meat

We like our meat from grass-fed animals without antibiotics and hormones. It tastes excellent and doesn't leave you with a heavy yucky feeling. We also like to buy it in bulk. Instead of running to the store for meat, I can walk into my laundry room :D. We buy it from a farm run by our friends - so we know how everything is done and we trust the process. Can't say that about what you'd get from a store! This is what it looks like when we buy in bulk:

garden patrol

Our scarecrow doesn't really scare easily. He's comfortable in our 'hood' and smiles through all types of weather. Unfortunately, he doesn't scare easily. What I mean is: no bird, squirrel, or possum seems to take him seriously. Perhaps its the missing arm? We haven't the heart to replace him, even though we throw embittered glances his way when a tomato gets pecked or the peaches get dive-bombed. Matt has suggested that I sew him some new clothes. As far as garden patrol goes, maybe we'll just get a bb-gun.

Blooming

In winter, there's very little reminding you of life. Potted flower bulbs are a truckload of necessary inspiration. This is my Amaryllis plant. It's over a foot tall and the flowers are bigger than my husbands palm. I ordered the bulb online at the end of November and kept it in a window sill facing south. My husband has a book on propagation, so I'm hoping he can split the bulb come fall and I'll have two plants next year. Wooho!

Tent City

When the snow came this time, we were ready. If we're blessed and the carrot seeds germinate (an iffy prospect when temperatures don't routinely reach above 50 degrees) then in 10 weeks we'll have a crunchy sweet harvest right before the move.

Changes

I just learned we have to move in April. That's smack dab in the middle of the growing season :/

 

 Our system of moving is born completely out of convenience and managability. It surprises people that we rent given the extent of our backyard garden, but we have great landlords who don't over-value blades of grass (especially in the backyard). We have several blue 50 gallon rainwater barrells, which collect water for the garden - this is important in an area with very wet winters and very dry summers! When we move, the soil for one square foot garden will fit nicely into one barrell. So we pack a barrell per garden. We empty them out of water, fill them up with soil, and roll them with a dolly into the u-haul. Presto. All that investment in good soil has not gone to waste. :D

 

One day, we'll own our land and seed directly into the ground. But for now - we take with us the power to feed ourselves fresh veggies, and it's totally worth it.