This was the summer Max and I were going to produce, well, produce! We pounded together a 3×6 garden bed, laid down newspaper, watered it, and added compost. We planted tomato and pepper plants as well as a variety of seeds, then we watered.
I also thought it would be fun to make a bean-pole teepee that Max could use as a little hiding place during the summer. I found instructions at the Family Fun site and thought, easy!
Six weeks later, I realize I need work on this gardening thing. I planted veggies too close, so some have been transplanted to containers. The soil beneath the newspaper must have been too compact because the plants don’t seem to be growing so quickly. The chipmunks, who are so delighted with our property they’ve decided to invite extended family, keep digging holes in the garden to deposit their little treasures. Little things sprout up everywhere, and many of the actual seedlings were trampled. I used natural castor oil repellent that rodents are supposed to dislike, but apparently our critters don’t know this.
I absolutely have to put a fence around the garden or there will be no veggies for the humans this year.
As for the teepee, it would have helped if I’d read the part about soaking the bean seeds the night before. Only two of the plants are growing. Actually, there were two others but those darn critters trampled those, too! The two plants that made it have some lovely lacework leaves, compliments of the local slugs.
Ahhhh…the country.
I am told that you can “take care of” slugs by putting out a shallow container of beer. (Who thinks of these things, anyway?) At this point, I’ll try anything to save the little I have left. Tomorrow I’ll pop open a Corona and leave the present by my bean plants. I just hope the little slimers feel like partying!