Beginning stages…

Being a gardener takes a ton of devotion and love, just like music. It is one of the hobbies that has stuck with me throughout the years and one that I have become very proud of in the last few years. Like music it takes hard work, devotion, and nurturing to achieve something truly moving and beautiful. Residing in Pennsylvania has allowed my abilities in agriculture and floriculture to flourish as I have more space to grow and develop my talents through trial and error. My first attempt at gardening was in Santa Rosa California during summer breaks from college spent at my good friends home. They were so very generous in allowing me to try different things on their property, except of course digging a root cellar! These friends have become family to me as “The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life.” My auntie Pearl and uncle Dwayne really allowed me to delve into my interest in gardening and allowed me to search for what has become an important part of who I am now. During that first summer I attempted many varieties of vegetables, flowers, and hops. With my trusty dog Wagner by my side I set out and started planting and cultivating my first true garden on my own. Since then I have read way too many gardening texts and planted many gardens and have learned a lot through trial and error. I have transformed the property of my family’s business here in Pennsylvania into a showcase of the seasons where I grow a variety of vegetables and flowers and have transformed our business into a real showcase that has become the pride of our community. This year in 2016 marks my tenth year getting out into the garden and I am so anxious to get out into the dirt. Since my humble beginnings in Santa Rosa my gardens have grown vastly and I am now learning about small scale farming. My husband, Francis and I now have a small fifteen acre farmstead and I help run my business partner’s 78 acre farm in addition to my urban gardening attempts at the family business. I have included some photos of my projects over the years from bees to gardens both before and after. In the coming weeks and months I hope to share more of the adventures in gardening and farming here in my gardening section.