My dear sweet mother-in-law gave me this awesome book the Christmas before she passed away. She knew that someday it would come in handy as I would need to learn how to garden if we were ever blessed with a house with a yard where we could grow things. So, here we are with an acre lot and a garden plot ready to plant whenever the weather cooperates.

The area for our kitchen garden is by the fence. It was tilled before winter and will be re-tilled the end of April for planting soon after.

In the meantime, I have several little greenhouses and seed packets and an itch to grow things. I have window herb kits and cute little readymade seed cups for the girls. Someone mentioned using baseball card holders in a window as little greenhouses. We plan to do that too! Back in the South, gardens would be well under way by now! “Round here, I hear no one actually plants anything in the ground until Memorial Day! Are you kidding me?!

I am also waiting for flowers. Waiting…it’s the end of March and this Georgia girl is used to bountiferous flowers by now – azaleas, crocus (croci?), daffodils, forsythias, hyacinths, tulips…when, oh when, is spring sprung here in Utah? It is snowing AGAIN…

Here’s what we’ve gotten so far. I plan to put some of the pansies and violas in pots and the other pretty things in the flowerbeds in the back. I don’t see the front as much! I’m not sure what to do with the courtyard. It doesn’t drain very well and smells funny!

The Homeschool Village’s Garden Challenge. 
http://www.thehomeschoolvillage.com/category/hsv-garden-challenge

Since we received a few questions – we wanted to quickly address them for everyone before the HSV Garden Challenge starts in 2 weeks!
1. I am not a blogger – can we still participate? YES! Join us on our Blog Frog community (it’s free to sign up, and you can share your updates, photos, etc. for each link up date or check in more times per month!)
2. We have no land / we rent – does a pot plant count? YES! Pot plants, window boxes, herb garden, small garden, big garden … anything you plant in the ground, tend, teach your children, and pick for your homeschool use will be counted for our Gardening Challenge!
3. I have a brown thumb – everything always dies!  Are you judging gardening success? NO! We are picking random winners.  We are far more interested in the life lessons your children are learning than ripe veg! (2 years ago I planted 14 tomato plants – after bugs and an overly wet spring we harvested FOUR tomatoes (not plants – individual tomatoes) that type of experience is not “disqualified”.  Some of the best lessons come from challenges.  We are not giving out blue ribbons !!
4. I’m not good about remembering to link up – can we occasionally link up? YES!  The link ups are for your garden updates to share and encourage each other!  However – only those who have linked up every month will be entered to win the $20 Visa cards!
5. Will you offer some tips once the Challenge starts? YES! But please know we are not gardening experts.  We are joining you in the fun and learning right along side.  If you are on twitter and have a few tips to share use #hsvgarden
6. Will there be other giveaways during the Challenge? YES! We are delighted CurrClick is partnering with us in March – we have another sponsor joining us in April — and an awesome Preschool Pack for all the little ones participating!!  More details to follow!
7. Do I have to put the button on my site? NO! But its so cute why not?! Besides –  it is fun when you visit other sites and see they’re participating in the same fun as you! We encourage using the button but it is not “mandatory” to win.
8. I want to be one of the first 10 to link up, what time does the link up start? 10am est and will be open Thursday-Sunday
9. I’ve already planted can we still participate? YES! However your garden looks – March 31st is the start date.  We realize people in the far north will not be planting until mid April – if you’re starting plants inside, raking overgrown beds, or just buying seeds let us know what you are doing March 31st!

Not sure WHAT to plant WHEN?  Check out the Farmer’s Almanac Guide!
Good luck and happy gardening!
Special Thanks to CurrClick for supporting The HSV Garden Challenge in March!!

* Currclick gift certificate can be used to purchase anything from the website. * HSV Garden Button – Jolanthe, Relevant Designs

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