Comments on: A Tale of Two Gardens http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/08/a-tale-of-two-gardens.html Naturally inspired living for the Christian homemaker Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:36:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: 5 Steps to Being a Lazy Gardener | Keeper of the Homehttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/08/a-tale-of-two-gardens.html/comment-page-1#comment-59664 5 Steps to Being a Lazy Gardener | Keeper of the Home Mon, 09 May 2011 23:46:12 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/08/a-tale-of-two-gardens.html#comment-59664 [...] Tale of Two Gardens part one and part [...] [...] Tale of Two Gardens part one and part [...]

]]> By: Gardening 101 Series and Heirloom Seeds | Keeper of the Homehttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/08/a-tale-of-two-gardens.html/comment-page-1#comment-56242 Gardening 101 Series and Heirloom Seeds | Keeper of the Home Thu, 03 Mar 2011 11:02:25 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/08/a-tale-of-two-gardens.html#comment-56242 [...] Tale of Two Gardens Part 1 and Part 2 (an excellent overview of what makes for a healthy and easy to care for [...] [...] Tale of Two Gardens Part 1 and Part 2 (an excellent overview of what makes for a healthy and easy to care for [...]

]]> By: A Tale of Two Gardens- Part 2 | Keeper of the Homehttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/08/a-tale-of-two-gardens.html/comment-page-1#comment-48338 A Tale of Two Gardens- Part 2 | Keeper of the Home Sun, 19 Sep 2010 07:03:07 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/08/a-tale-of-two-gardens.html#comment-48338 [...] Continuing on from Part 1... [...] [...] Continuing on from Part 1... [...]

]]> By: Nolahttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/08/a-tale-of-two-gardens.html/comment-page-1#comment-18357 Nola Sun, 30 Aug 2009 15:30:13 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/08/a-tale-of-two-gardens.html#comment-18357 I am intrigued by these "growing tunnels". I will have to look into that! LOL Giant sunflowers, or sunflowers of any kind, I can't seem to grow. I am intrigued by these "growing tunnels". I will have to look into that!

LOL Giant sunflowers, or sunflowers of any kind, I can't seem to grow.

]]> By: Kendra at New Life On A Homesteadhttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/08/a-tale-of-two-gardens.html/comment-page-1#comment-18356 Kendra at New Life On A Homestead Sun, 30 Aug 2009 13:31:40 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/08/a-tale-of-two-gardens.html#comment-18356 I am so anxious to read the rest of this post!! My garden did HORRIBLY this year. At least I learned a lot of valuable lessons to share with my readers! I LOVE how neat her family's garden looks. I can't wait to hear her tips. Thanks for sharing!! I am so anxious to read the rest of this post!! My garden did HORRIBLY this year. At least I learned a lot of valuable lessons to share with my readers! I LOVE how neat her family's garden looks. I can't wait to hear her tips. Thanks for sharing!!

]]> By: Phebehttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/08/a-tale-of-two-gardens.html/comment-page-1#comment-18355 Phebe Sat, 29 Aug 2009 21:12:06 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/08/a-tale-of-two-gardens.html#comment-18355 SO EXCITED about this post! We just had our first garden this year. It was much less work than I had expected. By far the hardest part was my dh putting in the raised beds. I have lots of plans for next year and can't wait to read next week's post! BTW, anyone starting out gardening really MUST plant giant sunflowers! They are SUCH an encouragement! They continue to grow and grow and GROW no matter what you do, and they make lovely scenery too... SO EXCITED about this post! We just had our first garden this year. It was much less work than I had expected. By far the hardest part was my dh putting in the raised beds. I have lots of plans for next year and can't wait to read next week's post!

BTW, anyone starting out gardening really MUST plant giant sunflowers! They are SUCH an encouragement! They continue to grow and grow and GROW no matter what you do, and they make lovely scenery too...

]]> By: Amyhttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/08/a-tale-of-two-gardens.html/comment-page-1#comment-18354 Amy Sat, 29 Aug 2009 02:12:48 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/08/a-tale-of-two-gardens.html#comment-18354 Can't wait to hear more on this either. Great idea for a post! We also are in a cold climate- zone 3-4 and we transplant pretty much everything, even corn. It seems crazy at first but we worked on an organic farm in Maine one year and they did it there too. We make tunnels with PVC pipe and remay and that helps a ton. But, our best crops are kale, lettuces, and broccoli. The pictures of your family garden look beautiful- hope to see more! Can't wait to hear more on this either. Great idea for a post! We also are in a cold climate- zone 3-4 and we transplant pretty much everything, even corn. It seems crazy at first but we worked on an organic farm in Maine one year and they did it there too. We make tunnels with PVC pipe and remay and that helps a ton. But, our best crops are kale, lettuces, and broccoli. The pictures of your family garden look beautiful- hope to see more!

]]> By: Amberhttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/08/a-tale-of-two-gardens.html/comment-page-1#comment-18353 Amber Sat, 29 Aug 2009 00:55:39 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/08/a-tale-of-two-gardens.html#comment-18353 Thanks, everybody, for the kind comments. I enjoy hearing about your gardens, too!!! I don't know of any "mystery" to growing corn. We plant it in hills, and make sure the soil is full of nutrients. Winter squash and pole beans make good companion plants (the prickly squash keep deer and coons out of the corn patch, if you have problems with them). Corn feeds heavily on nitrogen, with is found in fish emulsion - and cover crops (more on that in part 2 of my post!). :) Lots of mulch protects corn's shallow root systems from drying out. Raised beds are a great idea, and a wonderful way to deal with poor soil. I love having them in our garden! I can imagine the frustration of trying to grow warm weather crops in cooler climates. Kale is a great idea. You're brave to try cucumbers - they love the warmth! Have you considered using growing tunnels? They are like mini greenhouses that fit over raised beds. Use of those can really stretch your growing season. They aren't too expensive to make, either! Thanks, everybody, for the kind comments. I enjoy hearing about your gardens, too!!!

I don't know of any "mystery" to growing corn. We plant it in hills, and make sure the soil is full of nutrients. Winter squash and pole beans make good companion plants (the prickly squash keep deer and coons out of the corn patch, if you have problems with them). Corn feeds heavily on nitrogen, with is found in fish emulsion - and cover crops (more on that in part 2 of my post!). :) Lots of mulch protects corn's shallow root systems from drying out.

Raised beds are a great idea, and a wonderful way to deal with poor soil. I love having them in our garden!

I can imagine the frustration of trying to grow warm weather crops in cooler climates. Kale is a great idea. You're brave to try cucumbers - they love the warmth! Have you considered using growing tunnels? They are like mini greenhouses that fit over raised beds. Use of those can really stretch your growing season. They aren't too expensive to make, either!

]]> By: Nolahttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/08/a-tale-of-two-gardens.html/comment-page-1#comment-18352 Nola Sat, 29 Aug 2009 00:17:00 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/08/a-tale-of-two-gardens.html#comment-18352 You're making us wait????!!! LOL I can't wait to hear what Amber has to say. But I will wait...I guess I have to. :) I am feeling pretty discouraged garden-wise these days. It is my 3rd season. My husband reminded me that after all, we are gardening in zone 2b-3a...and we did have a patchy frost just this week (the last one was May 29). Its so hard. I try really hard but I find it isn't as easy as other people make it look. I think I will focus on only growing cold things. My kale loves this weather! Too bad we love the warm climate things more! I have 18 cucumber plants and have picked 2 cucumbers. Its sort of sad but I guess I have to laugh since I am trying in a place where they don't grow well. I know they can since the farmer's market has local ones but I have to remember I am just beginning. You're making us wait????!!! LOL

I can't wait to hear what Amber has to say. But I will wait...I guess I have to. :)

I am feeling pretty discouraged garden-wise these days. It is my 3rd season. My husband reminded me that after all, we are gardening in zone 2b-3a...and we did have a patchy frost just this week (the last one was May 29). Its so hard. I try really hard but I find it isn't as easy as other people make it look. I think I will focus on only growing cold things. My kale loves this weather! Too bad we love the warm climate things more! I have 18 cucumber plants and have picked 2 cucumbers. Its sort of sad but I guess I have to laugh since I am trying in a place where they don't grow well. I know they can since the farmer's market has local ones but I have to remember I am just beginning.

]]> By: The Cottage Comtesse @ River Rock Cottagehttp://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/08/a-tale-of-two-gardens.html/comment-page-1#comment-18351 The Cottage Comtesse @ River Rock Cottage Fri, 28 Aug 2009 23:19:15 +0000 http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2009/08/a-tale-of-two-gardens.html#comment-18351 I, too, have tried to garden directly in the ground in clay soil. It was a kill-joy. When we moved, the soil was a huge consideration (as was wind) when we selected our new location. As I've also gotten older, I wanted to set myself up to be able to physically garden for the long haul. It's harder on a body of a 47 year old than a 27 year old! Each year we are adding 4' x 8' raised beds with 2'x'12's. (they are actually only about 1 1/2 inches wide). We add chicken wire to the bottom and fill them with our rich dirt and compost. Now, I actually can go out there and work and accomplish something without feeling like I'm dying when I come back in. Not to mention the fact that the time is cut in half. I still can't wait to hear Amber's tips! Hope you post them on Monday! I, too, have tried to garden directly in the ground in clay soil. It was a kill-joy. When we moved, the soil was a huge consideration (as was wind) when we selected our new location. As I've also gotten older, I wanted to set myself up to be able to physically garden for the long haul. It's harder on a body of a 47 year old than a 27 year old! Each year we are adding 4' x 8' raised beds with 2'x'12's. (they are actually only about 1 1/2 inches wide). We add chicken wire to the bottom and fill them with our rich dirt and compost. Now, I actually can go out there and work and accomplish something without feeling like I'm dying when I come back in. Not to mention the fact that the time is cut in half.

I still can't wait to hear Amber's tips! Hope you post them on Monday!

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