We had big plans for our garden this year. You wouldn’t think that we would have had those plans sidelined by COVID, but we did. With Wyatt home 24/7, Billy being an essential worker, the crazy weather (snow in April anyone?) and the rules we had in Michigan for a while regarding gardening supplies, it made it hard for us to get moving. I had started seeds back in March, but then they got too big and I couldn’t transplant them and they died. I had never tried that sort of production before and I obviously need to work on it.
But! Despite all of our setbacks, we are going to keep trying and rolling along. We finally had beautiful weather over the weekend, and we spent those days holed up in our backyard, organizing and planting seeds. I don’t know how this will work as we are getting a late start, but I am hopeful regardless!
I am super excited about getting Wyatt involved this year. One thing that we planted this year are peanuts! When I was a kid like first grade or second, my uncle planted them one year and I thought it was so cool! I remember taking them in to school for show and tell. I was kind of a nerd even then I guess! So this year, inspired by those memories, Wyatt got to plant peanuts. I am keeping my fingers crossed that they grow!
We had a beautiful plan for a potager garden, with every section planned. Now we are going with a different approach for this year – we planted root vegetables in cloth containers, and then we are planting the seedlings that I hope shoot up quickly into the beds we already have dug from last year, which were intended more for flowers than food production but hey, we are rolling with it! I now have seeds started for a variety of vegetables – carrots, beets, radishes (and some radishes that I actually got into the ground and are doing great!), peanuts; then we have basil, lemon basil, thyme, Ice Queen lettuce, cabbage, yellow squash, Tom Thumb peas, pumpkins, and watermelon seeds all started. Tomorrow and the rest of this week I am going to try and get our flower seeds started, then hopefully over the upcoming weekend we get the areas ready for the beans, cucumbers, and snap peas I want to plant. And I found another use for the masks I bought! The pollen count was off the charts practically here this weekend and I wore my mask to filter how much I was exposed to as I worked outside. So bonus?
So although we are looking at a whole different idea, a more scaled down approach to our garden this year, it is a start and it is something. Maybe as things (hopefully) loosen up and become easier later this summer we will be able to work on getting the yard where we want it and ready for next year. We are already guessing vacations are out for us this year, so Billy’s vacation time will be spent at home – we are talking about knocking out some projects that we are usually to go-go-go to actually get to. We are learning to roll with it and regroup, and are moving along as best we can.
***And as I finish this up this morning (I started this post yesterday afternoon) the weather is reporting record low temps again this week! Looks like I will be moving my little starter babies inside again for a bit!
Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs.. 
Oh, I love the idea that you aren’t giving up, and what is great about it all is the process of working together to create something.
I haven’t had a garden since the 1970s! But we were all into food coops and gardening back then, and I felt so healthy. I loved the house we were in, an English Tudor with spacious rooms, and a big eat-in kitchen…and a dining room with bay windows. I hung plants everywhere.
My hippie/flower child years, lol.
Enjoy your garden and watching it grow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am keeping my fingers crossed for results! We had a good time though planting everything together.
I think I have an inner flower child/hippie… food coops sound fabulous. And so does your house! I love a Tudor house. 🙂
LikeLike
I am glad you decided to give your garden a second chance. I started my first garden when my sons were small. I remember my oldest son, Jon, going out in the garden when he was a little thing, and pulling up carrots from the ground and eating them. He gardens today, thirty-something years later.
Even if the garden isn’t perfect this year, keep at it. You’ll see the things you have success with, and you’ll plant those again. You’ll try other things. I can’t wait to see how things go. You have planted lots of things—peanuts, lettuce, cabbage, thyme, and more!—I’ve never tried.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw I love that! I would love for Wyatt to enjoy gardening and carry it on throughout his life. That would be awesome. My uncle always had a huge garden, up until a few years ago and I always loved it. 🙂
And thanks for the encouragement! We will keep trying and hopefully some things happen for us out there! 🙂
LikeLike
I cant believe how chilly it still is here too – our trees aren’t even fully bloomed yet.
Hope you get it all planted & get to enjoy it all summer!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my gosh right! It is so cold here! I had to turn the heat back on!
LikeLike
I got seeds started this weekend. We’ll see. It might be too late. Rick often has a potager but he’s late this year too. His seeds aren’t even in — so wish us luck!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay!! I am glad you got yours planted as well. I am figuring they will grow, but might not have their entire growing season? Good luck guys! 🙂
LikeLike
We can get into our garden centers but it’s been too cold to plant so we have to wait until next week to try. I would like to build raised beds but I’m not sure I have the energy or smarts to build the boxes. I guess I’m late in planting but I’m going to try anyhow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How wonderful! I look forward to more pictures of your beautiful garden. Such precious memories with your littles!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!! I am excited to see what happens!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Planted a garden with the grand kids. Hopefully, it will survive this weekend’s possible flurries. Hope yours flourishes! We have been working outside quite a bit in the yards and are so far ahead. Feels good, but with vacations most likely cancelled, wonder what we will do with more extra time. LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! And seriously, what is this second winter we are supposed to get? I am glad to hear you are enjoying some nice outside time. 🙂
LikeLike
Pingback: My Sunday-Monday Post! – Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs..