In addition to all the recreational digging that has been done, it’s time for an update on my gardening resolutions for 2009.  To revisit the 8:

1. I said I would build proper, 12-inch tall raised beds.  We now have two, one-foot-tall beds and will be filling them with dirt shortly.  However, I have to admit it was my mother’s husband David, not me, that built them. He also saw the wood, discarded on a curb waiting for someone to pick it up, and I went and got it for free. The result was I got my raised beds for almost nothing, and I didn’t have to do any work. I’m actually rather still in shock about this.  David says we can get free compost from the City of Fort Worth at the Botanic Garden, although he admits it’s not perfect. “What do you mean?” I ask.

“It’s not particularly fine and it’s got little pieces of stuff, like plastic, in it. But it grows stuff just fine.”

All I can say about that is I’m not a picky person when the price is right. Especially when the right price is free.

2. I said I would construct a quality irrigation system using drip irrigation with  a timer. We’ve got plans to do this.  Right after we dump the compost into the beds.

3. I will make a reasonable and well thought-out planting plan.  I guess I’d better get to work on that. The tomatos and peppers that I started growing a little over a month ago are almost ready to be put in, and I also managed to get three blackberry plants which I hope to put in this afternoon.  I’ve scoped out some nice 1×1 staves to put next to the tomatoes so they can be tied up as they grow. 

4. I will keep up with the weeding. We’ll see about that.

5. I will not start any other time consuming major projects or new hobbies between March and June.   So far so good, but I’m wavering … last week I lost another chicken, so baby chicks may be needed.

6. We will not go on any two week long vacations during the harvest season this year. We should have this one in the bag because we don’t have the money.

7. I will try to keep well-informed and inspired by reading blogs about gardens. Okay: truth to tell. I didn’t do it. But I’m going to start!

8. I will update this blog with my successes and failures.  So far so good.  There’s this one, then also “How to Prune Your Roses,”  ”How to Start Tomatos Inside” and “Gardening Saves the Day.”