NEW Shop, garden food and creatures

I’ve added a badge on the left for The Shop. Yes, I’m opening up shop again.  Selling bags, aprons and small accessories.  I’ve gotten started sewing and am going to work steadily for the next few weeks to get things all set up.  Stay tuned for the grand opening date!!

This year’s garden is coming along nicely and I think it’s the best yet because we were really selective with the type of plants.  Planting ones that we will actually eat.  We planted all four garden boxes back in April with the following:

Box 1:: 6 tomato plants and 3 each of yellow squash and zucchini

Box 2:: 3 Basil, 2 Thyme, 1 Orange Mint, 1 Parsley transplant, 1 Cilantro, 2 Tomato, 4 Bell Pepper, 1 Jalepeno, 1Datil Pepper and a couple dozen Red Onions

Box 3:: 1 Thorn-less Blackberry bush and 5 strawberry plants

Box 4:: 4 Blueberry bushes and a few watermelons

Since we were planting late and had not started any seedlings, we started with plants for everything.  So far, we’ve gotten a few strawberries and two yellow squash.  We had two actual blueberries and were patiently waiting for them to ripen, but just discovered that they were eaten by the birds.  I’m planning on making lots of Pioneer Woman’s Pico de gallo, hence the tomatoes, cilantro, red onions and jalepenos.  My mouth is watering as I write.  The kids all love fruit, way more than the veggies, well 100% more than the veggies.  So we planted strawberries, blueberries and blackberries.  If I can just keep the birds and the kids from eating them as they grow, I might just be able to make a pie someday.

Up-close Look at the Garden:

This morning we were checking out the garden, when we discovered that one of the bell pepper plants had almost been totally eaten.  We were looking around it when Jay noticed a bright green caterpillar that was looking very plump, thanks to that lovely bell pepper plant that we had so generously put there for him to munch.  We pinched off the branch it was holding on to and placed him in one of our many caterpillar jars.  After his photo shoot, I decided to go through the other plants to see what else was hanging around.  I found 6 more of his Tomato Horn-worm buddies.  I think it’s time to take some action, serious action of the pesticide variety.

Overall View of the Garden:

Here is what the garden is looking like now, a month after planting.  We are learning as we go for sure and are far from knowing what we are doing.  I have learned that it is fun to plant fruits and veggies because they are bringing wildlife literally  to our back door.  It gives us things to look up and learn about in a very practical and hands-on way.  The little bit of food we yield is a bonus.

One more thing, do you see that big thing behind the garden?  Well, that is a new to us playground that our very generous neighbors across the street gave us.  The kids are out there everyday swinging away- Hooray for neighbors!!