I’m happy to report that we survived the start of our pot* garden on Friday!
*just to be clear, I’m talking legal pot, or potS rather … as in the terra cotta kind. Or really, fake terra cotta because I’m cheap.
It was not without it’s small bumps (literally and figuratively), but now, after one trip to the plant store (virtually disaster free …ha!), ever so many snack crackers used to bribe the children, 4 skinned knees, 15 nose wipes, one disciplinary action (we SHARE the toy car, we do not extricate our little brothers and/or pull the car over on top of him), three showers, two small sun burns, and one missed nap (and possibly a partridge in a pear tree?) …
TaDa!
[Hey, you can also see my gorgeous Mother’s Day rose in the background … an idea my hubby got from the Pioneer Woman …well, don’t look too closely actually, it had a pretty hacked-up pruning experience yesterday, poor thing]
Darcy picked two veggies: yellow pepper and cucumber, Aidan picked his nose, and Chase tried to pick something sticky off the cart (ew).
I picked some herbs. I’m so excited about growing herbs! Have I mentioned this? I plan on spending some time this summer reading exactly how to utilize the plants beyond “Wow, they smell great!” and “I feel so cool for growing herbs!”. Know of any good info? Pass it along, please. 
I’m especially excited about the Lavender. I love Lavender. I have a little crush on it and utilize it as much as I possibly can. (Think: healing/relaxing, household cleaners, air freshening, etc, etc … more on that later)
So this is our start … off hand I’m thinking of adding tomato, peas, and lettuce. (Be impressed with my impressive planning ahead skills) Wishing I had enough room for some things like squash and pumpkins!
Have some suggestions for us? Please … I’m always in need of suggestions … share away! Have a favorite veggie? Share that too!
hey Ellie, fun post, thanks. Apropos, also, since I just threw the last seeds in the garden and then ran to rescue Rose from her brothers (who were soaking her with the garden hose).
Emily, so glad to know it isn’t just MY boys!
Hey Ellie,
When Caleb was really little, we lived in an apartment that had a deck. I grew an entire garden’s worth of veggies and herbs in containers on that deck! Lessons I learned: 1. Plastic is actually better than terra cotta because they don’t dry out as quickly. 2. I generally need a larger pot than I think I will–since most plants tend to get larger than I think they will (but maybe that’s just me). 3. (Related to the previous item . . .) If you can, get “dwarf” o f “container” versions of things like tomatoes–or be sure to buy a big pot, and a big trellis/cage of some kind. 4. If you plant basil, be sure to “pinch it back” as you use it (I think if you google that, it will explain–if not, let me know. It’s basically breaking or cutting off the center stem down to the side stem. It makes the plant grow bushier and fuller instead of getting tall and “leggy”). 5. Water regularly! (especially your tomatoes–otherwise they tend to crack) 6. Growing your own veggies will likely help your children enjoy a wider variety of these good-for-you foods. I love it when I send my kids out now to “harvest” for me, and they come back with a nearly empty bowl because they spent most of their time out there munching on raw green beans and grape tomatoes–among other things 🙂 You can be cultivating their love for good foods and for the God who created them as you cultivate that little garden!
Amber, this is incredibly helpful information. Thanks! Hey, also appreciate the encouragement! I’m excited for the kids to see the “fruits” of their labors. 🙂