Saturday, January 16, 2010

California Dreamin'

No, not really! However, I am dreaming of spring in Michigan each time I walk by my two raised beds at our new farm. The frames were moved from our other home late in the fall, filled with compost, and then my husband hastily transplanted ~30 strawberry plants from our community garden to fill one of the 4' x 8' beds. The plants were covered with straw, which first blew off much of the bed until it was re-spread over the plants, became wet from rain and snow, and also weighted down with a branch (not very beautiful but very effective!).

(Photo: Raised beds, front one with strawberry plants and straw blown off half of it)

(Photo: Raised beds, left one with strawberries, straw re-spread, and branch on top, two warm - high 30's - and sunny days are starting to melt the snowcover)

I'm just now starting to plan what to plant in the 32 square feet of my other raised bed. How many kale plants or other cancer-fighting Brassicas can I plant in that space? What else to plant? How many other raised beds to build? How to keep the ground hogs and deer from nibbling away? So many options, so many challenges, so much dreamin'.

"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides"
~~W.E. Johns

Have you started your garden dreaming? I'll let you know what else I decide to plant. I'm looking forward to finally moving out to our farm, so our gardening will always be just out the backdoor.

Cultivating health through a garden's nourishment of both body and soul,

Diana Dyer, MS, RD

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