The coronavirus has the world in a headlock. And there are many individual stories behind all those numbers of people that have been infected, passed away, survived and are subjected to quarantine. Taking all policy measures into account I feel lucky that I still could start a gardening project.
In this blog I will keep you updated about this project - with pictures and in writing. I will alternate 'I' and 'we', because this is a joint effort with my partner.
Soil
The soil is basically river clay: the plot is inside a vegetable garden complex situated close to the river 'Waal' (close to Nijmegen, the Netherlands). Generally speaking, these clay soils are rich and a great source for growing vegetables and fruits. But also rather heavy to break up. A great tool that I 'inherited' from my parents (still alive) is a gigantic fork to break up the deeper soil levels instead of to till it.
Fruit corner
The previous owner of the plot left some strawberries behind. After pruning 'some' became twenty-one single strawberry plants that I set in two rows.
To complete the 'fruit corner' I added a blueberry plant that gets a second life; a red currant (red cherry); and two autumn fruiting raspberry plants - one red and one yellow. A tiny fig plant completed the corner (so far).
Tasty broad beans start at home
Ever tasted fresh broad beans that you just need to boil for (less than) two minutes? Very tender, very tasty and very yummy! I sowed the first broad beans in modules and had the pleasure of watching them germinating in the living room.
On the first day in the garden, we put them in the soil in a kind of greenhouse. After three days it looks like they survived the move and are growing stronger.
Next to the broad beens we have sowed capuchin beans directly into the garden soil.
Spring onions so far have completed our work in this first week.
Guidance from Maria Thun
Perhaps because my parents already worked with guidance from Maria Thun and had a wonderful garden for over thirty five years, but we decided that she could guide our garden project, too. This biodynamic sowing and planting calendar helps us with when to sow, to prune and harvest the various plants and crops. Calling it 'guidance' we might not be too strict about it.
How is your gardening project going?
As gardening is generally speaking a solitary activity, which is helpful these days, it would be great to learn from your experiences, too. If you have a spare moment, I would love to read about your experiences.