new chicken coop

 
 
Since I’m waiting to start my vegetable garden – I’m getting some chickens! Today we set our new chicken coop into place in our new back yard. Its a small (3 x 4 feet), sturdy coop with an attached run. I’ve ordered 3 pullets for arrival midweek from McMurray Hatchery. Exciting! I hope I can figure out how to care for them. The 3 pullets (hens 18-22 weeks old) I ordered are three different varieties: Black Australorp, Araucana/Ameraucana, and light brahma. I did a lot of reading on different varieties…
 
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planting garlic

 
 
I was late to plant, but finally planted 75 cloves of garlic. Less than my usual 100 cloves, but all were very big and I spaced them so they used the whole bed that I usually use for 100 cloves. The variety is mostly “Music”, a second year planting. I planted the garlic in my community plot. I’ve decided to keep my plot another year. Next year, I’ll work on getting my new home garden going, but since the soil is so hard, that will take some time.
 
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compacted soil

 
 
I tried to turn the soil in the area I marked out for my new garden, but its very dense and compacted. I couldn’t get the shovel in, much let turn the entire area I was thinking of. So — change of plan: I will wait for spring and then construct raised beds and bring in new soil. That will give me the entire winter to plan. I have a great new (old actually) book I am reading: Bob Thompson’s , The New Victory Garden. The photos of his garden…
 
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starting up my new garden – finally ….

 
 
It’s been a lot of work to move! Finally I am making some progress on my new garden. I think fall is a good time to be starting it, so I’m pleased with our timing. Using string and stakes, today I marked out a space that I think would be good for my new garden. Then I moved the stakes. Then I asked my husband’s opinion and we moved the stakes yet again. Its a big mowed grassy area and I want to maximize sunlight for the garden and still…
 
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Skippy’s Vegetable Garden is moving

 
 
Skippy’s vegetable garden will move soon. The garden is at its peak, tomatoes ripening, big green basil plants, tall teepees of cucumbers and green beans. I am picking more than we can eat from this cute little garden. But, something else is going on too…. The cold frame is being taken apart and removed as we get ready to show the house to potential buyers. I wonder if someone will continue to maintain my little side yard garden? Or maybe it will be removed and replaced with grass. I wonder.…
 
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winter squash arbor

 
 
My winter squash vines are growing by inches, or more, a day. They have topped my arbor and lots of fruits are setting. The Waltham butternut do best on an arbor since the vines are long and flexible. I have five butternut plants growing on the left side of the arbor and, on the right side, four plants of different varieties: Hubbard Blue Ballet (a small fruited hubbard, whose vines are a challenge to train up an arbor as they are so thick), Orange Kabocha, Buttercup, and Delicata (this small…
 
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garden pollinators

 
 
While I’m weeding in my garden these days the sound of little wings is so loud! (That and the sound of my sweat dripping in this heat wave…) I have heard there are thousands of native bees and other pollinators in New England. I bet many are tiny. As I look around for pollinators to photograph, I see many are really small. I notice bees, wasps, flies and butterflies. I know the flies have big eyes, and bees have smaller eyes, and wasps have waists (in general – except for…
 
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mystery squash

 
 
I have a mystery squash that’s sprouted under my garden rake – right in the middle of my garden path. I don’t think it will shade any other plants here, so it is still growing so far. I have no idea what it is. What do you think it is? Looks like a cucumber to me. I love the mystery of an unknown plant (though of course it’s something I grew last year).
 
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Kathy Martin
This is a journal of my vegetable gardens. Skippy thinks the garden is his, even though I do all the work. We're located near Boston, in USDA zone 6. I have bees, chickens, fruit trees and berry bushes, too. I use all sustainable organic methods and strive to grow all of my family's vegetables myself. -Kathy


weeks and counting until my last spring frost

What I planted recently

Jan 21
thyme, lettuce, escarole

Feb 21
celery, celeriac, parsley, leeks

March 11
cabbage, kale, arugula



What I'm planting soon

April 1
peppers, eggplants, marigolds, beets

April 12
tomatoes, basil, sunflowers

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My garden this week

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17 years of archives!

Check out the food pantry farm I helped to start up:

Aurelia's Garden

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Skippy’s vegetable of the month – Egyptian walking onions!

“I envision a day when every city and town has front and back yards, community gardens and growing spaces, nurtured into life by neighbors who are no longer strangers, but friends who delight in the edible rewards offered from a garden they discovered together.” – Greg Peterson

"What can happen to a seed is a miracle."

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