Backyard Garden

Gina & I talked for years, ever since we bought the house, about growing a garden. The work on the house itself had kept us so busy that it wasn't until about 6 months ago that we started putting together a plan.

I marked off an area in the backyard that was roughly 10 feet by 10 feet. Last fall, after the grass stopped growing for the season, we cut the sod out and relocated it to other places in the yard that needed it.

This spring I bought some landscaping stones and built the empty bed up about a foot high. I called the local nursery and had them deliver 3-4 cubic yards of soil. We planted it with red potatoes, a couple of varieties of peas, several varieties of broccoli and cabbage.

And then I realized I left no room for my tomatoes. So I built another bed just for them. And then someone gave us some lettuce starter plants. So I built another bed for them. Then I realized I had no room for my corn or squash. So I built another bed for them. Then I realized I needed an enclosed bed for my strawberries so I built a bed for them. I still have seed I bought that I haven't planted yet because once again I am out of room.

I have plans for 3 more beds and hope to complete them before it's too late to plant. I'll include for you a rough diagram of the backyard, current & planned.





- Wade Baker