In 2018 May I was married to my college bestie.Don’t worry this is not a mushy Anniversary post,though that’s something I will write one day .

Today it’s about the movie Avatar,square foot gardening and how green plants helped me root myself .

People say women are born twice .Once when they are actually born and reborn once when they are married.I am not going to debate the logic of this because technically the same can be said about men.As I mentioned it’s the movie Avatar which has an explanation behind my fertile imagination.

I believe it’s the wisdom of the ages ,that nature shares with those who help nurture and protect it.Since the time I started my balcony garden in 2014 ,I have become more centered than I ever was.I can now talk sanely to my own brain, to find out what really gives me calmness of mind.Its not a perfect system.But it’s the best I have.But more on that later.I am waiting for the Way of Water ,to give me some more food for thought.

But I digress .

Today let me take you on a tour of my kitchen garden in the village .It’s roughly 1400 square feet rectangular piece of land to the north of our village home .With the paving taking up some space, we have approximately 1000 square feet for planting.Its surrounded by large magestic mango tees,jackfruit trees and various foliage of the wild kind.We acquired this plot in late 2020 .Barren and not much growing under the shade of bigger trees we were wondering what to do ,when we thought of growing what we liked to eat.

What we have grown in our Square foot garden.

It started slowly with bottle gourd,pumpkin,spinach .Then we grew ridged gourd ,snake gourd,okra,dhaniya or coriander ,chillies,lemon,banana,papaya ,mustard greens,bayleaf,broccoli,bitter gourd,curry leaves,sajne/moringa ,carrots,radishes and variety of green leafies.

The moringa is a big tree .We have two such for a very long time,but they were not very productive.With good quality of manure added to the soil ,that has changed.

My daughter now eats more variety of vegetables (not as much as I would like though) than before.The best part is we eat fresh .There’s really no replacement to eating fresh and local.

Life changed forever.That’s why on my blog I share my garden journey whenever I can.

10 Things to Start a 1000 square foot garden.

1.Rent,lease,buy or use the land you have .

2.Add organic compost,manure available locally.

3.Talk to someone local ,who grows vegetables in that area.

4.Plant in season, local plants ,veggies and fruits.Eat seasonal and local.

5.Remember to do adequate research before co-planting plants .

6.Keep space between different vegetables to avoid overcrowding.

7.Use the vertical space to create scaffolding for climbers ,creepers .This makes for full utilization of the land.

8.Water right according to plant.

9.Take care of pests .

10.Harvest on time.Thank the universe and enjoy the food on your plate.

I am writing this for CauseAchatter by Blogchatter