My Smallest Farm

We bought to a new house last November. We got moved in right before the ice and million inches of snow last winter. That meant the entire outside was unexplored (except for the time spent shoveling the driveway).

After waiting to see what came up in the spring and finishing the school year, it was time to put in a garden. We decided to plant it in an area where the previous owner parked their camper that was covered in mulch. Even if we weren't able to grow anything, it would have to be an improvement over the 20 foot long strip of mulch. Plus, we thought it would be better to have the garden outside the fence after my dogs ate all of the cherry tomatoes as soon as they got red last summer.

I built 3 raised garden beds that measure 4 foot by 4 foot out of landscape timbers. In each bed we planted 2 tomato plants, 2 pepper plants, and some basil and cilantro in the middle. We had some extra room, so we were able to plant some squash and zucchini. Then we planted some black eyed susan and some prairie grass between the beds and the alley.

6 weeks later the tomatoes are doing great, while the squash is about to take over the zucchini.

Since we didn't plant everything until the second week of June, we haven't had much to pick yet, besides basil. We are looking forward to a bountiful harvest this fall.