40 Before 40 - The Garden

On the list of Forty Before the Big 4-0, number 38 was to build a garden. And build a garden we did! Please stick with me as this is a rather long post. I take you from before to after and everything in between!

 

  

This was the space that I wanted to transform. There was an incredibly ugly ground cover that used to reside here, but it was removed before I could get a photograph. So glad to see it gone!! From there, Joel worked to rid the area of all the rock and stones. All we had left was nothing but fresh dirt!

Here the men are working to get the ground ready. We leveled off the area for a nice flat surface and from there the building began!

 

I did lift the shovel several times in order to help, but apparently I wasn't doing it correctly, as it was taken away from me as soon as I started digging! Joel and my dad dug trenches to bury the stones for terraces.

 

And McKinley was an amazing supervisor during the whole process!

 

The terrace is taking shape!

 

 

We now have completed terraces and raised beds! I put the beds together! I finally felt useful!

 

 

Time to start adding the dirt! I purchased organic top soil. I'm trying to be healthy and I don't want just anything going into our garden.



 

And McKinley continued to help! I love that he wanted to help us rake. This is exactly why I wanted to plant this garden! I want him to know the importance about taking care of our Earth!

 

 

And the planting has begun! I did a mix of plants and seeds. A friend of the family gave us eggplant, tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. From seeds, I planted carrots, lettuce, radishes, green beans, fennel, scallions and onions. 

 

And the finished product is below! Complete with mulch, a large pot of herbs, flowers and tons of love!!

 

 

 

I have loved the entire process of building this small garden. McKinley helps me water and wants to touch the plants. He calls it the "gargen" and I love watching him walking around and talking to us about the vegetables that are growing. I can't wait to start pulling the fully grown veggies, with McKinley's help, in hopes that he will want to eat what he's picked!

 

I can officially say that  number 38 is complete! Can't wait to blog about our bounty!