There is so much going on right now with my family I feel I can't keep my head on straight at times. Hubby is looking for a better job, I just started school, the garden is growing and I'm beginning my Spring/Summer planting oh and I started homeschooling our youngest. Looking at schools for all of our kids to attend next year together, settled court issues with hubby's ex (always fun) and did I mention I just started school...has the room stopped spinning yet???
My love of gardening has literally blossomed in me, so why not make a career out of it right? I mean I'm only 32, guess its about time I figured out what I want to be when I grow up lol! Don't get me wrong, I've loved having the opportunity to be a stay at home Mom for 12 years. I've been able to be here for our kids 24/7, keeping them out of trouble (or as close as I possibly can), helping them with school, teaching them responsibilities and instilling mine and my husband's values and morals in them. I did say 24/7, that's a BIG job! Not to mention I'm kind of a hard ass at times. Our kids will tell you, they don't get away with much, I have fantastic instincts and they always get busted! Besides I'm seriously outnumbered, there are 6 of them, 3 are teenagers, I have to hold my ground or I'm screwed...
All in all I've loved it. Saved a heap of money with never needing childcare and I honestly feel I have a bond with our children that is stronger than anything. They know I'll always be there for them, that they can count on me, and I'll still be keeping an eye on things to hopefully steer them in the right direction. I suppose I should point out that my hubby is pretty awesome with them too!
But the plan was always for me to go back to school once our youngest was in school himself.
My love of cooking and baking led to wanting to know what I was feeding my family. Which led to a love of home grown organic ingredients and of course growing it myself! It's not like I had anything else to do around here, insert sarcasm....heaps of sarcasm!!
This is only my second year gardening. Last year hubby built me an awesome greenhouse while we were still in Alaska, and I was able to grow lots of Tomatoes and Cucumbers in it. It was my trial run but it was great. So I knew moving here to South Australia with our fantastic Mediterranean climate, I could actually garden all year long! Picture me doing the "Happy Dance" cause that is exactly how I feel inside.
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| My greenhouse garden in Alaska, lots of Maters! |
So after moving into our home at Christmas and adjusting to the fact that it was HOT and not cold at Christmas time, too hot in fact for my unacclimatized body to brave the dry heat of 85*F. I mean we had just left 4 feet of snow in Alaska of all places, going from -5* to 85* in a month was definitely an adjustment. Come Autumn I was already a bit behind in getting things started as I had only gotten the layout completed by then, we still had to put it all together. We decided to use recycled materials as much as we could, plus we're cheap! So we were off to find pallets, lots and lots of pallets! We cut them in half then spiked the tips to make a wooden, picket fence. We cut more pallets down to use as wooden borders between beds. We hung up the lattice for planting peas and beans. We even used the pallets to make a cubby house for the kiddos.
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| Before we broke ground |
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| Potager style garden |
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| Picket fence panels made from pallets |
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| Borders |
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| Garden Table |
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| Lattice for Peas |
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| First borders and fence up. |
I decided that since we were "going all out" on this gardening thing we might as well learn how to compost, so I talked hubby into making a compost Tumbler. He used a black plastic barrel, cut some holes and a door in it and made a wooden stand to support it with wheels underneath the barrel to spin it. Have I mentioned I married a genius? We've also picked up a "Can-O-Worms" to use for composting as well. Hubby even found the time to build me a neat garden table to work on outside and to store my gardening mess.
After getting my hands dirty on a regular basis with all that we'd had going on out back I realized I really loved it. I looked forward to going outside every day. Even just putting up the borders or preparing the soil or transplanting my seedlings, I couldn't wait to get outside.
I had been thinking about going back to school for my first love of cooking, but had my doubts and after a lot of soul searching and heart to hearts with my hubby, who has always supported me, but felt necessary to point out that I "am NOT a people person", I changed my mind. I'll admit, I'm not really one for working under others, I like to do my own thing and be my own boss. So my other love, even though only recently discovered, became my second choice. Funny thing was I had no doubts what so ever about this decision. I knew I could not only do this but be successful at it. It was my "why didn't I think of that before, dummy" moment!
I'm now studying to become a Certified Horticulturalist specializing in Permaculture and Biodynamics. Sounds pretty smart huh! The goal is to one day open my own Commercial Organic greenhouse, selling heirloom veggies and fruits to the public and helping people as a Consultant to set up their own organic gardens. Ever since I was a wee one, and I can remember this as far back as 7 or 8, I wanted to live on a Farm. So hopefully I can blend the two together one day. Not only offering organic produce but organically raised livestock products, whether it be meats, milk, cheese or even baby chicks to be raised for meat and egg consumption. Sounds like a lot to take on I know, but I believe that I can do it. In Alaska I got a taste of it there and absolutely loved it! So I feel comfortable with time and heaps more of knowledge I'll be ready to take it to the next level...
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