Monday, May 4, 2009

Gardening + Giveaway



Remember how I said that my items are often created for a particular person? I hardly ever do this, but this one is made for... well, me. Each year when I plant seeds in our garden, I keep the seed packets to refer to as the season progresses, but they usually become a jumbled mess in a dilapidated box. So this year, I made a seed journal to keep things neat and organized. I made room for a seed packet to be attached to each page, along with room for notes about where and when I planted the seeds:



Along about January, when the winter doldrums are at their worst, I like to start planning where things will go. Here is our plan for this year:



We planted our cold weather crops like peas, spinach, lettuce and arugula in March and early April according to plan, but the weather hasn't been cooperating much so far. They're finally popping up, though, and hopefully the rain and cool temperatures will ease up just a tad this week to give them a chance to catch up. I just discovered the first volunteer tomato seedling for this year, so our plan will likely go awry, but that seems to be my style of gardening:



Something new this year: I have given my seven year-old daughter her own plot. She can plant whatever she likes and she is responsible for tending it. I found this interactive kitchen garden planner on the Gardener's Supply website and she enjoyed moving the pieces about and deciding which vegetables she wants to grow. She's so excited and is checking every day to see how her veggies are coming along.

This is from a few years ago, but is one of my favorite past photos of our garden. I was especially lucky to catch that little nymph on camera:



Now, time for the best part of today's post. I promised another blog giveaway — so, how about a seed journal of your very own? To enter, please leave a comment below before Friday, May 8, 2009 at 9:00 am CST. I will use a random number generator to choose a winner and post the result at that time. Don't forget to check back then, and best of luck to you!

26 comments:

  1. a seed journal - what a lovely idea! and thanks for the link to the interactive planner. am going to have some fun with MY seven year old :)

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  2. oh my gosh, your garden plan makes my head spin. you guys are so totally organized, it's quite amazing. :)

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  3. Now that I figured out how to write a comment... Your seed journals are great! Do you have to be a new customer to win one?! When are you thinking you will plant your next set of crops? I'm not sure, myself...

    Paige

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  4. Paige, you're definitely in the running. :)

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  5. What a beautiful journal. OK now, I'm inspired to do some planting!

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  6. i love this seed journal, christy, and your garden too!

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  7. Dawn Puderbaugh HodgesMay 4, 2009 at 4:12 PM

    Christy,
    I love the seed journal and your garden. Drew is obsessed with seeds and growing things. I love that! This year the Easter bunny even left carrot seeds.
    Dawn

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  8. Oh, I wish I'd had one of these for all the years I've gardened. Every year I wonder which plants were the ones that did well. The journal is so beautiful.

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  9. Christy,
    While I too keep a seed journal, along with notes and plant labels from all the other plants in my garden, the first thing that popped into my head when I saw your seed journal was how nice ideas journal it would make! I do a lot of embroidery incorporating botanical images, and I often think of my inspirations and snippets as "seeds" that might one day grow into finished pieces! Love it <3

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  10. Wow, that's an impressive plan for a garden! I'd love to be more organized like that.

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  11. How inspiring! What a beautiful journal! I planted my first veggies this year - the lettuce is delish....

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  12. So sweet, beautiful journal,garden and blog. So inspirational.

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  13. OH I love this journal!! I would love to win it!

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  14. That's one thing I would love to have... a garden... snif... But I have a friend (whom I envy) who has just started to grow her own veggies in a tiny garden she has. I'm sure she would love that journal!! I promise I'll give it to her if I win :-)

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  15. Your journal is beautiful, your garden inspiring! Thanks for the opportunity to enter to win, hope I do as I would love to document my own garden. Nothing quite like watching things grow from seeds in the spring and become something truly amazing.

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  16. What a gorgeous journal, it is just beautiful, and I would be honoured to win!

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  17. That is a beautiful journal! What a sweet post!

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  18. Wow what a great idea I would love a seed journal! Count me in!
    Carla
    cpullum(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  19. that is the perfect green!

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  20. Oh, it's so beautiful! And what a clever idea... we always try something new every year--my husband picks out one or two things too--and it'd be nice to have a way to keep track of that. This, and crop rotations.

    It's so pretty.

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  21. my husband has planted a large vegetable plot in our backyard, but neglected to write down where everything is located. (a "diagram" is rumored to exist...) your seed journal is such a simple and lovely solution.

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  22. hi - here via heather

    the seed journal, and your garden are lovely :)

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  23. Thank you all for the thoughtful and entertaining comments that you've left over the past week. Without further ado, the random number generator has chosen #15. So, 11studio, you are the winner. Congratulations! Please send an email to christy[at]thepetitepress[dot]com with your full name and mailing address, and I will send it out to you. Thanks, everyone, and be sure to check back in a month or so for another giveaway!

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