Last updated on May 29th, 2019
(Updated for 2019.) IF YOU VISIT ME THIS SUMMER, I’ll gladly give you a tour of the Kitchen Garden (above). This “living supermarket,” which I designed in 2007 on a shoe-string budget, produces bushels of organic veggies. It’s an EASY garden to maintain.
Location. The garden is perched at the top of a very steep hill (the same hill I would later carve into a Serpentine Garden), because the land there, unlike the rest of property, is fairly level. The patch receives full, blazing sunshine — a necessity for most vegetable crops.
The only problem with the hilltop perch? It borders a forest. A forest filled with frolicking forest creatures who love fresh veggies as much as I do. Consequently my first mission was to erect a fence around the plot in order to keep deer, rabbits and woodchucks from devouring my efforts.
Fencing. A fence does more than keep critters out of a garden. Aesthetically, it makes a frame for the horticultural portrait within. My fence was built cheaply and effectively with pressure-treated posts and galvanized wire mesh. The mesh is 4-feet tall. That’s a height that deer (well, my deer, anyway) will not bother to jump.
Raised Beds. Make no mistake — the easiest answer to compacted, rocky, or poor-draining soil is a raised bed. I built eight 4’x8′ beds out of rough-hewn hemlock, and placed four along each edge of the garden. Hemlock is naturally rot-resistant (as is cedar, oak, and redwood). In the center of the garden, and framing a path, are four 2’x8′ raised beds. These, pictured above, were made from inexpensive untreated pine. Although pine is not resistant to rot, it can last a long time. Mine are still holding up after nearly 5 years.
UPDATE, January 2017: The hemlock frames — now in their 10th year — are in remarkably good shape. Meanwhile, the pine frames have rotted beyond repair. I’ll replace the pine boards when spring arrives.
Soil. Vegetables love a soil that is loose, fertile, and well-draining. You can’t go wrong with equal parts top soil, well-rotted manure, and sand. I purchased this very blend from a local farmer, who also delivered it. If you want to take vegetable-growing seriously, you will do well to splurge on good soil right from the start.
Shredded Leaves. To insure continued fertility, and also to refill the beds after soil has settled, each November I top off my beds with shredded leaves. To help the leaves decay over winter, I lightly sprinkle them with cottonseed- or alfalfa meal, which is high in nitrogen. Thus my purchase of soil was only a one-time affair.
And did you know that decomposed leaves hold a tremendous amount of moisture? It is shredded leaves that make this garden a “water-wise” garden.
Related Post: how I shred my autumn leaves.
Walkways. Paths are essential in a veggie garden, and they must be wide enough to accommodate a wheelbarrow. To make my walkways, I first covered the existing sod with cardboard. Then I poured a thick layer of shredded wood over the cardboard. True, shredded wood must be refreshed every year or two. But I obtain this material for free, just as you can. Shredded wood makes a very cushy surface to walk upon.
The Shady Seating Area. To my mind, every garden needs comfortable seating in the shade. Consequently I built at the rear of the garden a pergola, and placed a pair of Adirondack-style chairs beneath it. The pergola was made from nothing more than pressure treated posts and some lattice. Six 2x4s nailed to the top provide overhead support for the hardy kiwi (Actinidia arguta) which clamors up the sides and over the top, while shading the seating area beneath.
The Lack of Weeds. Not an issue in this garden are weeds. Why? When my veggie seedlings reach 5 inches in height, I mulch them with a thick layer of either shredded leaves or chopped straw. Furthermore, veggies in raised beds can be planted very closely together. This means their foliage eventually shades the soil, which further discourages weeds, and helps to reduce moisture-loss.
Flowers for beauty and bees. Colorful flowers are a must in any veggie garden, for they attract the insects that pollinate the crops. Over the years this garden has seen such honey bee magnets as Bachelor Buttons…
cascading petunias and ‘State Fair’ zinnias…
and cosmos ‘Rose Bon-Bon.’ All these are very easy to grow from seeds. You can even winter-sow them.
The veggies I’ve grown in this garden are too numerous to mention. But you can see pictures and detailed accounts of them (as well as their cultural requirements) by clicking this link.
I hope I’ve convinced you to design your own Kitchen Garden. Raised beds are not difficult to make, and just think of the fresh produce you’ll harvest!
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Donna B. says
I love intimate looks into other’s gardens like this – your Kitchen Garden is to die for!
But that’s something I never did, but I will! A seating area! Heh. I have a “ornamental-shade-garden” plan in the works, I’m thinking of working my yard in zones, I will mulch and kill the grass underneath and then do the actual plantings next year.
And thank you for the advice for the walls – mine were purchased initially as just a “gotta get this done quick!” whatever inexpensive non-pressure treated wood that was available at Lowes/Home Depot. I have a lumber place near me, should check them out for Hemlock… hmmm!
[So much planning! :D]
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Donna B. – Glad you enjoyed the tour. Here in the Hudson Valley, hemlock is plentiful and therefore relatively cheap. In other regions cedar or oak might be the better bargain. Good luck with your shade garden plan!
Terry says
Your garden is so beautiful!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Terry – Ah, shucks.
caren says
How do you water your garden? I don’t see any hoses or faucets.
Karen says
Hi Kevin,
I wanted to say thank-you for all of the information on your blog. Even though I’ve been growing things all my life, your tips are enriching my life. I especially like the winter sowing method…I’m using that, along with a cold frame, and have lettuces and arugula growing already….pretty awesome since our temperatures went as low as 9 degrees last week. Would you mind if i post some of your pictures on pinterest? Not sure if you are on it already, but it will be a great way to get your info out.
Later!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
caren – The faucet is buried outside the kitchen garden. I always set up a soaker hose for the tomatoes, while other plants are watered via overhead sprinkler. Because of the good soil, the leafmold and the heavy mulch, the beds rarely require water more often than once every two weeks. Even in times of drought the soil stays cool and moist for an incredibly long time.
Karen – So glad you find this website useful. Happy to have you post pix on Pinterest, with links back to this site. And…can’t wait to hear more about your winter-sowing success!
Michelle Ann Anderson says
We’re planning to really increase our vegetable gardening this year. I discovered my picky eater is happy to harvest and eat things grown in our garden that she’d normally turn her nose up at. :o)
I love your winter sowing in milk jugs idea. We just put out 18 jugs yesterday. With more plans in the works. I’m finding planning the timing a little overwhelming. But, that’s a bit of the fun, isn’t it?
I’m curious about the use of wood for making raised beds. Would pine be a better choice than redwood? Our “big box” garden centers only offer untreated pine or redwood and I just assumed redwood would be the better choice for durability.
Thanks for your blog…it’s been so helpful!
Blessings,
Michelle in ID
Zone 7A
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Nice to meet you, Michelle. Sounds like your “picky” eater is a wise eater! Redwood is rot-resistant (I will add it to the list above), and an excellent choice for a raised bed. Good luck with your big winter-sowing project — I’m addicted to the method.
Jina says
Hi Kevin
My bachelor button seeds have sprouted already. My other jugs appear to be drying out as we have had no rain nor snow. I did soak the potting soil before I planted the seeds.
How do you water them or do you ?
Thanks for the help
Jina
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Jina – It’s been a weird, weird winter, yes? Since your BBs have already sprouted, go ahead and water them. You might as well water your other jugs, too, especially if it is warm as well as dry where you are. You might find that watering from the bottom is easier. This way you won’t have to open the tops.
Kay says
Hi Kevin,
Your kitchen garden is amazing! Last year we made 4 4×5 foot raised beds, each of which has a sprinkler head in their middle. I agree with you that raised beds with good soil don’t need much water! My 3 & 5 year old boys love helping in the garden, and are much more likely to eat ‘crunch & munch’ as I call raw veggies, if they know they came from our garden. On Friday we planted snap peas, brussels sprouts, cilantro, oregano, & bachelors buttons in our winter sowing containers. Before I plant the next round, would you tell me how you space the seeds? If spaced as instructed on the packages, each container would only have 2-3 plants.
Thanks for your blog.., each post is such an inspiration!
Kay
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Kay – You are lucky indeed to have enthusiastic garden-helpers!
With winter-sowing, you can pretty much ignore whatever directions are on the seed packet.
With large seeds, I try to plant no more than 9 per gallon-size jug. I plant tiny, dust-like seeds (Nicotiana, thyme, etc.) as thinly as possible, which isn’t very “thin” at all! But these seedlings, when you are ready to transplant them, can be sliced up like brownies and then transplanted in clumps. The transplanting procedure is described in this post.
I can tell you from my own experience that winter-sown seedlings are incredibly strong. Even if their roots get mangled when you go to transplant them, they recover swiftly.
Stacey says
Hi Kevin!
today was the first day this year I actually went out to weed the beds from last year. Your garden looks like I wish mine did. Have you ever done straw-bale gardening? I may try it this year to start a new plot on the side of the house with southern exposure. My winter sowing of mesclun and coriander is off to a running start thanks to your mini-greenhouse tip. I look forward to more helps and hints. I love this site.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Stacey- Glad your winter-sowing project is paying off already. I once bought straw bales for a straw-bale-gardening experiment. But I ended up opening the bales, and using them for mulch! Let me know how the project works out for you.
Jina says
Thanks for the tip Kevin. I did water some jugs from the bottom, but it was almost 60 degrees yesterday so I hauled out the hose and gently sprayed into the jugs with a fine mist. I hope it was enough water. we may get snow/rain tonight, so I hope the jugs get enough moisture.
I love your site and appreciate all that you share with us.
jina
Jen Warhol says
Amazing~ I’m so envious of your talent. We just moved into a new house so all of our gardening efforts will have to start over and we have always struggled to keep our veggie plants organzied, controlled and healthy. With a big family like ours, we would LOVE to have a bountiful veggie garden. I’m going to make a strong effort to learn as much as I can and start some veggie plants this year~ your site will be a great resource!
joan says
Help my garden is a feeding ground for rock chicks. I put in a fence but they burrow under and steal most everything I plant.
Tamara says
Hi Kevin — LOVE your blog! When you say you mulch with “chopped” straw… what do you mean by chopped? How is it done? Thanks, Tamara
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Tamara – The chopped straw I use comes tightly packed in a big, rectangular bag. The straw is specially heat-treated to eliminate weed seeds. Most garden centers (I think) carry this material. It’s wonderful stuff.
Scotty Culp says
Kevin,
We have a small vegetable down here in South Texas and we are looking to expand it through our back yard. I noticed the planter boxes and wanted to know how tall are they and what do you use to hold them together? Thanks for the help, Scotty.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Scotty – The timber I used for my raised beds is roughly 12-inches tall. I built the beds the least-sophisticated way possible — without any corner posts. The corners are simply joined with wood screws.
Colleen Peck says
HI Kevin, THANK you so much for sharing and being such an inspiration. I looked thru several posts to see if someone has already asked this question but did not see it. Do you plant the same vegetable in the same spot every year? I have heard you should not do this!
Thanks! Colleen
Jan Naher-Snowden says
Kevin – I am curious as to the dimensions of your garden after you put up the fence. We are on a suburban lot 90 ft. along the street side and much less (maybe 40 ft. to the house) along the driveway. My idea was to create a raised bed (as many as possible) garden with fence in our front yard. I’ll toot my own horn – I have well-cared for perennial beds along the front of the house, along the driveway and a circular area near the sidewalk on one corner. So, hopefully neighbors will not complain – I really don’t care if they do, to be honest.
Just wanted a mental comparison before we get started next fall. Unfortunately, too many undone projects are in line first.
Thanks, Jan
Kara says
Hi Kevin, I just love your backyard garden. I planted tulips a couple years ago and it is so much fun to watch them come up in spring. Yes, I say in spring because my back yard is still covered in snow. We live in Chippewa Falls, WI and I’ve heard more snow is on the way. Crazy huh! So, I was thinking that I’d like to put some of the raised beds along the edge of my front yard because it gets more sunlight and so far now, half the front yards snow has melted. Thank you for your pictures and very detailed descriptions on how to do things! You truely are a blessing to share all your knowledge with your subscribers! kara
Mary Mac says
Kevin,
How do you keep sow bugs, armadillo bugs, pill bugs, whatever you call them, away from your strawberries? They eat most of whatever I have grow every year.
Lynda Jovanovic says
Hi Kevin,
Wish I lived closer to you so I could visit your gardens on your “special days.” I live on Vancouver Island, British Columbia (Canada). Should I ever get that far east, how would I find you in the Hudson Valley?
Luv your news letter.
Marlyn says
I’m trying out your idea of newspaper covered with shredded leaves in between my tomatoes and under my A-frame bean trellis. I also did this under my tepee trellises for my purple and yellow raspberries. I hope it works.
Marlyn says
I’m envious of your kitchen garden and all the space you have for growing vegies. I so enjoy looking at all the pictures of all your gardens. I do wonder how you can keep up with all the different chores that need to be done in such a large garden space. Perhaps giving tours is your incentive?
Lynne says
I am turning my front yard into garden, About two thirds done. There is a mix of flowering plants and space for veggies. Sadly, but also gladly, my back yard is shaded by a huge oak tree, with little room for food crops except herbs and such. But whatever it produces is a gift! This spring I will be adding another raised bed, 13′ x 3′ x 6″ to go with the existing one 13′ x 3′ x 10″. That will make it 3/4 garden. Finally I hope to convert the remaining space into the same kind of mixed flowering perennials and space for herbs and veggies. My garden if full of dreams!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Lynne – A front-yard food-garden can be a thing of great beauty. Good luck with your project!
Christine says
Kevin, your Stalag 13 is not high enough to keep the wildlife out. See you need double fencing:
http://www.retroweb.com/40acres/40acres_1970_rex_mcgee_24.jpg
Cheryl says
What a beautiful garden. I used to have something like yours, till I decided I needed chickens/ducks and geese.. Now to get that garden back in shape. I think I will have to have a 6 foot fence to keep the chickens from flying over, lol. I found homes for the ducks which I found out not only eat the grass but the roots too let alone make a muddy mess. Now to corral all their poos and let it sit a spell then use on the gardens. In no time should be back to normal, well almost.
This will be a challenge but I have determination so we will see what happens. However I plan to have a huge greenhouse this year for year around growing. Lots of these plants I had so beautiful in those gardens can now be grown in there among the veggies and such,
It will all work out in the end.
Ronna says
I really enjoy reading the conversations about gardening! Glad I found your newsletter!
Got a milk jug in the fridge right now, hoping to start some perennials. 🙂
betsy says
My sunny area is also backed to the woods. Do you have problems with ground animas burrowing to them? One year my whole garden was eaten, very frustrating. I am always fighting the ground hogs and moles, what can be done?
bets
Gail says
I love your garden. It makes me want to make changes to mine,. I do not ever get blazing sun in the Northwest, but the salad greens like that. Your garden has encouraged me to integrate the flower garden into the vegetable garden which I have kept next to each other, but separate.
I have used wet newspaper to line my areas to keep weeds out. It has worked like magic. They have been in the ground about 5 years.
I love your posts.
Elaine says
Kevin,
Your garden is beautiful! I, too, have raised beds but they are 4×4 (square foot gardening). However, I’m not completely “taken” by the square foot part – you look like you do just as well without dividing them off into square feet to plant.
I have weed resistant “fabric” between my beds and “still” have to pull weeds that come up through the fabric. Do you have a clue why?
So you’re saying that just putting on leaves in the fall is enough for the soil fertility? Have you had your soil tested? I know mine is missing something because I get a lot of foilage (green) and a good amount of veggies but it’s not prolific.
How much time in a week do you spend in your garden? Thanks for your help.
Elaine says
Your transplanting page is not there – error 404 – do you have it elsewhere?
Chuck says
Great planning, awesome garden!
Beverly, zone 6, eastern PA says
That blue cornflower is sucking me right into the picture. I love to grow food crops among flower crops. I grew a batch of mixed color cornflowers last summer and they were delightful.
Marilou says
Oh, Kevin I have so much to learn, so much to do and so little time left!
Sincerely,
Marilou
Judy walker nalda says
I love your creative, efficient, and beautiful gardens. Do you ever grow nasturtiums for your salads?
Margaret Lauterbach says
Gardeners should be very cautious about the use of straw. It’s the residue of grain plants, and if it was sprayed with a broadleaf herbicide containing Aminopyralid or Clopyralid, it can toxify your soil for three years to come, and if sprayed with Picloram, more than 10 years.
badger gardener says
Hi Kevin,
I’m wondering if you had to bury the wire mesh of your fence to keep out the rabbits. My resident rabbit is still around this winter, undoubtedly healthy from all the chard and spinach he ate out of my garden last summer. We have a chain link fence around the backyard which keeps the dog in, but is no barrier at all to wildlife.
This spring I’m pulling up some blueberries that never took off after several years of trying to keep the soil acidified enough to make room for strawberries. I have an offer of some plants from a friend so hoping I’ll get some established plants ready to produce the first year.
Hope Winter is treating you well.
Meg@5acres says
Hi Kevin,
I am so happy to have found your website today! We bought a new home that sits on 5 acres of old farmland ( mostly alfalfa growing & a few weeds;) I am planning on using your design to build our family of 7 a beautiful & functional garden! Thanks for the inspiration! Hope your garden thrives this year!
Brigid says
Thanks Kevin! I am ordering the seeds online now. I’m sure my garden won’t resemble yours at all but I’ve got ideas now. Thank you!
Susan says
I would also love to see your garden. If I am ever in your area I would love a tour. I am also interested in the animal pest control topic. Ground Hogs are about the worst garden plague there is. I am considering running chicken wire or other fencing under my enclosure this year when we build it.
Marjie T. says
Fun to tour. My garden is also on a hillside with raised beds..mostly the same materials as you use and with pretty much the same wood chips, leaves, lots of happy worms. The biggest difference is that mine looks like it fell out of the back of a plane and landed sort of in one place while yours is absolutely beautiful. So fun to see:)
Marjie T. says
Margaret, thanks for the reminder about straw!!!
Joan C. says
How do you keep ground hogs out of your garden? We have a huge monster who moved into the area lady year and tunneled under my fence to devour my cukes, watermelon, squash and strawberries. He stripped my blueberry bushes on one night, down to the stems. I tried spraying Critter Ridder and that worked for about a week.
Belinda says
Dear Kevin,
We are currently building a vacation home in the Adirondacks and have family in the Hudson Valley (Tivoli). My husband and I would so love to tour your kitchen garden some day, as we are going to be using quite a few of your ideas in the neighborhood vegetable garden we are planning for the NY house. Last year, I had great success using your milk jug greenhouses to sprout enough seedlings for ourselves and our neighbors here in Iowa. My husband and I are huge fans.
Thank you for sharing your ideas!
Belinda
Elspeth says
Hi Kevin,
I find your site so interesting and am trying wintersowing for the first time.
Last year this question occurred to me because my harvest of edibles of all kinds was disappointing: Is there such a thing as too many earthworms? A few years ago,I had bought a couple of dozen worms from the entrepreneurs who sell to fishermen ($1.25 / doz. !) I introduced them into my raised beds and other flower beds and they have prospered. I can hardly put a spade in without liberating earthworms. Have I overdone it? Are they eating my root vegs or veg. roots, and do they eat seeds?? (I understand that their “poop” is going to help my soil.)
Eagerly awaiting your opinion!
Chit says
What an inspiration you are Kevin! Thank you for sharing!
Naomi Shelton says
This is a wonderful tutorial for building a kitchen—or any other –raised-bed garden. I am going to make use of the info. Just one question: Where is the entrance and do you have a gate of some sort or just a section of the wire that pulls back?
Sharon says
Kevin, I could kiss you! You must have read my mind. I am planning a new kitchen garden for our new home & this is a wonderful version of what I envision. Thanks so much for the inspiration!
Evelyn H. says
How are you watering the kitchen garden this year? Still by hand or did you decide on a drip system of some sort and install it?
Leslie says
Can you come to Woodstock and help me plan a rebuild of gardens on our antique property?
I have so many ideas but not enough knowledge. And a lot of grounds!
SallyMichael says
We live just across the river from you and got hardly any snow at all on Wednesday. Your place looks like a wonderland with all the white stuff! Under what circumstances might we visit next summer?
Debbie says
Kevin, how do you deal with bugs? Your garden looks wonderful.
Rhonda Strahler says
Hi Kevin! After fighting a mighty battle with weeds in our traditional-style garden last year (20×60 !!) , I have decided to convert it to a raised bed garden like yours. I seems so much easier to control weeds and soil enrichment your way! We already have it fenced, so half the battle is won. Love the cardboard/woodchip path idea, and chopped straw – why didn’t I think of that!! I struggled with bales of straw last year , which didn’t quite work so well! Also gathering milk jugs at the moment to get my winter-sowing started. Thank you!!
Carolyn Contois says
Great help!!! I’m starting my seeds now!!
Pat says
Hi Kevin, Love your site and the winter sowing went great last year. I love the blue cornflower and they are going into milk jugs this week so I will have them bobbing in my garden this year. I always had trouble growing snapdragons until last summer when I had a bumper crop from one of my milk jugs. It is a fantastic way to start seeds. No more dampening off or spindly plants. Thanks so much for the great ideas.
Diane Kallal says
I want YOUR deer! lol I live in Oak Bay, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. 5 deer live behind my urban home and the rule here is – have a 7.5′ fence at the minimum. They are voracious! Thank you for your blog. Am looking forward to your book.
Ann Taylor says
Hi there!
Please help me find organic non GMO SEED COMPAIES to order seeds for my garden and for the Elementary School gardening project near my new home in Dallas Texas
Can you provide information on this subject to have and share with the science teachers/organic gardening site information. A list of seed sites would be most appreciated.
Thank you, Sincerely,
Ann Taylor
[email protected]
Ana says
Ah! There is nothing like a trip trough the garden in the middle of winter. Your garden is beautiful and I always enjoy seeing pictures of it. I gave up shredded bark in our gardens due to the fact that earwigs love it. I don’t like earwigs even a little bit .
Kristin says
Love your garden so much! We have 4 raised beds. I spread the compost from our bins in them, but have not used plain old shredded leaves. As it is now January, do you think I could still do the shredded leaves trick? Also, we are in Missouri, and we have less snow than you do. Do you think a certain amount of snowcover is essential to aid in the decomposition? I am worried that my leaves might not change much by the time I need to plant in March & April. Thanks for the help!!
Jeanne Marie says
I sort of gave up on veggie gardening years ago not very much time. You might say I am an overzealous landscaper at home as well with my clients. This year I am hoping to rebuild my raised beds. Your garden is an inspiration. I do have many different fruit trees and berries. I have a beautiful row of garlic (just popped up). Here is a great mulching tip, I leave all my ornamental grasses up over the winter for interest. Then in the spring I cut them all back and use that to mulch my berries, garlic. etc. It is far cheaper than straw and I like that fact that my plants can be of use after it’s bloom. I am also very passionate about leaf mulch so much so that I went out and bought one. Thank you for the great articles. ….Have you tried growing Saffron Crocuses? I am in
Central VT and have been growing them for 3 yrs now. I love them!
Susan Klein says
Your garden is so beautiful!
Deborah L. Marshall says
When is your next open house? I missed the last one because I did not know far enough in advance. Since I live in So. Florida it takes some planning. Let us know
melody says
Hey Kevin:
I have 2 goats. Every spring I have a stack of hay leavings that they have been sleeping on after they eat their fill. Could I use this on top of my new raised beds as mulch?
Thanks
Kate says
So impressive Kevin! If you haven’t done so in a previous blog post, can you tell a little about the construction and installation of the fence? We have deer and other critter issues and would love advice from someone who has had the experience. Thank you for all that you give us!
Jon Beattie says
Hi Kevin,
Its always so nice to see your garden. We were in the yard most of the day just putting things back together from the weekend 🙂
One of these years I hope to do the raised garden.
Take care !
Jon in RVA
Beverly, zone 6, eastern PA says
Very inspiring!
Mary Ann says
We moved from a small house in the country to a large house on 1.14 acres, where no one had
ever gardened. I left behind all my raised beds. I am gardening in pots right now, but I see
two raised beds in my future this year, at least. How I miss them! Your garden is beautiful.
Kay Frey says
Please tell us more about how you raise strawberries in a raised bed. Do you simply start a new patch every few years or are you able to keep that bed replenished by tilling under half and directing the runners grow in that half?
Gerry Dornan says
Hi Kevin
Nice updates and the Brioche looks great….I have used spent scaffolding planks for our raised beds and they have worked out great and cheap at €2.50 each 8 ft in length.
Gerry Bray Co.Wicklow Ireland
Chuck says
Just got in from a run in this Zone 3 Colorado blizzard. What a pleasure then to stretch and warm-down while touring your garden. I’ve seen photos of it before, I’ve followed your blog for ages, but I never tired of seeing the results of your creativity, hard work, and sense of humor. And heck yeah, if I get back east this summer, can I take you up on your offer to tour your gardens? I just ordered Lingonberry plants for my garden this summer as it is suppose to flourish here. Thanks again for sharing!
Ralica says
Boy Kevin, I need to move to your neck of the woods, we need 6′ fences to keep the deer out of our garden.
Sarah Goldspink says
Hello Kevin (and all!)- I have been stalking this site for a very long time and I love it, thank you for your recipes and also the renovation of your house in general. I live downtown San Jose in N. California (also renovated victorian) and am very lucky to have a very nice sized back garden.
I am COVID 19 sheltering in place and have decided to finally turn my horse troughs into veggie patches. I’m wondering and forgive if you have answered this 100 times before but does it matter what veggies are planted together? Does it matter if you plant lettuce next to a carrot or green bean? which veggies do you suggest be planted together? I did just read an old post you had on where you get your flower seeds from -do you have favorites for veggies? the big box by my house has been well picked over but i’m not too interested in buying from them anyways although did buy a seed starter tray.
thank you thank you and I hope this finds you well and safe.
-Sarah XX
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Sarah! As long as their cultural needs are met (sun, soil, food, water, space), veggies will gladly grow however you arrange them. Otherwise, there are no rules! Enjoy your garden and please stay safe and well!