Spring Cleaning

Hi. My name is Mitch and I have a weed problem. At first I barely noticed it and didn't think it was a big deal. Nothing I couldn't handle. I could just grab a handful of it and pull it out and perform other garden duties without a problem. But, as time has gone on, the problem has gotten bigger and more widespread. Now it's not just isolated to a few spots in my garden. It has gotten into other parts of my yard. I used to have just grass. Now I have weeds taking over my grass. This particular strain of weed goes by the street name, Creeping Charlie (I think). It's easy enough to pull out when it's isolated. But as the problem grows, it forms a mat and takes over your whole life, I mean, lawn. Okay, both. 

Our community garden has/is battling bindweed as well. Might as well call that stuff Devil weed because I'm sure that is where it came from. It was born from some sort of evil. I'm sure of it. The good news is that (it sounds like) Creeping Charlie is a bit easier to eradicate than bindweed for which there is practically no cure. No seriously. Check this out. If you get bindweed in your garden or yard, you're not going to have a good time. That stuff takes years to get out of your soil.

Overall, the best advice I can give is to try not to get too overwhelmed and take weeding a section at a time. If you look at it as a whole, it will feel almost hopeless at times.

So with my complaining about my weed problems out of the way, let's talk about getting your garden ready for spring.

The first thing you are going to want is the motivation. Some days are easier than others. I recommend a sunny 60 something degree day. I do NOT recommend a day like today where the high isn't getting out of the 30's and snow showers may periodically interrupt your gardening and discourage you with a piercing reminder that winter was damn cold and only a few weeks removed.

Once you find that motivation, you are going to want to clear some of the debris off of your garden beds. You can save those leaves and such and reuse it as either a mulch for your plants or you can put it in a pile somewhere and let it break down throughout the year. You would then use that crumbly pile of dirt, known as leaf mould, on your garden beds. Let nature do the work for you.

Ok, so you have your beds cleaned and exposed. Now what? Well, pull any weeds that have already started to take over because fuck those guys. Also, if you are lucky, you might find little forgotten gems from last fall. Such as these carrots that I found in my garden bed.

Adorable

 It should also be said that you probably shouldn't clear your beds until you have some seeds and/or seedlings lined up to plant. This time of year, you are going to want to plant some of the cold weather crops listed in that embedded link. So far, I have planted seeds for carrots, peas, lettuce, onion seedlings and sets, potatoes, radishes, and spinach. I highly recommend that you get a good chunk of these cold weather crops into the ground before May. This allows for these crops to mature before the summer gets too hot where many of the aforementioned foods tend to wilt or bolt. Peas, lettuce, broccoli, radish, and spinach in-particular tend to have a short self life once the temperatures rise. Personally, I try to get those crops in the ground as soon as the soil is workable. If you pick up the dirt in your garden and squeeze it in your hand and it falls apart or crumbles, your soil is probably dry enough from the thaw to work. If it sticks together or stays in the shape of your fist, it's still too wet and you may have to wait a few days.

Above, I have included a picture of my newly planted onion seedlings and also my two pea/bean towers. My son, Jack, plays with his dump truck and garden tools in the dirt.

Pictured below is another section of my garden. I chose to take some pictures of my dad helping clear out woody vines from the back fence. I did this for two reasons. 1) To show how big of a help my dad has always been the past few years with developing the landscape for my gardens. He always helps weed, built the water catchment system at the community garden, and helped me redesign the garden in the back yard among other things. And 2) To show that it's always something. If it's not vining weeds, it's ACTUAL vines. Nature always finds a way...

There is more work to be done in the garden to complete all of the spring checklists. Second sowings of some aforementioned crops, weeding (always weeding), planting of flowers, etc. But, if you don't want to put in the work this probably isn't the hobby for you. And despite some of the complaints with all of the work that goes into the spring clean up, it feels good to get out in the sun and get your hands dirty. Besides, when you pull that first spring radish out of the ground or pluck that first spring pea and crunch on it, the work all becomes worth it. 

Except for weeds. We all have a free pass to hate on weeds.  

Oh, hey there. Long time, no see.

This is my first Gerich Gardens' blog post in just under a year. I had made a conscious decision to take a year off from writing here when I found that, at times, it was starting to feel more like a chore than the fun, informative thing I had originally created. I had a few influences on my need to set this to the back burner among them being that I had just taken over a community garden and all of the nuances that come along with that. My wife's job became (and has remained) very busy especially during the spring and summer months, a thing for which I am very thankful every day. I was also dealing with a two year old who was both increasingly physically active and demanding and also one of the moodiest and needy human beings I have ever interacted with.

I know. I'm not complaining or trying to whine. All of those things listed above bring me great joy every day. People every day have busier lives and worse things going on than dealing with a toddler with an anger complex. But, for me and my first world problems, this blog had to take a back seat break. And I was okay with that.

A fresh beginning as shown by this spring flower

But now? I miss it. I miss writing about and sharing one of my passions. My wife's job is still a busy one but has afforded us (me especially) many opportunities, my gardening life being one of them. My 3 year old little boy is just that, a boy and not a toddler anymore. And much less angry... most of the time. He likes to help his daddy in the garden. I can talk to him and explain things now and he can use words and sentences to express himself. That shit is so much easier to deal with now. What a difference a year makes! And as far as the community garden thing goes? I feel like I have an okay grasp on it now. I'm not the best garden leader ever but I like to think I can run a good ship.

So I've decided to reboot this corner of the internet. Quite purposely on the first garden clean up day and the first day that I put seeds and seedlings into the ground. The official start of spring for any gardener is when you can get out there and work the soil. Get out there and play in the dirt. That is when the Earth feels like it has awoken from its winter slumber. It's a mini holiday that I get excited for. I get up and finish plans on where I will be planting everything over a cup of coffee, even though once I start planting I always end up changing it and making edits to my paper plans while in the field. I even took an early morning field trip to Horrock's Garden Center.

THIS is what trucks are for

So one of the things that happened while I was on hiatus was that I got a new vehicle. A red Dodge Ram pick up truck to be exact. I took a picture of all of the tools I loaded into it today because I was so excited. It was the first time I was able to do so since we brought it home in January and it just felt right. I would also be remiss if I didn't mention the fact that while I was loading things up and heading out to the community garden, my wife did a bang up job of cleaning out our garage from the winter clusterfuck it had become. Thanks hunny!

I didn't take any pictures at the garden today. I probably should have but once you get working, sometimes things fall by the wayside. Plus, all it really looks like is dirt and straw. But, trust me! Seeds were sown and work was done! A lot of that work was done by fine garden members. A true group effort.

After everyone left the garden today, I was able to get in the dirt, make my hands caked black, and get lost in the process of planting. Clear the ground, trough the dirt, put seed(lings) in, cover, repeat. I was able to bury 4 different kinds of potatoes, radishes, carrots, peas, and onions into the ground out there today. That is a good day. I didn't get all of it done and I started to get frustrated that I hadn't. I've always hated leaving something unfinished. As an example, this is a regular occurrence and conversation in our home. My wife: "Okay, I'm done with cards for tonight." Me: "But... we only played two games! You can't just quit when the series is tied." Or, "At least play the best of 5!"

 But as a I get older, I am able to accept the fact and understand the saying that Rome wasn't built in a day. It will be there tomorrow. And that is okay.

I have garden stuff happening around my own home as well. Allow my visual evidence to explain

Buds on one of my Black Raspberry canes

Bud growth on Red Raspberry cane

Beautiful Crocus

Garlic bed developing really well

There are literally dozens of other things that I could touch on and talk about in terms of gardening things that are happening. Such a busy time of year. But this post is already super long and I commend you for getting this far. The good news is that I expect to be able to put more Gerich Garden posts to the proverbial paper in the near future to cover it all.

In the meantime, I hope to hear from and interact with you on all things gardening. Thanks for reading.



Mitch