Till the Soil

We didn't garden last year because we were in fire recovery mode (check out the "tear down to build up" posts to see our little project). 

This year gardening season is not getting by us.

Today we spent several hours outside in  the brisk and about to turn stormy spring on the Prairie day, picking up debris, double digging, pulling out weeds and getting the soil ready. The beds went from bleak and bleary this:

to this:

The soil is rich and loamy and chock full of worms. We've added compost and clippings each fall and spring.

The strawberry beds were raked and are greening up (bottom bed, above), and the rhubarb is peeking through (below).

The grapes and bushes were hit hard this year. I think it's the woodchuck living in one of our sheds. Cute it is NOT, especially as it gnawed several of the baby bushes to oblivion. We're also putting in an asparagus bed this year. It is not my fav vegetables, but roasted, drizzled with olive oil, it's tolerable and healthy.

We've started beet, basil, tomatoes, squash, cabbage, peppers, cukes and zukes, cabbage, eggplant, parsley, cilantro, peppers and rosemary on the porch.

Already in the yard we have grapes, mulberries, mint, strawberries, rhubarb and herbs, and beaucoup flowers. The kids found the crocus (below) along the river on one of their many spring walks.

We're going to experiment with spinach and lettuce going in the ground this week with a modified cold frame.

I'm not sure if we still have any of our gardening books but my favs are Carla Emery's The Encyclopedia of County Living as well as John Jeavens How To Grow More Vegetables and Fruits Than You Ever Though Possible.

Do the kids help garden. Absolutely. They eat here so they are invited to our summer long study on preparing the soil, planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, cooking and cleaning up. We take the, "You have one job on this ship. Row well and live," (Ben Hur) type of parenting approach to jobs around here. You live here. You're invited. In love.

This post is part of The Christian Home, an online magazine hosted by Mrs. White at The Legacy of Home. Please visit her site to read more of The Christian Home.