Off and running

After a brief hiatus, I really want to get back to writing on the blog. Due to busy-ness at work, with the family, and trying to get some progress on the garden project, we have lots of updates, but haven't written them down for you. Here's an overview:

1. Garret is walking pretty solidly. He holds his hands up like he's going to pounce on you and smiles very big.
2. Drew has started walking back and forth between mommy and daddy. Other things are not as motivational. Just don't try to stop him once he's started the back and forth routine!
3. My (Jim) work is very busy
4. Annie's work (stay at home mom) is ever more busy as these boys get more mobile!
5. We took a family trip to the zoo. We're planning a trip to the art museum on Friday 5/31/08 (Medieval arms and armor display ends June 1)
   
6. The 2008 garden is mostly in!

I'll share a bit more about the garden project. You may recall this year we planned a massive expansion in support of our pursuit of a more self-sufficient and affordable lifestyle. Instead of building a new fence every year to keep pace with our growing garden habit, we decided to fence in a big area and grow into it. Here's our gardening timeline:

• 2001 - 2003 we grew veggies in containers on our apartment balcony
• 2004 we got a house, but still only planted in containers due to so many projects
  
• 2005 we dug and planted a small garden in the back yard, 7'x7'
• 2006 we dug and planted an expansion, resulting in a 15'x7' area (doubled)
  
• 2007 we planted the same size garden, but started digging and improving an additional 15'x9' (doubled again)
• 2008 we planted the 15'x16' area dug in 2007, and are covering an additional approx. 37'x22' area to eliminate the grass and improve the soil for future expansion, resulting in (drum roll please....) 52'x22' of garden space (a 4.75x increase!).

Two things about growing in our area, we have heavy clay soil and a huge deer population. The clay soil requires adding huge quantities of organic material which we mainly get from lawn clippings, leaves, and composted kitchen scraps. A deer-proof fence is also a must for us. We've had seedlings and established small trees be crushed or eaten. We put posts in the ground for the 2008 fence, but did not finish it in time for planting. We were looking at our sad little seedlings we started in March and felt bad that they weren't moved to larger pots, so we stuck them in the ground and propped our new fence materials around them in temporary fashion. (We frequently watch "temporary" change to "semi-permanent", so who knows when we'll actually finish the fence.)There will be a gate by the big square log, which, along with the pine tree, will be removed. Note Annie digging the last of the planting area for this year, and the boys in their outdoor playpen, which they adore.
This is the other end, from the back of the garden. Our barn to the left looks awfully far away! There are two other fences in the picture behind our garden. The neighbor has a property fence, and then a picket fence around their garden. Our garden fence will run close to the property line fence with enough room to mow the little strip that remains.

We have already planted corn, green beans, drying beans*, snap peas, shelling peas*, broccoli, carrots, leeks*, potatos*, and cucumbers. (The * denotes a new veggie we've not grown before!) We only have tomatoes and green peppers left to plant, and it's a bit cold for those yet. Annie has planted a wide variety of herbs and lettuce for us in the raised planters on the deck, too! I'll save the stories about our fruit growing endeavors for another post.