In the garden, late June 2025

I briefly mentioned our garden in a previous post, but I thought I'd share a bit more about it! Nicholas built the bed from untreated cedar, with some help from Cooper. The following weekend, we filled it, using logs in the base, and then layering in organic potting soil and compost.

Cooper helped me plant tomato seedings (two Big Boy and two Roma), and I hope to use most of what we harvest to make and can homemade salsa. It's been two years since I made some and we are eager for a restock! I'll share more about that process if we have a large enough harvest to make it happen.

From seed, I planted zucchini, since we love to grate them for zucchini bread, or sauté them fresh. I also planted zinnias, for some fresh flowers (for the sake of beauty)! We put in picklebush cucumbers, since we hope to make refrigerator pickles. And then I added in two marigolds for companion planting and (hopeful, naïve?) deer deterrent.

So far, everything is growing well! Our watering system is so easy, since we have the bed close to the house (and the hose), and so garden care has been extremely low maintenance thus far. I ordered a different style of tomato cages to try this year, and they are much sturdier.

Apart from the garden, we are excited as berry season will be starting soon. We discovered a mulberry tree! And soon the black raspberries will be ripe, followed by the blackberries and the blueberries in our landscaping.

Last summer, I was first trimester sick and could barely remember to water our one sad, potted tomato plant even twice a week. So after a year off, I'm eager for the joy and surprise of a vegetable garden. For little boys who race out to peek under leaves in hopes of spotting a zucchini or ripe tomato. For the lush green leaves and sprawling plants, looking more wild as the summer goes on. For the taste of sun-warmed tomatoes, or crisp pickles. For the cheeriness of fresh cut flowers. Even if it's just on a small scale, I'm eager for it all!