Anyone can be a gardener. You just need to get ready, get set, and grow!
Returning plants: strawberries, blueberries, banana peppers, bell peppers, black cherry tomatoes, kale, Brussels sprouts, zucchini, onions, corn, okra, oregano, basil, marjoram, blueberries, mint, thyme, sage, lavender, radishes, and chives
New additions: red rubin basil, lettuce leaf basil, regular size pumpkins, carrots, Swiss chard, and garlic
Dropped plants: cabbage, French tarragon, Mexican tarragon, salsa tomatoes, autumn star kalette, jack-be-little pumpkins, mustard greens
Garden 2017
Summer 2017 was our 8th year as urban gardeners.
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Successes
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We were able to make more YouTube videos this year. Even my nieces were able to participate.
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Gardener Shicole was able to speak about the power and importance of growing your own food at Shortridge High School.
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Due to great weather, we had Swiss chard, kale, radishes, and chives still growing at the end of November. We were able to harvest them and make a dish for Thanksgiving dinner.
New Experiences
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We vertically grew watermelon and pumpkins this year. It was our first time and it was a success. We were able to harvest two watermelons and four pumpkins.
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We experimented with our pesto for the second year in a row. This time we grew three different types: lettuce leaf, red rubin, and sweet basil. This allowed us to mix basil and create different levels of our dishes.
Struggles
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Our fight with the aphids continued. This year, they did damage to our peas.
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Our biggest struggle, which was a good struggle to have, was an abundance of harvest. We had more food growing than we could eat, so we canned some and gave some away.
From Our Boys
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Jerry - I liked that my mom always helped us in the garden when we needed help. We made ice cream and we put mint in it and it was really good. We had a lot of mint, and I was so happy about that because it tastes so good. I like to taste it when I'm outside playing with my friends.
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James - I like that I get to plant seeds in the ground at my home. When we were at home and doing things to take care of the plants, the plants grew really big. I also liked making ice cream and putting mint in it.