A Marriage in the (Ignored) Garden

Love means having a husband who doesn't give you a hard time for biting off more than you can chew. Garden-wise. Instead, he quietly helps you reclaim what has become overrun and completely unruly. He spends part of his weekend battling the wicked thistles - because a few months ago, you came inside - weepy. Croaking that it looked as if whoever used to tend our gardens seemed to have either died or up and left. He tells you that the aforementioned gardener was actually very busy doing something else. Bringing another life into this world and nurturing her in the best way possible. And, I melt.

So we worked together this past weekend. Battling the brush and the thorns. Bringing hope for the following spring planting season.

I also called on the experience of fellow gardeners in the Piedmont Virginia Garden Swap for their thoughts on reclaiming an ignored (but much beloved!) garden. Many recommended sheet mulching with newspaper and cardboard (we are trying that - with cardboard only - as we are growing food in these beds and are wary of the chemicals in newspaper). April's comment to me - about wearing my ignored garden as a badge of (mama) honor - made me puff my chest out and smile. Thanks, girl.

Over dinner last night, friends of ours (Reed and Christine of the Blue Ridge Permaculture Network) mentioned an organic farming friend who uses plastic mulch and plants in plastic mulch. We have a supply of black plastic that we'll be trying for the fall and winter - to smother what weeds we can and start anew in 2009. But planting in plastic? Must investigate further. This ATTRA article is interesting.

I can't wait to get back to growing our own food. With the lean times and the world being topsy-turvy lately - it will become more and more important to tend to our own plots and harvests. Our century's version of a Victory Garden.