Fall is here!

So, the leaves don't really change in Arizona, and the temperature does not drop into the low 50's, but we do have a few markers for the arrival of Fall. Some might claim the return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks means that autumn is here; others might say the first batch of soup on the stove; for me, fall is here the day I walk into Trader Joe's and there are pumpkin products at every turn. Pumpkin bread, organic canned pumpkin, pumpkin butter, pumpkin spice coffee, pumpkin...okay, you get the point. Well guess what people, today was the day. I walked into there this morning around 8 am to pick up a dozen or so of eggs, and it happened. Pumpkins galore. And I loved it. This year, for me, fall means more than delicious desserts and Thanksgiving around the corner. For me, it means time to get that raised garden bed, pick out some plants, and get gardening.

I'll admit, I was a little intimidated despite having done a good amount of research. It is different to talk about gardening than actually to start gardening. Also, the gardening process has become more personal for me now that I am feeding Danny and myself three meals a day, seven days a week. I really have a deep desire to feed our family well and to eat whole foods. Danny's mom has recently introduced us to the Paleo diet, a way of eating which emphasizes returning to the foods of our ancestors. No, that does not mean we eat like we are cavemen and cavewomen, but we eat as nature intended us to eat, without all the additional things added by manufacturer's. Similar to gardening, it is really intimidating to start a new way of diet that requires me to read all the labels and get rid of things I love to eat, but I am hoping that gardening will help me feel more confident.

Fast-forward a few hours later, Danny and I walked into Home Depot empty-handed and walked out with...a lot. We decided to buy a raised garden bed kit, because it was a good amount cheaper and more time-efficient that buying pieces of redwood and making it ourselves. It saved us about $20 to buy the kit. Originally, I wanted this to be a really personal process, but it can get expensive to make a garden bed, so I was happy to save $20. We also walked out with some soil which I plan to use to fill the garden bed. We opted to use MiracleGro garden soil. Since we want to have an organic garden, we chose organic soil. As soon as we got home, I started the process of putting the bed together and getting the ground prepared for the bed. I am excited for the next steps and to keep you updated. Let's see how it goes! Try our best and forget the rest. (Anyone get the P90X reference?).

Figuring Out My Fall Garden

      As much as I want to dig into the soil, I have learned that there are two main seasons for gardening in the southwest; I missed the spring planting season and must wait for the fall planting season to come back around. In the meantime, I have been doing a lot of research and thinking about how to go about it when the fall planting season comes around.
     First, fall plants do fine in full sun, but you want to keep them away from a walls that face the west. If they are planted against a wall that faces west, they will get the extra heat that radiates off the wall.  Because we have such extreme seasons here in the beautiful state of Arizona, you need to plant seeds that will mature quickly.
    Because I don't know much about the dirt in Arizona, I have decided that I am going to make a raised garden bed with an organic soil. I am still deciding between a square foot garden and a larger raised bed, but I have some time to make that decision. Whew! I plan on starting a compost, paired with fish emulsion, a natural fertilizer, to help my plants grow.
    Planting time won't come around until September and October, which leaves me and my D to get married, move into our home, and start a few home projects before I get to dig into some of my own soil. To quench my thirst, I am going to check out a community garden in Tempe with my roommate. Until next time!
                         Katie

A Retreat into the Backyard

In search of a number of things, I venture out into my backyard. Here I hope to find peace, creativity, the fruits (no pun intended) of trial and error, and understanding of the Earth as a gift. The problem: I have never, not once, rubbed soil in between my fingers or purchased a packet of seeds. The solution: dig in. My hope: to teach myself and others the art of gardening, particularly in the suburban setting of Tempe, Arizona. Let's reap what we sow! Into the backyard garden we go!