I have a garden!

Isn't it funny how time changes things? I remember growing up that we planted a garden every year. I HATED planting and working in that garden! I would rather be doing something fun, like swimming, reading, watching tv... pretty much anything else in the world was more fun to me than working in that garden. Now that we have a yard to "play" in, what is the first thing that I want to do? Plant a garden!

Our backyard is not the most condusive to gardening, though... it's pretty much pure Alabama red clay. Nothing is really growing back there, so what's a girl to do? Build herself some raised beds, of course! I enlisted the help of my dad (he bought the 1x12's for me... they are so much cheaper in Fayetteville), my husband (gave him a reason to buy himself a circular saw), my in-laws (my FIL just built some boxes for my MIL, and I borrowed some ideas from them) and my daughters (they are using it as a personal progress project). I came up with the design I wanted, then Barry and I hashed out some details. I waited patiently for the last frost date to pass, and finally built my boxes this weekend. We built 2 boxes... both 2'x4'. We built them out of 1x12 boards, with wire mesh on the bottom, 2x4's for support on the bottom, then 2x4's for the legs. We covered the inside of the boxes with plastic, cutting holes in the bottom for drainage. They stand tall enough that the planting surface is about waist high, so it shouldn't kill my back to work in my garden! So excited by this!


I started seeds in the house, and couldn't wait to get them put in the soil. So far I have planted herbs - basil, rosemary and oregano; strawberries; peas; carrots; radishes; onions; lettuce. I still need to plant some roma tomatoes (have to find some of these, first... no one seems to have any), dill, thyme, squash, jalapeno peppers, red bell pepper and green beans. Yummm... I can taste them already!