Inch by Inch

“Inch by inch, row by row

Gonna make this garden grow

Gonna mulch it deep and low

Gonna make it fertile ground”

Our first spring at Belle Flower Farm found us putting our foot on a shovel for our ground breaking garden. We had some experience with vegetable gardening. On our suburban lot where we were still living, Mark & I had created a sweet little parterre garden. Located just outside the kitchen door where our sons had the early experience picking sun warmed berries & tomatoes.

We hadn’t built our farmhouse yet, but with a big dream to dig in to— we hired an area farmer to till a generous garden. That first vegetable garden & following 2 years was a joyful family experience. Our kids were young and enjoyed our summer evenings spent on our property watering, weeding and watching our pumpkins grow.

In spring of 2001 we had moved into our new farmhouse and set about preparing the veggie garden in its current location. Following the tilling, Mark & I set out with a rental auger to dig holes for our fence posts. Without experience, we learned pretty quickly, you needed to be ready to lift the heavy corkscrew from the soil when it reached the desired depth. We planted raspberries, corn, pumpkins, carrots, asparagus & sunflowers along the long furrows. We assessed each morning what was left as the deer found in our smorgasbord the previous night.

We eventually replaced the low 4’ fence with its current 8’ enclosure. Topped by a collection of grapes that include Concord, champagne, and several table grape varieties. The magical tendrils soften this structure. Along with the higher fence, the next step was to create garden boxes & plan for irrigation. That summer was unforgettably hot as Mark and I trenched for pipes and set those original spray heads for each box. I designed our 55’ x  80’ garden in quadrants. Two sections of 9 boxes each and 2 sections of 4 long boxes each. A decorative diamond is the center that still is home to a trellis of Morning Glories. Cedar chairs are a welcome place to rest while tending to the garden on warm summer days.

Along the way we added orchard trees collected from One Green World. We eventually moved them to their forever orchard behind the cottage and surrounded by arbors and pasture fencing. Fruitful trees of apples, cherry, plum, fig, pear and a favorite peach tree are a sweet reward for the eye & palate. We also grow filberts, Marionberries, thornless blackberries, boysenberries, currants, strawberries & blueberries. Along with a foray into lavender farming, increasingly I have extended our cutting garden to include cottage roses, favorite perennials & annuals for floral designs.

Cherished memories of our sons picking berries for ice cream, ingredients for grilling & onion rings. Our youngest son selling pumpkins at the end of our lane each fall, riding his bike out to check the pail for sales. The time I made lemonade with currants for my son & his best friend—the tart look on their faces still makes me smile, planting our pumpkin starts as a Mother’s Day gift of labor and our dog Jack pulling carrots out of the ground and corn off the stalk for his dinner.

Harvest season is a much anticipated delight. With growing a fruitful garden I have also grown my enjoyment of preservation. Apple cider made with our custom Belle Flower Farm apple press is a celebratory annual event. And late summer hues decorate our kitchen counters as berries, tomatoes, onions, figs, grapes, peppers are prepared for favorite recipes. From tomato sauce to chutney, cobblers to “Pam Jam” all are enjoyed in the middle of winter as we share a meal with friends & family. A wonderful reminder of  this summer & summers past—making this garden grow.

“Pulling; weeds and pickin’ stones

We are made of dreams and bones

need a place to call my own

‘Cause the time is close at hand

Grain for grain, sun and rain

Find my way in nature’s chain

Till my body and my brain

Tell the music of the land

Plant your rows straight and long

Season with prayer and song

Mother Earth will make you strong

If you give her loving care.”

~Arlo Guthrie & Pete Seeger