Change is good!

Spring is very near and I believe it is going to be a great one. I know it doesn't feel like it when temperatures are in the 20's and everything is frozen, but it's all a part of the rejuvenation process. My garden is all tucked in and resting under a layer of hay. A couple of months ago I started prepping my beds as they became available, pulling up any weeds and removing plant material after harvesting whatever I had planted there. I lightly turned the top three inches of soil, added a little organic fertilizer and cotton seed meal then covered them with hay.

At home I started some tomato seeds and lettuce seeds. Some of my tomato seeds took almost three weeks to germinate while others were up in about ten days. I have had some of these seeds for several years and was not sure if they were still viable. I will definitely have to purchase new seed for next year. I guess I could save some seed from this year as well.

We have had some extremely cold weather and many plants have not survived. My lettuce and mesclun mix finally froze after several days of lows in the twenties. Cabbage, broccoli, fennel, rue, onions, leeks and strawberries have survived. I used some cabbage in chicken and vegetable soup and it was delicious. This cabbage has to be the best cabbage I have ever had and I wish I could remember what variety it was. I will look for it again where I found it last year.

There are other great things happening in our community that are worth mentioning. On Texas Avenue things are really changing. The street is ripped out in a one block section to make improvements to the utilities and then resurface the street, add decorative pavers and wider sidewalks. I think it is going to look great, can't wait to see the finished product. Other exciting news are the plans for a new community garden. A non profit organization has been formed to start what will hopefully be the first of many gardens in the community. Grow Baytown is the name of the organization and will begin construction of this garden in early spring. I believe Baytown is ready for some change and I'm glad to be a part of it. This new garden will bring people together and may lead to other good things. Perhaps a farmers market could finally be established. At the very least all this work may spark other beautification projects in the community around Texas Avenue.

Great things are happening but they will not succeed without our support. Visit local businesses, there are several restaurants, shops and entertainment venues that need our help. Or maybe you would like to get involved by gardening in the new Grow Baytown garden. Many other opportunities exist for your support, Grow Baytown, Wetlands Center, Nature Center, Off Texas Ave. Garden and the Library are just a few. I hope to see many more people around town and as always, you are welcome in my garden anytime. So stop by and visit.