So, the unmade garden bed count is down to 3. We built 3 new beds this week, and now only have 3 more to go.

Everywhere is starting to put out their Spring veggies and springtime plants. It is so exciting and the world feels so fresh. I love it. I broke down and bought some Bibb and Romaine lettuce at Wal-Mart the other day. I wasn't going to get plants like that, but I could use my food stamps and I was just so excited. I also got some new raspberry bushes, and a grapevine there too. (and some horseradish for the potato beds).
I still haven't found sweet potatoes anywhere.

I am pumping myself up, despite common sense, to open a roadside farm stand. I doubt we will be at that point, but it feels good to daydream about.

Another note, our relatively new neighbors across the street have taken an interest in the homestead, and offered their help. I was outside gardening the other afternoon (still in my pajamas) and she called my name and came and introduced herself. She asked to see the garden, and I pensively obliged. (Our backyard looks atrocious!!) She was very pleasant, and seemed to ignore the rotting vegetables, and newspaper and cardboard everywhere, and the partially dug up sod. It felt good, because she treats me like an expert, and it feels validating.

I am excited to build a friendship with her, and she seems excited for me to teach her daughters about sustainable agriculture. I offered to help build her a garden bed, and tend it if she wants. Granted it will be Richard putting it together, but he loves me and said he didn't mind. She offered her daughters to be 'harvest helpers', and I will utilize that whenever I can, of course. Possibly even to help at a farm stand ;)

She brought up a good idea, and it was that I should see if I can possibly teach sustainability and urban agriculture at local schools. I used to teach Junior Achievement, and figure a similar model would work. It is something to look into, for sure.

Anyway, we put some Jersey Knight asparagus and rhubarb in their spots to supplement. Also, I am not sure if I wrote that I had put in a honeysuckle and a bleeding heart. That was a while ago, but the bleeding heart is doing well, and leafing out.

The beds that are left to build are the pepper bed, sweet potato bed and greens bed. We need to buy 21 cubic yards of soil to fill it, and we should be able to do that soon. I am scheduled to plant the curcurbit and melon family of plants this weekend. I found some heirloom watermelon seeds that I am excited to use. And we had to buy more cantaloupe because Zenny scattered them around the yard.

Next year I would like to do all heirlooms, so I can save the seeds and continue the family no matter where we go. I plan on getting some heirloom tomato plants this season from Woodley's (they say they will be in early March). I like being able to reproduce from saved seed. Feels more personal, I guess.

I am planning to do the garden walk this Saturday, when I will be excited from planting all morning. That is the day I am expecting to get dirt too. And in all reality I may be trying to put it off until then, because it will look so much better.

Another entry coming soon. Love you guys!!