Building my Dream Garden (Part Two)

Hey y’all!

Welcome back to the Set Apart Gardens family. Today has been a busy one, and I’m so glad you’re here to hang out with me while I get some work done. Between up-potting, tending to the chickens, and getting my hands in the dirt, there is a lot to catch up on.

Getting the Foundation Right

Right now, I am still hand watering because I haven't set up my irrigation yet. It is a process, but establishing these beds is the priority. I’ve been working on a bed of purple sweet potatoes that my grandma and auntie brought me, along with some tomatoes I had to rescue and uproot.

I’m also trying something new with garden fabric. That’s cutting holes to plant through to see if that’s an efficient way to keep the weeds out. And I have to tell y'all, I’m not measuring everything out perfectly; I’m just sowing by the spirit! This is my first year getting this far in the process, and I’m allowing myself to not be perfect.

Lessons in the Soil

One thing I’m really excited about is the onions. I’ve put in about 160 yellow onions and 80 red onions. I also decided to tuck some sunflowers into the corners of my tomato beds. I’ve seen other homesteaders grow them so big and tall, and I’m hoping they’ll be a "trap crop" for the disrespectful insects or rabbits trying to munch on my tomatoes.

But gardening isn't just about the plants; it’s a balancing act of mindset and execution. I’m learning to be happy with where I am today. Even if I’m using sticks for trellises instead of fancy cattle panels right now, I have to be proud that these beds are even established and fertilized. It has to look like a mess before it looks beautiful. So, this is the lesson I got.

Why Self-Sufficiency Matters

People ask me why I’m working so hard out here. Honestly, it goes back to a conversation I had with my husband during COVID. We were living in a nice suburban home, and he asked me, "If everything goes to hell, what skills are you bringing to the table?" At the time, I was still burning grits and rice! I realized then that I wanted to be an asset to my family.

Now, I’m teaching my children how to be self-sufficient. It’s important that Mama can "hang with the big dogs" and use my brain and hands to produce food. Whether it’s learning to butcher chickens or managing our garden budget, which is a skill I’ve been honing since I got my first prepaid card at age eight, it’s all about growth.

Managing the Day-to-Day

I’ve been out here for an hour and 33 minutes, and that’s my limit before the heat hits the 90s and I get burned out. I still have a full day ahead of me:

• Sorting and ironing laundry.

• Vacuuming four rooms.

• Ghostwriting a book for a client.

• Cooking barbacoa beef in the crockpot.

If you’re thinking about starting a garden, just start from here, as I started building my dream Garden. If you’re afraid of being overwhelmed, you probably will be at some point, but self-management is a real thing. Take it one bed at a time, keep your journal handy, and enjoy the work in progress.

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Peace and blessings!