We reached a gardening decision today which is a kind of milestone, but maybe not a totally happy one.
My spouse has gardened in a community garden for many years. For most of this time, he has rented two in ground beds. Perhaps three years ago, I was able to get a raised bed for myself, because of my back issues.
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| Raised Bed 6-17-21 |
At about the same time, spouse downsized to one inground bed.
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| Inground plot |
Spouse took over my raised bed two years ago. Last year, he was able to get two raised beds. He has garlic in one of them, busy slumbering under a mulch.
But now, we are both in our 70's and have to face the fact that our bodies aren't what they used to be.
Due to a fall several years ago, spouse has damage (not fixable by surgery) in both shoulders, and this year he came to the reluctant conclusion that he can no longer manage the one remaining inground bed.
So spouse has made a reluctant decision.
No more inground beds.
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| Sunflower, 2018 |
I'm going to miss our sunflowers. (we did grow dwarf sunflowers last year, but the varieties are limited). We also grew potatoes.
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| Zucchini flower |
What we won't miss are the rocks, which we always have a bumper crop of.
There are two types of raised beds. Our original bed was a "tall" bed, four feet by twelve feet, 30 inches high. We also have one "short" bed, four feet by 10 feet, 16 inches high; the one we obtained last summer.
But with change comes new opportunities. We do limited gardening at our home, where the only sunny area is in the front yard (and where all my flowers reside). Last year we grew some potatoes in a bag and some kale (we still have some, in fact-it's survived the winter!) in a large barrel type planter. The year before, we tried peppers (not too successful, for some reason) and chard (sucessful).
I know we'll make it work.
It is a kind of milestone, though, and a little sad.
...I have a couple of raise beds for vegetables and gardens for flowers that are too BIG! Age makes you slow down.
ReplyDeleteGosh, I'm sorry. I know that feeling well. I was living on the first floor of a home and had a magical garden in backyard. Veggies of every kind. Strawberries, apples, melons. Oh, I loved it so. But they sold the house we had find another place. At first I thought of looking for another place with a backyard, but then I realized. I wasn't getting any younger and could no longer take care of a garden like I used to. And hubby could no longer do all the repairs needed because of a lung condition, so made the decision to move to a building. That was 10 years ago and my heart still aches for my garden when a friend brings in fresh veggies from theirs.
ReplyDeleteSun flowers are positive spirited
ReplyDeleteBecause of my clay soil all my beds are raised. Or, I use large containers. Cucumbers do well in a large container with an upside down tomato cage to climb. Try one of the bush zucchini, if you must. Any summer squash is a big no grow for me! Or, give it a trellis, the Square Foot Garden method grows anything in a small bed.
ReplyDeleteI had spinal surgery 12 years ago. I am limited in the amount of time I can spend in my yard.
ReplyDeleteTo be able to have any kind of garden is such a privilege and such a boon to the spirit. My advice is rejoice in what you can have and happy gardening!
ReplyDeleteChange is inevitable but not always what you want.at least you’ll be able to grow some things.
ReplyDeleteI like having a garden, but I don’t like maintaining it. Weeding is very hard work, and like you, I have some physical challenges.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping your smaller space is very prolific !
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, but it's better to not fight the pain if it's too much to do an in ground bed. I was thinking you were going to say you weren't going to do any gardening, and that would have been very sad. So, yay, you don't have to give it up completely. That's a win.
ReplyDelete