Anyone need rocket? I may have over estimated how prolific rocket is, and how much I can eat…. none of the boys are overly fond of this most delicious leaf!!!

But seriously, I know I probably planted a little too early, my heart overriding my head again… but it seems to have paid off. I haven’t bought lettuce, spinach, spring onions or herbs for weeks!

The carrots, potatoes, corn, beans, raddish, bok choy, tomato and broccoli seeds are all popping through the soil and I feel like it’s Christmas!

Is it weird that I feel maternal towards veggies? It really is a lovely relationship though… nurturing them, watching them grow… and they give back so much.

We are only at the beginning of spring and the difference from four months ago is quite impressive. So far the only issues are weeds – I’m getting quite a few  from the raised beds that were totally overgrown and infested with every weed / grass known…But according to a good friend and great gardener -Jon Foote or the Barefoot Gardener (http://barefootegardener.com/) – I should embrace weeds! Consider them embraced Jon… one less chore!  The only pests are these Portugese worm things that are ALL OVER our home and property… they LOVE lettuce and spinach it turns out. Josh and I put our organic pest eradication method to the test today…. me plucking them out… him giving them a close up look at the bottom of a gumboot (sorry little guys, but eat outside the veggie patch and I’ll leave you alone). Apparently setting up little light traps imbedded into the soil can work wonders… another project!

  What has worked to contain these pests is my planting strategy of mixing up plantings, ie. NOT having all my lettuce together… rather, having them strewn throughout the garden and companion planting. The result… the pest has had a good attack at one little patch of lettuce… but hasn’t found the rest!