Let the "community" gardening games begin! My neighbor John offered to till our vegetable patch in exchange for space to plant a few tomatoes.
Picking out cow peas, longneck squash, and more to plant in our vegetable garden
April showers bring May flowers – and the last of the cold weather! And so now is the time of year to get our annual vegetable gardens ready to go. We are blessed with many things here in Decatur, Georgia, not the least of which is an abundance of trees, somewhat limiting the space available for a sun-thirsty vegetable garden. So last Saturday, I dedicated some quality one-on-one time to the one sunny spot in my yard at the top of the driveway – staking the ground and shoveling the dirt for the future organic vegetable garden.
A few weeks ago, my next door neighbors and I decided to go in on a vegetable garden together, which makes it less daunting to know that there will be two people to help water and weed – and eat the pluthera of tomatoes to come. After a visit to the Oakhurst Community Garden plant sale last weekend, we are on tap to plant longneck squash, green onions, swiss chard, cow peas, strawberries, and Black Krim, Cherokee Purple, yellow pear, sugar sweetsie, and Italia Roma tomatoes. We will be getting even more heirloom tomatoes at the Druid Hills and Lullwater Garden Club plant sale this weekend, too!
One thing I enjoy about gardening (besides playing in the dirt, which I really enjoy), is having the opportunity to visit with my neighbors that walk up and down the road or cross the street to say hi. This past Saturday, John meandered down the curve (stopping to say hi to Brett along the way) and asked what I was planting and if I would find a tiller useful. I ran down the list of plants and then said yes, a tiller would be fabulous, as it sure beat tilling the ground by hand with a shovel and rake. John asked if he might be able to plant a few tomato plants in our vegetable garden since his yard is a little too shaded and I said of course! He offered to bring his tiller down the street and till the rest of the patch as well as till in organic compost and soil. Excellent!
It may only involve four of us, but we’re on our way to a little community garden! Now that the ground is prepared, we’ll be planting this weekend (after the April 15th “deadline”). What better place to get local Atlanta and Decatur food than in your front yard??
