DeAnne Peterson

Over the last two days, the girls and I got started on planting the garden. We have a small garden, with two raised beds that are about 12'x4'. We planted corn, carrots, pumpkin, cucumber, and 3 tomato plants.  We still have pole beans to plant as well as zucchini, potatoes and herbs. And we may plant strawberries in one of those cool strawberry pots.

It was two summers ago when we put in three blueberry bushes. Only two of them survived and they have tons of blossoms on them this year.

Before living here, we lived in Newport, WA and our next door neighbor had told us great stories about how wonderful the growing season is here in the Tri Cities (he used to live here).  So when we finally got our garden in last year, I was so excited!  That excitement turned quickly to disappointment, when very few of our plants produced anything worthwhile. I don't have a great background in gardening and I felt a little useless and helpless to these plants.

A couple of months ago I got some books from the library about gardening. Justin and I both read, and then read some more. We added compost to our soil this year and a friend of mine (who, in my opinion grows a very successful garden) told me to get some Alfalfa pellets to add into the soil as well.  So, I did that too.

I don't know about anyone else, but I actually said a rather informal prayer, but a prayer nonetheless, that our garden would be fruitful this year.

Besides getting produce from our garden, I am really looking forward to going to the Farmer's Markets this year. I had never gone to one until last summer, and I fell in love! I am definitely an advocate for buying from and supporting local farmers. And the produce I got from the Market, was the best produce I have ever had. FRESH!

I love summer!!!