A Tour Of Our Garden

I wish I could take credit for all the beautiful greenery you see before you, but I can't. Josh has been the mastermind behind all the veggies this year. I am just the official picture taker. Though I have to say I am very good at eating, cooking and watering them; oh and keeping Luke from destroying them. The year before we had Luke I was in charge of the garden but obviously things have changed. I am happy to admit the garden is in way more capable hands than mine. I didn't never knew that I married a farmer but I am sure glad I did!

It's been over 2 months since I shared with you the beginnings of our spring garden and the transformation is amazing. There is something so rewarding about getting our hands dirty and tending to the fragile seedlings with care and effort to make sure they are getting everything they need to grow. Not to mention waiting for the day when they are ready to finally dig out, taste and get in our bellies! When that burst of fresh flavor hits your mouth, it really is worth all the time and work.

Josh has been researching aquaponics and decided to take the plunge and make our own system. If you don't know what aquaponics are; simply put there is a little pool with fish in it. We circulate the nutrient filled water from the fish into a bed of water that has plants growing in it with only the roots in the water. Because the plants are getting constant water they grow much faster. It's pretty cool. Of course Josh could explain it a lot better than I can. He is the smart one.

He also made a worm farm out of an old cooler, because you can't have a good garden without worms. Our chickens coop is our compost bin. We give them all  our scraps and they turn them into amazing fertilizer. It's a great exchange. We then transfer into a big heap till it has fully decomposed.

For our family gardening is not just about getting "organic" vegetables, it's about the process, the experience and the knowledge we and our children have gained from learning how to grow our own nutritious food while saving some money in the process also. Gardening has also given us an appreciation for the value of food not just in money but in time and energy. We all think twice before wasting anything because we know all the hard work that has been put into our food.

When we dug up our carrots and beets you would have thought we were digging up candy with all the squeals of delight and excitement. It has been so great for Josh and I to see our kids bite into a carrot fresh from the earth and pop green beans in their mouths. They are not even thinking that they are vegetables. They just want to taste what they have helped plant and harvest.

When I was about 6 my family had friends who were like grandparents to us. They had a farm in the country and I remember going into their green bean fields and eating the green beans right from the vines. That taste still lingers in my memory. I love reliving my childhood through my children.

For those of you that don't know, we live smack dab in the middle of a big city. This garden is like our little oasis. Josh and I love sitting out there in the morning and evening; looking out at all the greenness. There is something about green that is so soothing and relaxing.  If you have ever wanted to have a garden but didn't think you could because you live in the city don't give up hope. All you need is a little plot of land, time, effort, a willingness to learn and maybe a few anxious little helpers.

Do you have a garden? If so please share the your link in the comments. I would love to see it!

If not are you planning on starting one in the future?

Linking up with these great link parties: Tuesday Talk, Strangers and Pilgrims on earth