Garden of Eatin'

Ahh spring, time to get into the garden. Now I've long been enamored with the thought of a bountiful kitchen garden, and when we moved in to our home there was the overgrown remnants of a once productive vegetable garden. But the grass was so thick with stalks the size of leeks that it took close to six months to clear it. But clear it I did, I even carefully laid neat brick paths between the beds. And we had a wonderful crop of beets, kale, peas and some tomatoes before the critters got stuck in.

All was going along just fine until the septic needed pumping. We had assumed the septic was located in the lumpy patch of continually green grass on the other side of the house. But no, the septic pump man walked straight to where he knew the tank was.  Right under my brick path. They ripped up the bricks and pulled up all manner of unspeakable horrors. Now, I've nothing against poo in the vegetable garden per se, just not our own. That's taking recycling a few steps further than I'm willing to take.

So I despondently replaced the bricks and pretty much walked away from the garden. It's just too close for comfort having a vegetable patch on top of the septic.  You risk contaminating your soil from untreated sewage seepage.  There's a lovely thought.

Since then we've been searching for the right spot for mark two. But even with close to an acre of yard to choose from, most spots aren't suitable - too shady, too rocky, too close to the drive way. But last night I found this via here and was all inspired! Of course the front yard! North facing, flat, all day sun, perfecto!

 "No way, not the front lawn!" was the response from the Mister. Sigh, I need to come up with a persuasive case. My dreams of a Gertrude Jekyll/Edna Walling meets Jamie Oliver at Home style garden is still a few years away.

Meanwhile Hugo has been helping load up the trailer with all the wild weeds taking over, seems you clear a patch, take them away, and a new lot have replaced them by the time you get back.

This gardening caper, it's slow work but we''ll get there...