..how does your garden grow

Well this year we have planted a total of 3 gardens. Our first which we harvested heirloom tomatoes, string beans, carrots, potatoes, strawberries, & even blueberries. Our third which was just planted 2 weeks ago, and I am very excited about. This will be our first fall garden, & I am anxious to see what it brings us. Along with the real green thumb, my husband, we've planted cucumber, onions, garlic, cabbage, winter squash, pumpkin, beets, parsley, and eggplant.

Our second garden was sort of a 'well we have extra seeds, lets just plant them' kind of thing. We planted mid-summer so we didn't know if we would get any harvest from it. Luckily for us, this year has been an odd one in terms of weather and temperatures. To our surprise, our second garden is in full bloom & getting ready for us to harvest! We have carrots, heirloom tomatoes, potatoes, and string beans. These plants will continue to provide for us until our fall garden is in bloom! God has been good to the Parker's this year.

These are my string beans! The two things my kids will eat everyday is tomatoes & fresh green beans. & all those little flowers are about to turn into even more green beans for us to enjoy!

These are my pride & joy. My magnificent heirloom tomatoes. I already harvest from 4 plants in my earlier garden, and this plant has taken off in the last 3 weeks & started producing ton's of fruit! We have one that is ready to harvest any day...the rest are not far behind!

 

 

These are the hothouse tomatoes I planted (& some weeds that just got pulled) in our fall garden, already blooming. I planted them early because I wanted to harvest some fruit before the super cold temps kick in. & it looks like I just may get my wish!

I let the kids go out and pick with me, they love it. Although Lukas ends up taking bites out of everything we hand him, he still gets in on the action. It's fun to share that with them, and I hope this is something we can do every year with our kids. This year was our first endeavor, and I have really enjoyed it. Jimmy is teaching me a lot about gardening, & I am trying hard not to kill every plant I touch! I did a lot more hands on work with our Fall garden, so I'm excited to see how my new found 'skills' will pay off. We are going to be investing in a compost barrel this year, and I am totally thrilled about that!

Jimmy grew up always around his grandmother, who is a true green thumb. She took a large part in raising him, and passed on to him everything she knew. She has an acre or so garden that is always in bloom, always producing, every season. Jimmy has always enjoyed that, as it's been a part of his upbringing. So gardening for him, especially with the kids, is extra special. To be able to share this with all of us is such a gift. It brings a sense of something I know his heart misses, and I am so thankful that we can give that to him.

Growing a garden takes patience, and that, I will admit, is not a strong suite of mine. I have enjoyed so much walking into my backyard and picking vegetables for dinner. What an incredible blessing to be able to grow, organic, just 5 feet from where I cook dinner! We are so blessed, & good things come to those who wait!


& since I don't know how much I'll be able to get up this weekend [& because I love to show off my kids], some pictures from the week. Enjoy!

Lukas & his dishwasher fascination..

Snuggling with mom's Ally Zabba..

Checking out his sister's baby doll...

Fluff butt...he love's my AZ, guess I'm gonna need to get him his own [in blue]

Chowing down on a grilled cheese...

Conquering a popsicle...

Y'all have a good weekend. Mine is going to be extra busy! Don't forget to leave some love so I know who's reading. ;)