Okay, the title of this post might be a bit dramatic.
...But it got your attention, didn't it?
This week's Film Friday is a little bit about death. Not humans though. Or zombies. Though I would like to post more about zombies. But unless I can figure out how to make a human intestinal casserole, I don't think it would fit very well into the context of this blog.
No, my friends, the death I am talking about today is that of my living garden. Last year I dug up 3 massive plots in my front lawn - did I mention I don't own the yard but rent, by the way? - to plant vegetables. The neighborhood went crazy for it. In a good way. People would walk by taking photographs, giving us high fives, thumbs up, and words of loving encouragement.
Did I also mention I live in the hippie mecca of Canada?
Did I also mention I live in the hippie mecca of Canada?
It was fruitful. I learned a lot. And I was stoked to put those lessons and some new techniques to work this season.
But then.... I didn't have work for 4 months. No work = no money. How can I afford to buy seed, dirt, compost, lime, etc... without a job? I need to focus on being able to pay my $400/month minimum payment on my Visa bill before I can run out and blow a couple hundred on growing stuff....
But then.... I didn't have work for 4 months. No work = no money. How can I afford to buy seed, dirt, compost, lime, etc... without a job? I need to focus on being able to pay my $400/month minimum payment on my Visa bill before I can run out and blow a couple hundred on growing stuff....
...don't worry Dad. I don't use my Visa anymore and it's only there for emergencies. The massive limit on it is the result of 4 years of university student status. Now I need to focus on paying that off...
So: no garden this year. Luckily we have the farmer's market and our CSA to keep our veggie crisper full. I'm saddened by this and so for this week's Film Friday, I'm posting last Spring's video that I made of my garden half way through the growing season.
To my productive, beautiful, nourishing, living garden... I'll miss you.
P.S. make sure to swing by tomorrow... I'm doing a stellar guest post at a to-be-announced blog... And she's kind of a big deal ;)
To my productive, beautiful, nourishing, living garden... I'll miss you.
P.S. make sure to swing by tomorrow... I'm doing a stellar guest post at a to-be-announced blog... And she's kind of a big deal ;)
Do you have space to grow your own food? What are you planting this year? What's the one thing you wish you could grow? Are there things you're missing out on because of the economy right now?
This post is linked up with Fight Back Friday; Foodie Friday;
Save your seeds from year to year and there is no need to buy them. Compost, compost, compost and you will have no need to buy dirt. Vegetable gardening can be as cheap, or as expensive, as you like.
ReplyDeletei wish it was that easy!
Deleteunfortunately because we rent (and thus move) with very limited space there is no where to compost. I have saved some seed but it's a work in progress - learning doesn't always result in lots of saved seed.
Both are great tips though and will be held close to my heart.
I LOVE your front lawn - what a great idea and it's pretty too!
ReplyDeleteI will be making a small garden at the new place, we're talking about building a couple large planter boxes. my standards to plant - roma tomatoes, basil, peppers of several varieties, kale, carrots...
thanks Kristina! i live on a pretty major road though - would be nice to have a fence or bushes or something.
Deleteplanter boxes are awesome! i tried growing peppers once - the pacific NW is not the best place. i have a miniature greenhouse - maybe in there?
You could take what you spend on a csa and put it towards your garden and get so much more for your money. Gardens really don't need much money, it's amazing what you get find for free or by swapping.
ReplyDeleteI would love to make my garden bigger, but it requires terracing the hill (work) plus materials for construction (rocks at $200/ton. We'll need several), plus a few truckloads of dirt. The biggest thing holding me back is well, me.
Oh, and the money we'll need to get all the materials. So I do know where you are coming from.
that's probably true.
Deletei want a garden SO BAD.
ReplyDeletei'll have to settle for window sill herbs for now.
once i get around to getting them!
herbs are better than nothing :) what kind?
DeleteWhat a great idea ... the owner did not have a problem with it? I guess if he did .. it was too late eh? Your garden looks great last year, hope you can do it again soon!
ReplyDelete{Shauna}
www.ShaunaWyrick.com
nah, i asked her ahead of time. bit concerned about replacing the grass when we move though.
DeleteDefinitely wish we had the space! We have a small yard, with the absolute worst conditions in both light and drainage. I'm considering some raised beds or container gardens though.
ReplyDeletethat's a great plan terri!
DeleteOur building has a front yard area which is covered by scaffolding at the moment. I would love to try to garden it though. We're worried about rats though (it's Brooklyn, what can you do?) I keep meaning to start an indoor herb garden. And then I don't.
ReplyDeleteoooooh. yeah, we get rats too. noisy little guys they are!
DeleteKristy Lynn, I would love, love, love to have an olive tree. I hear there are now trees available for my zone but have not seen them yet in local nurseries. I am coveting one right now! So far this year I am growing yellow grape tomatoes, spinach, lettuces, tomatillos, 2 kinds of basil, dill, Italian parsley, green beans, cucumbers, carrots, beets, chard, sorrel, plus lots of other herbs. I also have lots of zinnias & cosmos planted to have cut flowers all summer long. I have grape vines with baby grapes on them already...oh yeah ever bearing strawberries...lemon grass...
ReplyDeleteI don't go out to try new restaurants every time a good one opens...by good I mean farm to table, local, etc...We eat at home, which is much better for us, is better for our budget, but sometimes I miss those devil-may-care days of restaurants & bars. Now we do this very judicially. Life is good either way.
you're a gardening machine teresa! i'm impressed!
Deletei'll be honest, I do try to get out to the new restaurants every time a good one opens. haha... but they never do get it quite right. and then john rolls his eyes when i critique their menus for their lack of happy food practices. which is probably why we eat at home more now than ever.
Your garden looked absolutely amazing from last year. I still can't get over all the thick grass! It's taken us years to get good starting veggies from seeds and I'm still only minorly successful when it comes to starting flowers from seeds.
ReplyDeleteYou probably appreciate your CSA that much more because you know what it takes to get those veggies all grown up.
thanks! seeds are tricky. last year i got my tomatoes as starters from a local farm - i had started them as seeds but then they bit it.
Deleteit's true - knowing how difficult and time consuming it can be to grow food, i really do value our csa!
Hmmm... hippie mecca of Canada - I think Guelph, where I live, may be a close 2nd!
ReplyDeletei was there once! though it's fuzzy with beer...
Delete