Lord willing, I will be leaving the workforce in June.
Starting an organic garden is tempting.
At the Home & Garden Show I saw an 8 x 10 greenhouse which was really well (Amish) built with lots of nice features.
I need to order soon to get the “show special” what I wonder is:
1. Is it that beneficial (I’m “green” at this, not green thumbed
2. Is it more work than enjoyable & beneficial. I can’t imagine their always just buy organic food. Mom says @youve been working too hard too long & need a break!” I’m doubtful Anabaptists would agree!
Start simple with tomatoes, jalapeños, cilantro, red and green peppers, and sweet corn. Get a local landscaping place to bring you a small load of leaf mulch mixed with topsoil to dump on you garden bed.
If you are doing a green house I would avoid the sweet corn as it needs pollination from other sweet corn and just growing a few ears - one or two rows can be problematic. tomatoes start with just 1 or 2 plants and maybe a pepper or 2 or one or 2 cucumbers. Green beans have always been easier for me to grow. But whatever you do start with 2 or 3 items and talk to local nurseries. Different varieties can grow better in one place than another. Green house is good for starting things but open air during the summer might be better.
Go online and look and again talk to a local folks or friends that garden. Just a tomato or 2 and a pepper or a small bed of lettuce- tho you want to grow that in early spring or fall- too hot in the summer, just a few things to start. You won't be overwhelmed.
QuietlyListening wrote: ↑Mon Feb 16, 2026 12:38 pm
If you are doing a green house I would avoid the sweet corn as it needs pollination from other sweet corn and just growing a few ears - one or two rows can be problematic. tomatoes start with just 1 or 2 plants and maybe a pepper or 2 or one or 2 cucumbers. Green beans have always been easier for me to grow. But whatever you do start with 2 or 3 items and talk to local nurseries. Different varieties can grow better in one place than another. Green house is good for starting things but open air during the summer might be better.
Go online and look and again talk to a local folks or friends that garden. Just a tomato or 2 and a pepper or a small bed of lettuce- tho you want to grow that in early spring or fall- too hot in the summer, just a few things to start. You won't be overwhelmed.
Thank you for suggestions! Maybe my first year start simple like that & see how it goes. We tried patio tomatoes last year, but did a bad job at it. They had black bottoms and I read that was a sign they needed calcium. I’ve been saving my egg shells as I read that suggestion. I also read though if you have joint pain issues that you don’t want to eat very many tomatoes so I will go light on those even though we love them.
JohnH wrote: ↑Mon Feb 16, 2026 10:38 am
Start simple with tomatoes, jalapeños, cilantro, red and green peppers, and sweet corn. Get a local landscaping place to bring you a small load of leaf mulch mixed with topsoil to dump on you garden bed.
Thank you! We did save our leaves as we learned native insects including fireflies need them and we do use them ad mulch too-
Simple probably is wise so I don’t get overwhelmed or discouraged ordered out by the deer (happens to many in my area).
Valerie wrote: ↑Mon Feb 16, 2026 12:42 pm
Oh! And deer are a problem!
Deer are certainly a problem for us. They usually don't attack tomatoes and peppers, but other crops can be decimated. A scent repellent works fairly well, but needs to be reapplied after each rain.
I hope it goes well for you. It's a fun and healthy pastime, and with luck, gives you great food for little money.
R7ehr wrote: ↑Tue Feb 17, 2026 1:00 am
Are you doing it primarily to save money? To get the sort of food you want? Or just enjoyment?
Organic food is expensive, so to answer your question, all of the above- I HOpE to enjoy it. We are only on 1/4 acre and most of it is woods so it will certainly be no big production. I love being outside- I’ve always worked full time so I’ve only done very small things (flower planters, flower borders- we will be living on less income as I’m trying to delay SS until I’m 70 so hope to enjoy, save, & reap the rewards of the work but initial expense is an investment. Hoping I can get hubby to enjoy-
Just wondering if greenhouse ($5,500) is worth it but I think it would be a nice selling feature if we have had it with hard winters -
Valerie wrote: ↑Mon Feb 16, 2026 12:42 pm
Oh! And deer are a problem!
Deer are certainly a problem for us. They usually don't attack tomatoes and peppers, but other crops can be decimated. A scent repellent works fairly well, but needs to be reapplied after each rain.
I hope it goes well for you. It's a fun and healthy pastime, and with luck, gives you great food for little money.
My brother suggested getting human hair from area salons to ward off deer?
