death because I didn't follow all the details to the letter.

1. Bed #1: 6 hrs of sun min.
1. Spinach: Dark Green Bloomsdale
2. Lettuce: Salad Bowl or Red Sails
3. Carrots: Danvers Half Long 
4. Radishes: Cherry Bell
2. Bed #2: 8 hrs of sun min.
1. Tomatoes: Sun Sugar or Super Sweet 100 (I prefer smaller tomatoes)
2. Asparagus: Jersey Gem or Jersey Gaint
3. Garlic: Softneck
4. Red Onions
3. Bed #3: 8 hrs of sun min.
1. Chickpeas  ended up not finding plants or seeds for this.  Maybe I'll try it in a pot later
2. Cucumbers: bush
3. Beets: Chioggia 
4. Broccoli: Green Duke 
4. Bed #4: 8 hrs of sun min.
1. Potatoes
2. Sweet Potatoes
3. Green Beans
4. Brussel Sprouts

The more I read about these vegetables, the more I realize that I may be taking on more than I can chew.  I'm hoping that when I go to Lowe's/nursery this weekend that they'll be able to give me some more consistent advice. 

Panoramic of the backyard!