Even though I'm heading to the mountains tomorrow to ski and continuing my snow dance for big powder, spring fever struck me hard today.  Temps in the low 70s, shorts and sandals and time in my community garden plot pushed me over the edge. 

The kids mom Marianne and I decided last fall we wanted to put a garden in and see if we had what it took to be successful gardeners.  Following a few nail biting weeks on the wait list we got a plot at one of Boulder's community gardens.  This program is really cool.  For $52.00 a season we get out own piece of land to take care of....our plot is 13 x 22 and the previous gardener built a really beautiful trellis.  It is partially fenced as well.  The program provides water taps and a locked tool shed (with tools) for our use.  Thursday night we had orientation and leaned alot....like if we don't keep it weeded the community will take our plot away.  (Lots of pressure here...)  Regardless we are moving forward.  

Over the next few weeks we'll spend some time deciding how to lay out our garden, getting it tilled, adding compost, picking rocks and getting dirty.

I grew up around gardening.  My grandmother had a massive garden that Michigan Sis and I spent hours and hours slaving in as children.  At least is what it felt like at the time.  As grown ups we are pretty certain we were not put into servitude as child labor, and probably spent no more than 15 minutes a day maximum helping Grandma pick strawberries and the like.....of which most went right in our mouths.  Michigan Mom and Dad also planted a garden.  My biggest memory with my folks' garden is of harvesting the potatoes.  Not sure why that sticks in my head, but it does.  Maybe because it was fun rummaging in the soil as dad dug around the plants and turned over the ground to bring up the spuds?  

All this gardening reminiscing and planning drove me to head to the store and get some seeds.  I felt absolutely compelled to start TODAY.   I planted 4 varieties of peppers, 1 early tomato hybrid, basil, cilantro and parsley.  If all goes will in a couple of months I'll have the makings of some awesome salsa and pico de gallo!  

I splurged on some little green house containers to launch my seeds.  The greenhouses come with this little pressed packs of Mulch about 1/8" thick.  All you do is add warm water and they explode into little beds for the seeds.  Then you carefully drop the seeds in, cover with dirt and cross your fingers!  

Here's what it looked like at the start:

Now, after the water:

Finally the finished greenhouse with seeds:

Container gardening here I come!!!  (Hopefully.....)