Friday Favorite: The Little Things
One of my favorite things about gardening is that it makes me slow down and notice the little things in nature. Whether it’s the tiny pollinators hovering over the cilantro blooming, or the way different plants change throughout the season. This past week I was pulling the green beans and was fascinated by the nitrogen nodules on the roots.
The beans were pulled and layered on the soil right where they were planted. They will smother any weeds and provide a nitrogen rich mulch. There’s no point in taking them to the compost pile when they will break down by next spring. I’m all about finding more efficient ways to accomplish my goals.
If you have children, gardening can be a fantastic way to get them interested in biology and science. It’s a great learning opportunity, particularly in teaching them about symbiotic relationships. I love knowing that these green beans are harvesting nitrogen and providing it to the plants growing around them and the plants that will follow them. It’s an amazing process and one I am so happy to be able to observe!
What amazing things have you noticed in the garden this week?
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Shelburne Farms: The Market Garden
On the second day, we also spent time walking around the market gardens at Shelburne farms. In this space they raise all the fruits, vegetables, and flowers used in the restaurants on site as well as to sell in the local farmers market. It’s quite an amazing garden, we thoroughly enjoyed touring this real working farm.
In addition to this large space filled with high tunnels, beds of flowers, herbs, fruits, and vegetables, they had several large fields that were planted in cover crops. From what we were told, they rotate vegetables and cover crops in order to maintain a more sustainable system. If you ever happen to get to Shelburne Farms in Vermont, make sure you go off the beaten path and find your way to the Market Garden.
See more posts about Shelburne Farms:
Shelburne Farms
The Formal Garden
The Edible Garden
