To be honest, it really started when my neighbor asked me if I wanted one of the three plots that were open in the community garden. I have dabbled with gardening in my yard, the troughs and flower bed have been an adventure of a different kind for me. I’ve gotten more enjoyment out of the yard the past couple of years, then I would have thought. (see here for more on the yard)
I started my first garden plot in June 2025. It was a sad lil plot of dirt that hadn’t been worked in quite sometime. I worked it, put a border around part of it, added compost to it, and bought a number of plants to make it look decent.
It grew very well.
It was very disappointing to have someone steal my corn!!! I’m putting cameras there next year. I did end up with a number of decent harvests from it though. The grapes were from another plot in the garden, they had more then they knew what to do with and kind to share. The squash was in my flower bed. I don’t remember putting seeds out for it. Volunteer? Maybe. I’ll take it. It gave me about 6 decent items to cook.
Thanks to the same neighbor I added some asparagus to this plot. I also planted garlic to it. The same bed after I cleaned it out and added compost and mulch to it for the winter. This is the one I call north plot.
Not a bad last grab (esp. for end of Nov) from the plot the day I cleaned it all out, there was also a bag of cherry tomatoes that I forgot to put in the picture.
This one doing so well, lead to me being asked if I wanted to take over another one. This one had been worked a great deal and used to belong to my neighbor. She added a lot of amendments to the soil in this one. I call this one the south plot since it is on the south end of the gardens.
I now that I have two plots in my name, I started down the rabbit hole of how to make garden thrive. Since this isn’t a cheap hobby, although it seems like it should be. Buying plants and flowers cost a lot. I looked back and I spent hundreds on plants for the summer of 2025. For 2026 I’ll be spending hundreds on seeds in addition… oh wait, I already did that…
The North plot, which is home to several perennial plants, like Rosemary, Greek Oregano, and Asparagus. I plan to add more to it like, Thyme, Tarragon, Marjoram, Sage, Chives and number of flowers like penstemon, gaillardia, marigolds, and sedum. I will have to see what I can make grow.
This is what I have planned for the north plot. But, like everything in my life it is totally fluid and will likely change before it’s done. There are already some changes I need to make based on advice from my neighbor – Josie
For the South Plot I’m going to try Sq Ft Gardening. I’m going to use it for Bell peppers, tomatoes, Broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, eggplants, and a few different types of flowers.
They are very different plans. For most of the plants I am also going to try starting them from seeds this year. (This is how I’m going to use most of my worm castings.) I have been working on picking up seeds starting materials for the past few months.
I did start a few things in the house already. What you are looking at is Ginger, avocado, and a pineapple. I’d like to have a dwarf lemon tree too!
Like most things it costs a bit to get started, but they are one time expenses that will carry me for years to come. For getting started on a larger level, I did pick up rack for starting seeds with grow lights.
One of my new favorite websites is Epic Gardening, I picked up a few of their seed starting trays. Yes, I have pink and a couple other colors.. fun, eh? Should help me keep it all straight.
Once the new year planting starts I’ll be using this to help keep track of it all. In addition to documenting the gardens I’m going to add around the house.
I have worked out a schedule for planting… (omg, just saying that made me realize I have issues. I guess that it shouldn’t be a surprised. I geek out and obsess over things, it’s how I learn.)
So far, I’ve even made a list of all the seeds I have, with notes about the ones that I used last year. Worked out which one I have to plant directing into the garden, Figured out which one I have to start inside to get a jump start on things in the spring. I’ve even worked out some succession planting so not everything matures at the exact same time. Yup, geek. Let’s not forget all the books I’ve picked up.