About Me
March 30, 2007
I bought my house in 2004 and suddenly I was responsible for an 8′ x 16′ raised bed garden and a slew of landscaping plants out back. The first year my family helped rake, dig and mix compost and manure to turn my weedy area into a beautiful and thriving vegetable garden. The second year was all up to me and, though I didn’t completely botch it, it was definitely not up to par as the year before.
I didn’t have a plan. I ran around to many of the nurseries in my area, not really knowing what I was doing. I bought stuff that wasn’t useful (who needs aerator sandals?) and was scared to weed for pulling out a viable plant.
In 2007 I was struck with spring fever at the beginning of March, purchased $60 of seeds online and awaited their arrival. In the meantime I scoured the Internet, looking for tips and trying to glean inside information from all those gardeners to whom gardening seemed to come naturally. I bought “Square Foot Gardening” by Mel Bartholomew and was inspired.
I’m a smart cookie, I could do square foot gardening too. The vertical gardening was really intriguing.
The more I read the more I was confused. Should I use vermiculite or perlite or not at all? Do I sow indoors or take my chance and sow outdoors only? Do heating pads really work? When’s my last frost free date for my zone? What is my zone?
With a year under my belt I’ve got a better hold on what I should and shouldn’t be doing in 2008. I’ve even saved some of my own seeds! I’ve branched out into flowers, wintersowing and expanding my beds. I’m even toying with the idea of selling some of my produce at the local start-up farmer’s market.
There was so much I didn’t know and still don’t. This blog is a public record of my trial and error.
May 16, 2007 at 11:51 am
Kathy nice to have met you, I am very impressed at your blog. Its very informative and certainly answered a few question I’ve had.
Wade
January 23, 2008 at 10:34 pm
I LOVE your blog title! LOL!
March 18, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Kathy, I will be using you as one of my many guides as I embark upon a similar journey. 2008 is my first real crack at gardening and it will be good to compare my progress with someone else - even better with someone who has more experience!
Cheers.
March 27, 2008 at 10:46 pm
interseting worm info and idea
April 16, 2008 at 8:58 am
Hi Kathy,
Love your site! How interesting to see all the information you have here. You’ve done well! It’s very helpful!
Marsha
aka: woodlandfey
April 28, 2008 at 9:48 am
I had a similar intro to gardening when I bought a house in Barrhaven with an established (translation: INTIMIDATING) flower and veggie plot. I borrowed a book from the library and learned the latin names (just for show ;), care and feeding of all my plants. Soon I was confident enough to try dividing and moving them around from sun to shade and vice versa. Eventually I was ready to express myself and replace most of the veggies with flowers.
I ran a pre-dawn paper route in those days as a stay-at-home-mom and found that if I left notes for people with overflowing gardens, they were often willing to give me clippings and clumps.
Soon I had a garden full of three- to five-foot flowers with paths weaving through it for the kids to play in.
Now I live on a farm and I have all kinds of room to experiment with. This is my first spring here and I’ve just dumped my first 4 wheelbarrow loads of composted manure (we have sheep) on the beds.
I’m so excited I might just wet my plants too.
June 10, 2008 at 11:03 am
Hi Kathy. I’ve been snooping around your blog for a few days now. Very nice place you’ve got here. I’m the “T” who asked you about the quarry location in Kemptville. I’ve added a link to your blog from mine, I hope you don’t mind. It’s mainly so I can get here quickly
Cheers,
T
June 10, 2008 at 11:06 am
Sure, no problem! Are you going to haul some of those rocks?
June 10, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I have! I headed over to Hoffman’s on Thursday and got 644 pounds of flagstone - we carted it back in my less than 24 hour old new car!
We’re headed to the actual quarry next weekend for some blast rock; our neighbours have a trailer for hauling, it’s going to be a joint effort. I’m excited about rocks. Yes, I’m sick!
June 16, 2008 at 8:05 am
Hi Kathy:
Interesting site you have there.
our daughter has bought a house just south of Kemptville. We live in Ottawa and would like to order garden quality topsoil to help her start a flower garden. Can’t seem to locate a firm that sells topsoil in the Kemptville area. Would you share the contact info on the topsoil provider that you used? Sounds like you were happy with the product & I see that as a pretty good recommendation.
Regards,
Winston
June 16, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Hi Winston!
We bought from Price Paving in Kemptville, tel: 613-258-3422. The quality was fair as we found numerous rocks and chunks of clay throughout the pile. We weren’t sure what the percentage of compost was in the soil so we amended with about 20 extra bags. I’d buy from them again though I’d look around at other places first and maybe get some reviews from customers.
Good luck!
Kathy
June 17, 2008 at 8:30 am
Kathy, Parkview Homes, a going concern in the area, recently bought out one of the quarries and a sand pit and now sell topsoil (and fill). They’ve supplied to most of my neighbours, who’re in the position of grading their properties. They’re who we used last year as well. They’ve got the best price in town for a truck load (20 yards). Their number is (613) 489-3838 and they’re located in North Gower (www dot parkviewhomes dot info)
T