We’ve celebrated April 22nd in a number of ways over the years. For example, in 1985 I welcomed my little brother into the world (happy birthday Dan!) and in 2006 we put in an offer on a certain brick ranch and found out it was accepted later that evening. This year we’ve decided to do something especially earthy… we’re going to plan an edible garden! (Plan, not plant since many of the herbs we like need a bit longer before we dig them in).
Remember this post way back when about one of our bushes dying? We wondered what to do with the rest of the row now that one of the boxwoods bit the dust, but the overwhelming consensus was to rip out all the finicky overgrown bushes, expose more of that lovely brickwork, and start fresh.
We knew we could devote that small patch of dirt to something much more usable and functional (in fact it’s one of the only “full sun” areas in our entire almost-acre lot), so deciding to create an herb, veggie, fruit and even a bit of a cutting garden in that space excited us to no end. Don’t fresh organic food and flowers right out the back door sound like heaven? Here’s what we have so far:
Yes, there’s still lots of work to be done! And today’s as good a day as any (actually, it’s arguably better than most) to sit down with some gardening books and use trusty ol’ google to plan the rest of our garden. Other than a happy little raspberry bush (snagged for $9 at Lowe’s) and a surprise peony that sprung up from the earth (how did that get there?) we’re pretty empty.
Oh and we also transplanted a few daffodils (they never bloomed in the shade) and that tiny rosebush in the corner has always been there (poor guy was totally overrun by giant bushes his whole life- now he’s freeeeeee). We also dug in some spinach and lettuce seeds, but they’re taking their sweet time coming in. Here’s hoping they’re worth the wait!
So that’s the big Earth Day plan at Casa Petersik. What are you guys doing in celebration of good ol’ Mother Earth? Fill in the blank:
Today I’m celebrating Earth Day by ___________.
From unplugging the TV and keeping the lights off (playing cards by candlelight is always fun) to creating a compost bin, signing up for a rain-barrel workshop, or even swiching a few old bulbs out for compact florescents, there are limitless ways to show Momma E some love. Heck just bringing a ceramic mug to work can save a ton of trees. Tell us what you’re up to today! And of course any edible garden tips and suggestions are also welcome!
Katie says
Happy Earth Day Ya’ll! I am lovin the new garden idea…maybe one day I will get to enjoy the ‘fruits’ of your labor :)
Meaghan says
Ooh, you should plant rosemary! It grows into a bush pretty quickly, plus it’s fragrant. Also–drought friendly, so it’ll survive the heat of summer. A friend of mine has it in her garden, but instead of planting it in the ground, she has it in large planters throughout her flower beds, which gives some interest to the bed.
Liz says
Ahhh, I’m excited about your peony bush!! We just discovered one in our yard and I am in heaven – you can check it out here: http://itsgreattobehome.net/2009/04/17/pretty-as-a-peony/. And they smell awesome!
As for Earth Day, we’re plotting ways to fend off mosquitoes in an earth-friendly manner and contemplating starting to compost!
Ashley says
I celebrated Earth Day by buying reusable product bags from this Etsy site:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=108801
I can’t wait to get them!
LeilaMac says
Exciting! Jealous you have so much space to plant some summer veggies! I recommend that when you plant herbs for your garden, that you actually plant them in terra cotta pots, and plant the actual pots in the ground so the lip of the pot is above ground (you can cover it with mulch). This will contain those herbs that spread like crazy (oregano, thyme, mint, chives, etc), and will also allow you to un-plant them in the late fall, clean off the outsides of the pots, and put them in your sunroom for year-round herb enjoyment! I actually saw this idea in action at Marie Antoinette’s garden in Versailles – genius!
dana says
What a great spot for a garden! My husband and I are hoping to plant one for ourselves this season (but being new homeowners, who knows if we’ll get to that point this year).
This year we’re celebrating Earth Day by punching up our curb appeal! Yesterday we created a new flowerbed at the corner of our corner lot where my husband planted a tree and added a large limestone rock for some pizzazz. Later this week we’re taking a trip to the nursery to pick up an array of shrubs, grasses and flowers. I can’t wait to see how it turns out!
Devin says
I actually bought some eco-friendly files and I’m going to be going thru all of our filing and recycle all of the paper/paper shreds we don’t keep. Simplifing my life and helping Mother E all in one! ;) I’d love to plant something tho… even if it’s just oregano or basil for right now. We’re really trying to get on the bandwagon with replacing all of our not so good items w/organic or eco-friendly ones. :) Happy Earth Day!! xo
Jen says
Consider lavender! While you can’t eat it (well, technically you can), it’s great on fragrance and you can cut the flowers and dry them for sachets to put in your drawers! :)
Danielle says
Today, I really wasn’t going to do anything out of the ordinary, but this weekend, I am leaving for Virginia for a family wedding and I was going to unplug everything I could, besides the frig, to save energy. So my Earth Day Celebration will happen tomorrow.
By the way, I have a hard time getting Spinach to grow from seeds. Any tips?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Danielle,
We’re first time seed-starters but it seems that planting our seeds with some organic compost from our compost bin and lots of rain has added up to a pretty good start. Although Jen makes a great point about them liking things a bit less sunny, so perhaps ours won’t work out as well as we hoped (and maybe moving your seed-spot to a shadier zone would help?). Good luck!
xoxo,
Sherry
Meridith says
Wonderful idea! I have a medicinal herb garden – feverfew and passionflower for headaches, lavender for rest, sage and thyme for both sore throats and cooking and echinacea (purple coneflower) for those nasty summer colds. If you do decide to go with rosemary – make sure you get Arp. It’s the only variety that can stand up to VA winters (even the ones in Richmond). But like the previous poster said – beware! – it can get huge, just like your rasberry bush. Sage prefers a pot – that put in and take out idea sounds like one I’ll try if my sage doesn’t succeed in ground!
Kim says
I second the rosemary–in addition to being pretty, it also keeps critters away from your other plants. They hate it.
We’ve planted basil for years because we use a lot of it. We recently found some very pretty varieties that have beautiful flowers (you aren’t supposed to let them flower if you’re eating them, but we let them go at the end of the season) and butterflies LOVE the flowers.
Can’t wait to see what you do
martha says
I read your compost blog a few weeks ago and went right out to Target and bought a Rubbermaid container and looked for a kitchen compost container. I didn’t find one at Target but during a quick trip to TJ Maxx I spotted a cute red ceramic one and brought it home. It has a filter in the lid and there is no odor. I keep it under the sink although it is cute enough to sit on the counter. Love your blog, thanks for getting me started composting! I always wanted to do it but was daunted by the work of having a large compost pile. Starting off small is such a great idea and so manageable! Good luck with your garden!
jen says
what a great idea! herbs love lots of sun and most are also really attractive, so you can’t really go wrong. and great tip about planting them in pots (either above or below the ground, really) because i can personally attest that mint can go buck wild and sprout up everywhere if you let it.
since you mentioned that spot gets the most direct sun, i would caution you about putting spinach and lettuce there. those guys really thrive in more shady conditions. if they get too hot they bolt (go to seed) and taste horrible. so berries, tomatoes, peppers, and herbs are your best bets for a really sunny spot. good luck!
Nicole Greene says
Sherry-
HOW did you get those bushes out? What tools did you use?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Nicole,
Good question. We have many recommendations for removing bushes:
1. Put an ad up on Craigslist that says “free bushes if you come dig ’em out” – it worked like a charm for us after our wedding
2. Tie a thick rope or chain around the base of the bush and attach it to the back of your vehicle and slowly drive forward, pulling them out
3. Saw or clip off the big top part of the bush leaving just the stump base, which is then much easier to dig out without the bush in your way
We used method #3 this time (it only took about an hour to saw off the tops of the bushes and dig out the roots) but they’re all effective. Hope it helps!
xoxo,
Sherry
Kate at www.CentsationalGirl.com says
Today, I am touring Gunlach Bunschu winery in Sonoma to learn about it’s sustainable practices for growing wine, then I’m going to attempt to start my compost bin in the far corner of the yard – thanks for your tips !
Denise T. says
My husband and I are doing a litter sweep along a well traveled road in our community! Our son is backpacking in the Smokies with his class and studying air quality in the park.
You will really enjoy an herb garden. We love having fresh rosemary and mint year round. Happy Earth Day!
Cheyenne says
Love your blog! I had been searching for cheap ways to start composting and as soon as I read your idea, I ran out to Wal-Mart to get the supplies! I’m celebrating Earth Day by finishing the composting project.
My suggestion for your baby garden, being a newbie gardener myself, would be to add tomatoes and blackberries. I have two different kinds of tomatoes and the cherry ones seem to be doing quite well. Careful about the blackberry bush, though. It will take over the world if you let it! I have put mine in a large container to keep it from declaring war on the rest of my babies!
Good luck!
Kirsten says
There are lots of edible flowers (good to brighten up salads) that might add a touch of colour to the bed. Lemon gem marigolds (teeny tiny flowers) are my fave, and they are good to deter pests from your tomato plants.
Kim says
Hey Youngsters!
The trick to a great veggie and herb garden is to buy the pants that are already about 2-4 inches tall. And the best place to buy those is a local farmers market! Or a local green house. The guys from Lowes and Home Depot are usually not orgainic and much more expensive. The local Farmers Market in Charlotte off of Woodlawn is super cheap. About a $1.50 for three veggies of your choice, tomatos, peppers, squash and so on. Not to mention the herbs are all grown organically, locally and run about $2.50. I’m sure you can find about the same thing in Richmond! Try using Google Maps to find the farmers market, there usually is a state site with all of the info you need!!! Sat. mornings have the best selection!! Good Luck!
Beth says
We are starting a bigger, better veggie garden than last year. I have learned that a lab and a boxer cannot be fenced in with a garden in the same yard, so we are planting about 15 defferent veggies OUTSIDE our backyard. I hope this works better! There is nothing better than fresh veggies…nothing.
Good luck with yours!
Beth says
Almost forgot….I had some extra pots with nothing in them so I put a few transplant tomato plants in them (called “container tomoatoes”) and placed them on our deck on plant stands! Now the dogs can’t reach and if I want a tomato for cooking, I just step out of the kitchen and onto the deck without getting dirty in the garden!
amy says
Hi guys,
Two questions–do you know what killed your boxwood? We are having the same problem in the front of our house and we have been unable to diagnose the problem with internet research, and haven’t had time to make it out to a nursery yet.
Also–do you have a basement? Where do those windows under your sunroom go? Is that a door I see?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Amy,
We do in fact have a small basement under the sunroom that’s pretty much empty except for storing our Christmas stuff. Stay tuned for a big makeover down there someday…
As for the boxwood issue, we had no idea and would have taken a clipping to a nursery if we realized it sooner (but it was too late when we noticed our bush was having problems). I would definitely get to a nursery with a clipping for a diagnosis while you can!
xoxo,
Sherry
Julie says
We’re working from the sunlight at work today. And I planted some herbs the other day and they’re starting to sprout on the window ledge in my apartment. Happy Earth Day!
Sara says
I didn’t know until I saw that picture that you have a basement under the sunroom!
DavesAnngel says
We’re turning out lights for a bit, unplugging as much as we can, getting an estimate to paint our house with low VOC paints, and starting plans for gardens – whew!
ashley morgan says
We’re also planting a veggie garden. We started composting in January. We’re planting tomatoes, zucchini, bell peppers, hot peppers, artichokes, and maybe a couple of to-be-determined things. We already have successful strawberries, mint, basil, rosemary, chives, and flat-leaf parsley. It’s so fun to grow food! Pest control is a bitch, though.
Kristi says
This earth day….I”m not letting living in a city stop me from taking action on inspiration. http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/05/green-roofs/cook-photography and I even have my own rooftop to start!
Beauty Fully Used says
This week I’ve been walking to work to lower my carbon emissions….and, I hope it’s a practice I can keep up throughout the summer/fall. Also, our 2nd ever veggie garden is in the works, and we’re expanding this year to include some new veggies like carrots, onions and spinach. Like you, we’ve started some seeds indoors, and so far so good. I’ll just start to put them in the lettuce in the ground next week since it’s just starting to warm up in New England. Happy Earth Day. LOVE your blog! You obviously make it a priority to incorporate all these fun projects, from design, to landscaping, to organization into your life! Bravo!
erin says
Oh, to have a garden. Actually, I’m getting a raised bed built for me this weekend! Once I get it full of dirt and compost I can start planting. :)
I’m celebrating Earth Day with a giveaway on my blog, http://misseireann.blogspot.com. Check it out!
melissa @ den-designstudio says
Today I’m celebrating Earth Day by specifying Benjamin Moore’s NO VOC paint Natura for all of my clients.
Kate in CA says
We celebrated E-Day this weekend by working on our front yard. We’re transitioning from the traditional water-hogging lawn to a xeriscape. I ordered books on native CA plants and DIY xeriscaping from Amazon and am so excited to get them and start planning!
Molly says
My 2 1/2 year old daughter and I just started a mini greenhouse for her. Picked it up at Lowe’s earlier this week for $4.96 and it’s a kids set. Cute! I did this while sharing verses from the Bible about God’s creation and that we need to be good stewards and take care of what we’ve been given- that’s our version of Earth Day, anyways! :)
JKH says
Awesome garden ! Do you have Azaela’s ? The do SO WELL in the Richmond climate and are be-yoo-tiful to boot. My childhood (Ginter Park, Richmond!) is laced with the scents of azaela’s,dogwood, and fresh cut grass. Keep up the awesome work, you guys ! I love reading your blog everyday !
Melissa says
I won’t be doing it today but I have plans tomorrow to pick up some veggies and plant my container garden. I would love to do raised garden beds but our yard is mostly shade as we have tons of trees.
SSM says
I love the ideas of an edible garden with herbs, veggies and fruits. Unfortunately we’re getting ready to re-do our entire backyard, complete with 40 yards of topsoil and grading.
Just curious, what’s the plan for that old light fixture on your brick column? I love the shape and design, but it looks like it needs some TLC.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey SSM,
Yeah that old light out back really needs a bit of cleaning up, but we love the oversized lantern-like proportions so we’ll definitely be rescuing it instead of replacing it. Stay tuned…
xo,
Sherry
Oh and JKH, not only do we have azaleas, we have a whole lotta azaleas! Probably over 50 and we’re not even exaggerating. They line our driveway, the yard in the back, and are even planted four rows deep on the side of our house. We love them! And we’re so thankful that we inherited them with the house (and didn’t have to plant a single one!).
Nicole says
Happy Earth Day! We’ve been celebrating a bit all week. We planted a new tree (pink oak) on Sunday, bought a new eco-friendly dishwasher yesterday, and I’m all set to plant my vegetable and herb garden tonight! We had a similar situation to you…dead buses in a small spot. So, last spring we also dug up the bushes (HUGE roots) and started our little garden – which did quite well! Good luck with your edible garden!
Patty says
Happy Earth Day! Mostly by walking the dog and enjoying the great outdoors on such a beautiful day! We make it our lifestyle to reduce, reuse and recycle along with cutting out chemicals that are harmful to the earth and us.
Kristin says
Happy Earth Day! Save Water, Share A Shower!
Catherine says
If you’re wanting flowers you can cut, runnuculus and dahlias are beautiful.
Based on my own experiences, I’d definitely plant some rosemary. Smells great and keeps pests away.