Ode to Garlic

Posted By on November 12, 2009

I was so excited to get my garlic garden started this year. I have wanted to plant a huge garlic garden for years now. After my weekend in Myrtle Beach I was ready to get down to business. I had the garden disced while I was gone so I was hoping for fluffy soil so I could plant the garlic. Alas, this was not the case. I have such hard clay soil I can’t even imagine how I got anything to grow there this summer. I broke down in tears. Quinn told me to order topsoil so that I could get it planted.

Nutrisoil was delivered

Nutrisoil was delivered


Well, I have the dirt. Now I have to make it usable for planting. The boys and I have dug and mixed and shoveled. I don’t know what I would have done without them helping me.
Enjoying a well earned treat

Enjoying a well earned treat


Here they are enjoying an ice cream bar. I love it when you can pay workers in ice cream. We are still not done though.
Preparing the beds.

Preparing the beds.


The boys and I finally got two rows of beds dug and amended and I got out there and marked the holes for the garlic. Quinn made me the template.
Last years crop

Last years crop


I have been storing these jewels all summer just waiting for the right time.
Finally going in the ground

Finally going in the ground


Samuel and Jacob working so hard getting the cloves in the ground.
Look at this!

Look at this!


We made new discoveries.
Who doesn't like digging in the dirt?

Who doesn't like digging in the dirt?


We played in the dirt all morning. It was even a school lesson. Each template has 21 holes. We turned the templates 8 times per row. How many cloves did we plant? Neither of my boys hesitated. It took me a bit longer to figure out that they were right! Amazing.
Adding the compost

Adding the compost


After all the cloves were in the ground we added compost amended with bone meal to each hole. When the garlic starts to sprout I will add six inches of hay to insulate it over the winter. Garlic needs the cold to set the bulb. If you wait until spring to plant the garlic your cloves will be smaller. I am hoping for a good crop so that I can make garlic powder/granulated garlic. Yumm. Hopefully that will be for sale in July.

Y’all come back now!

Categories: Family, frugal living, homesteading, schooling
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About the author

I am a work at home Mom of two of the best boys ever. I am a Nationally Certified Master Groomer and have been grooming out of my home for the last 12 years. We have recently moved to Greenbrier Tn on 27 acres. We are new to the "homesteading thing" but we are excited to learn. We hope to be filling our farm with many critters and a garden. We are homeschoolers so everything is a unit study to us. It has been fun to see the boys help Dad cut firewood. We will also be learning how to build a chicken coop in the near future as well. I have been making handcrafted soap lately as well and I am seeing an improvement in that business as well. It is all natural vegetable and goat milk based soaps. Can't wait to share this experience with everyone.

Comments

3 Responses to “Ode to Garlic”

  1. Christy says:
    November 18, 2009 at 11:16 am

    I look forward for the next great story:)

  2. Gaylene says:
    November 13, 2009 at 8:29 pm

    Glad it worked out. Excited to get some fresh garlic powder next summer! Looks like you all worked hard, especially the boys.

  3. Kris Vazquez says:
    November 13, 2009 at 11:41 am

    What great boys you have – helping out Mom! I wish we could pay everyone in icecream :) Can’t wait to buy some of your powdered garlic!

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