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Forward into 2013

Posted on January 3, 2013 at 10:30 PM

It’s a new year and I am feeling optimistic about the year ahead.   2012 went out with a thud for me, so 2013 can only be an improvement!   I did not post a blog update earlier this week because after a week of battling a very bad case of “flu” (or so he thought), my husband ended up having an emergency surgery on Sunday morning to remove his gall bladder which had gone very bad.   It had completely failed and actually had gangrene developed in the interior.   It wildly needed to come out and caused a great deal of infection and inflammation in the adjacent tissues.   His side of the family (maternal line) has quite a history of gall bladder problems so it is not really surprising that this happened.   Fortunately, we caught it and got it taken care of before it went even more toxic on him.   Unfortunately though, this resulted in our spending most of the holidays either with him feeling perfectly miserable and/or dealing with the surgery, etc.   We started the New Year out well though in that he was released from hospital on New Year’s Eve and was feeling much better and improving by New Year’s Day.

                                                                                                                                       

Among many other things, I had intended to plan my garden for 2013; inventory my seed stock; and then order what seeds or nursery stock I needed during the long New Year’s holiday weekend.   My husband’s situation interfered with those plans in large part, but on New Year’s Day he was improved enough and at home resting - such that I was able to do my preliminary garden planning.   Where I was sure of varieties I intend to plant, I have noted them, but for the most part I have yet to do my variety selection and so opted to use generic terms in large part for various crops (i.e. carrots – rather than “Mokum” carrots). I published the preliminary plans on the web so that you might look at them if interested.  Just click on the following links to see them.

                                                                                                                                                     

Side Area Garden Plan

                                                                                                                                                  

Back Area Garden Plan

                                                                                                                                       

I need to finish up my seed inventorying and get my supplies and seeds ordered this coming weekend.   Hopefully things will be quieter around here and I can get that done.    I will try and remember to give you a brief recap of the varieties I ultimately choose in a later blog update.   Seed starting season will be here before I know it and I do need a few items before that can get underway. 

                                                                                                                                 

I hope all of you had a good start to the new year too.     Have you got your preliminary garden plans established yet?

                                                                                                                                                  

kitsapFG

Laura

Categories: Garden Thoughts, Vegetables

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8 Comments

Reply Larry
01:59 AM on January 04, 2013 
Looks great Laura! I need to get going on my planning. I wasn't to happy with some of the seeds I ordered last year so I might go with another company. I need to be a little more prepared for a wet spring/early summer period this year. I'm going to do a couple hoop houses this year as well. Your husbands experience sounds almost identical to mine, same advanced deterioration of my gall bladder . Glad to hear he is recovering quickly!
Reply GrafixMuse
08:24 AM on January 04, 2013 
I hope your husband is feeling better soon. My brother had his gall bladder removed several years ago under similar circumstances. Not only does he feel better, but now he is healthier than he ever was. Before he was susceptible to any and all cold or flu viruses that were around. Now that his immune system isn't compromised with his unhealthy gall bladder, he hasn't been ill with even a cold for a long time.

I am looking forward to garden planning and placing a small seed order this weekend. My seed starting area in the basement is in great need of cleanup before I can begin.
Reply Daphne
08:27 AM on January 04, 2013 
I'm glad things are getting better for your husband. And no I haven't planned my garden totally this year. I tend to figure out what I want to grow and then try to fit it in. I do have a preliminary plan before I plant my garlic so I can get my rotations right. But not a detailed plan. I usually do that in January.
Reply Annie's Granny
07:15 PM on January 04, 2013 
I have my potato and onion beds planned, my first seed order sent, and dreams of gardening dancing in my head! I always make great plans, but seldom stick to them!

I do hope your husband recovers quickly. Terrible thing to have to go through anytime, let alone over the holidays.
Reply kitsapFG
11:11 AM on January 05, 2013 
Larry - I am getting to where I only purchase from a couple of very specific company's. Johnny's Select Seeds, Territorial, and Seeds of Change. I buy supplies occassionally from others and an odd purchase elsewhere on occassion but I have found these to be reliable and quality providers. Hope you have a good time planning your 2013 garden!

GrafixMuse - I am hoping my husband get's a bonus from this removal of better health going forward. He has chronic pain due to another condition and I am wondering how much of the ongoing pain was really more this than the other issue. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Daphne - Ha! I hate to be the one to tell you this ... but it is January my dear! LOL! I totally get it though and I never stick to my plan even when formed... I find I want to add something else or there is just "too much" of something and I back down and plant part of the area designated for it in something else.

Annie's Granny - He is doing much much better this week. Glad to have it behind us though. I never stick to my plan either but it starts as the initial roadmap. :D
Reply Graham
12:38 PM on January 05, 2013 
Sorry to hear about your husband, but I'm glad he is on the mend!

I just passed close to your neck of the woods on a family trip with my wife and kids and have to say that you live in a beautiful part of the PNW. While we were only driving along the I-5 back, the view of the snowy mountaintops was a welcome sight for tired freeway eyes.

On the topic of garden preparations, I came across a great supply store outside of Portland--Concentrates Inc--across the river in Milwaukie. While I don't want to advertise for them (and feel free to edit this out Laura!) I feel it is my green thumb duty to let other fellow gardeners know about this great supplier. I picked up a 20 kg bag of azomite and a huge bag of alfalfa for my organic fertilizer mix at very reasonable prices. Being from Canada I find availability and prices of certain items to be tricky at times, so this was a great find.
Happy gardening in 2013 everyone!
Reply DaveV
09:51 PM on January 08, 2013 
I'm glad your husband is feeling better. That was a close call. I'm in awe that you can still focus enough to plan next year's garden. If I get my seed orders in by end of February I will be doing well. At least I am starting to put together a list. I'm with Daphne, I decide what I want to grow and then figure out where I can squeeze it in. Not everything made it last year.
Reply mac
07:14 PM on January 12, 2013 
Glad your husband is doing better. I'm not doing much garden planning this year because we're going overseas in spring, and one of our daughter is getting married in summer, more trips after the wedding, etc etc. Too complicated to work in a gardening schedule, I'll just plan in random as I have time :)