Simons Says, Grow Your Own

By: Wes Simons | May 08 2010
Posted in Seattle - Grow It - Seattle

Winter in the Pacific Northwest has been mild this year and that means that there won’t be frost on the ground much longer. And with no frost, it’s time to lace up the boots, grab a shovel and start getting the ol’ garden ready.

After living in downtown Bellingham for the last five years, I’m excited to finally have the space to start a vegetable garden. I’ve never had my own garden before but I’ve got plenty of tools and a little bit of know-how gleaned from working as a landscaper. Hopefully the combination of the two, plus a little advice from my vegetable-inclined mom, will have my plate heaping full of fresh veggies by summer.

Photo: Wes Simons

We’re in the preliminary stages now, and that includes mostly cleaning and planning. The spot we are using had a garden in it last year so there are a few cabbage carcasses that need to be exhumed. Luckily, weeding was always my specialty as a landscaper so we’re off to a good start. I’m hoping to grow a variety of vegetables including beans, potatoes, squash, zucchini, tomatoes, cucumbers and some herbs in our green house.

As a writer I have a strong desire to chronicle even the most irrelevant events, but my hope is to create an entertaining written and visual account of the goings on in the garden. Readers should be able to follow along and hopefully pick up a few tips and tricks that I, always willing to take one for the team, will go ahead and learn the hard way.

Check back every week or so for updates and please don’t hesitate to leave a few informational tidbits if you’re a experienced gardener!