It's that time of year again! Seed starting and cool weather crops are the activity of the month here at Happy Half Acre. It seems to have come so fast this year!
2012 was a tough one! The mild winter we had last year was nice in the spring but produced a relentlessly hot and humid summer with lots of bugs. Too much heat can cause the plants to stop producing and my garden was no exception! The garden was producing beautifully up until around the first of July. We had steady temperatures in the high nineties for several weeks through July and August along with an influx of bugs. The garden didn't pick back up until around September as the temperatures finally receded. Luckily it didn't turn cold too soon and we were able to enjoy produce into late October.
The past two years we have focused more on additions and improvements more than anything else. I am glad to have all of that in place but wish in hindsight we would have worked more on building the soil. I have read and been told over and over that soil is the most important aspect of the garden. I know this is true but I haven't put as much into the soil as I should which is probably partly to blame for the lack of production. Hindsight is 20/20 as they say. Doing it again I would definitely put efforts toward soil building before anything else. What good is it to have a greenhouse to start seedlings when you don't have good soil to transplant them to?
Two raised beds and the greenhouse were put in two years ago and they were filled with a garden blend and compost. Those areas are my golden spots in the garden. Everything planted there turns out full of fruit. So, this year I am excited to have lots of compost amended to the rest of the garden. The compost will help in fighting off soil borne disease and help keep the plants healthy so that they can perform better when conditions aren't the greatest. Soil prep can be a large cost financially but I have learned it precedes any other cost regarding the garden. Without good soil the rest is worthless!
A new undertaking for me this year is a garden club. I am so excited about this! I have a group that will be helping me in my garden in exchange for knowledge. They are all at differing levels in their organic education so I am trying my best to start with the basics and build from there. Our first meeting was last Saturday. I went over the basics of why and how to compost and why the importance of soil is so crucial. We also discussed seed starting and how you can grow so many varieties that garden centers don't offer as plants. Eyes were lighting up at the possibility of growing purple carrots and white tomatoes!
Seeing their excitement in learning about organic growing rekindles my interest and passion! Having those who want to learn under me also gives me accountability, which is always a good motivator. This relationship not only benefits the ones I am teaching but also benefits me in many ways. Not only do I get help working in the garden but having those around me reaching toward the same goal is so encouraging.
As this new season begins I see opportunity, learning, growing and relationships. With all of those how can it not be a great year!
