Green Daily

Sorry it's been a while since my initial posts on our project. But we've certainly been busy. The lasagna is laid out, most of the seedlings have sprouted and are enjoying a few hours a day in the outdoors and we'll soon have the last frost safely behind us so we can plant the garden.

Jennifer has been pretty successful with sowing seeds. Some never germinated, but we expected to lose a few. We learned that beans look like piles of mold before they become true seedlings. We learned some seeds preferred a roomier environment than the little pods provided in the miniature greenhouses. Jennifer moved them to terra cotta pot saucers and they began to thrive. Some liked more light. Some liked less water. In the end, we have quite a few healthy tomato, melon, beet, and lettuce seedlings, just to name a few. We'll probably supplement our supply and purchase some actual plants this weekend at the annual Leesburg Flower and Garden Festival.

I've done my share of gardening. But other than a few radishes that I grew in the first grade, it's been of the inedible sort. I'm able to identify many common flora and fauna in suburban landscapes. I'm able to help customers in the garden section of those big box stores when they can't find a warm body, let alone one with a brain, to answer a question. But food gardening was never my thing until the Neighborhood Garden Project.

It was never really a question that the garden my neighbors and I created and will maintain together would be in my back yard. I have a fence and a perfect spacious sunny site on the far end of our quarter-acre property out of the way of kids and dogs.

Only trouble is, it's covered with grass. I've already dug a fair amount of sod up from my yard in favor of planting beds of shrubs and flowers. Just the thought of doing more made my back hurt. Apparently, lasagna style gardening could be our salvation. I had heard of lasagna gardening from a friend and a family member. But I didn't know any details about what it is or how it's done. A quick surfing session on the Net gave me all I needed to know and more.

Jennifer, Lauren and I brainstormed about what we'd like to grow in our food garden while our kids were playing one afternoon. I scribbled down the names of fruits and vegetables as they flowed freely from our lips. Lettuce, tomatoes, beets, squash, pumpkins, corn, onions, spinach, chard, herbs, potatoes, berries, melon, grapes. Whew! We were definitely imagining eating more than all the work it would take to grow these things.

Ask any gardener or read any gardening forum on the Web and you know composting is key to a successful garden. It also diverts a whole lot of kitchen and lawn waste from landfills. So it had to be part of our Neighborhood Garden Project.

Jennifer bought a conventional composter for under $100, while Lauren opted for what I believe is the most expensive option available that churns out usable compost in two weeks. I plan to make my own barrel style with a trash can and PVC pipe. Meanwhile, I'm dumping my kitchen scraps into Jenn's bin and hoarding yard waste to contribute.

Our neighborhood enjoys regular play dates with our children, both planned and spontaneous, and impromptu dinner parties, including backyard barbecues in warm weather. We lend tools, provide child care, and share tips about home life. Among the women, the conversation often turns to grocery shopping. Yes, I guess we're a bit old fashioned.