The Garden State

Thirteen years ago I moved from rural Louisiana to urban New Jersey to go to college.  I really didn't have a clue what I was getting into...

At first, I wasn't sure why New Jersey had earned the nickname "The Garden State".  It seemed like a dreary, grey parking lot of a state to me.  But, as time passed and I explored more and more of the state, I found that there were farms scattered here and there amidst the suburban sprawl.  I also found that you can grow just about anything here.  Summer here is long and hot enough for melons and peppers to bear fruit.  Winters are cold enough to set apples and pears, but not too cold for peaches.  Spring and fall are mild enough to grow lettuces, radishes and cabbages.  Turns out, "Garden State" is quite accurate.

Two years ago my husband and I finally escaped the suburbs and bought our very own little farm in Salem County.  Around the same time, I started a blog to document my progress training my horse.  It turned out to be a lot of fun and really handy.  Through my blog, I could keep track of my progress and easily go back through posts to see what I had done successfully (and avoid repeating my mistakes).   I've also gotten quite a bit of good advice and encouragement from fellow bloggers along the way.

This year, as I was going through all the hastily scribbled notes in my garden book, trying to make sense of what I had written to get ready for this coming spring, I thought to myself: "Why not make another blog for my garden?"  This way, I (hopefully) will be able to keep better track of my foibles and follies and be a bit more organized for the coming year.  Maybe.  Or, maybe I'll just have a lot of fun posting pictures and stories and chatting with fellow enthusiasts. 

Either way, I'm looking forward to it!