The Garden

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And now... presenting East Coast Tracy Garden 2011!

All kinds of things are sprouting at ECT HQ these days

We have been hard at work lately plunging our hands into the fertile soil of sylvan Virginia, and oh how our garden is growing. Karen signed us up again this year for a sunny 25'x25' plot of land in the Burke Centre Garden Association, a small grouping of local enthusiasts working small garden plots. After staking a claim to our land and studying up on the Vegetable Gardener's Bible, we tilled our plot up last weekend and prepared two large beds during the week, with hopes to increase the cultivation over time. And today we put in the first tomatoes, bush beans, pole beans, onions, carrots, summer squash, parsley, basil, Swiss chard, tropical dots, twizzlers, and zucchini. Soon produce will be cascading like, well, produce you get from a garden. (Karen's note: What's all this "we" talk? Actually, Adam has already been much more helpful this season, and I think he's really hiding a green thumb.)

How our garden grows

Not all has been smooth sailing in The Garden though. For example, my attempts to maximize the (cost+time)/effort = enjoyment ratio of The Garden by out-sourcing the tilling, weeding, planting, and harvesting has once again been quashed by our Garden CEO. By my calculations, this strategic course of action would have resulted in a 72% decrease in garden-related stress, 84% less dirt in my fingernails, and a 43% increase in free/nap time, thus raising the garden enjoyment ratio to an all-time high. But alas, my proposal has once again been struck down. I did, however, finally get to put my considerable lashing skills to the test. Behold the bean-pole tripod! (Adam's note: Some things you just can't outsource).

Sarah reports having a great time helping shape new dirt piles from Mom's carefully formed raised beds via her hair and pockets, and Ryan reports sleeping through the entire thing. Daddy can't wait until these little farmhands, er, chillins are ready to take his place! Stay tuned as the growing season progresses for more garden updates.


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