Wordless Wednesday -- Growing Garden

Our non-GMO tomato plants!

A New Leaf... Vegetable Gardening

When late spring hits, my husband is transformed into a farming machine. Even though we are in a suburban area, over a third of our backyard, which isn't large by most people, get prepped for gardening of the vegetable varieties. This year, his summer obsession also has been transformed as we're almost exclusively planting non-GMO (non-genetically modified food) plants, which he started from seed -- I threw some random seeds from store-bought cantaloupe, squash, and peppers into a pot to see if any of them would grow, and a few of them decided to sprout up!

But since we'd grow vegetables, we decided to grow ones which hadn't been genetically modified for the good of our family. I don't want my daughter to become a science experiment on reactions to alterations of natural foods. For more ideas of avoiding non-GMO foods, visit Healthy Child, Healthy World.

It was our first year starting plants from seed, so that in itself was an experience. Most seeds sprouted, but since the seeds had not be altered in any shape or form, some became sick and never made it to be planted outside. But most are now thriving outside, and we're anticipating full-flavored, organic tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, okra, and even corn -- I think we're the only ones in the city growing corn in our backyard!

The Freeloader is Gone!

It's frustrated my husband immensely for the past month. We both have spent several hours scouring the internet, inquiring of other gardeners for solutions, and trying making strong attempts to get this freeloader. The hubs has trapped a possum and 2 squirrels in the process. But today was the glorious day...we trapped the groundhog who was terrorizing our garden for the past month!

I'm actually not as excited about this as my husband -- I've discovered that I don't have the green thumb and need more than Miracle Grow to get my plants abundantly lush and healthy; I can grow weeds well though. But I could tell the hubs was elated when he did his after-work-check-in-on-the-garden routine and found 'ole fatty, locked up in the cage. Fatty has eaten well, devoured our beans, snacked on peppers, and ate the middle sections of our now tall okra. But his feasting days are done! Oh glorious day!

Can our bean plants still produce beans before the frost?

Unwanted visitor

No one likes moochers, and we have one...in our garden. I don't even think our groundhog is this cute...
It needs to go so our bean plants have a chance. We sprinkled Epsom Salt all over the garden last night. Any other tricks?