A Morning at Highland’s Giving Garden: Straw, Seeds, and Hope

R-4 (Rentable Vego Garden Bed #4) seed & plant placements

Field Notes:

9/17/2024 - Planted Seeds (Direct Sow)
Ferry Morse:
Broccoli - DeCicco

A Morning at Highland’s Giving Garden: Straw, Seeds, and Hope

Today, I spent the morning working on one of our Vego Garden beds, using the Core Gardening Method I learned from Luke’s YouTube channel, MIgardener. With the help of straw donated by generous community members, I lined the middle of the bed to improve moisture retention and prepare it for the cooler months ahead. The straw was initially used to separate our compost area into bays, and as it breaks down, we repurpose it to further compost or cover our garden beds. This helps insulate the soil, keeping it cool during hot summer days and warmer as the seasons shift.

After packing the straw into the bed, I covered it with soil and planted broccoli seeds along the front portion. Fingers crossed that this variety thrives! I planted 2-3 seeds per hole to increase the chances of successful growth. As a backup plan, I also started some seeds in trays, just in case the direct-sown ones don’t take. Gardening is always a game of trial and error, especially with our unpredictable Southern California weather. One day we’re dealing with triple-digit heat, and the next it drops to the 70s, only to spike again. Gardening in our bi-polar climate is definitely an adventure! 👩‍🌾