What do you think was the very first thing I did after buying our vacation property on the East Coast?
I started planting a new vegetable garden of course.
Forget about furniture, the bizarre flooring situation or the bathroom cabinets made for people who stand 5 feet tall, there are things called priorities. And growing food, is one of them.
I don’t know how I did it, but last week I removed 10 million and 2 buckets of pea gravel from a former play area and hauled in 15 yards of garden soil {a custom blend of 1/3 topsoil, 1/3 compost and 1/3 potting soil}. One wheelbarrow at a time. In 4 days. ALL BY MYSELF.
No teenagers workers bees. Just me.
Holy crap. Let’s just say I didn’t know I was so out of shape. It got so bad that I was popping about 8-10 ibuprofen a day. It’s a good thing I didn’t have an accident or get cut because I probably would have bled to death {ibuprofen and tea are natural blood thinners according to my dentist}.
That drama aside, I’m happy to report I was able to get the enormous and awkwardly shaped garden box filled.
And planted.
With enough vegetables for a proper Thanksgiving feast. Rutabagas, beets, carrots and Swiss chard. I probably should of planted some seed potatoes as well but I haven’t found the local garden center yet. Oh well. I suppose, if I have to, I can buy a sack of spuds like a normal person just this once. 😉
Life is good. {Even if I’m still hobbling}
~Mavis
Have you planted your Thanksgiving garden yet? What are you growing?
Jane says
Nice job! And what a perfect spot for a garden.
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks! It’s kind of nice not to worry about deer walking through my garden for once. 🙂
Jennifer says
Do you have a friend nearby or someone that will be watering the new garden for you when you head back to the west coast? Can’t wait to see pictures of the new place!
Mavis Butterfield says
No, no one will be coming by to water the vegetables. I’m going to let mother nature water my garden this fall, then rig some sort of drip system with timers next spring.
Paula says
Whoa! Where have I been? I had no idea you’d purchased property back east. We need more details!
Mavis Butterfield says
I still have about 52 thousand pictures to sort through first. 🙂 Don’t worry, I’ll post more pic soon.
Robin says
Or did you daughter go to school on the east coast and she will be able to water it for you?
Mavis Butterfield says
Wouldn’t that be nice. But no. I’m sure the root crops will be just fine relying on good ole’ Mother Nature. It’s the power of positive thinking. 🙂
Wendy Steele says
I noticed you planted mostly root vegetables–do they do better all by themselves–ie: no live-in gardener? We’re all thinking the SAME THING….who will care for this garden? lol!!! We need DEEEETS!!!!!!
Mavis Butterfield says
Now is the time to get your root vegetable seeds planted. And yes, I think root crops are great for the “set it and forget it crowd.” 🙂
janet says
Wow, I agree, we need details. 2 gardens on opposite coasts!! Go Mavis!
Dena says
Hope that you saved all that pea gravel, so that you can use it creating walkways through that garden!
Mavis Butterfield says
I gave it all away. 🙂
Maxine says
Def want deets but we can understand the need for some privacy. But if I get to post a guess, I was going with daughter too. Sounds like you will be spending turkey day on the east coast. Sooooo, I’m guessing maybe hubs does biz on east coast and/or family here. Either way I’m excited to hear gardening tips for the east coast and hope your garden waterer will post pics on their progress. I’m at the mid point on east coast and thought it was too late, but now I’ll get something planted! As always thanks for the inspiration! Good luck with new house too!
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks Maxine. The HH grew up outside of Boston and we hope to retire around there at some point. After endless campaigning on my part, he finally agreed to take the plunge and we bought a vacation home on the east coast. Wahooo!
sk says
May we come see?
Mavis Butterfield says
Virtually, YES! Sadly I am not able to host garden tours at this time. Maybe sometime in the future though.
Leslie says
Love it, love it!
kc says
Now I understand the saltbox obsession! Looks beautiful! Now you have two zones to work/play in. That is true gardening dedication!
Stacey says
I would love bathroom cabinets that are made for people only 5 feet tall. I measure at a little less than that, and I have to use stools all the time to reach anything in my apartment. I never noticed it when I was younger, but getting older and being short is kind of hard sometimes. Anyway, I hope you love your new vacation home and your garden grows prolifically.
sarah says
Here’s hoping we have a wetter fall than summer. depending on where on the east coast that is could effect it. I live in the southern New England area and live near the ocean, which causes the storm clouds to break up at times. but we have had some bit of water weekly. And this week is gonna be warm and humid… leading to a good bit of morning dew and damp plants. We went on vacation for 5 days, had no rain but didn’t have droopy plants thanks to the dew and morning dampness(the water person forgot)