In which the seedlings Bob started last month make their way outdoors into what was once a swimming pool – March, 2015
BLAST FROM THE PAST – THE SUNKEN GARDENS OF MONCURE
The garden before it was a garden and as it stands now. Before we even bought the house, Bob and Lyle hatched a plan to transform the broken swimming pool into a garden. Shortly after this picture was taken in August of 2009, they filled it in, Bob fenced it and added compost, transforming it into prime growing space. The photo on the right was taken last July.
IN THE BACK ROOM
In one of our spare bedrooms, Bob has engineered a bedding plant nursery for little lettuces, hibiscus and the like. We grew fond of hibiscus tea while in Ghana and decided to try and grow our own.
ON THE KITCHEN COUNTER
Super cold weather reduces the lettuce we ordinarily count on from our garden and the two farms we subscribe to, so we grow our own sandwich topping right in the kitchen.
WADING IN
By mid-month we were venturing into the garden for edibles. Amy harvested the ever-abundant chick weed and made a nice batch of pesto. The garlic and cabbage overwintered nicely and taunt us with their long gestation period.
POTATOES
On St. Patrick’s Day, Bob and Amy started planting potatoes. Over a couple of days they put 20 pounds of spuds in the ground, which we are expecting will yield about 150 pounds of Red Thumbs, French, Rose Finn, and La Ratte fingerlings as well as Kennebec, Desiree, and Yukon Gold.
A GOOD HAND
Amy worked hard alongside her papa Bob, planting potatoes and starting the baby ginger and turmeric for Bob’s “Piedmont Tropicals” greenhouse at The Plant.
BABY GINGER AND TURMERIC
These roots are resting easily in our back room, slowly easing shoots into the soil.
THE GARDEN
The third week of March finds our little lettuce starts comfy in their new home outside, while the cabbages continue to beckon from their bed of chickweed.
ANY DAY NOW
One of the cabbages appears to be ‘heading’ up nicely, so it’s only a matter of time before we’re enjoying cole slaw or stir fry.
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