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Most of the things I share here on Cozy Country Living are the finished product or the end result. Recipes, and room makeovers always look so nice when when they are all finished and styled nicely. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have noticed that I have been busy in my garden lately. I have a lot of work to do, but I thought it would be fun to share my starting point this year with you all. I’m giving you a peek into my garden today, without all of the work done, but in progress and a look at some potential outdoor projects I have in mind for the season as well. Welcome!
When we first moved here almost 3 years ago, we knew things indoors and outdoors weren’t going to stay as they were. We had plans. Big ones! Calling this move and addition to our home a “Project” seems to be an understatement at this point, but it’s our home. Our dream home, inside and out and it’s getting there. Slowly but surely. Our back acreage was all woods that first summer living here, but I convinced my husband to build me a garden. I figured it would be something that wouldn’t change (unlike the landscape, the yard and house) and during the day, especially in the summer, our 4 children could also play and help me work in it.
My husband built me raised beds out of old boards we had and we surrounded my garden with mismatched fencing- again, whatever we had around from previous projects, to keep those darn deer out!
Last fall we had a friend come over and bulldoze a good portion of our back woods so we would have a very large backyard for our children to run around and for their playset and trampoline. We also had to take down this rustic old shed that was by the entrance of my garden too. The roof was shot, and so was the floor. It wasn’t safe, and after my husband fell through the floor of it and made a trip to the emergency room for several layers of stitches, we thought it was best to just start over fresh. It was pretty though, wasn’t it?
As far as our new yard went, the snow came before my husband could rake out stones and plant grass with his tractor though. As soon as it was dry enough this Spring, he spent evenings and weekends raking by hand the remaining stones and sticks from the new yard and seeding it. He’s had to work in sections, but every week the grass comes in deeper into the yard. It’s going to look so nice when it’s all green!
We took out our old fencing, extended my garden to include a few more raised beds and some tilled areas around the perimeter for corn, sunflowers, a variety of pumpkins and of course watermelon! This weekend we are planning to get new, taller posts put in, along with tall rolled metal fencing that will keep any animals out of my garden. I’m excited about this fence because it will give my garden an open feel. I hate to feel enclosed when we are out here in the country, you know? This way I can be working in my garden while also looking out and watching my kiddos playing in the back yard too.
What I have been working on lately is preparing the beds. All of my herbs are planted, so that bed is complete. Yay! I planted my oregano, basil, parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme (<— like the song Scarborough Fair! 😉 ) among perennials like Shasta Daisies and Salvia Sylvestris to attract bees and butterflies, and to add a nice pop of color to mostly green vegetation.
I have one bed lined with fragrant lavender that I decided to plant strawberries in this year. The strawberries are wild and I transplanted them from our woods. You’ll have to excuse my dry looking beds here- I’ve held off watering because we are in store for a few days of thunderstorms. I can’t wait to see how green and lush everything will be here in another month!
This year will be a “growing a strong plant” year and I will pinch off the little white flowers and any runners on the strawberry plants to help the plant develop and grow stronger. Sacrifice in the first year will yield great fruit the second year ! 🙂
I noticed young broccoli plants in the bed that I grew broccoli in last year even though I had already tilled the soil. I dug the plants out and moved them into their own bed and they seem to be doing okay. Only time will tell!
Most of my other garden vegetables, I sow directly in the soil from seed like zucchini, yellow summer squash, spinach, lettuce and beans.
I have a variety of peppers and tomatoes, including my favorite- San Marzano tomatoes, and eggplant growing well on my kitchen window sill which I started from seed. I am going to wait until the garden fence is up to plant those in any beds because I doubt the deer can resist those wonderfully tender and delicate leaves!
*Psss… if you have a deer problem in your garden and fencing is not an option, give Liquid Fence 
Next to my garden is an older, kind of beat up garage. The side of it has this lovely, chippy, white painted old door that I just love! I hope to get in there and clean it out and really make this a nice potting area and garden shed with storage for my tools.
Even though there is so much work to do, I know it’s worth it. Growing our own food is so rewarding and it really gives me a sense of accomplishment when we use those fruits and vegetables in our kitchen throughout the year. How’s your garden going this year?
I’ll be sharing my garden as it grows every month throughout the Summer so stay tuned! Thanks so much for stopping by! Happy Gardening!
You can find more great gardening ideas and tips on my Pinterest Gardening Board!
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*Linking up at Living Well Spending Less, Cherishing A Sweet Life
Clicking over to you from Thrifty Thursday 🙂 Your post was very interesting to me, as we have recently moved house, and I am planting a vegetable garden from scratch. Our soil is A LOT wetter here in Scotland though, and it looks like we also may have to put in raised beds, as it is so boggy. I like your idea of planting marigolds and other flowers in amongst the veggies. Thank you for sharing!
Gwen recently posted…Spring Chickens and Flowering Things
Hi Gwen! You know, the soil in our backyard here was horrible! We actually had a lot of gravel brought in to help with the drainage and even though it’s helped a little, I would never be able to garden and get good results like I do without my raised beds. We use a mixture of soil, compost and sometimes a little peat moss to help aerate the soil and then we till it really well. The best part about having the beds is that once they are set up, other than a little Fall and Spring preparation- you’re all set. Thanks so much for stopping by and best of luck with your garden. I would love to know how it turns out! 🙂
What a gorgeous garden! I’m visiting from Thrifty Thursday!
Joanie @Simple Living Mama recently posted…My Favorite Baby Carriers
Thank you Joanie! 🙂 It’s getting there…
Hello from Thrifty Thursday! I love your garden! I rent my house, so I’m only able to have one little raised bed in the yard. I’m always dreaming of the day when I own my own house and can have a garden like yours!
Megan @ Involuntary Adulthood recently posted…How to Start a Garden Anywhere – Building Your Garden
Oh, thanks so much Megan! It’s definitely a work in progress, but I love it. You can do a lot in even 1 raised bed though. Think up instead of out. I know adding a small little trellis here and there for things like cucumbers and even beans help me to save room. If you like zucchini, they have bush saving plants- and well you really only need one because they just produce so much! 🙂 I’m glad you stopped by- Happy Gardening!