A big THANK YOU to everyone who has sent in their photographs and stories. I hope by sharing other peoples pictures and stories here on One Hundred Dollars a Month we can all have a rock star garden this summer. Keep them coming!
My name is Henrietta and I live here in the Pacific Northwest (not to far from you). I started my first container garden using plastic Rubbermaid totes 4 years ago. Every year my garden has evolved and gotten bigger. My gardening skills have also evolved and improved.
That is half the fun of gardening isn’t it? Learning from our mistakes and improving with each passing year is part of the journey towards becoming more self sufficient. I grew up on a farm, however I never really took an interest in gardening until I became interested in eating healthier and feeding my family organic foods.
About 6 months ago I quit my job working as a Nuclear Project Engineer and found myself at home with no clue as to what I would do with my new-found freedom. So I decided to put my energy into things that make me happy and gardening was at the top of that list. When I quit my job our family was reduced from two paychecks to one paycheck. I quickly became motivated to be more self sufficient and to find additional ways to save money. Luckily your blog is filled with great advice on saving money!
All together I have 15 different varieties of tomato plants. All this hot weather has been good to my tomato plants, which is very unusual for this time of year here in the Pacific Northwest. I have never canned in my life, but I expect to learn later on this summer so keep those canning recipes coming!
I have been growing a lot of lettuce and have 3 varieties growing right now, butter crunch, romaine and Boston lettuce. My family has been eating lettuce practically everyday and we are not able to keep up with it so I have been giving lettuce away to friends. My kale plants are also doing wonderful.
I also have 9 zucchini and squash plants growing. The zucchini plants may look like they have fungus growing, but they are a different variety of zucchini including Caserta and Round Zucchini. I’ve already harvested 3 medium size black beauty zucchini’s so far. The raised bed in the back also contain cucumbers, bush beans and snap peas.
I made my snap pea trellis using twine and washed up beach wood I found on our beach.
So far I’ve harvested lettuce, cilantro, zucchini, broccoli, Swiss chard, kale and strawberries. Not too bad considering it is only mid June!
I’m also about ready to pick this gigantic head of cauliflower.
My beets are also ready to be harvested! Can you tell I love beets?
I also have a potato patch that I am really excited about! I grew Yukon and red potatoes this year and I am hoping for a high yield.
My plum tree is also looking amazing! Every year I let my friends pick my plums, but this year I am planning on picking as many as possible to keep, plum jam perhaps?
On the other side of my property I also have 3 additional 4 X 8 raised beds that I use for strawberries, pole beans, asparagus and more potatoes.
If you would like to have your garden, chicken coop or something you’ve made featured on One Hundred Dollars a Month, here’s what I’m looking for:
- Your Garden Pictures and Tips – I’d especially like to see your garden set ups, growing areas, and know if you are starting seeds indoors this year. If so, show me some picture of how you are going about it.
- Your Chicken and Chicken Related Stories – Coops, Chicks, Hen’s, Roosters, Eggs, you name it. If it clucks, send us some pictures to share with the world.
- Cool Arts & Crafts – Made from your very own hands with detailed {and well photographed} pictures and instructions.
- Your pictures and stories about your pets. The more pictures and details the better.
- Garage Sale, Thrift Store and Dumpster Diving pictures and the stories behind the treasures you found including how much you paid for them.
If I feature your pictures and the stories behind them on One Hundred Dollars a Month, I will send you a $20.00 gift card to the greatest store in the world: Amazon.com.
Go HERE for the official rules.
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Dale says
Henrietta,
What a wonderful garden. Just beautiful! I’m envious of your cauliflower. I’ve not had much luck with mine so decided not to plant any this year. After seeing yours I’m inspired to try again. Thanks for the pictures and sharing.
Dale in Olympia
Henrietta Yabeny says
Thanks Dale!! Give it another try!!
Tamara says
Everything looks fabulous! You have a beautiful place!
Henrietta Yabeny says
Thank you Tamara! It is a labor of love for sure!
Tammy says
LOL: ” like all good husbands, he came on board and did most of the labor to make my dream come true”.
My husband just did a lot of work on one of “my” gardening projects last night. 🙂
Your plants have an amazing view! 😀 Beautiful garden!
Henrietta Yabeny says
lol! Yes, I’ve got a good man!
Jennifer says
Wow…I Love how Henrietta’s garden is along the water’s edge…..Beautiful!!!
Henrietta Yabeny says
THank you!
Deborah says
Your garden is absolutely breath-taking Henrietta. Thank you for sharing it with us. 🙂
Deb k says
Henrietta,
Your garden looks wonderful. I have garden envy after seeing your pictures.
One thing I thought of about all the lettuces you’re getting and giving away is that another thing you can do is dry or dehydrate some of your extra lettuces, kales, etc. You make green powder to put in smoothies, etc. in the winter. To dehydrate, just wash off, stick in dehydrator on low temp.and ignore. Hours later, when crunchy (snaps in half when you touch it) you can either put all the dried greens in a DRY blender, blend, or just crumble into smaller pieces (in a large bowl) with your hands. Either way, pour into a container and put away for the winter. I know you can pick up dehydrators in all price ranges, they don’t have to be the expensive ones and some people even use their ovens on low temps to dehydrate. Anyway, just an idea that takes very little time. Congrats again on your beautiful garden.
Henrietta Yabeny says
That is a really interesting idea Deb. I have been throwing them in my smoothies everyday, but never thought of converting to dried powder, genius idea!
Megan says
Wow! Beautiful garden! Growing up my mom canned plums, whole. Wide mouth quarts, prick the skin a couple times with a fork, into jar, cover with sugar water and can up! Yummy all winter 🙂
Henrietta Yabeny says
Definitely will be canning my plums, thanks!!
janet says
Wow, great job (and beautiful view). Thanks for sharing!
diane @smartmoneysimplelife says
The Pacific Northwest is on my ‘must visit’ list the next time I get to the US.
Seeing the outdoor seating, I can imagine you spend a lot of time sitting watching the river roll past your beautiful garden. What a peaceful view!
I love the trellis for your snap peas. Actually, I love the whole garden. Well done!
Mavis says
The Pacific Northwest really is a must visit. It’s so gorgeous and there is a lot to see. Hope you get a chance to make it out here!
Jeannine says
Thanks for sharing your garden! I too live in the Pacific Northwest, and my Mother-in law has a plum tree. She always shares some with us, and I like to dehydrate them. It’s easier than canning, in my opinion, and they last all year, and taste wonderful! So, if you get tired of canning, or want to try something else, try dehydrating! It works great for other fruits too, as Mavis has mentioned before. 🙂
Mavis says
Yep, dehydrating is so the way to go!!