Designing A New Big Garden - Part 1
In this series I contemplate what I would do if I had to start all over again, with the goal of creating a new garden. In this installment, I discuss size, grade, sun exposure and soil preparation.
A viewer recently asked me what I would do if I was starting all over again as a gardener. This is a question that is often on my mind, because it is very likely that I will be starting all over again at some point in the next ten years.
Yes, sadly, my current home will not be my final home, despite all the time and energy I’ve put into it, the property, and my beloved 2,500 square foot vegetable garden. The main reason for this is due to the location’s lack of proximity to civilization. There is no public transport, nothing is within walking distance, and it costs at least $50 to take a cab anywhere. I love it out here, but it’s no place to grow old without an extended family network for support. I have two kids, but I have no idea what kind of life they will have when they leave home, and I want them to feel free to go where they want and chase down their dreams. So at some point we will have to move.
The prospect of moving brings me sadness at the thought of losing this lovely property; but at the same time, I think it will be fun to use all the knowledge that I have gained over the years to design a whole new garden space… which brings us back the question at hand: what will I do?
2,500 square feet is enough
Every year I muse at the thought of making my garden larger. I have the space on my current property which is almost two acres in size - but every year I come up against my natural limits in terms of time, energy and interest. Even with a no-till/heavy mulch set up like mine, the garden takes up time - and time is a finite resource.
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