Have you always wanted to try a hand at utilizing rain barrels? There are lots of fun tweaks out there, but choose one and work on implementing it.
What are your garden goals this year? Not your plans — but your goals.
Like any goals we optimistically set for a new year, it’s helpful to look back on last year.
Now that your personal goals have had a few weeks to get going, shift your attention to making next season’s garden your best yet.
Here are a few questions and ideas to help get you in a goal-garden mind-set!
What was a strength last year? This can be you or your garden. Did you get a good routine going, consistently watering in the morning?
Maybe you did more research than usual and had the perfect varieties for optimal growth or finally got your soil just right for berries.
What did you struggle with? Was it hard to keep up with weeding during a certain month? Was getting water over to your garden tricky? If there’s a way to improve something that was a struggle last year, do it, move it or buy it! If a non-kink hose could make watering a breeze or a neighborhood kid could be hired to keep weeds at bay when you go on your annual July vacation, solve those problems ahead of time.
What was your favorite part last year? No matter if you grow your garden to help offset your food bill or if it’s just something you’ve always done, chances are, you find joy in it as well.
Think about the moments you enjoy the most. In past years, I’ve found unexpected joy in beating my kids out of the house to pull weeds or pick berries before it gets too hot. This year, I’ll pick a few days a week to set my alarm earlier to soak up that sunny solitude. Make sure whatever it is, you make a point to make it happen again this year!
Try one new thing! Have you always wanted to try a hand at compost? Utilize rain barrels? Put in a drip tape? There’s lots of fun tweaks out there, but choose only one and work on implementing it well. Chances are, no matter the new project, there will be many variations from DIY on a budget to items you can purchase. Researching the right fit for one project is enough to keep you excited without burn out!
Plant something fun! When my oldest, Landon, was younger, we ordered “Indian Glass Gem Corn” on a whim and it grew so well for us! It was gorgeous for decor plus was really fun to pop in brown paper bags. My daughter and I also tried loofah gourds which you can finish off by making into scrubbers or into soaps. There’s lots of quirky plants out there that can thrive in our Zone 7.
Get social! You know how flattering it can feel when someone asks you about a veggie you grow well or a garden fresh recipe. This year, ask a friend what variety of pepper she used in the pepper jelly she gave you. Ask a neighbor what the trick is to her storm-proof trellis. Chances are, they’ll share their hits and misses and you’ll leave with a sense of community and a good tip!
Get the family involved! If you have youngsters, set a garden goal for them too. My daughter Lucy, 7, doesn’t have the front teeth to crunch on a carrot herself these days but decided last fall she’d like to grow carrots for her ponies so we looked up a good variety for eating and that was her project. My littlest Laney, the cat feeder, loves flowers so her goal for the year is to grow flowers.
Prepare for a fresh start! Set aside a few hours, listen to your favorite gardening podcast and prep your space. Take inventory of old seeds and jot down notes before tossing if they are no longer trusted to germinate. Make sure your tools are clean, sharp and most importantly, there. Mine are often pilfered for kid projects by the time the next gardening season starts again!
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Even if your hands are chilly as you read this, close your eyes and envision your garden with the sun shining down on your back as you weed and putter around.
Ask yourself some of the above questions and start to enjoy a fresh start to fresh goodies this growing season.
