Finally Time to Garden

The Chinese have a saying: Do not miss the planting time. Time year I'm right on target. Go, Keplers!

Last year I missed our garden time because I was in California taking care of my parents. This year I'm getting the chance to really garden--every day if I want to and not just squeezing time in outside of work. The garden is a nice place to be--and we're trying to make as much of our year a garden as possible. This year rabbits and robins are hanging around. Wait a minute--that's every year!

A lot of the early work was weeding and re-digging beds for the crops. Last year I was not only gone, but it was also a year of drought. The cool and wet spring this year has provided a slow entry into the garden season. It has warmed, though, so almost everything we plan to grow is in the ground.

• peas
• turnip greens
• Asian greens
• beet greens
• lettuce (black-seeded Simpson)
• cilantro
• dill
• basil
• perennial garden herbs
• arugula
• chard
• kale
• winter squash (3 varieties)
• potatoes
• green beans (pole and bush)
• zucchini and yellow summer squash
• cantaloupe
• asparagus (5th year)
• okra
• sweet potatoes
• tomatoes (small and large)
• Brussels sprouts
• shallots

Baby robin, somewhat confused

Greens on the east side of the yard

Momma rabbit, not wanting to use the gate at her right

I think that's it for the veggies. Our raspberry patches are looking good, and we transplanted volunteers to make a third patch for future years. We have just planted two pear trees and have ordered two apple and two plum trees that we'll plant in a couple of weeks. It' a great joy to spend time in the garden with my wife. It's a great joy to put my hands in the soil and to see the plants growing.

It is definitely work to plant this much garden, but it is also a joy to walk out to the garden, harvest asparagus, and then steam it and eat it immediately. Now, that's fresh food!

We also grow flowers

The preparation is now done, and the rest of the summer will consist of maintaining the garden and processing food for the winter. So far so good!

Copyright 2014 by Thomas L. Kepler, all rights reserved