Mavis Mail – Michelle From Albuquerque, NM Sends in Her Garden Photos

Wow! Check out these awesome garden box photos Michelle from Albuquerque, NM sent in.
Here’s what she had to say:

Hi Mavis,

My name is Michelle and I live in Albuquerque NM.  I rent a house with my husband {who never gardens, but will water} and my best friend Buddy {my dog -who does garden, mostly picking!}

My dad always had a garden when I was growing up outside of Boston, but I hated having to water and weed.  I remember many family dinners forcing down salads and vegetables-now I am a vegetarian  Who knew that not only was he ahead of his time, using organic practices, but that I would inherit his love of gardening long after he was gone!

I start almost all my veggies from seed in Feb/March and keep them under lights on a metro rack in my guestroom.  Only my daughter from my New England family will visit during seedling time because the room smells like fish emulsion!  After planting my own garden I always have tons of seedlings left so I have a few friends who get them every year.  Last year I sold 50 tomato seedlings at a yard sale for .50 each.  The neighborhood was happy!

Like so many other gardeners I am a renter so I started using buckets and containers for my tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and the rest of my plants.

Luckily we have a yard and it has a big cement slab that I put all my containers and raised beds on.  In the last few years I have found a treasure at my local Home Depot.  I found an empty semi-finished wooden bed used to hold and display metal lawn edging. I immediately asked if I could have it and proceeded to tie it into the back of my car.  Driving home was dicey with it hanging 2 feet out the back.  It is 8ft x 2ft.  I have “acquired” 3 so far and love them.  My husband just pops in a bottom and drills some holes and I am ready to go.  They aren’t cedar, but they are free!

I did purchase an 8ft x 4ft cedar planter for my perennials and herbs.  This spring, my daughter {the one to brave the fish room} built me an addition to the back of it so I could plant some taller Yarrow and Echinacea.  She used some cedar fence slats on sale for $1.36 each for a total cost of around 15 bucks!  Natural cedar is supposed to last longer but buying it is so expensive.

I have salad and greens almost every day-as does my dog-who loves veggies.  He “helps” me garden by chasing away the birds.  He also will dig his own radishes and eat tomatoes and beans off the plants-much to my dismay. Like Lucy, he loves to dig in the “sweet” smelling composted soil.  I think he would eat it if I didn’t stop him.

I spend all summer canning, drying and freezing all my bounty.  I use many of my recipes for gifts and get “orders” from my friends and family all the time.   My pantry is full of dried fruits and veggies, jams, pickles, pickled veggies, tomato sauce and herbal vinegar. I buy fresh eggs from a friend and trade recipes with her all the time.  If only my dog would let me have chickens…..

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!

~Mavis

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.