All winter I was anxious to expand our garden. We have not had room to plant things that have big vines such as cantaloupe or watermelon. We have not planted corn since we moved here either.
My dear husband has spent over a week trying to get the sod off so we could plant so new and exciting plants. Since he has a backhoe, he thought that it would make it easier to tear the sod off and try and bury it...however, it looked better on paper than it really worked. We spent several days trying to dig up the sod and break the soil off the bottom. Along with all that, there is a healthy crop of rocks and glass. We know that the previous owners had a garden on this spot in the past. It seems that it was also used as a garbage dump. We have found all sorts of broken glass and pottery. And did I say that we have rocks?? So that meant that the garden needed raked and the rocks--at least some of them--needed removed. Today, the bulk of the new garden was done. We have actually doubled the size of the garden area. One neighbor asked if I didn't have enough to do.
Friday I was able to plant the carrots, a few beets, some extra onions, red potatoes and radishes in the old part. Today, we were able to plant two rows of green beans in the new garden. We put in a dozen tomatoes and one grape tomato. It's a start. We want to plant corn, cucumbers, cantaloupe, green and red peppers and we are waiting for the arrival of our sweet potatoes from Johnny's. We'll see what ends up where.
I was very tempted a few of our warm days to get some things planted, but I am thankful that I did not. We had frost three mornings in a row last week. One morning it was below 28 degrees, which nipped our grapes badly. We may have just a few grapes this year. It seems that our blueberries got nipped a bit, too, even though we did cover them. We'll have to wait to see what the damage is later.
Our asparagus has been doing well. I've been freezing some...when we are not eating it each day. The rhubard is going crazy, as usual. I could eat rhubard crisp or rhubarb pie every day! The onions are up and the peas are thinking about blossoming. It won't be long before I'm picking peas.
If the rain holds off (even though we really need some), I'll try and get corn in tomorrow and perhaps the peppers. We were both worn out and very red by the end of the day today.
Soon, the garden will be all planted then it will be in the hands of the Creator. It has been a long week working hard in the sun and getting very dirty. I'm so thankful that we have the acreage to plant more food, not only for ourselves, but our family and friends. I'm also thankful for a husband who is willing to help with his wife's crazy idea of garden expansion.
Thou hast been mindful of me and visited me,
taken charge of me from birth,
cared in all conditions for me,
fed me at thy table,
drawn the curtains of love around me,
given me new mercies every morning....
May thy goodness always lead me to repentance,
and thy longsuffering prove my salvation.
--an excerpt from Caring Love from The Valley of Vision
