My Bedford Potting Shed is One Year Old

Actually, the windows and doors are over a hundred years old! The windows came from the Monroe New Hampshire Town Hall, and the doors came from who knows where- I got them both at Admac Salvage Company in Littleton, NH. The white cedar shakes are turning a light gray. I put a trellis on each side of the doors this spring with morning glory and honey suckle. The shed has been fun to have. Sometimes we have coffee and tea out there in the morning. It’s always warm and bright. It has pleasant smells- a nice mix of drying herbs, potting soil and organic fertilizers. (Click on the photo for a bigger view.)

I’m storing potatoes there for now. I got about 20 pounds of red potatoes from the garden. Aside from the rhubarb and beans, it was the most satisfying crop I grew this year. The blueberries did ok too. I planted a couple new bushes this spring (very hearty Northland). I’ll add a couple more bushes next year.

Overall, it wasn’t a good year for gardening in New England. The garden veggies were pretty much a bust. A fungus got to the tomatoes. Most of the tomatoes rotted on the vine. It’s been cold, and we had nearly record rainfall in June and July. The worms are happy! I’ve never had so many worms in the garden.

Wild flowers thrived. They seem to grow if it’s rainy or dry. The garden is covered with wild Morning Glory, Marla, Queen Anne’s Lace, Daisies, Black-eyed Susan, and Joe Pie Weed. I might let them takeover and give the garden a rest next year. Or not. It’s hard not to plant veggies even if they don’t do well. I would miss caring for them, watering, weeding, and watching over them in the morning with a cup of tea. There’s something about growing food; it’s like hunting- it takes us back to our roots. I think we’re programmed to do it- it’s in our born memory. So I’ll look forward to next year and maybe a better crop.