We are just at the beginning of what I feel like is true garden season, but, it has been fun to have a jumpstart to growing brassicas and some colder weather vegetables. My most satisfying thing to grow has been radishes. I wasn’t even sure if anyone else in my family would eat them, but, I knew for sure I like them on tacos. I decided to pickle some, eat some fresh, and I even made a pesto out of the radish greens.
I have been so incredibly thankful to be part of this BIU program. I loved helping my grandparents in their garden growing up, but, I was never taught the technical aspect of gardening. I wanted to join a program that could help me learn how to garden and how to do it organically without all of the harmful chemicals. It is important to me that I teach my daughters how to grow their own food. I think that is such an important tool to help eliminate food insecurity in society.
I have learned something interesting about myself through this. I always underestimate the time it takes to do something and the space I need to do it in. My garden space was way too small for what I wanted to do, but, I learned this year and will make it bigger next year. I have placed my plants too close together because I got excited. I also underestimate measurements. I have learned so much about taking your time and really being technical and why it is important.
To fix part of my lack of space I created some cattle panel trellising for cucumbers and squash and melons. I planted my radishes too close together because I got a little overzealous with the seed scattering. It worked out, but, I had smaller radishes than I probably would have had. I’m deciding whether I want to plant more radishes or something else in the space where they were. It was incredibly satisfying to see how quickly the radishes popped up out of the ground and turned into vegetables.
I am excited to see how the rest of the growing season goes. So far some of my tomatoes are struggling, but, I would attribute that to the weird weather we have had. I had never seen someone net their vegetables and I will always keep that tool in my tool belt. I also did not know it was important to put mulch (straw) down on your ground to help keep moisture in. Those things have been incredibly helpful along this journey. I decided since I didn’t have enough room in the garden and I didn’t want to fight the ground when digging potatoes out I would do a circle out of fencing and do layers of straw and dirt and my potato slips. I am excited to see how that works. So far the little vines are thriving in that environment. My broccoli is ready to harvest and I will cut the heads off this evening for us to enjoy. We have already enjoyed some herbs and lettuce in addition to the radishes. As I have more than my family can eat I will be preserving some of the vegetables and will be sharing some. I have already shared some things and that has been such a good feeling to be able to share with others.
