1) Sleeping comfortably with the windows closed and not hearing the birds at 5am (Believe me, I like the sound of birds of singing, just not uber early in the AM)

2) The scent of my Kitchen Spice candle filling our home (Thanks, Mom!)

3) Foregoing a nap in an effort to get extra things done around the house

4) Checking books out at the library

5) Weather that is perfect for Ap and Er to wear adorable summer dresses

First of all, the types of containers you use is important, as well as, the size. I decided to go with plastic containers mainly because I had several of these already and because they are lightweight. Apparently, clay pots are not the best since they soak up moisture and can dry out your plants. Glazed pots are beautiful, but tend to be expensive. Wooden containers are a good option, but you need to make sure they aren’t treated and not too heavy once wet. For me, it is important that I be able to move my containers should they need more/less sun/shade. Plastic is a lightweight, durable, less-expensive option. (I’m not thrilled about using plastic since it’s this evil material that doesn’t decompose, but I am reusing pots that I’ve had stored in our shed instead of buying new, so I hope that counts for something.) With sizing, I found that going larger than the suggested depth is better, giving your plant extra room and more soil to pull energy from. The reason my garden wasn’t as productive in years past is because I had containers that were just too small.

Once I had my containers picked out and earmarked, I then focused on soil. I went with an organic potting mix because soil is key, especially with container gardening. I mixed in organic plant food to pump up the nutrients. Throughout the growing season, I will be adding organic liquid feed (fish fertilizer) every few weeks to help the plants grow to their fullest potential. The plants I chose to grow are: zucchini, tomato, pepper, lettuce, basil, parsley, and oregano. I did seedlings for all of these except the lettuce. However, lettuce is fairly easy to start. You simply sprinkle the seeds over moist soil and let nature do its thing. (Please excuse all the debris you see on our deck. We’ve had rainstorms the past few days…)

Lastly, I made upcycled labels for my pots so that I know what is what. (Once the plants begin producing fruit, it will be pretty obvious.) For the posts, I used barbecue skewers and chopsticks that I found in the back of one of our kitchen drawers. I used old wine corks for the label part. This was a simple process (I just wedged the corks on) and I’m happy with the way they turned out. You can also do this using wooden dowels and a hand drill if necessary. Now, I’m at the stage of monitoring plant growth, watering soil, and checking for early fruit. I like knowing that I was able to help these tiny seedlings grow in healthy soil without the use of herbicides or pesticides. I’m so excited to be growing some of the vegetables that my family will eat. It’s refreshing to head out to the backyard and grab some delicious food for our table.  You really can’t get any more local than that!

1) Days with no rain, lots of sunshine, and blue skies

2) Going out to dinner with my husband, Ap, and Er

3) Cleaning off the porch so we can utilize the space

4) Days when my husband works from home

5) Planning for the future, setting goals, and reaching for our dreams

1) Getting out of the house after feeling cooped up

2) Planning some fun outings for the weekend

3) Bathtime for Ap and Er = one-on-one time with Mommy

4) Everyone back to good health after a bout of some colds

5) Roasted chicken sandwich with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, spicy mustard – with a “little chips and a little pickle on the side”

1) Homemade chicken soup on days when Ap, Er, and Mom aren’t feeling too well

2) Doing some spring cleaning

3) Dishwashers

4) Diving into a new book with new adventures, characters, and mysteries

5) Playing soothing Hawaiian music to mellow out our day