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!
Check out this story Sara sent in:
Hey there Mavis!
I wanted to share my gardening pictures with you. I live on a small plot of land, 1/4 acre, in Duxbury, VT.
I got started gardening about 10 years ago when my husband planned out a garden. We planted a few basics and got some good stuff and I was hooked. Since then we put together a great garden every year.
Well let me tell you, 2012 was a big year. I became a master gardener and wanted to go into the gardening business so I had to prove to my husband that I could do it. So I did! We have 2 gardens- the side garden and back garden. Last spring we cut down a smallish pine tree so we could expand the back garden and I was able to grow 18 tomato plants last summer. I grew so many other things in that garden- fennel, kale, chard, asparagus, garlic, quinoa, peppers, and all my herbs.
In the side garden we focused on peas, cucumbers, onions, cabbage, carrots, beets, pumpkins and squashes of all sorts. This year I’m going to start my own seeds for the first time! I got a beautiful grow light for Christmas and have started micro greens so far. Soon I will start my onions then eventually peppers and tomatoes.
I canned like crazy last summer! I made pickled beets, carrots, broccoli and squash. I canned about 80 pounds of tomatoes into quarters, sauce, and jam. I made a lot of pickles, jams, and relishes.
After we wrapped up the garden last year my hubby and I both said to each other “Man we went big this year. Next year? Even bigger.” We’re discussing bringing some chickens in so hopefully we’ll get that together in the next year or so.
I highly recommend using burlap sacks as weed barriers. We are lucky to live in the hometown of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters so we can pick up those bags for free. I used them everywhere to mark paths and keep weeds down.
There you have it! I hope you can use my story on your blog.
Thanks,
Sara
Nice work Sara, and thank you for sending in your photos and story, everything looks great!
~Mavis
{Denise from Spanaway: Garden Tour}
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 & Craft made from your very own hands with detailed {and well photographed} pictures and instructions.
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Sakura says
Sara, your pictures were awesome. I especially like reading about how you preserved your produce. Good luck in 2013!
Carol says
@Sara,
Great story & photos! Did I read your post right….tomato jam? That sounds interesting!
Cindi Myers says
I really loved this one because it shows how much you can do in a small space. And I’m jealous of those burlap bags! I’m curious — how long is your growing season?
Angie says
Wow Sara! God job! I only have four 1 metre by 3 metre raised beds for veggies but am determined to pack as much in as possible in containers and pots – this year I have two hungry and curious chickens to deal with! Thankyou for sharing your garden
Warm regards
Angie
Isle of Man
Cherri says
Sara – Your canning is very impressive. I too love to can and will be starting my first garden this spring. Congratulations on becoming a Master Gardener. Thank you for the great pictures, it is good for me to see what others have done with their gardens. My imagination is about the size of a pea, I need all the visuals I can get my hands on. Keep up the good work.
Sara says
Thanks everyone! Imagine my surprise when I checked Mavis’ blog later yesterday to find myself on the front page!
I’d love to share pictures of my 2013 garden with you all. Hopefully I will have a blog and the business all set up and successful! My ideas are basically to help people get veggie gardens set up and/or a canning venture of some sort.
Tomato jam is really good- you should google it and check it out! I believe the Food in Jars blog has a recipe on it.
Happy gardening to you all!
Stacey says
Hi, Sara, I live in Arizona now, but grew up in Vermont. I loved seeing your pictures because they remind me of my childhood. We had a huge garden and lived off of it. I remember my mom telling us to go out to the garden and pick dinner! Good luck on this year’s garden.