Hopeful

I think planting a garden is a very hopeful endeavor.  One puts seeds in the ground, covers them up, and hopes something will grow.  How amazing that they do!  This past week I couldn't stand it any longer.  I planted part of the vegetable garden.  Even though the sage gardeners will say I should wait a little longer, I couldn't.  I put in a hills of pumpkins, summer squash, and lemon cucumber.  I planted three rows of bush green beans.  There is a new row of parsley next to the old row that wintered over. 

Under this cardboard are two rows each of carrots and parsnips.  A friend of mine told me how to get carrots and parsnips started in this climate.  She was told by an old gentleman farmer and that has to be a great source.  After planting the seeds, I water them down well and then cover them with the cardboard (or grain sacks or something like that.)  I have to put the pieces of wood on top to keep the cardboard from blowing away.  It keeps the soil moist so the seeds will germinate.  Apparently carrots need that moisture in order to make happy little sprouts.  Once the sprouts have come up, the cardboard goes away and yummy carrots and parsnips grow.  I love stuff like this!

I planted greens a few weeks ago and some lettuces, spinach, and arugula are poking up their little leaves already.  Sadly, the little slimy slugs ate off the snap peas that were coming up.  I have taken measures to assure that doesn't happen again.  I actually bought snap pea plants to replace them but I haven't put them out yet.  We are supposed to get a rather hard freeze tonight so I'm waiting.  


I really enjoy getting out and planting the garden every year.  It gives me great satisfaction to know that those little seeds I'm putting in the soil are going to produce lots of luscious food for us this summer and fall.  And it makes me smile.