msiemers's Blog

Yesterday I decided to "drop by" the library on my way home from work.  This resulted in an unusual looking frenzy of me getting excited in the gardening section which I had never entered prior.  While tearing books off the shelves I realized that under no circumstances could I possibly read, reference or understand all that was in my arms.  I decided on one about ground covers, a couple regarding organic vegetable gardening (all needing fantastic pictures) and The $64 Tomato because I love personal accounts.  I think I'm now more confused.

After receiving an email today confirming my garden plot in the community garden, us three garden girls (myself, A (5yrs) and K (2.9 yrs), decided to take advantage of the unusual 70 degree day and scope out the newly assigned community garden plot.  My 4x20' newly assigned plot I think may be pretty reasonable.  It is unfortunately quite far from the water source, but is bordered by two main walkways and a "community area."  I'm not sure what the community area is but I'm hoping this means that I will not have to maintain the mulch walkways on 3 sides of my garden, just the one between me and my neighbor.

The garden is very muddy but the state of the soil itself doesn't seem too bad.  'A' decided that the best part was running through the mud and then there were many repetitions of what is OUR area and not vearing off the woodchips as my girls ran laps around the garden (hey, their mom's a cross country coach, this is what we're meant to do on wood chip trails!)  I'm so glad that I invested in rainboots for us all this year.  I may have to get myself a pair of crocs soon because wood chips and my $1 Old Navy flip flops don't go well together.

We hit up Home Depot on our ride home because I wanted to check out what they were carrying in regards to organic compost, mulch and topsoil.  They have cow manure compost and mushroom compost.  I thought this was interesting so I investigated online when I got home and realize I'm not sure whether I should do either.  Any feedback on this?  I read about cow compost burning plants and you're supposed to put it down in the fall.  Why would they have it now, or is it already old enough to use?

I have found myself thinking of my garden constantly!  In the car I talk to myself about it, I'm losing sleep reading about it, I want to quit my job so that I can devote more time to it (don't worry I won't-then I'd have no money to put into it!).  Is this the life of a gardener?  If so, I kind of like it, let's hope I don't burn out.

I shall now go post pictures of our garden plot.  Give me a few minutes because it seems to take forever!