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Garden Gate:  Garden instead of lawn? Discouraged  |
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traildancer
True Blue Farmgirl
485 Posts
Loyce
Glide
OR
USA
485 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 04 2011 : 7:26:32 PM
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I have been thinking about having ONE raised bed on the lawn. My husband has talked about getting rid of the grass altogether and putting in a garden in that area because we already have automatic sprinklers and the kids are gone.
So, because I am interested in earning one of the gardening merit badges, I thought I could start with one bed and plant tomatoes and zucchini. Lots of yield for minimal effort. I am gone about every other week horse camping in the summer. But I think the automatic waterer would take care of that.
I am discouraged because when I mentioned it to my husband he immediately started telling me all the reasons it was not a good idea. Oh, and IF we had one, we had to grow ____________________. Well, maybe I just want to start small and see how it goes. I tend to have ideas and projects and start but don't follow through to the end. That's why I only want one to begin with. That way if I don't take care of it, only a little goes to waste.
Besides, one bed is a lot cheaper than the whole yard.
So do I quit before I even start? Or do I ignore him and start small anyway?
The trail is the thing.... Louis L'Amour |
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njaw09
True Blue Farmgirl
397 Posts
Annie
NJ
USA
397 Posts |
Posted - Oct 04 2011 : 7:41:10 PM
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This year I have a raise bed on top of my lawn.
Start small if the weather permit. What are you planning to grow for fall?
My husband didn't want me too in the beginning too but I bought 2 raise bed (4ft by 4ft) without telling him and I told him upfront we are going to save money. I am waiting to set up the second one next year? One is already set up and I did a great job this season (we had lots of eggplants, lots of roma tomatoes, sweet mint, basils, etc). In few more weeks we are preparing to weed everything out and do it next spring.
Good luck and don't let anyone discourage your new venture. |
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traildancer
True Blue Farmgirl
485 Posts
Loyce
Glide
OR
USA
485 Posts |
Posted - Oct 04 2011 : 8:11:40 PM
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Thanks. I hadn't really thought about fall. I live in southern Oregon with LOTS of rain and coolish temperatures throughout the winter. I should ask my gardening friends.
The trail is the thing.... Louis L'Amour |
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Naked on a Mountain Top
Farmgirl in Training
43 Posts
Seana
Durango
CO
USA
43 Posts |
Posted - Oct 06 2011 : 07:02:08 AM
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When I married my husband his "yard" was a "natural" place (scrub oak everywhere). I started small: a raised bed & a container or two. Over the past few years it has grown into a small kitchen garden, enough to supplement but not enough to worry about if we go on vacation and the house sitter forgets to water. Besides, it gives me something to tinker with while he's in the workshed tinkering. So I say go forward and get some dirt under your nails!! The rewards will be worth it in the first salad you pick for dinner!!
www.durangodream.blogspot.com |
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marthajane
True Blue Farmgirl
196 Posts
Anna
Orlando
FL
USA
196 Posts |
Posted - Oct 11 2011 : 07:44:30 AM
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men!who can figure them?
i appreciate you sharing this bc i feel this way sometimes-i am being dutiful to support something positive and then what i get back is all kinds of negative.
just give it the time, i know thats how mine is...
they think ahead and since he knows you probably wont do this til next year hes just putting off having to address it...
i'm sure you'll be having your garden next year, and you can always have fun now by planning it out and collecting seed catalogs.
Happiness IS being a MoM |
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traildancer
True Blue Farmgirl
485 Posts
Loyce
Glide
OR
USA
485 Posts |
Posted - Oct 11 2011 : 11:18:22 AM
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Thanks, ladies. I guess for now I am dreaming. I want to plant heirloom varieties (because I want to earn a merit badge!), but also because I read about a lot of you planting these varieties. And Territorial Seed Company is here in Oregon.
The trail is the thing.... Louis L'Amour |
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msdoolittle
True Blue Farmgirl
1145 Posts
Amanda
East Texas
USA
1145 Posts |
Posted - Oct 13 2011 : 11:29:08 AM
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Loyce,
You really should buy/check out the book Four Season Harvest by Eliot Coleman. While you can't plant for all four seasons, you CAN harvest year-round. It's a great book.
Also, maybe you could begin with some container gardening and segue into raised beds. I find raised beds very easy to care for. :0)
FarmGirl #1390
www.mylittlecountry.wordpress.com |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Oct 13 2011 : 7:40:25 PM
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loyce, i think you should do it. we have 2 beds we help a friend with. she loves them. they are high enough so not a lot of bending over for her. you could do cabbage lettuce radish in fall. may i suggest if you do have a raised bed use copper around the top it will keep the slugs from sliming their way into your lettuce leaves. just wrap the top board with copper. just a thought happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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Garden Gate: Garden instead of lawn? Discouraged |
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Garden instead of lawn? Discouraged
