The garden

It's almost time to get out to the garden plot again. This picture is taken from our upper deck, across the hillside to our fenced-in garden area. We've taken a few years off from vegetable gardening, but we are determined to get back to it this year. We have needed to wait for the rains to stop, and now we need to wait for a day to prepare the soil. Next Saturday is the anticipated day, and we are e.x.c.i.t.e.d. The chicken coop looks so forlorn without any residents; if I listen to my children's pleas, it may have new tenants this season.

Some of our favorite gardening books are:

Sunset's Western Garden Book by Kathleen Norris Brenzel (Editor)
I am a big fan of Sunset publications, and this is a very comprehensive manual.


Sunflower Houses by Sharon Lovejoy
A beautifully illustrated book with creative gardening ideas for children. Lovejoy has several books on gardening with children. I hope we can plant a sunflower house this year, just outside the gate to the vegetable garden.


The Garden Primer by Barbara Damrosch
Another encyclopedia-type gardening book. Very detailed, written in conversational style.

Organic Gardening for the 21st Century : A Complete Guide to Growing Vegetables, Fruits, Herbs and Flowers by John Fedor


Four-Season Harvest: Organic Vegetables from Your Home Garden All Year Long by Eliot Coleman
Organic gardening is something we have a lot to learn about. These are two new books to add to our library. We are hoping to extend our growing season this year, perhaps using the vacant chicken coop as a greenhouse.


A favorite resource
I think it is best to buy seeds and plants locally, but when I use a catalog for ordering or inspiration, I love this one: Cook's Garden Catalog

Off to plan the garden design, make lists of plants and seeds to buy, and design raised beds to make next week-end. Gardening is hard work, but I cannot wait to get my fingers dirty again.


A favorite Jefferson quote