Garden Observations

If this was the first year trying your hand at growing vegetables, I feel for you. It was an incredibly wet and cool spring; an erractic, cool June that has languished into a cooler than normal July and August. While we've had some hot weather, it doesnt last longer than a few days. This is great for us without a/c to cool down, but our days have lingered mostly in the high 70's, low 80's. The garden is very confused; and slow growing.

So, all of that aside-- my observations of my first year doing it all alone: First of all, it's just not as much fun alone. I hate to say it, but it's just not. There was something pretty special about planting, tending, doting and harvesting together. That's been an adjustment for my heart and my head. It will get easier I know, especially since I have one season under my belt. I hope the next won't make my heart quite so heavy.

Second- the first year on untended land is rough. My pea patch was new this year, so it was weedy. I brought in a fair amount of compost to enrich the soil, and some dirt to help build up burms. Since I didn't have to do a lot of weeding at my old garden, my time spent weeding often left me slightly bitter. Hey, I am only human.

Third- gardening in a pea patch 25 miles from where you live? Not so convenient.. Admittedly, I didn't think signing up for this space all the way through; I was in the middle of an emotional crisis? breakdown? and just wanted to be sure that I was able to continue to do the things I loved. There were many a night that I would leave work, have a quick bite, and spend an hour in the car for 15 minutes of watering. Not ideal. I am still hoping to get a pea patch in Seattle next year. I will likely keep this space through the winter, planting shallots and garlic; maybe I will plant potatoes in the spring if I get a Seattle space. Truth is, I may be stuck in Woodinville again next year.

Not gardening where you live means I am like a gardening hobo, carrying my tools, seeds, and miscellaneous garden stuff in my car. Friends think it's pretty funny when they have to wedge themselves amongst my hula-hoe.

Finally, I've not been nearly as organized as I have in years past. I drew maps of the gardens, but never started a 2010 harvest tracking spreadsheet. Since I haven't harvested that much, I could probably fill that in now; we'll see how inspired I get.

The moral of the story, if there is one? I am muddling through this gardening season much as I have bene muddling through the past year in general. There are lessons picked up along the way, and small surprises to keep me inspired. It's just life, right?