Getting back to what I love

"One of the most important resources that a garden makes available for use, is the gardener's own body. A garden gives the body the dignity of working in its own support. It is a way of rejoining the human race."
- Wendell Berry

Last weekend I picked up some heirloom/hybrid varieties of tomatoes from a semi-local California farm. Wild Boar Farms is home to the most interesting tomatoes I've ever seen. I loved the Big Beef variety we grew & sold at Cider Hill but now that I'm planting my own garden I decided I wanted to have some fun with it. Hopefully I'm not getting in over my head.

Because the soil I'll be using has been untouched for years it took some conditioning to get it to a somewhat acceptable point. I dug a pit that was 9 feet long, 5 feet wide and about 1.5 feet deep. It was really difficult because the soil is so compacted and clumpy. After digging everything up I added some organic compost, fertilizer and vermiculite at 1.5 feet, 1 foot and 6 inches from ground level. I wanted to jump start the conditioning process so that the plants will have a fighting chance when the summer heat arrives. I really hope the work was worth it, especially since I'll be moving outta here soon.

I'll be planting 6 varieties of tomatoes, 2 varieties of peppers, basil, cilantro, and pickling cukes. I didn't want to do too much because I'll be moving out before everything is harvested, this is my first attempt at California gardening and I don't trust the dog that lives here to leave anything alone. He has already shown too much interest in my stuff so I'm reluctant to let him anywhere near a planted garden. Hopefully we come up with some sort of fence system soon cause these plants need to get into the ground soon.

I really can't wait to have a home of my own, when all my effort will be for me & my family. I love working in the yard, improving the landscape and seeing what I'm capable of. When its your own property the blisters and various other sores probably don't hurt as bad. Oh well, it will all be worth it when I'm finally able to enjoy some home grown produce!