I'm been quite busy with work lately. I try not to let work consume my entire life. So, I've been gardening.
I started a little garden in my backyard last year, just using the soil that was there to kind of see if it would produce anything. I did grow a few vegetables. This year, I planted again. But, this time I added composted manure to the soil. Boy, has that improved the soil quality and the plant growth! The plants seemed to take off immediately after the addition of compost.
I've also been learning a lot of tips and tricks to growing various fruits and vegetables, how to improve soil quality, plant yields, etc. via youtube.com. I love youtube for this reason. Next year, my garden will be even better!
I have some things planted in the ground as well as in containers this time. I notice now that something is biting holes in the leaves of the plants, but thanks to youtube.com, I've found a natural solution (garlic tea with some cayenne in a spray bottle). I'll be trying that out really soon.
I've already harvested some mint, lettuce greens and some cilantro today. A little something about mint...I planted a tiny piece that someone had given me two summers ago. When I planted it, it looked like it was dying. But, I just left it alone and it grew to a nice size. Last year it was nice and we had mint tea all spring and summer. This year, the plant has completely taken over a pretty good sized patch of land. It has grown like wildfire, and even though I keep cutting it back, it just keeps growing. It has already started poking into the next patch of vegetables. Mint is a weed! It grows and grows and will take over everything. It will be interesting to see how far it ends up. I will have to keep a close eye on my other plants and hope they don't get pushed out of the garden!
I get a really good feeling when I'm in the backyard gardening. I feel very connected to the earth and to nature. I'm proud and amazed that I can grow food to feed my family. I am certainly looking forward to a good harvest.
Here are a few photos I'd like to share.
