Harden Farms VLOG 6.10.22: Backyard Gardening Transformation
Hey everyone, Ryan here from the Barndovilla garden. It’s been a while since we’ve posted, but that’s because we’ve been busy working on something exciting—transforming our backyard into a productive garden. I wanted to take you through what we’ve been doing and show you that no matter the size of your yard, you can make the most of it for growing your own food.
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Let’s start with one of our more unconventional projects. We had an old hot tub that was beyond repair, so instead of letting it sit unused, we decided to turn it into a garden bed. After thoroughly cleaning it out, we layered wood and vermiculture at the base and topped it with topsoil and compost. It’s become a great spot for growing root vegetables like carrots. It just goes to show that with a little creativity, you can repurpose almost anything in your yard to grow food.
Next, we’ve got red potatoes growing in buckets. These were planted just before the frost hit, and to my surprise, they survived. We’re expecting a decent yield from each bucket—about three to five pounds of potatoes. It’s a great example of how you can grow a significant amount of food even in a small space.
We’ve also been experimenting with strawberries and raspberries in containers, using different soil mixes to see what works best. It’s all about trying new things and learning as you go. We’ve had some successes and some failures, but that’s all part of the journey.
In addition to containers, we’ve been building raised beds. These allow us to control the soil quality better and manage weeds more effectively. We’ve got a variety of vegetables growing in these beds, including sweet peppers and heirloom tomatoes. The raised beds have been a game-changer for us, making it easier to grow healthy, productive plants.
One challenge we’ve faced is keeping the local wildlife from munching on our crops. The rabbits around here love our sunflowers, so we’ve had to get creative in protecting them. But despite the challenges, we’re enjoying seeing everything grow and thrive.
Another technique we’ve been using is vertical gardening. We’ve set up a trellis for our melons, cucumbers, and other vining plants. Training these plants to grow upwards not only saves space but also helps improve air circulation, which can reduce the risk of disease. If you’re short on space, vertical gardening is a great way to maximize what you have.
As we’ve been working on our garden, we’ve picked up a few tips that might help you with your own gardening projects:
- Start Small: Don’t try to do too much at once. Begin with a few plants and expand as you get more comfortable.
- Experiment: Try different gardening techniques to see what works best for you.
- Improve Your Soil: Healthy soil is the key to a productive garden. Test it, amend it, and keep it healthy.
- Use What You Have: Repurpose old containers, buckets, or even broken hot tubs to create growing spaces.
- Get Involved in Your Community: Connect with local gardeners, attend workshops, and participate in seed exchanges to learn from others.
Gardening is all about learning and adapting. Every season brings new opportunities and challenges, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see the fruits of your labor.
What a cold Spring we had! As we approach summer, I thought we’d give a little update. The farmers’ market in Kiel is starting next week, check that out at https://kielmarket.com! More blogs at https://barndovilla.com/journal/
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