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“— your blog was instrumental in getting me past the ‘paralysis of over-analysis’ phase of my balcony garden…I was intimidated and lacked the knowledge I needed to get started. Your ‘can-do’ style inspired me to get started and see my summer-fall season as an experimental phase of ‘research and development’…”
“—This is the most in depth, informative blog on gardening I’ve seen.”
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“My garden has doubled in productivity since I started reading here.”
“I wanted to let you know that from your guidance, I have discovered that ‘less is more.’ I was planting the old fashioned way–rows with lots of weeds to take care of–. Then I learned your secret of mulching heavily with straw and/or leaves. What an amazing difference. The soil is always ready for a seed or two in an empty spot and weeding is minimal. Last year we harvested twice as much produce in half the space.”
“Theresa, I’ve been gardening for about 40 years, and in the last 10 or so have tried my hand at gardening organically. I bought the books, read the websites, took the magazines, etc., but have been largely overwhelmed and discouraged. I happened upon TMG and have been reading for around 3 months. Now I know I can really do this!!! Thank you so very much for being so realistic and practical. And also for being so open, willing, and giving. You are a blessing!”
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“I discovered your blog just last week while searching the web for information on raised bed gardening. I was actually pricing rough-cut lumber from a local saw mill, and looking for design ideas for wooden boxes when I stumbled upon your post “Contained Raised Beds? NO WAY!” I have not left your blog since!
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“Finding your site thanks to Diane’s flowers has helped continue my education but in a very easy manner. I’ve found that your experience has confirmed that heritage gardening does not have to be exhaustive but more fun. I find your thinking about gardening assured me that my “maybe I’ll just let nature do the work” is ok and now I’m learning why.”
“Just read your post on Garden diversity- as always excellent, thorough and you have this ability to give all the information one might need in a nutshell – keeping the reader engaged all through.”
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” I read each post you write as though I am a sponge; sucking up every last word you write, and holding onto it tightly. … your philosophy on gardening is inspiring. I feel light years ahead of some of my friends who have been gardening for much longer than I, and it is all thanks to you and your easy to read, vital information.”
“I just read your post on using straw once sprayed with 2-4D. Then I read a few more snippets … I think I’m in love…just to find an organic gardener blogging in such a practical way.
It is a fact that we live in a world with more than a few undesirable chemicals infiltrating the world we live in, but we have to understand what will decompose, what is persistent, and how to proceed. … reading your commonsense words just made my day. ”
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” I think there are more people than you know who would love to garden with your ideas – they just don’t know it’s possible.”
“Your postings ALWAYS shed light in a slightly different way —. It’s like taking a walk around the garden with a favorite friend who can be relied on to share the truth.”
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Reading your blog and the information about your book has given me hope that I can try again (to garden), this time with much greater success and a lot less work.”
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“Last fall I found TMG and purchased your book. I took to heart your wisdom and applied it to my garden. I added lots of leaves and organic matter. After I planted my garden and applied lots of mulch I have done nothing but harvest. My garden is not perfect but my family is eating, tomatoes, potatoes, squash, okra, cucumbers and swiss chard. That is a complete 180 (degrees) from the previous 2 years. Real soil works, mulch works! If you are a new reader to TMG …unplug from Big Food and the chemical marketing matrix!”
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Beautiful story and beautiful garlic!
Can a mulch of straw/hay keep a hay field from intruding into the garden? Can it prevent hay from growing up in the garden. It is too much right now to turn the whole planting area but would like to mulch between the raised beds to keep the hay and other weeds from intruding. One small raised bed, at a time. Also, I will assume the method to grow garlic is the same as any other deeply drilled and treated (organic matter) raised bed. I also have ginger and turmeric that I want to grow in same area (around the outskirts of the vegetable garden. Thanks so much.
I read your article with great pleasure; we grow alliums and herbs here at Jackson Farm (www.jacksonfarm.com ) and I would like to get a few bulbs of the Taylor garlic to try in North Carolina. How can I get some to plant this fall ?
Tom Jackson
Loving your real life stories as always Theresa. You have such a way with words. Fascinating results for the garlic under the straw. Btw, I would love to grow Lisa’s garlic.
Lisa’s kind offer, with no expectations of you answering the door when you had no energy for socializing, and “no expiry” so that you could wait until you were ready, is a model of consideration and respect. I will remember it for occasions when I want to offer help to someone experiencing serious illness in the family. So often the recipient does not have the time or energy to chat, and if you’re still a stranger, it is even more difficult in an intensely private time. How wonderful that you have gained such a lovely friend nearby through your blog.
Theresa
I was just reading about different types of garlic and I want to grow garlic with those qualities, but it gets very cold here in Michigan and I don’t know if they are suited for our conditions. I am growing the hard neck German garlic as it is the best for hard winters.
I have harvested some of the scapes and they were very good, but I learned too late that you are supposed to pick them early (the scapes).
The garlic bulbs are not quite ready. They are mulched, so I am hoping for some big ones. I didn’t plant very much, but I don’t eat that much.
Lisa and her husband sound like such nice wonderful people. How refreshing in today’s world.
Don
Theresa,
What a lovely story! Yes, I would like some Taylor garlic and to let Lisa and her husband know how impressed I am with their garlic crop and the curing shed set up.
We had a very good garlic year…ours are curing in the basement; we had a good dry spell and harvested just before a heavy rain. So nice not having to pull them out of mud. The past couple of years, the timing wasn’t right, and a lot of wrappers were gone by the time we could get in to harvest. We use straw mulch as well.
Green blessings,
Gail
I’m in Greenville SC, with an urban, no till, heavily mulched garden. I have been looking for a hardneck garlic just like the “Taylor” variety you described, please put me in touch with Lisa, thanks
Beautiful story. And they sure know what they’re doing with their garlic. Looks beautiful! I would like to order some for the fall planting.
I would love to get some of the Taylor garlic. Please let me know how to reach Lisa. Thanks so much. Barbara
Loved the story. I would like to know how to get some of the garlic, also. Thanks.
What a wonderful story! I am so relieved to hear you have such great”neighbors”
On the garlic side of things: i did not mulch my garlic as thick this year as I did last year and my garlic was much smaller this year. Also, a lot of it split and will have to be used right up.
I have a question for you and Lisa.
How do you get your garlic so clean and beautiful? I try to clean mine but it looks so dirty no matter what I have tried. So I feel bad sharing it since it looks kind of bad. I do love the taste tho
Theresa,
I’m always very interested to see your pictures/posts and see how your coming along in your garden. Your sweet neighbor, Lisa, has touched my heart with her kindness towards you and also given me more inspiration to “do likewise” when the opportunity arises. In your giving of yourself (time, information, inspiration) to us as readers of your blog, you have received as well. How wonderful! Thank you for sharing this story. Also, I would love to purchase some of the Taylor garlic especially since it has been adapted to growing in my (VA) climate.
Thank you so much for your wonderful response to this post.
I too felt that Lisa’s words were so considerate and just the right ones needed for the situation at the time.
As Heather pointed out by saying that she will remember Lisa’s words, I think Lisa’s kindness has inspired and it will have a rippling effect and touch many through all of you.
Aileen, you mentioned straw/hay as mulch. You may want to review my post http://tendingmygarden.com/hay-or-straw-which-to-use-for-mulch-2/
I understand from what you said that you are not able to prepare the ground properly now in mid season. Thus, heavy mulch (straw, pine needles, dried grass clippings, wood chips) will “help” keep the weeds down. It would certainly be better than leaving the bare ground to collect even more weeds.
But in order to be almost free of weeds, all weeds and their roots need to be removed and then put down mulch. Then as time passes, and weeds that were missed show themselves, you’ll continue to remove them until finally a weed seldom shows itself in your beds or paths.
When you say raised beds — do you mean framed raised beds or naturally raised beds (raised by double digging) as described in my book?
And yes, garlic likes a soil with high organic matter.
Hope this helps Aileen.
Toni, my garlic doesn’t look so clean and beautiful either. As soon as she can, I’m sure Lisa will get on here and leave an answer for you about how she does it.
To all who expressed interest in obtaining Lisa’s Taylor garlic: I’ll be in touch soon.
Theresa
please provide contact info for “Taylor” garlic
What a wonderful friendship and beautiful story!
I, , too, am in the VA (the Fauquier County area) and am very interested in trying some Taylor garlic! It sounds perfect for my home garden and the flavor sounds like just what my family prefers!
I have not had much luck, surprisingly, with garlic in the Williamsburg area and would love to try Lisa’s garlic. Please share her contact info and will give it a try.