Getting the Summer Garden Started (Yes, I'm Calling It Summer)

There’s something about this time of year that makes me want to spend every spare minute outside.

Technically it's still spring, but it's June 2nd and I'm calling it summer anyway.

After a long Ontario winter, the garden starts calling my name again. The days are getting longer, the soil is finally warming up, and every corner of the property feels full of possibility.

This week, I finally had the chance to start tackling some of the projects that have been sitting on my list for months.

This year I decided I wanted to grow more vegetables and add as many perennials to the property as I could reasonably afford.

Like most projects around our homestead, it's happening one step at a time.

One of the first things we tackled was removing several trees that had started growing far too close to the foundation of the house. As much as I hated seeing them go, it was one of those jobs that needed to be done before it turned into a bigger problem down the road.

At the same time, we're still dealing with the aftermath of the winter ice storm. We lost about half of our boxwoods this year, which was disappointing, but that's part of gardening. Sometimes Mother Nature has plans of her own.

We also have a large tree in the front yard that will be coming down shortly. The arborist is scheduled to take a look at it because the tree is dead, leaning heavily, and has become what most people would call a widow maker. It's one of those jobs you don't want to put off any longer than necessary.

As much as I love mature trees, safety has to come first, especially when they're close to the house and no longer healthy.

Instead of trying to replace everything all at once, I've decided to rebuild slowly and intentionally.

One of my favourite projects this week was dividing a giant hosta that had completely outgrown its space. From one plant, I ended up with six healthy divisions that have now found a home in a brand-new perennial garden I'm creating along the west side of the property.

That garden is being built completely from scratch and on a budget.

The plan is to add to it a little bit each year, divide plants whenever possible, and maybe even do a few flower swaps with friends along the way. Gardens don't have to be finished in a single season. In fact, some of the best ones are built over years.

Of course, adding more vegetables was also high on the priority list.

We decided we needed more growing space, so we built another raised garden bed.

Nothing fancy.

We used castle blocks from Home Depot and added two rows of lumber. I didn't spend the money on cedar this year because, honestly, I'm still figuring out whether this is the final design I want.

I don't know if it needs to be taller.

I don't know if I'll eventually add another row.

And I definitely don't know if the rabbits or chickens are going to decide this is their personal salad bar.

So instead of overthinking it, we used what we had and got it done.

The lumber cost roughly $35, and if this setup works well, I can always upgrade it later.

The nice thing about this location is the sunlight. It should receive close to nine hours of sun every day, making it a great spot for tomatoes, peppers, beans, onions, squash, and everything else we're hoping to grow this season.

As I worked on the garden this week, I found myself thinking about how many people never start because they think they need the perfect setup.

Social media has a way of making it seem like everyone has a greenhouse, expensive raised beds, acres of land, and unlimited money.

The truth is, you don't need any of that to grow food.

Use what you have.

Seriously.

If all you have is an old kiddie pool, turn it into a garden bed.

I've seen people grow incredible vegetables in kiddie pools.

If all you have room for is a few hanging baskets, start there.

You can grow strawberries, lettuce, herbs, peas, edible flowers, and a whole lot more.

The important thing is simply getting started.

Grow one thing this year.

Then next year grow two.

Build your garden the same way you build a homestead—one project at a time.

Too many people put pressure on themselves to have everything figured out immediately.

You don't need to.

The goal should be peace, not pressure.

That's something I'm reminding myself of this year as much as anyone else.

For now, the beds are built, the plants are going in, and another growing season is underway.

There are still plenty of projects waiting their turn, but that's part of the fun.

One project at a time.

One season at a time.

And before you know it, you've built something pretty special.

Watch the full episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/Rqh2jVFCB2M?si=12ZGH2DTdHbYAc5i