So, this past year I have been working diligently to learn and apply different methods of gardening. Not one to previously use YouTube, I have become quite efficient in searching for topics to help me in this endeavor.

I followed an old saying – “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket”. By planting in different areas of my yard, I just knew something I planted would grow. I have: a raised bed; containers; an area by the carport; an area by the house.

The area by the house had hard, packed soil. Over the winter months, I would dig to loosen this dirt and remove the occasional rock. Also, I began composting using the Bokashi method and this was buried in this strip. Bokashi composting is another topic but a very easy way to compost plus a great benefit when added to the soil. Growing in this area are struggling tomato plants and cucumbers.

The area by the carport was almost as bad. The soil was easier to turn and did not have the rocks like by the house. So along this strip of “garden”, I loosened the soil, added top soil, added garden soil, mixed in straw compost along with burying the compost from my Bokashi bucket. Growing in this area are beautiful sunflowers and a cherry tomato plant that is producing a lot of cherry tomatoes.

In the containers, I put garden soil purchased at the local hardware store. Also, I applied a continual watering system. (20oz empty bottle with holes) The containers have green bell peppers that are doing ok. They are producing peppers.

The raised bed has top soil, peat moss, mulch and compost. This soil is very loose and drains well. Growing in this bed are beautiful plants of zucchini, chard, spinach, cucumbers, zinnias and yarrow.

What I have learned: a great foundation produces greatly; a good foundation produces ok; a rocky foundation struggles to produce anything; and this can be applied to almost anything.

“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” Luke 8:5-8

“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.” Luke 8:11-15

Read > Study > Understand > Persevere > Produce