A Beginner’s Container Garden

I want to start this post by coming clean to you all. I am NOT a gardener. I was not born with a green thumb like my parents and grandparents. As a matter of fact, if there is a such thing as a “black” thumb, that’s what I was blessed with. I have committed more plant murder than I care to speak of and I’m just thankful that it’s not a punishable offense.

But….

I am determined to grow my own organic, GMO and Pesticide-FREE produce so I keep trying – and I’m actually getting better at it!

 

Five months ago I took charge of my health and nutrition by totally cleaning up my diet so this year, more than ever before, I’m dedicated to making this gardening thing work for me. I just love the idea of walking into my back yard and picking fresh lettuce for a salad or tomatoes for fresh salsa (along with the cilantro to spice it up). There is something very gratifying about creating your own food and knowing exactly what’s in it and where it comes from. Once I have a handle on small plants, there is no doubt in my mind that i will start planting trees for my grand-kids, I’ve been browsing a great site called The Tree Center and reccomend it to anyone interested in gardeing.

I started small this year with a container garden because I’m not quit ready for a “big-girl” garden just yet – you know the kind where you have to prepare the ground, make sure your soil is fertile enough and build perfect rows. I’ll be honest, I’m nervous just typing that.

My garden consists of two large planter boxes, that my very handy husband to built for me, and flower pots that we already owned (and were free). To prepare my containers for planting, I bought foam peanuts to add to the bottom of each then topped them with Organic potting soil. Yes Organic soil is more pricey than regular potting soil, but remember that I’m wanting my garden to yield 100% organic produce.

For the actual plants, I purchased 100% Organic seeds from Louisiana Nursery and used seed starter trays to grow them. After a few weeks, I transplanted them into my prepared containers.

Two months later and this is what my garden looks like today. It consists of mostly herbs and lettuce (which are super easy to grow and take care of), heirloom tomatoes, beets, carrots and eggplant.

I still have SO much to learn to perfect it but it’s coming along and the important thing is – I’m trying! For that I am proud. I’m also proud to teach my girls that determination does pay off and guess what…they actually love tending the garden with me.

Who knows, maybe my parents’ and grandparents’ green thumbs were passed on to them and they’ll teach me a thing or two.