We started our backyard garden a couple of years ago sort of out of necessity - we have this big concrete pit in our backyard, which used to be some sort of pond way back when breeding grounds for mosquitos were thought to be "features". The option was to have it removed, at a staggering cost, or well...find an alternative use for it - and the backyard garden was born. Over the course of a season we gradually filled it with earth, leaves and other yard "waste", and before we knew it we had an excellent, nutrient rich garden, filled with the world's best organic compost. We started slowly, with a couple of herbs, and over the years have added cucumbers, lettuces, tomatoes and peppers. Now we start planning early, tending to a variety of seedlings which sprout in our bay window throughout March and April, awaiting planting as soon as the ground is warm.
This year we are adding an additional 40 sq. feet of agrden space along our fence, to house additonal crops, including radishes and different lettuces, which will go in in a week or two, peas and green beans (up the back fence trellises), and a wider assortment of fresh herbs.
On April 13th, we'll sharpen our farming skills at the Urban Seedling Workshop (www.urbanseedling.com) for a mere $20 a head. If you are starting out, this is the perfect opportunity to get a crash course. If you want the fresh veg, but hate dirt, they will actually plan, build, plant and tend your garden for you - check out their site and book a free consultation.
