I found this photo of our garden from two years ago. It gives me a lot of hope–we did things right in 2006. 2007, we tried some new things…collaboration, expansion and some “free design layout.” While working full-time freelance over the summer. Things that didn’t work:

Collaboration: volunteers…what a lovely idea, but it didn’t work out. I don’t think it will work out until we’ve found our own groove in growing. We’ve been doing this for 8 years, but expanding to include volunteers takes a bit more planning and commitment (from the volunteers, as well) than we have time for, currently.

Expansion: Yikes…the south side was a nightmare. We were so excited about the expansion–another 250 square feet! But the soil quality was terrible. When we moved into our house, that portion of the yard was being used by trucks as a “through” to the property behind us. It was packed with gravel, and not at all fertile. It should be much better this year, since the soil has been worked and had a winter of heaving to really loosen things up. I’m planning on planting clover over the area this year and till it under for 2008 fall crops.

Free Design Layout: I need boundaries. I am not good with this free growing style. If we were better about weeding on a daily basis, it would be fine, but we’re not.

We were so discouraged last summer, but over the winter we learned so many new recipes that required canned tomatoes. When we ran out of tomatoes, we were so sad, but it made us even more determined to really make our garden shine in 2008. Wish us luck! Habitat Make-Under is back in business!