We started planting from seeds about eight weeks ago, which means it’s time to start moving these little guys out to the great outdoors. So far we have broccoli, asparagus, hot peppers, sweet peppers, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, spinach and various lettuces growing in the house. Still to come will be brussel sprouts, snap peas, cucumbers, soy beans and potentially more!

In order to give our new veggies the best sun in the back yard, Gary and I moved the shed about 30 feet to the back of our yard. Here are the three 4×8′ raised beds that we built this weekend!

While we’re at it… Gary and I were also down in Barrington, RI this weekend to help out with the renovations to the home Gary grew up in before moving to Vermont at age 11. We snatched up (with heavy shoveling) a ton of hostas from the yard and replanted them in ours.

Here’s a look at the stone wall and landscaping Gary has endeavored on to the left of our driveway:

What have you been up to in your own yard? Want to start a veggie garden of your own but have no idea where to start? First, there is an endless amount of information for free on the Internet or for a quick $12 bucks at Amazon. But for a quick fix in Eastern MA try Jennifer at The Edible Yard. Better hurry!

One of her tips that helps me grasp the issue best is making your own salad dressing (which I do a lot of in the summer, thanks to this shaker). Think about how much work and fuel is required to bring all those little contents from around the world and into a $3 jar, when you could have just mixed it up quickly at home.

I’m already very eager for our own gardening this year! I want to make sure I track down the right seeds since six companies – Monsanto, Syngenta, DuPont, Mitsui, Aventis and Dow – now control 98 percent of the world’s seed sales. Oh, and the chemicals that go along with them.

A couple of great resources mentioned in the book:

• Barbara Kingsolver’s own Animal, Vegetable, Miracle website, where she shares tips, resources and recipes mentioned in the book
  
• Seed Savers Exchange: A non-profit organization of gardeners dedicated to saving and sharing heirloom seeds passed down for generations.
• Slow Food International: A global, grassroots movement that links the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment.
• Local Harvest: Helps you find a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program near you, typically involving a membership fee and then access to weekly or monthly basket of produce.

Stay tuned for more as our garden grows!