The last couple of days I went to way too many drive thrus. I had to drive four hours to do a church presentation, spent the night, then got up the next morning to drive four hours back home. I feel awful. That will teach me to eat so much junk. Funny how one’s tastes can change, eh? Used to be that wouldn’t even phase me.
Today I’m going to show you what I’ve been growing. I wasn’t going to, in case it was a huge FAIL, but I figure we’re all friends here. The first photo is of DH’s hops. He has been growing these for a couple of years now.
It’s pretty much the only sunny spot in our yard. But then, it occurred to me that the area by our deck gets a fair amount of sun. So I went out and bought some herbs and set them in pots on our picnic table.
I really need to harvest some of that lettuce. Oops.
Then, I read about a neat “garden in a bag” technique in Mother Earth News. Basically you plant in bags of soil. So I have three bags that I’ve planted with peas, beets, and carrots.
I was going to do some more bags with tomatoes and peppers, but I’m leaning towards doing them in containers instead. That way I can move them around if I need to. It’s only been a couple of weeks, and things are sprouting in the bags already, which is a good sign.
I plan to purchase the rest of my plants when the CSA starts in a couple of weeks. They always have great deals!
Last but not least, here are this week’s winners:
Julie L. won Saving the Seasons. She’s a subscriber to The Local Cook and has been wanting to try canning. Well Julie, this will be a great book for you! Congratulations!
The winner of this week’s Food & Faith Challenge is the blogger from Thy Hand Hath Provided. She writes, “I think Amy did a great job above. Her family’s guidelines are very similar to ours. I would add that we try to grow/raise most of our food. There is something about the connection between seed to table that instills a respect for food and our Creator. We, too, try to keep special occasions special. Easter is the only time of year we serve ham and other specialty foods. It makes preparing that food and partaking such a celebration because it really is special and uncommon. Cutting out processed sugar for myself and decreasing it for my family has also made birthdays a true celebration because we then have cake! I think so much of it boils down to self-control. It’s a fruit of the Spirit that our country could stand to work on:-).”
I totally agree!
I am fascinated by your garden in a bag and am looking forward to updates!
Love how you’re being so creative with the space you have!
.-= Melinda´s last blog ..Sandwich Loaf =-.
Just stopping by on Jami’s Tuesday Garden Tour. I love the gardening in a bag idea! Neato!
So neat that you are growing hops… have you ever done anything with them? Are you in the Northwest? I have often thought about trying to grow them.
visiting from Jami’s garden tour
Hi! Yes, DH makes his own beer so he uses them in his creations. We are in southwest Michigan. Hope you’re enjoying the garden tour 🙂
I’m glad you joined the Tuesday Garden Party- I’ve enjoyed visiting and look forward to other garden progress/recipes you will share with us. I’m impressed how you are working with the area you have to garden in- good luck!
BTW- the NW is one of the best places to grow hops- I know the Monmouth/Independence area has huge fields that go to one of the major beer brewers, so go for it Heather!