GUIDE





Bookmark this site to follow the successes and failures in my garden next spring.

I'll be including a "journal" section with lots of pictures and information direct from my vegetable garden!

Tools and Stuff


   Which gardening tools you decide to invest in depends on factors such as garden size, the kinds of vegetables you grow, and your budget. Many tools are essential.  A hoe is necessary for weeding and making rows.   A garden rake to level the soil.  But what about a rototiller?  If your garden is large, you may not want to turn the soil with a shovel every year.  In that case, a rototiller would be a good investment. If you're not sure you want to spend the hundreds of dollars a good rototiller can cost, you can always rent one, or borrow one from a friend or neighbor.  

Among other tools you'll find useful, if not necessary, are:

  • Shovel-For turning and moving soil.
  • Trowel-A hand-held small shovel for transplanting small plants.
  • Spading Fork-A pronged shovel. For harvesting root vegetables.
  • Wheelbarrow-Almost essential. Useful for moving supplies.
  • Tape Measure-For measuring rows and distances between plants.
  • String-I use string tied to sticks for straight lines.
  • Garden Hose-For watering and some fertilizer applications.
  • Sprayers-For applying pesticides evenly.
  • Portable Radio-Gardening should be fun! Classical, News, Rap, "the game", Country, Pop, Rock, Jazz...whatever you like, bring it along!

When purchasing tools, it's tempting to try to cut your expense by purchasing less costly ones. I've done that too, and usually had to go out the next year and buy another one after the cheap one broke.  If you are serious about your garden, and plan to garden year after year, buy a good tool and take care of it.

You should always clean your tools when your done using them for the day, and NEVER leave your tools outside!  They should be stored indoors, protected from the weather.

MAIN PAGE

   

Site created by Kent Blaum
Copyright©1998- Northern Web Design-All Rights Reserved
There's nothing quite so satisfying as being able to walk out the back door and pick the makings for dinner right from your own garden. Whether you maintain a plain little plot of tomatoes and lettuces or are planning an elaborate, formal potager, there are a number of great books to consult for practical advice and inspiration. Here are some of the best.


BOOK The New Kitchen Garden
A Complete Practical Guide to Designing, Planting, and Cultivating a Decorative and Productive Garden
by Anna Pavord
Retail Price: $29.95
bn Price: $20.96
You Save: $8.99 (30%) More Info

This well-designed book offers a series of detailed plans for a variety of kitchen garden types, including an "exuberant" potager, a salad and herb garden, a formal fruit garden, a vegetable patchwork, a cottage garden, and more. Alphabetically arranged sections on planting and cultivating a wide variety of vegetables and fruits are also included, along with chapters on propagation, crop rotation, and other practical topics. Color photographs and clear drawings appear throughout.

BOOK Heirloom Vegetable Gardening
A Master Gardener's Guide to Planting, Seed Saving, and Cultural History
by William Woys Weaver
Retail Price: $45.00
bn Price: $31.50
You Save: $13.50 (30%) More Info