Gardening

John resting after spending all day on the 12X6 plot

Some of you have been asking where the heck have I been???? Well I am posting the fruits of my labor and starting with our garden. No pun intended! In December I started ordering seeds for our garden and in March I started our garden in our little pop out greenhouse that we bought at the BXtra in December for 90% off. This green house is fantastic, it rolls up into a little bag. It has enabled me to start everything early and John installed a lamp for heat during the night.

This garden isn't like gardens in the past, just hobbies. My goal is to be somewhat independent of our Commissary for a number of reasons. First the quality of our Commissaries produce is horrible. The fruits and veggies are shipped on a ship and it takes 6 weeks for delivery, this was a statement made by the Commissary Manager himself, not just the rumor mill. Also the Japanese Government won't allow certain fruits and veggies to be imported into Japan. The price of 2 jalapenos that aren't even spicy is over $2.00 and 4 ears of corn costs $7.00. I am hoping to have a great yield this year and John and I have worked harder in our garden than in years past.

We have a 6X5 plot in the front for our corn, watermelon and cantaloupe. Some basil, rosemary and cucumbers in the front flower garden and in the back John put together a 12X6 container garden in the back. In the back of the container garden I have a nylon trellis on the fence to encourage vertical climbing and growing for the snow peas, cucumbers, yellow squash and zucchini. On the right hand side will be 10 large tomato plants and in the center will be jalapenos, bell peppers and cherry tomatoes. On the left will be radishes, mixed greens and leeks and front and center will be more herbs, like cilantro, basil, parsley and dill. I am also working on container growing with various pots containing cucumbers, tomatoes, etc.... I plan on keeping some plants in the green house too. Just in case of a typhoon or heavy rains. I have bird netting to keep the birds away (I hope), I have already had to resort to Sevin to keep the Japanese Beetles away (so much for organic) and I know the caterpillars are out there just waiting to devour my basil in one night, like last summer. In addition to weather and insects I have additional elements weighing against the garden, such as a four-legged creature named Chloe who I found has a liking for Rhinoculous. At first I thought it was the birds eating the flowers, but this week I caught Chloe red handed with a yellow flower hanging out of her mouth. I also have Zander and Anika and in the front gardens, once again Zander and Anika, plus the neighborhood kids.

John worked really hard tilling the soil and bringing soil in and putting everything together. Thanks sweetie for all your hard work:)

I have high hopes that everything will work out and my favorite thing to do lately is putter in my greenhouse. That is one reason I have not been around in the blogging community.

I also would like to note that I thought of doing this long before Michelle Obama started her garden and in no way shape or form did she inspire me.