update!

Ok....here is the garden! I am actually very impressed considered what we have had over the past 3-4 years here. We got some great tomatoes, tons of strawberries, got the vineyard going, pumpkins finally!!! Beans, peas, have eaten! Eggplant coming. Broccoli and cabbage a tiny issue, I wish I would have planted those marigolds and herbs! Not the garden of eden yet :-) But Coach Stacy really got my butt in gear with this! Another month and start seeing our potatoes, etc!

Scully Scully, how does your garden grow!

Here are my beds that have growing! Designed by Coach Stacy! Much Much better than last year. I didn't get to put the herbs and marigolds in, but it is doing ok. Lots of lettuce....Will come back and list what is in each a bit later! Yea, it needs weeding!

The Plan!

Off and Running!

Well, got the beds up! Going to use four for the project. Had a great chat with Stacy designing the garden. We used a webinar; she logged onto www.garderner.com and worked the Kitchen Garden Planner. She is saving the designs, then going to give notes for each bed, scan them and email them. Hope to share them with you! If it stops raining for two minutes, I may be able to get GARDEN up and RUNNING! (pun intended)!! :-)

40 days and 40 nights!! just waiting!

Yard is still flooded, especially after the RAINS the last two months, but progress on the Ark has definitely been good. It is built, and just gathering two of each kind, the squirrels seem to be running the joint, and where do I find a pair of elephants in Michigan! Hoping next week to get some gardening going!

The Tests are IN!!

Tested the soil with RapiTest Soil tester. Results don't look all that good! Think I have some pretty SICKLY soil! Just look at this!

PH:  (GREEN) is low to neutral, also tested with pH probe.

Potassium (ORANGE): May be ok, or a little low

Nitrogen (PURPLE): REALLY LOW!! NON-EXISTENT!

Phosphorous (BLUE): Like Nitrogen REALLY LOW!!!

We are getting new soil next weekend to put in the beds! I will test this as well!

What to plant?

Also, been thinking about what does an endurance athlete want to grow? Potatoes? Squash? Love them both....but what else??? Stacy!!! Help!!

Yikes!! Build an Ark!!

Well, went out to the garden to some prepping and it was totally under water!! No wonder this area has no nutrients. I am going to move the beds to a better area. One of the problems with our yard is that it used to be a cornfield, before something we call "crop rotation"! The best I can do is find a place that doesn't flood and get some new soil! My neighbor has the most luscious of gardents! Huge!!! He says it is all because of the manure :-)

Questions and comments from Coach Stacy about getting started

I just got this message from Coach Stacy, and I thought I would share it here on the blog!

1. How many people are you planning on feeding? Six beds is a lot. You could always donate some produce if you're interested in that. Let me know, then we can move on to soil testing and the amendment process. Remember, you won't be able to plant outdoors until Mother's Day-ish anyway.

2. Regarding the "menu", I recommend choosing as many items from the ANDI superfoods list as possible (this is a wonderful way to fuel running). Check it out here:

ANDI superfoods

You should throw in some herbs, too. How about you start making a list of what you would like to grow, and then I will teach you how to organize the edibles in the beds.

3. After we have the plan for the beds, I can help you with the best plants should be purchased as seedlings and a few plants that are easy to start from seed...that way you can start a few indoors but it won't be high maintenance or overwhelming.

The Smart Runner's Garden!

Going to work with Fit Gardener, Stacy Walters to see if she can help me bring a garden out of this ground here!! Not only just a garden but a garden that benefit runners, maximize our running! Can't wait!! Keep Posted!

Here is a "before"!! Pretty sad!!

going to be fun!