The kids learned a great deal from the garden this summer. This is Wyoming - gardens aren't like anywhere else. Weeds grow best (which is normal anywhere), but edible stuff doesn't grow well at all. Still, we got cucumbers (making us the envy of all our neighbors), some zucchini, some under matured squash (apparently the blossoms are blowing off before they pollinate or something), a few scrawny beans, about 10 onions, and some straggly lettuce that came up too late.

What a lesson in patience and accepting what you are given. Can you be thankful for an abundance of zucchini when you really wanted tomatoes?

Laura
Mom to Eight

I wonder if you tried this method if it would help your garden
http://www.bountifulgardens.org/

I highly recommend two of their books:
How To Grow More Vegetables than you ever thought possible on less land than you can imagine

and
The Backyard Homestead Mini-Farm and garden log book

That looks like a variation on square foot gardening. I've done block gardening for years, just to fit more in!

We are at high altitude now, over 6000 ft, so gardening is a challenge. Deer love what grows, and some things just don't grow. You have to choose short season crops, and stuff that can withstand sudden temperature changes, and which will grow in cool temperatures.

The garden is dead now, has been for three weeks, and winter is well and truly upon us (we've had two snowstorms already).

Laura
Mom to Eight

Yes it is similar to square foot gardening. Wow. 2 snowstorms. I love the snow and cold. I took a quiz online that gave me the top 25 places I should live. The top 5 were Alaska, a couple of WY, MI, upstate NY. Funny they never mentioned FL or HI lol.

That is funny... Most people shy away from the cold and the wind. Living here is quite an experience - it changes you. For a peek inside, go to:

http://www.medicinebow.org

Look at the Local Color page, and the Climate and Locality page.

Laura
Mom to Eight

I enjoyed your poems and pictures :)