How Grows the Garden...

This year has been a fun year for us as far as gardening. We decided to put in more than we usually do because we knew we would not be gone very much this summer. Since we are trying to cut corners in any way we could, and could not go away at all, we decided that we would put our energy into making the backyard a place to enjoy for everyone. It also meant growing a lot more of our own food! YEAH! So we extended the main garden and put in two more gardens in the yard. Plenty of room to let things spread and bring in a bountiful harvest. Here are some before and after pictures of the gardens thus far. We are already reaping quite a harvest! Time to start freezing those yummy veggies.

Here is the main garden a couple of weeks after it was planted in June, lots of room to grow! I finally put my foot down(to myself) and did not fill in the empty spots thinking there was no way it would cover the entire garden. It is always hard to leave it this barren looking, it just isn't that pretty, right? But you will see why I am so pleased with this decision. Here are the after pictures taken this week.

Yep, it has certainly filled in the gaps!

BEFORE-

AFTER

BEFORE


AFTER

BEFORE
AFTER


YUMMY CUKES

BEFORE- THESE ARE CARVING PUMPKINS
LOOKING PRETTY PROMISING FOR FALL!

BEFORE-THESE ARE FONZY MELONS
I AM JUST AWED BY GOD'S GOOD EARTH! HOW FUN TO WATCH THINGS GROW!

SO HERE ARE THE ZUCHINNIS-YIKES, THEY ACTUALLY GOT BIGGER THAN I HAD WANTED. I DID NOT MEAN FOR THEM TO BE BIG BERTHAS! THE BIGGER THEY GET, THE LESS FLAVOR THEY HAVE. BUT, IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A GREEN THUMB AND WANT TO BE IMPRESSES BY THE SIZE OF YOUR HARVEST, THIS IS THE WINNER. I FINALLY LEARNED TO ONLY PUT ONE ZUCHINNI PLANT IN BECAUSE EVEN WITH ONLY ONE, I WILL HAVE MORE FROZEN IN MY FREEZER THAN I CAN EVEN USE IN A YEAR! MY POOR FAMILY WILL BE EATING EVERY ZUCHINNI RECIPE ON THE PLANET.

HERE IS THE SECOND GARDEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE YARD. WE DEVOUR BROCCOLLI AND CAULIFLOWER AND DECIDED TO PUT A WHOLE GARDEN IN DEVOTED TO IT. WHAT WE HAVE FROZEN IN THE PAST JUST NEVER MAKES IT THROUGH THE YEAR, AND THERE IS DEFINATELY A REAL DIFFERENCE IN THE STORE BOUGHT. SO HERE IS THE BEFORE PICTURE.


AFTER
HARVEST-THE BROCCOLI WILL GIVE ONE GOOD SIZE HEAD AND ONCE THAT IS CUT IT GOES WILD WITH NEW SHUTES. I WILL HAVE TO BE PICKING IT EVERYDAY NOW AND BLANCHING IT TO FREEZE. I OWE THIS FABULOUS TRADITION TO MY MOTHER IN LAW WHO TAUGHT ME HOW TO FREEZE BROCCOLI NOT LONG AFTER WE WERE MARRIED.

NOW I KNOW THIS IS NOT FROM THE GARDE-BUT! ACTUALLY THE RASPBERRIES ARE FROM OUR RASPBERRY PATCH-FOR A FEW WEEKS WE ARE ABLE TO PICK THEM AND USE THEM FOR TREATS LIKE A BROWNIE SUNDAY, BUT THEY REALLY ARE AMAZING JUST BY THEMSELVES.