Gardening with the Goddess
It's time to prepare for this year's garden and the Goddess is offering to help with the tilling of the soil. If you wish to have your garden tilled or if you wish to "break ground" for your first garden, the tiling is an important and work-intensive necessary first step. For the next two weeks, the Goddess will place application forms for tilling in the Triple Goddess Bookstore and will make these forms available by e-mail. The price for a garden plot up to 20' X 20' is $25.00. If you wish to have a larger plot tilled, contact us by e-mail at tgbookstore@msn.com or by telephone at (517) 347-2112, and we will put you in touch with the Greenman to determine the cost and feasibility. The Greenman is well equipped to till a large plot, within reason, but you will need to discuss the details with him and agree upon a price. All applications must be returned to the Triple Goddess Bookstore either at the store or by e-mail no later than Thursday, May 7th, 2009. The Greenman has agreed to provide tilling services for those within a 25-mile radius from the Triple Goddess Bookstore, as long as we have sufficient participation. (Note: In order to secure the tilling services of the Greenman, we must have significant participation. So, if you are interested in using these services, encourage your neighbors and friends to join you in this magical gardening experience and sign-up as many of them as you can. These are the times to encourage self-sufficiency and the wonderful benefits and experience of growing and enjoying fresh fruits and vegetables from your own garden!)
It is important to follow these simple instructions for preparation. The first step in gardening is to identify where the plot will be and then stake the corners. Next the plot must be prepared. This is done in early spring. The plot must be raked and cleared of all debris. At this point, the Greenman can till the soil for your garden. Preparations must be completed to this point before the Greenman arrives.
Next the garden must be tilled to a depth of 6” and you should rake the lawn/sod from the plot. The plot should then be fertilized and the soil lightly turned over. Then the vegetable and flower rows must be marked with a stake and a string (running from stake to stake at each end of each row to keep the row straight and to identify the type of plant)--and, finally, the garden should be planted according to directions. Be sure to check for the proper depth for planting seeds and the proper procedure for watering them. Also check the depth for plant "starts" and note the proper timing for each kind of planting.
The Goddess will shortly be implementing the new e-mail address for you to use to "Ask the Greenman" your gardening questions. And, watch this section of the the Goddess's website for the Greenman's useful hints regarding special seeds and plant and fruit tree starts and helpful gardening techniques.
The Goddess invites you to join her in celebrating the return of Persephone and the wonderful rebirth of Spring!
