HSV Garden Challenge - #1

 

We are exited to be participating in the HSV Garden Challenge. There are so many valuable lessons to be learned in the garden!

The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses.  ~Hanna Rion

 The smell of fresh wet soil, the sound of singing birds, the touch of various textures with each new seedling or plant, the sight of it all coming together, with a beautiful array of the Creator's hand, and the reward of fresh and healthy tastes to bring alive your taste buds! Oh, the wonder of it all!

Starting Out

A couple of sundays ago, my dh emptied last years garden boxes, and got them ready for me to fill with fresh, rich soil! Thank you, honey!

Then boys helped daddy to fertilize and water the trees in our front yard... including the Hibiscus tree, which we will also be using a food.

It is a beautiful lavender color with a cranberry-like flavor with citrus overtones. We will add them to our salads, once they begin to bloom. The flower can be dried to make an exotic tea, as well. They are chalked full of vitamins!

The nursery I used to get my soil in bulk, already mixed, closed down... so we had to get it elsewhere... and mix it ourselves! The children enjoyed  "playing in the dirt".

Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity.  ~Lindley Karstens

Jacob did a wonderful job clearing the ground space for a row of tomatoes and a separate space for a row of cucumbers... While Noah and Halea happily mixed the soil, compost, and perilite in the garden boxes.

Then we started planting! Hurray! {I love this time of year!!!} Jacob absolutely LOVES to work in the yard and garden. He tickles me with all his delighting =)

This is only our second year gardening. Last year we had all kinds of vegetables and herbs. Gleaning from what we were successful in growing, we determined to grow what we know will grow best in our conditions.

Already Planted

This year we will be growing these fruits and vegetables:

• Cucumber {for eating, not pickling}
• Tomatoes {for eating, canning and salsa}
• Bell Pepper {for eating and salsa}
• Hot Banana Peppers
• Jalapeno
• Hot Cherry Peppers
• Habanero
• Tabasco Pepper
• Strawberries
• Watermelon {a newbie this year}
• Blueberries
• Blackberries
• Mulberries

These are our herbs {so far}:

• Cilantro
• Parsley
• Sweet Basil
• Rosemary
• Thyme
• Various Mints
• Oregano
• Various Lavender
• Bee Balm

Both Halea and Jacob decided to plant a rose each! Jacob chose a vibrant red rose, and Halea chose a lovely pink rose.

In our research of roses, we learned a few things. Did you know roses love bananas?

We learned how to make a banana-puree tonic for the rose. Freeze old bananas. Remove the brown tip from the frozen banana and cut it up into a blender. Place enough water in the blender to cover the banana. Blend on the "liquefy" setting. Pour this puree into a gallon container (like an old milk container); you might have to use a funnel if the container has a small mouth, like a milk jug. Finish filling the gallon container with water, put the lid on it and shake it to mix. Pour the puree tonic on the base of the rose and on the surrounding soil. Use one banana for each gallon of tonic and use 1 gallon of tonic on each rose.

We are exited to try out a few recipes. Jam, Puree, and Tea!

Yet to be planted

• Catnip
• Echinacea
• Clover
• Carnations
• Mammoth Sunflowers

We will also be planting Carnations, again for beauty and for eating!

Carnations can be steeped in wine, candy, or use as cake decoration. To use the surprisingly sweet petals in desserts, cut them away from the bitter white base of the flower. Dianthus are the miniature member of the carnation family with light clove-like or nutmeg scent. Petals add color to salads or aspics. Carnation petals are one of the secret ingredients that has been used to make Chartreuse, a French liqueur, since the 17th century.

----> Just remember, not every flower is edible!
This is a great source to see those edible and poisonous!

We also decided to put in the gate to our garden area. This will be a great improvement, and allow us to access an additional water source.
Here, you can see the boys helping daddy put the gate in. Digging the pole holes and setting the concrete! Good Job, guys =)

We also decided to rethink, and redo our compost this year. Here is last years... and this is the way we decided to go this year:

 Garbage Can Compost!

Here are a few links to check out. These are both instructional, as well as educational for children and composting =)

• Planet Protectors
• Environmental Kids Club
• Trashcan Compost Bin

Then this week we transplanted the Mulberry trees, and the two Rose bushes! We also planted a box of tomatoes, another box of strawberries, watermelons, and the hot cherry peppers! Yay =)

All sweet reminders of the future that awaits us...

“And  by  the  bank  of  the  stream,  on both sides, grow all kinds of trees used for food, whose leaves do not wither and fruit do  not  fail.  They  bear  fruit  every  month, because  their  water  flows  from  the  set- apart  place.  And  their  fruit  shall  be  for food, and their leaves for healing.”                                                       ~Yehezkel/ Ezekiel 47:12

We also finished planting a few flowers for extra beauty and hopefully helpful for the bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds!

And of course, this post would not be complete with out all of the little critters, we found along the way... I love how much my children are content to just sit and wonder and recognize how awesomely amazing our Creator is. Jacob wants to name our garden area, "Yah's (God's) Amazement!" He said he wants everyone who visits our little garden to know how amazing He is!
I. L.O.V.E. THAT!!!

Until next time..

If you would like to join the challenge, head over to the HSV Garden Challenge =)