Our New Planting Bed

Last year we tried growing our garden in old water heaters turned on their sides, which you can read about HERE.  Our little garden didn't turn out too bad but this year we decided we wanted to go just a little bigger.  We got our plans for our planting bed from The Pioneer Woman, and you can read the step by step instructions HERE, but as you will see from our pictures we changed it up just a little.  Less hammering and screwing makes for a much happier midMan.

First we measured.

The we being used very loosely here.

hahahah

Then we measured again. 

Can't you see my hand right next to the amazing hand of midMan?

Then it was on to the drilling.  Lots of drilling.

And then we played with some screws,

two different sizes mind you.

After everything was screwed tightly together, we carried this big 4' x 8' box over to where we felt we would get the best results for our little garden.  No pictures of the major move, I was busy holding up my end and tailEnd just could not be bothered to get off of the computer long enough to help.  In tailEnds defense, he has been working really hard the past couple of months studying for his ACT test, which he took Saturday morning.  He really did need some down time, he's only 14. 

Boy does he have me wrapped around his little finger or what?

Notice the perfect placement of the stakes. 

That was my other job along with taking pictures.

I managed both quite well, thank you very much.

With some alignment and fear of the knots,

midMan continued on his way to success.

Ohhh how I love this man's hands, they are so strong and provide so much for us, but they can also be so very tender and loving when needed.

With a little bit of hammering.........

Some strategically placed stakes and screws.........

And some more hammering........

we have finished the frame.

No pictures yet of the finished product, I would like to get just a little dirt in for fun.  The Major Planting Bed Build went great except for the one little moment when midMan thinks he just might have hit a sprinkler line. 

OhOHOh!!!!

I guess we'll figure that out when we finally turn on the sprinklers, but for now no dirt until we can get through that little task. 

Let's hope we don't make water bubbles under the planting bed.

On a slightly better note I leave you this post with the thought that midMan's younger brother may be moving in with us for a couple of months and let me tell you, this man can grow a garden. 

I really think we are going to use his expertise this year. 

Lucky for us!!!  Yeah!!!

Love to All,

midRae

The Garden (update)

When I wrote this post about planting a garden, our expectations were so high, we were dreaming about all of the wonderful tomato's, zucchini, jalapenos and squash that we would be giving away to our neighbors. Reality is sinking in. These are our tomato plants, not to bad you say, but please realize that these have been growing since May. Now you say, 'Not so impressive.' That's what I said, 'Really not to impressive.' But please realize that they have done the best overall in our little garden.

Here are our hot jalapenos!

Not so amazing and hot when you again realize that they have been growing for a few months and we have managed to grow a total of 9!

And here for the wonders to end wonders.........our sad little zucchini plant.

Most people in this world can grow zucchini without even trying, but not us. Nope, we can not even get this right! But in our defense we did manage to grow one little one, and ain't it a cute one, and we did manage to figure out that pots just do not make for big zucchini or anything else for that matter. Especially when it comes to the Munk Family Farm. I think next year planting beds will be in the plans if we want to succeed at growing anything that is edible in our back yard.

Love to All,

midRae

OUR GARDEN

15 years ago I tried to grow a garden in the middle of the desert in St. George, Utah. I planted my corn in May when I should have planted it in February. It only grew to be 2 feet tall and the Rolie Polies decided that they would have a feast of the rest of my little garden. At that point I decided that apparently I had a black thumb and I should never ever attempt to grow another living thing outside. Pots in the house are good but getting any where near the outdoors with a living plant and the Rolie Polies line up for a feast. You would think that I would have learned.


But.........

As you can see we have decided to attempt it again. Only this time we have decided to armor plate our planting area. We have planted our garden in an old water heater that had been turned into a trough. I talked midMan into letting me use it. He was planning on putting it in the mountains by a spring so that he could have a good spot to deer hunt. He has two of them so I am hoping I can keep this one. But I digress. We are hoping this will keep the Rolie Polies at bay. But you never know, I have found them upstairs in my house. I really believe that they are my nemesis.


We have planted jalapenos.


And tomatoes. With salsa in our mind. Hot, spicy, homemade and yummy.

We have even planted some Zucchini. We are being quite adventurous here.

Our neighbors gave us a few strawberries last year and they seem to be taking off this year. Hopefully we will get a few good ones.

But I really believe that the saving grace for our garden this year and the only thing that will make it grow and prosper is our youngest son, tailEnd, playing Guitar Hero World Tour to our garden. You know they say that music will make your garden grow. Let's hope it keeps the Rolie Polies (savage beasts that they are) away, too.

Love Always,

midRae

Things to Remember.......................Growing up my mom had a huge strawberry patch. I can remember sitting in the middle of it and eating strawberries until I was sick. I loved that strawberry patch and was so sad the day we sold the house. The new owners got to keep the strawberries and my mom never planted any more. Hopefully ours will prosper and grow and I can go sit in the middle of it and eat until I am sick. But this time I think I will take some fat free whipped topping with me. Yum!!