A fresh start!

And it really doesn't get fresher than this...

Rainbow Carrots and Beets!

But it wouldn't happen if it weren't for this...

One of our compost bins. 

Recently, we dug up our smallest compost container and were rewarded with enough fresh amazing "black gold" to completely fill up our newest garden bed and top off the rest with a layer of rich fertilizer! In 2009, after building the first raised beds in the garden, we didn't have much to go on and did our best by making do with what little earth we had, using the layer/no till method of gardening, and buying "culled" pallets of soil that had been hugely discounted at a nearby home and garden center. Now that our composting has really begun to pay off, the cycle is complete! The soil (hard red clay) that feeds us and the animals, in turn, is being nurtured. 

It just needed a little love. 

You can see the charred wood of the pallets we used for the sides. Here's a tip, don't throw your wood ashes in the compost until you're SURE there are no embers! Hot coals can smolder over night and stay live for hours (which is what happened to us). Finding smoke coming from the pile definitely alerted us and prompted calming cups of tea and sighs of relief afterwards!

Spring Tulips and Roses to be...

Seedlings ready to be planted!

Waiting to germinate.

Close-up

We use deer netting to cover our freshly planted garden beds to keep the kitties from thinking this is their litter box. Wish their were one small enough to keep out the bad bugs!

A little patio revamping :) -Rosemary-

We love cabbage!